(Look back to 2022)
Give yourself a hand!
Because of you, Theatre Bristol accomplishments in 2023 included:
- An 80th Anniversary production of Oklahoma!
- An original production about our local heritage;
- New theatre students cast in productions;
- Began a collaboration with King University and hosted a premiere;
- Growing our audiences;
- Started a new volunteer program with River’s Way and Virginia High;
- Screened Inherit the Land;
- Significantly improving the theatre space; and
- Welcoming new actors, audiences, volunteers, students, and donors!
This past year, Theatre Bristol engaged with more than 10,000 actors, crew, audiences, students, volunteers, sponsors, and partners.
In total, we presented 9 productions to thousands of adults and children. We welcomed a new advisory board member, 4 new youth service board members, 42 new actors, 24 new crew members, and dozens of new volunteers.
We opened the season with Mark Twain’s The Diaries of Adam and Eve, a new ARTScene production, for Valentine’s weekend. Three weekends of sold-out shows and two weekends of panel discussions were held for The Diary of Anne Frank. In March, we partnered with River’s Way to present Real Heroes. The classic Winnie-The-Pooh took us to the Hundred Acre wood, er… stage in April. Summer was silly with The Seussification of Romeo and Juliet. We harvested an epic production of Oklahoma! on its 80th anniversary. We closed the year with 17 performances of A Christmas Carol, premiering this Royal Shakespeare Company version in our region.
We continued to grow the Catherine F. DeCaterina School of Theatre Arts with weekly classes and workshops, as well as continued our beloved StART of Adventure Summer Camp.
We held more than 60 work days, taught 2 semesters of theatre classes for 3 age group levels, and hosted 12 workshops.
More than 20 schools, plus Boys and Girls Club, Girls Inc, and Food City families attended Theatre Bristol shows. We supported 7 schools and community theatres with their shows, including King University Theatre’s world premiere of The Classic Calamity Tragedy Tour.
We continued to grow our weekly kids morning program, PLAYtime in the ARTspace, in partnership with Bristol Bagel & Bakery and Bristol’s Promise and tried a new 10:00 am time slot.
We took Theatre Bristol to Kid Power in Johnson City, the morning Rotary Club meeting, Anderson Park, Border Bash (flashmob!), 2023 Baby & Family Expo, and the Bristol Virginia Housing Authority. We hosted 8 bands for the Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion Festival. We cast the Sullins Academy production of The Lion King. We joined the A! Magazine for the Arts production committee and the Chamber Executive Leadership Institute. We created dance instruction videos for and participated in Abuse Alternatives Mystery Sock Hop fundraiser. We hosted Cylk Cozart and a screening of Inherit the Land with Arts Alliance Mountain Empire. We hosted Journey’s End with Believe in Bristol. We engaged in more than 31 partnerships.
We launched Charades & Charcuterie, an evening of competitive acting! We launched ARTScene for year-round date nights, we held free audition workshops throughout the year.
Lighthouse Supply Company followed up lighting up the inside by lighting up the outside, with new LED lights across the front of our building and on our signs.
We added intercoms to help us communicate backstage. We expanded our stage and made upgrades to the restrooms and kitchen. We added thousands of original and acquired costumes to our stock.
PROSIM Engineering and Burwil Construction helped us repoint our brick and complete important maintenance, and Summit BSR roofing fixed up our catchment systems. We recycled thousands of pounds of paper, plastic, glass, and metal. We gave our box office and our kitchen much-needed makeovers.
We attended the national community theatre conference and Arts Advocacy Day. All of our eligible Tennessee Board members and staff, as well as some volunteers, have specialty license plates in support of the arts.
We appreciated vital financial contributions, as well as in-kind donations of clothing, furniture, hangers, tools, more.
Our work was on billboards, radio, public television, our local stations, in newspapers, on windows, and online with great season and show designs by Camille Gray.
We were recognized as a 2023 Great Nonprofits Top Nonprofit and a 2023 Candid/Guidestar Platinum-level organization. We have 5 past and current Board members and a donor who are Arts Alliance of the Mountain Empire Arts Achievement Awardees, in 2023 recognizing Dottie Havlik for her service. This year alone we had 4 students who were A! Magazine for the Arts Spotlight students.
We were pleased to be awarded funding by the City of Bristol TN, The United Company Foundation, and 3 grants by the Tennessee Arts Commission. We had 2 dozen sponsors and added new sponsors.
With the increasing demands of a downtown theatre, the Board of Directors added two additional positions to the staff. A steady team works in support of the School of Theatre Arts and productions, tech, lighting and sound, and bookkeeping. More volunteers than can be counted pitch in nearly daily to advance efforts.
The research that demonstrates the value of community theatre on a community and for individuals is extensive. Taking this treasure for granted risks losing too much. We know it takes dedication and more people getting involved on stage and as patrons and volunteers to ensure our Theatre continues.
We thank you for being a part and invite you to continue to be a part–whether on stage, behind the scenes, applauding in the house, sharing our news, or being a financial patron of our community theatre, because your participation is deeply appreciated.
We look forward to the 59th season of shows, classes and activities, and hope you help keep live performing arts thriving in our community.
Thank you for helping us keep drama on stage,
The Theatre Bristol Board of Directors
Ann Vance, President
Nicole Intagliata, Vice President/Treasurer
Leticia Peltzer, Secretary
Dottie Havlik
Cindi Brooks
Mary Beth Rainero
Valtina Turner
Advisory Board
David Browning
Rick McVey
Lisa White
Samantha Gray, Executive Director
At Theatre Bristol we create, we imagine and perform.
We create everything needed to bring live performance to the stage all while fostering healthy lives through important stories, opportunities, and programming year round.
Please support Theatre Bristol with an online donation and help create with us.