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GTC Town Hall Recap
April 1st, 2024

Dear GTC Supporters,

 

The board of Generations Theater Company hosted a town hall meeting on Monday, April 1, 2024, to update our GTC friends, cast members, and supporters about changes in the board and to dream of possibilities for the theater company. We were excited to see such a strong turnout!

 

The evening began with a report by our board vice president, Robert Bearden, who welcomed everyone to the town hall. He introduced the board members present, including interim president Debbra Anderson, secretary Wendy Bearden, treasurer Edie Moro, and board trustee Wade Anderson.

 

Robert addressed the recent resignation of Cory Snyder as board president, sharing the board’s decision to offer her the position as an artistic director for GTC. He explained that this transition aims to streamline GTC’s operations, allowing Cory to focus her efforts on continuing to produce exceptional musical theater productions while the board manages the organization’s administrative affairs. 

 

Wendy then read aloud our mission statement, reaffirming our commitment to providing artistic opportunities for individuals of all ages in the Tri-County region:

 

“Our mission is to provide opportunities for adults, youth, and children in the Tri-County region to perform, grow and explore their talents through various creative expressions, including musical theater productions, plays, original performance pieces, and workshops, by offering year-round community-based theater for all ages.”

 

After Robert shared, Debbra Anderson outlined our vision for the future of GTC, which includes expanding our repertoire through: straight (non-musical) plays; original works; dinner theater; workshops; mentorship programs for emerging directors, training those interested in learning sounds and lights, and other areas of interest. She encouraged attendees to contribute their ideas for GTC’s growth and development.

 

To facilitate this, Wendy led the group in a Start, Stop, Continue, and Grow exercise:

 

  • Start: What would you like to have GTC start doing?

  • Stop: What things should GTC stop doing?

  • Continue: What does GTC do well and should continue doing?

  • Grow: How would you like to grow – what new skills or areas would you like to develop for yourself?

 

Attendees were invited to share their thoughts on sticky notes, which were then placed on corresponding poster boards at the front of the room. Robert provided a summary of the feedback provided for each category.

 

Following the meeting, a survey link was shared to allow the GTC community to provide feedback — from those who attended the meeting as well as those who could not.

 

Now that the survey results are in, these have been combined with the feedback received at the town hall meeting. Below are those results.

 

We extend our heartfelt thanks to all who participated in the town hall meeting, and we look forward to working with the GTC family in implementing your valuable feedback.

 

Generations Theater Company

START, STOP, CONTINUE, GROW EXERCISE RESULTS

 

START 

Improving Rehearsal and Performance Experience:

  • Start providing wireless vocal microphones for cast members

  • Start implementing hard end-times for rehearsals for youth cast members

  • Start establishing clear schedules and expectations for rehearsals and performances

  • Start considering fewer mainstage shows per season for better quality and happier performers

  • Start allowing more water breaks

     

Enhancing Communication and Marketing:

  • Start creating a centralized online platform with detailed show information and audition dates

  • Start an email list for show invites to streamline ticketing process

  • Start advertising online for positions GTC needs that don’t include acting.

     

Community Engagement and Fundraising:

  • Start engaging large local corporations for donations

  • Start partnering with JCSD and other local arts organizations

  • Start getting more involved in community events (4th of July festival, Function 4 Junction, the Scandinavian Festival, and the light parade).

  • Start exploring government grant programs for the arts

  • Start organizing small-scale fundraisers and building campaigns

     

Talent Development and Support:

  • Start offering workshops and mentorship for less experienced members, including those who can’t read music

  • Start providing rehearsal times for backstage/tech crew setup prior to the actor’s arrival.

  • Start establishing clear support persons/mentors for cast or crew members in-need

  • Start treating community members more kindly in feedback and be more clear in communicating expectations

     

Production Improvements and Expansion:

  • Start initiating a capital campaign committee

  • Start lengthening tech week for better preparation

  • Start recruiting dedicated stage crews for offstage needs

  • Start having dedicated team leads for set construction, prop collecting, etc.

 

Show Variety and Innovation:

  • Start exploring new show formats (i.e. performing plays, hosting dinner theater, exploring reader’s theater, etc)

  • Start offering season-specific shows and plays

  • Start experimenting with different settings/venues

  • Start back-to-basics stage makeup tutorials

 

Education and Outreach:

  • Start hosting workshops for audition preparation and basic acting lessons

  • Start integrating with local schools and involving high school students more

     

STOP

Production Process and Scheduling:

  • Stop scheduling 6-day per week rehearsal schedules, unless absolutely necessary

     

Cast and Community Treatment:

  • Stop having children under 10 move sets while also being cast members

  • Stop blatant favoritism

  • Stop asking too much of individuals without providing necessary resources and support (i.e. asking cast members to help in other show services areas offstage)  
         

Technical and Production Decisions:

  • Stop implementing overly complex lighting setups until sustainable

  • Stop pressuring actors (especially youth) to participate in productions due to low turnout at auditions

  • Stop casting the same members as leads repeatedly

  • Stop announcing or casting shows until the production is certain

  • Stop relying on individuals for costumes, set pieces, and props

  • Stop needless spending and accepting donations that can’t be applied to multiple shows

     

CONTINUE 

Inclusive Shows:

  • Continue producing shows for all ages and skill levels

  • Continue hosting combined kids/adult shows

  • Continue reviving popular shows from previous years

     

Better Performance Space:

  • Continue improving the performance space for use by many local actors/artists

     

Musicals:

  • Continue having a high priority for musical productions

  • Continue exploring various musical genres

      

Community Engagement:

  • Continue engaging and expanding the community

  • Continue showcasing local community members on stage

     

Communication and Talent Development:

  • Continue maintaining transparent communication

  • Continue investing in and nurturing talent

  • Continue fostering enthusiasm and dedication

     

Production Quality:

  • Continue maintaining and growing props/costumes

  • Continue emphasizing excellent vocal performances

  • Continue upholding high standards for shows

     

Positive Atmosphere:

  • Continue fostering a positive atmosphere during rehearsals and performances

     

Frequent Productions:

  • Continue offering multiple shows per year

     

GROW

Skills Development:

  • Grow by offering workshops/classes on grant writing, tech management, and business aspects of theater

  • Grow by becoming a director

  • Grow by becoming a playwright

  • Grow by leading a tech team

  • Grow by teaching (writing, dance/choreography)

  • Grow as an actor (projecting, emoting, blocking)

  • Grow as a singer (breath control, vocal placement, projection, singing a part)

  • Grow as a dancer (including musical-specific dance styles)

     

Exploring New Areas:

  • Grow by trying different musical styles

  • Grow by trying different theater genres

  • Grow by experimenting with radio drama/voice acting

 

Engaging with the Community:

  • Grow by partnering with local groups for outreach to schools, churches, and clubs

  • Grow by collaborating with JCSD to offer dance workshops

  • Grow by offering workshops in set construction and costuming – open to the public

     

Talent Support:

  • Grow by providing opportunities for aspiring directors and performers

  • Grow by mentoring young directors and nurturing local talent

  • Grow by offering more opportunities for youth productions

  • Grow by offering performing arts opportunities for people with limited availability (2 evenings per week).

     

Creative Projects:

  • Grow by creating original musicals, like “Homeschooled – The Musical”