MAINSTAGE
PRODUCTIONS
23 OCT 2007 - 4 NOV 2007 - THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING
BEE
27 NOV 2007 - 9 DEC 2007 - AVENUE Q
11 DEC 2007 - 6 JAN 2008 - MONTY PYTHON'S SPAMALOT
5 FEB 2008 - 17 FEB 2008 - DISNEY'S HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL
24 JUN 2008 - 13 JULY 2008 - MAMMA MIA!
We had five productions this
year, with Avenue Q, Monty Python's Spamalot and the return
of Mamma Mia! being especially strong.
APPRECIATION
FOR THE SUPPORT OF OUR NATIONAL THEATRE CIRCLE
Certainly this theatre could
not prosper without the wise guidance and dedicated efforts of our Board
of Trustees, as well as the loyal patronage given by the sustaining
supporters of our outreach programs, and our "family of friends"
in the National Theatre Circle who renew their commitment annually.
We want to give
special thanks to the J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation for
their long and loyal support of our Saturday Morning at the National
programs.
Circle Members
contribute a minimum of $1,500 each year, which helps make a variety
of free outreach activities possible. We are continually grateful for
their ongoing support.
Members
of The National Theatre Circle as of September 30, 2008:
Anonymous
Bender Foundation,
Inc.
Max and Heidi Berry
Stanley and Sandy Bobb
Buffy and William N. Cafritz
Chuck FAZIO Entertainment
The Max and Victoria Dreyfus Foundation, Inc.
Jean and Charles L. Eichenlaub
Federal Stone
and Brick, LLC and The DeLuca Family
Gannett
Bong & Jamie Gumahad
Shelly Skeens Hazel
Victor S. Kamber
Jay Kimmitt, Oshkosh Truck Corporation
The
J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation
Donn B. Murphy, Ph.D.
The Ociana Group, Jay Watkins and Barbara Hamilton
Helen S. Parker and Alice Davis
Mr. William L. Ritchie Jr.
Robert N. Snyder,
Cambridge Information Group
TARGET
Tourmobile Sightseeing, Tom
and Diane Mack
Names
in pale blue above are Internet links.
IATSE
INTERN TRAINING PROGRAM
The National Theatre
is a continuing supporter of the Training Fund of the International
Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Local # 22, the union
to which our own stagehands belong. The union conducts an ongoing
schedule of training workshops, both basic and advanced, in working
venues including the National. The focus is on new technologies, and
hands-on training with in-house equipment. The program addresses safe,
efficient and effective use of theatrical equipment - sound, lighting
rigging, etc.
THE COLLEGE OF FELLOWS OF THE AMERICAN THEATRE
The National Theatre
supports the Annual Meeting of The College of Fellows of the American
Theatre, a distinguished honor society, by hosting a reception
prior to the Inductees Dinner, which precedes a day-long meeting the
next day at the Kennedy Center. The College promotes and encourages
the highest standards of research and creativity in educational and
professional entertainment, through the recognition and honoring of
distinguished service and accomplishments in the field of theatre
by designers, directors, educators, performers, playwrights and producers
of acknowledged national stature.
NATIONALTHEATRE.ORG WEBSITE
The National first
appeared on the Internet in 1995, among the first web presences for
a theatre in the Greater Washington Area. The site received about
150,000 "hits" in its first six years. After a
major overhaul in 2002, the site began registering more than 1,000,000
hits each year.
Current
statistics for the Homepage are always available by clicking on the
globe icon at the right bottom of the site's home page, www.nationaltheatre.org
The National Theatre is indebted to eXTReMe Tracking for making this
service available pro bono.
NATIONAL THEATRE COURTESY EMAIL LIST
Our email information list has grown to more than 20,000 self-subscribed
members. Those
on the list are frequently offered advance purchase opportunities which
allow them to reserve seats before tickets go on sale to the general
public, and occasionally they receive special discount offers.
THE
DEDICATED SEAT PROGRAM
Donors wishing to dedicate seats in the National Theatre may do so in
return for a contribution. A handsome brass plate is affixed to the
seat, with a dedicatory inscription provided by the donor. This program
was envisioned and inaugurated by our late Treasurer, Margaret E. Lynn,
and is now being administered by Betsy Libretta. Links inviting patrons
to consider dedicating seats have been added to most pages of the website,
and have engendered some interest and contributions from visitors to
the site.
MONDAY
NIGHT AT THE NATIONAL
Our Monday FREE music, dance, comedy and drama showcase continued to
attract eager and talented performers as well as enthusiastic audiences
from across the Greater Washington Area. Donn B. Murphy produced
the series. Todd Clark was our MC.
Performances
are given in fall, winter and spring, one at 6 pm for the convenience
of downtown workers, and one at 7:30 pm to accommodate guests who may
come in from the suburbs.
We attempt,
through variety in the programming, to represent various forms of performing
art - song - instrumental music - dance - plays - humor - monologists
- and many segments of our richly diverse cultural and ethnic community.
The series has
been partially sponsored for many years by the Max and Victoria Dreyfus
Foundation for which we are continuously grateful On the bill this season
were the following presentations:
| 2007 - FALL
SEP 24 - SAHARA DANCE: THE ART OF ORIENTAL DANCE
OCT 1 - LAURA ZAM - COLLATERALLY DAMAGED
OCT 15 - THE HEXAGON CLUB
OCT 22 - HITHER, DITHER & YON - BUSTY WENCHES & LUSTY
SONG
OCT 29 - BARRY & SUSAN TAYLOR MAGIC
NOV 5 - GARY SCHWARTZ & CRISTOFOR PADULA IN CONCERT
NOV 19 - CLARA BARTON - MARY ANN JUNG
NOV 26 - SAMA ENSEMBLE MIDDLE EASTERN INSTRUMENTALISTS
DEC 3 - KRISTY GLASS - SONGS OF THE SEASON
DEC 10 - CHRISTMAS WITH THE WASHINGTON MEN'S CAMERATA
2008 - SPRING
JAN 14 - SONGS AND COURAGE IN A TIME OF CIVIL WAR
JAN 28 - REDEMPTION RITUAL - JAH KENTE
FEB 4 - COLUMBIA FLUTE CHOIR
FEB 11 - ELLA FITZGERALD AND COMPANY - CALL ME MADAME!
MAR 3 - CITY AT PEACE
MAR 10 - NEN DAIKO: THE POWER AND BEAUTY OF TAIKO DRUMMING
MAR 17 - THE LAUREEN O'NEILL-JAMES IRISH DANCERS
MAR 24 - CLANCYWORKS DANCE COMPANY in "TAKING STEPS"
MAR 31 - GARY RICHMAN'S $INGING $TOCKBROKER'S RAZZ-MA-TAZZ REVUE
APR 7 - THE 2008 U.S. ARMY SOLDIER SHOW
APR 14 - THE OLD LANDMARK! AN EVENING OF GOSPEL MUSIC
|
SATURDAY
MORNING AT THE NATIONAL
Our FREE family performances brought happy local and tourist and families:
kids, parents and grandparents to the Helen Hayes Gallery weekly in
Fall and Spring for music, mimes, plays, clowns and a variety of other
performers. Donn B. Murphy produced the series. MC Sarah
O'Neill and Host-Ushers Johanna Cahill, Claire Martin and Dominic O'Neill
welcomed our guests and managed the programs. Gregory Lee was
our Barrymore Eagle channeler.
Since these
programs began in 1975, Marriott, our next-door neighbor, has been our
supporting partner, providing generous annual grants.
We are extremely
appreciative for this sponsorship by MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL, INC., and
THE J. WILLARD AND ALICE S. MARRIOTT FOUNDATION.
2007
FALL
SEP 15 - KINDERMAN’S KINDERCISE
SEP 22 - THE LADY OF BULLYBURG - BRIGHT STAR THEATRE
SEP 29 - BOOGIE WOOGIE BOW WOWS - DANCING DOGS
OCT 13 - SPENCER SPINNY JOHNSON
OCT 20 - JACK & THE BEANSTALK - THEATRE IV
OCT 27 - GHOSTS, GOBLINS & HALLOWEEN STORIES - NOW THIS!
IMPROV COMPANY
NOV 03 - MARK JASTER - THE MAESTRO
NOV 17 - REPTILE WORLD - MICHAEL SCHWEDICK
DEC 01 - MISS NELSON HAS A FIELD DAY - THEATRE WEST VIRGINIA
DEC 08 - WOW! BANJOS ROCK! - BANGER DAN MAZER
DEC 15 - ‘TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS - THEATRE
IV
2008
SPRING
JAN 12 - WASHINGTON REVELS
JAN 26 - THE YO-YO GUY
FEB 02 - THE NICOLO WHIMSEY SHOW
FEB 09 - CHRIS DAVIS - JUST SO STORIES
FEB 23 - PEE WEE PIRATE SHOW - MARY ANN JUNG
MAR 01 - THE FROG PRINCE - THEATRE IV
MAR 8 - BAREFOOT PUPPETS - LITTLE BREAD HEN
MAR 15 - FURIA FLAMENCO
MAR 29 - SWORDS AND CHIVALRY
APR 5 - BILL DICKSON: THE ART OF MYSTERY
APR 12 - THE UGLY DUCKLING - THEATRE IV
|
|
SUMMER CINEMA: ALL ABOUT
BETTE: THE FILMS OF BETTE DAVIS
Admission to this film series - inaugurated in 1985 -
is free. The films, featuring the always electric and edgy BETTE DAVIS,
drew Large crowds. Attendees ranged from teens to seniors, and
included Greater Washington area residents as well as tourists.
John Henry Loomis programmed the films and produced the series,
providing well-researched program notes each week.
MC Todd Clark welcomed our guests and managed the programs.
JUNE 2, 2008 NOW, VOYAGER
JUNE 9, 2008 THE LITTLE FOXES
JUNE 16, 2008 MARKED WOMAN
JULY 7, 2008 JEZEBEL
JULY 14, 2008 DARK VICTORY
|
JULY 21, 2008 THE LETTER
JULY 28, 2008 ALL ABOUT EVE
AUGUST 4, 2008 MR. SKEFFINGTON
AUGUST 11, 2008 WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE?
|
NATIONAL THEATRE COMMUNITY
VAUDEVILLE
The National Theatre Community Vaudeville thrived this year, administered
by John Henry Loomis, who scheduled talent and coordinated with the
venues. Our variety performers traveled to senior citizen homes, shelters,
community clubs and other 501.c.3 venues within the Beltway. Among the
responses we received this year were the following: "Thanks to
the National for bringing quality programming to our seniors. Please
don't stop. . .Wonderful! The participants loved the performer! . .
.Thank you for providing this extraordinary service to the community.
. .The performance left everyone with a group 'feel good' experience.
Thanks!"
Performers from the National Theatre appeared at these
venues during the year:
|
ALZHEIMER'S ADULT CARE CENTER
BARTHOLOMEW HOUSE
BAUER RECREATION CENTER
BETHESDA SENIOR CENTER
BOWIE ADULT DAY CARE
THE CAMPAGNA CENTER
THE FOSSILS
FRIENDS HOUSE
GREENBELT ADULT DAY CARE CENTER
IONA SENIOR SERVICES
JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER OF GREATER WASHINGTON IN ROCKVILLE |
THE LITTLE
SISTERS OF THE POOR
LINCOLNIA ADULT DAY HEALTH CENTER
LONG BRANCH SENIOR CENTER
LORTON SENIOR CENTER
MARGARET SCHWEINHAUT SENIOR CENTER
MISLER JEWISH SENIOR PROGRAM
ROCKVILLE SENIOR CENTER
ROCKVILLE NURSING HOME
SHADY GROVE ADULT DAY CARE
WAVERLY HOUSE
|
THE HELEN HAYES AWARDS
NOMINEE ANNOUNCEMENT
For the third consecutive year, the Helen Hayes Awards program announced
its Nominees, appropriately, in the Helen Hayes Gallery. A "full
house" of Washington theatre notables and practitioners assembled
to hear HHA Executive Director Linda Levy Grossman read names of nominees.
The announcements were, without exception, received enthusiastically.
A reception followed the program.
FREE TICKET PROGRAM: THE ANNIE OAKLEY
FUND
The National Theatre Annie Oakley Ticket Fund was established
in 1974, and in every year since, free tickets have been distributed
to groups of disadvantaged children and adults, residents of
shelters and military personnel returning from Iraq. This program
is named in memory of Annie Oakley, the sharpshooter celebrated by
Rodgers and Hammerstein in ANNIE GET YOUR GUN. Ms Oakley once
demonstrated her skills on the stage of the National Theatre, and
she was known for providing free tickets to poor people. In
the theatre, free tickets used to be punched with a hole. They
were nick-named "Annie Oakleys," in a tribute to Oakley's
astounding trick of shooting a hole in a playing card, calling card,
or theatre ticket thrown into the air!
Among the groups to whom tickets were given were the following:
ALTERNATIVE
HOUSE: ASSISTING YOUNG MOTHERS
BRIDGE BACK PROGRAM
JEWISH FOUNDATION FOR GROUP HOMES
OUR MILITARY KIDS
STOP CHILD ABUSE NOW
WHITMAN WALKER
YELLOW RIBBON FUND |
SPECIAL PATRON HALF-PRICE TICKET PROGRAM
Through the ongoing Special Patron Ticket Program, half-price tickets
were made available again this year to children, students, the economically
disadvantaged, the disabled, military Grades F 1-4, and senior citizens.
The National Theatre Corporation, The Shubert Organization, and the
producers of our shows all contribute to keeping the Special Patron
Hal-Price ticket program viable.
DISABLED SERVICES
Signed performances enhanced our attractions for the hearing impaired
this year. We also had narrations for the visually impaired which were
provided by volunteers from The Metropolitan Washington Ear (MWE). In
addition, infrared hearing amplification and wheel-chair locations are
available for all mainstage shows.
ARCHIVE
In 1975 there were no records of the past at the National Theatre.
Since then, programs, photographs, posters and other artifacts and
memorabilia have been donated. The collection is lovingly conserved
in the Archive by volunteers Mel Goldberg, Elaine Kolodny and Bayla
White. Contributions of materials related to the National Theatre,
particularly pre-1950, are always welcomed. Although the limited space
in our crowded storage precludes the accommodation of researchers,
the staff attempts to answer all mail, email and telephone research
questions from authors, historians, authors, relatives of past performers
and employees, and theatre aficionados.
CAPITAL FRINGE FESTIVAL
We
again featured mentalist ALAIN NU, and for eight performances which
drew excited - and ultimately mystified crowds. The amazing
Mr. Nu reads minds, uses hypnotic spells, and bends spoon, brought
by the audience for this purpose.
COMMUNITY AFFLILIATIONS
The National Theatre is a member of 
the
Cultural
Alliance of Greater Washington. The Alliance has more than 600
organizational and individual members who promote all the arts.The
National is also a member of the League
of Washington Theatres, a group now comprising more than 60 non-profit
professional theatres in the Greater Washington Area. The Theatre
is also a member of the Penn Quarter Neighborhood Association.
STAGES FOR ALL AGES
Stages for All Ages is a League of Washington Theatres project, with
lead sponsorship from The Washington Post, designed to introduce
young people to the magic of live theatre. Each spring, for
selected performances, many Washington area theatres offer a free
ticket to a child 17 or under with each full-price adult ticket purchased.
Disney's HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL was a perfect fit for this program.
ARTS ON FOOT
Our opening of Saturday Morning at the National once
again coincided with this exciting downtown arts and culture festival.
This arts promotion is produced by the Pennsylvania Avenue Quarter
Neighborhood Association. "Passports" distributed at the
National and other places were stamped as families and individuals
traveled among the many galleries and theatres which participated
with special programs. Our mascot, Barrymore Eagle, was once again
on hand at the National for our Saturday Morning shows, posing for
photos with happy children and pleased parents.
MISSION
The goal of the National Theatre Corporation, which was established
in 1974, is to keep Washington's historic "Theatre of Presidents"
open and offering top-quality live stage attractions in the nation's
capital. Additionally, through our outreach programs, we bring free
performances and other services to the public. No governmental grants
are received by the theatre either for its maintenance, or for its
productions or outreach programs and services.
TRUSTEES, OFFICERS &
ADMINISTRATION
John B. Adams, Jr., Chair
Donn B. Murphy, President & Executive Director
Sterling Tucker, Vice President
Victor S. Kamber, Treasurer
Tom Mack, Secretary
Heidi Berry
Jack Golodner
Carol Laxalt
Thomas F. Lee
Genevieve McSweeney Ryan
Robert N. Snyder
John Henry Loomis, Corporate Administrator
Tracie D. Powell, Accountant
Marc E. Miller, Esq., Counsel
Bormel, Grice & Huyett, P.A., Auditors
Our achievements this year would have been impossible
without the dedicated efforts of our staff: Corporate Administrator
John Henry Loomis, Accountant Tracie D. Powell and Dedicated
Seat Program Administrator Betsy Libretta.
National Theatre logo design by Ken Dresser
©1975 The National Theatre.
MANAGEMENT - SHUBERT
The mainstage productions, theatre facility, ticketing and
house operations were admirably overseen by our General
Manager, Harry Teter, Jr., our Theatre Manager Mark Finkbeiner
through the end of 2006, succeeded by Guy Jordin Heard,
and the House Staff and Backstage Staff of the National
Theatre, including Director of Group Sales Greg Flood, succeeded
by Dorrie Schenkel, Concessions Manager Bill Selepak, Receptionist
Vickie Lomax and Stage Door Security Chief Bob Lawrence.
The Shubert Organization has provided the National
with first-rate attractions and impeccable management services,
for which we are grateful. All profits from the Shubert Organization
go directly to the not-for-profit Shubert Foundation,
which supports a wide array of arts, cultural and other organizations
in this metropolitan area and nationwide.
|
THE
CORPORATION
The Annual Tax Filing for the Corporation is available for
review at the National Theatre Corporate Office, 1321 Pennsylvania
Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, 20014.
Respectfully submitted with my personal thanks to our
trustees, to every member of the staff of the National Theatre, to
Gerald Schoenfeld, Philip Smith, Robert Wankel, Elliot Greene and
Peter Entin of The Shubert Organization, to our National Theatre Circle
and other loyal supporters, and to the thousands of patrons who
enjoy performances here, and who provide the motivation and inspiration
to keep this marvelous theatre alive.
Donn B. Murphy, Ph.D.
President and Executive Director
30 September, 2008
