The League of Chicago Theatres 2011 Fiscal Year Sees Growth

As fiscal year 2011 comes to a close, the League of Chicago Theatres looks back over a season of remarkable achievements, both artistic and financial. The League of Chicago Theatres proudly ended its fiscal year with an operating surplus for the 3rd year in a row; while League partnerships, marketing efforts, and civic engagement spanned from co-sponsoring a televised Mayoral Election debate to a 46% increase in Hot Tix ticket sales.

"This past year was an incredible one for the League and the theater community as a whole," says Deb Clapp, Executive Director of the League of Chicago Theatres. "From Lookingglass being named the fifth Chicago theatre to receive the Tony Award for Regional Theatre Excellence, to the growth of Hot Tix and the support from the League and several member theatres of the Belarus Free Theatre, the League-along with its member theatres-strengthened its services and reputation locally, nationally and internationally. We look forward to building on programs to serve Chicago, a city we call the best theater city in the world."

The League of Chicago Theatres played a significant role in the 2011 Mayoral and Aldermanic elections as an advocate for continued citywide arts support. The League partnered with Arts Alliance Illinois to create Arts Power Chicago, a website dedicated to disseminating information to the arts community. Arts Power Chicago successfully gathered more than 20,000 signatures in a statement sent to Mayoral Candidates stressing the importance of art to Chicago's citizenry. In addition, The League Board of Directors met with each Mayoral Candidate to further inform them about the economic impact and cultural importance of theatre for a thriving and prosperous Chicago. In Partnership with Broadway in Chicago and numerous other organizations, the League co-hosted the final Mayoral debate which was televised on ABC 7 and saw hundreds of Chicago citizens in attendance. The League hosted the post-debate reception, which Mayor Rahm Emanuel attended as a Candidate. Since his election, Mayor Emanuel has expressed his support for Chicago's booming theater community, not least of which has been to attend a number of productions at theatres both large and small throughout the city.

The League of Chicago Theatres is proud to announce that for a third year in a row the Hot Tix half-price ticket program set new sales records. As of July 2011, Hot Tix had sold 120,000 tickets, with 2.5 million in revenue returned to Chicago theaters. This figure beats the previous fiscal year's record of 82,000 tickets and $1.9 million in revenue returned to Chicago theater companies by 38,000 tickets. Overall ticket sales at Hot Tix increased a staggering 46% from FY2010. The twice weekly Hot Tix e-mailer featuring shows on the Hot Tix list is now going out to a record 60,000 people, and Hot Tix now boasts 3,000 Twitter followers.

In a display of international arts cooperation, The League of Chicago Theatres partnered with Goodman Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre and Northwestern University to bring the Belarus Free Theatre to Chicago at a time when returning to Belarus meant almost certain imprisonment for some of its company members. Acting together, the theatre organizations were able to provide the persecuted Belarus Free Theatre artists a month in residence in Chicago.

The League of Chicago Theatres continues to partner with local and national organizations to bring new opportunities to its member theaters. During FY 2011 alone, the League partnered with Columbia College Chicago on the unprecedented "Chicago - Past, Present and Future Symposium;" Theatre Wit for the "Chicago Theatre Anti-Conference;" the Dramatists Guild; the Commercial Theatre Institute; Theatre Communications Group; LA Stage Alliance; Theatre Development Fund; Fractured Atlas; Columbia College; the Art Institute of Chicago; Hubbard Street Dance; Ravinia; and the University of Illinois Chicago. The League also sponsored the Chicago August Wilson Monologue Competition for the second year running. The event was held at William Senn High School, and the winning Chicago monologist went on to win the National Competition held in New York.

The League also expanded its marketing and public relations reach during 2011, sending out regular press releases about the Chicago theater community and its stellar output of work. HMS Media partnered with the League to create a press area on its website, which includes a vast array of production photos, as well as a video montage of notable ChicaGo Productions produced by HMS. In addition, the League has been working with the Chicago Office of Tourism and Culture to better promote Chicago's vibrant theater industry, and together hosted a breakfast for the Midwest Travel Writers Association. To ensure representation at events and festivals throughout the city, the League has also published a "League Theatre Guide" which catalogues the many productions on offer in Chicago both during the summer and throughout the holiday season.

The League of Chicago Theatres' Mission Statement
The League of Chicago Theatres is an alliance of theaters which leverages its collective strength to promote, support and advocate for Chicago's theater industry locally, nationally and internationally. The League of Chicago Theatres Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the art of theater in the Chicago area through audience development and support services for theaters and theater professionals.

For a comprehensive list of ChicaGo Productions, visit the League of Chicago website, www.chicagoplays.com. Discounted tickets are available at www.hottix.com.

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