Egyptian Theatre Restructures for a Sustainable Future

PARK CITY, UT -- March 26, 2009 –After analyzing the Egyptian Theatre’s history and future direction, and consulting with long-term friends of the Theatre, potential donors and actors in the community, the Board of Trustees has decided to restructure with a new sustainable business and artistic model.

Historically, the Egyptian produced four large equity theatrical shows; produced sell-out community and Youtheatre shows including High School Musical and Footloose; hosted a limited amount of sell-out special events including The Second City and Defending the Caveman; presented local sell-out special events including Follies; and continues to be an official venue of the Sundance Film Festival. The Egyptian also runs successful children’s theatre and Youtheatre camp programs that provide memorable family events for parents, grandparents, siblings, friends and more.

“The theatrical world is changing, and we are adapting to that change with a better model," said Jeff Groy, President of the Board of Trustees. “A number of years ago the Theater elected to become an equity theatre. As a result, productions and casts got bigger, sets became more expensive and talented equity actors were included in the performances," explained Groy.

“From an artistic standpoint, the equity model was successful. The Theatre produced top-quality shows and we are proud of that accomplishment,” stated Judy Brophy, Board of Trustees Vice President and long-term member of the Board. “But the model’s expenses were significant, and it limited the types of shows and the number of nights we could perform.”

The Egyptian Board of Trustees decided that it did not make sense to close the theatre during the busy February tourist season to rehearse for large equity productions, produce shows running for six weeks, produce expensive shows during the slower tourist season in the late fall and limit the number of special events, Youtheatre, and community theatre shows the Egyptian could host.

To achieve better financial management, the Board of Trustees decided to restructure and create a new artistic calendar to focus larger productions during the busy tourist seasons, expand community and Youtheatre shows, expand education programs, and present more special events.

“This does not mean future shows produced by the Egyptian will be less than what our audiences have come to expect. Some of the Egyptian's most acclaimed performers in the past few years have been non-equity professional and community actors,” added Groy. “Our goal is to continue doing professional theatrical productions, expand Youtheatre and community shows, and open up more blocks of time for special events with fewer dark nights,” said Groy. Under the Egyptian’s new model, the Theatre may produce more shows and still hire valued professional actors.

“The Board of Trustees acknowledges the excellent work and dedication of Terence Goodman and the Theatre’s staff in making the theatre's productions so successful in the past. The Theatre is also grateful to its subscribers, donors and volunteers who have kept high-quality theatre viable in our community for decades. This new evolution should help us to go on with the show for another eighty-five years," said Groy.

In the past 12 months, the Egyptian Board of Trustees contributed over $94,000 to the theatre, and reduced operating expenses by 35% with the restructuring. The Egyptian plans to cultivate more partnerships with local businesses, theatres and schools and to ensure more community involvement. “We want Park City residents to feel like this is their theater while maintaining high-quality entertainment,” said Groy.

The Egyptian Board of Trustees and staff are looking for more feedback from the community and are planning a town hall meeting on May 4, starting at 6 p.m. at the Egyptian Theatre. Those unable to attend may email suggestions - This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it