Fox Cities Performing Arts Center Releases its 2009/10 Annual Report to the Community

The Fox Cities Performing Arts Center is pleased to release its 2009/10 Annual Report to the Community. The Annual Report recaps the Center's accomplishments and overall performance as a nonprofit community organization. Highlights of the 2009/10 Season included the Broadway classics Fiddler on the Roof starring Theodore Bikel and RENT with Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp from the original cast, the music of Mannheim Steamroller, the Japanese taiko drumming group Shidara and the hip-hop sensation Groovaloo, fresh from its off-Broadway engagement. More than 134,500 ticketed patrons and countless others attended the 311 events presented at the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center last season.

During the 2009/10 Season, the Center wanted to create deeper connection between its audience and the performances it presented in the M&I Bank Broadway Across America - Fox Cities Series, Boldt Arts Alive! Series and Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Education Series. As a result, at least one Appleton Papers Inc. Community Engagement Activity was featured with 88 percent of its series programming, an increase of 15 percent over the previous season.

The Center's Appleton Papers Inc. Community Engagement Activities are intended to compliment live performances presented by the Fox Cities P.A.C. Ranging from preshow lectures and postshow chats with the cast to master classes, children's activities and student workshops, Appleton Papers Inc. Community Engagement Activities appeal to a broad audience of ticket holders and community members. During the 2009/10 Season, 8,200 children and adults were impacted by this program.

"Appleton Papers Inc. Community Engagement Activities take the Center to that next level of participation, allowing us to educate the beginner and engage the arts enthusiast," said Susan Stockton, president of the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center. "By expanding this program last season, the Center was able to strengthen its partnerships with other local programs and nonprofit organizations during a challenging time, making our Fox Cities community that much stronger."

Building on its past success with outreach programs, the Fox Cities P.A.C. continued to expand its community engagement efforts with a new program called Mirror Image incorporating themes from the Broadway hit Legally Blonde The Musical. The Center welcomed 20 young women from Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Fox Valley Region and their mentors to explore how harmful media messages and negative stereotypes can affect a woman's self-esteem. Participants met during several sessions to learn about media messages, meet with women leaders in the Fox Cities who have overcome stereotypes and create collages to transform negative media campaigns into positive messages of empowerment. These collages were prominently displayed during the weeklong run of Legally Blonde The Musical. The girls and their mentors attended the show and even met with the actress who played Elle Woods to ask her about her character.

Jeri Kukurich, program director, for Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Fox Valley Region was excited to learn about this program. As a participant, she continues to see a difference in her Little Sister saying, "Being a part of Mirror Image has opened the door for deeper conversations between my Little Sister, Victoria, and I about the pressures she faces as a teen. Victoria has more confidence, and she is continuing to see that true beauty comes from the inside."

In addition to Mirror Image, the Center engaged the community by continuing programs introduced in previous seasons such as Performing Arts Touch the Hearts of Students (P.A.T.H.S.) and Family First Nights. For a complete list of Appleton Papers Inc. Community Engagement Activities, visit foxcitiespac.com.

During the 2009/10 fiscal year, 74 percent of the Center's operating budget was dedicated to program services, including the Appleton Papers Inc. Community Engagement Activities, Boldt Arts Alive! Series and Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Education Series events. Additionally, the Center was able to beat its projected operating budget by 9 percent with a continued emphasis on efficient operations and fiscal responsibility.

The Fox Cities Performing Arts Center continues to benchmark its operations against comparable performing arts centers nationwide. Even in a turbulent economic period, the Center's metrics for efficiencies indicated the Center's focus on lean practices had been successful. For instance, during the 2009/10 Season, the Center earned 34 percent more in ticket sales for every dollar spent on marketing than other comparable organizations.

The full 2009/10 Annual Report is available online by visiting foxcitiespac.com. Click on the Annual Report banner to view the report and supporting materials. A limited number of printed copies are available to the general public, by request at (920) 730-3782. The Center's audited financial statements are also available for viewing online at foxcitiespac.com.

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