DALLAS THEATER CENTER

Board of Trustees Meeting

MINUTES

Wyly Theater, Rehearsal Hall

September 22, 2011

Trustees in attendance: Al Anderson, Larry Angelilli, Robin Arocha, Tina Barry, Ken Bernstein, Missy Boone, Beverly Bowman, Diane Brierley, Barrett Bruce, Kay Cattarulla, Jeanne Marie Clossey, Bob Cohan, Rusty Duvall, Lauren Embrey, Bess Enloe, Rebecca Fletcher, Pilar Henry, Julie Hersh, Roger Horchow, John Howell, Paul Howell, Kate Juett, Susan Kaminski, Bob, Krakow, John Levy, Brian Melton, Katy Menges, Vicki Newsom, Jay Oppenheimer, Barbara Page, Sherry Peel, Frank Risch, David Russakov, Larry Schoenbrun, Bart Showalter, Shannon Skokos, Alex Smith, Sarah Warnecke, James Waters, Jim Wiley, Donna Wilhelm, Mike Wortley Heather Kitchen, Kevin Moriarty

Staff in attendance: Cynthia Calabrese, Ramona Jordan, Jeff Gifford, Wayne Goodwin, Hillary Hart, Rachel Hull, Martha-Elena Lopez

4:10 p.m. Frank Risch called the meeting to order.

  • Minutes from the June 20, 2011 meeting were approved.
  • Announcements by Frank Risch:
  • Recognized Shannon Skokos’ birthday.
  • Welcomed new Trustees. Those in attendance (Lauren Embrey, Roger Horchow, Susan Kaminski, Brian Melton and Alex Smith) introduced themselves.
  • Recognized Charles Wyly for his contribution to the Dallas Arts community, Dallas Theater Center and observed a moment of silence in his honor. Ms. Dee Wyly and family invite Trustees to an Open House at the Wyly Residence in memory of Charles Wyly on Saturday, October 1 from 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm. Email with details has been sent by Heather Kitchen.
  • At the next Board meeting we will vote on changes needed to clarify the term limit provisions in the Bylaws which were approved by the Board in May. The new provisions will be sent to Board in advance ofthe meeting.
  • It is very important that everyone attend the Full Board Retreat on November 12, 2011 at the Ernst & Young conference room: 2323 Victory Avenue, Suite 2000, Dallas, TX. With the help of Edward Stone, focus groups of 6-10 people will be formed in October to prepare for the retreat. Please respond promptly to an email which will provide alternative dates for the focus group meetings.

Artistic Presentation Kevin Moriarty

  • Kevin interviewed Liz Mikel, Diane and Hal Brierley Resident Acting Company member. Liz shared her experience at DTC and how, while she has never auditioned in New York, she is going to Broadway! Liz will be starring in LYSISTRATA JONES, formerly known as GIVE IT UP, a DTC originated production.
  • LYSISTRATA JONES is opening its Broadway run on Wednesday December 14, 2011 at 6:30 pm at the Walter Kerr Theater. DTC has secured 30 tickets for Board members to the opening night performance and the opening night party. Each ticket is $200. Email with details sent by Heather Kitchen. Please reply to Heather’s email, if interested, and copy Mel Lopez.

Artistic Report Kevin Moriarty

  • The main agenda for the next few weeks will be strategic planning and the composing and refining of the next three year plan.
  • A main focus of the strategic plan will be to continue with collaborations. Examples of collaborations include: THE WIZ with Dallas Black Dance, which was a major success this summer; TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD with Casa Mañana, which opens in Fort Worth on Saturday, September 24; and GIANT with New York’s Public Theater in January.
  • DTC collaboration with Dallas Arts District - Art in October - dates to remember:
  • October 1 (12 noon): Art in Motion kickoff event, members of our Resident Acting Company will perform Shakespearean monologues;
  • October 13 (7 pm): screening of GIANT at Strauss Square;
  • October 30: Zombies in the District event which includes a tour of DTC and “How to be a Zombie” workshops.
  • DTC collaboration with the Dallas and Fort WorthPublic Libraries Dates to Remember:
  • September 18: Screening of To Kill a Mockingbird at Fort Worth Public Library
  • September 27-30: week-long read by community leaders and actors of To Kill a Mockingbird at Dallas Public Library’s Central branch in downtown Dallas;
  • October 8 (1 pm): DTC presents a Page to Stage acting workshop at Bachman Lake Library, Grauwyler Park Library, and South Hampton Road;
  • October 24 (7 p.m.): DTC GUILD & The African American Museum present Hey Boo: Harper Lee & To Kill a Mockingbird, at the Magnolia Theater in West Village, with Panel Discussion; and
  • October 29: Dallas Public Library International Book Festival to include: at 11am Panel Discussion lead by Dr. Larry Allums, Executive Director of the Dallas Institute of Humanities and Culture, on Social Justice and Commitment to Community; and at 12 pm Scenes from To Kill a Mockingbird performed by members of the DTC and Casa Mañana cast.

Finance Report Larry Angelilli

  • In the last nine months Dallas Theater Center has been transformed both financially and artistically. As a result, the already approved budget has been revised while continuing to reduce the accumulated deficit, budget for new projects, and increase the cash flow. The new budget, will allow for longer runs of GOD OF CARNAGE and NEXT FALL, a summer musical production of JOSEPH AND HIS AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT and the use of internal versus borrowed funds.
  • Jim Wiley moved that the new budget be approved. Bart Showalter seconded the motion. The revised budged was passed by a unanimous vote.

Management Report Heather Kitchen

  • Heather thanked the Board for their continual support and engagement at Dallas Theater Center.Reminded the Board that JOSEPH has not been formally announced to the media as an addition our summer program. Please keep this information confidential until it is announced by Dallas Theater Center.
  • As of Thursday, September 22, TEMPEST has sold 92.2% of available tickets. 2,000 more people are seeing TEMPEST than those seeing HENRY a year ago. Student matinees have sold more than 100%. Subscriptions are at 80% of goal.
  • The biggest challenge facing DTC involves customer service, mainly in ticketing and subscriptions. DTC is working with ATT PAC to improve the situation. A new DTC Customer Service Representative, Andy Gosnell, has been hired to assist with the problem. Please send all ticketing and subscription inquires/problems to Andy and copy Mel Lopez, the new executive assistant.
  • Rashida Moore has left DTC for a development position at University of North Texas. The Development Department is looking for the most appropriate Manger of Individual Giving to fill the available position. Please forward to Antay Bilgutay contact information of any possible candidates.
  • Martha-Elena Lopez (Mel), the new Executive Assistant and Board Liaison was introduced to the Board. Please email her () with any inquiries and concerns. Ramona Jordan, the new Chief Financial Officer and Director of Human Resources was also introduced. Mel will email the Board a new updated staff contact sheet.
  • The Board Portal is a great new resource available to DTC Board Members. The Board was encouraged to visit the portal and provide feedback. [To access the board portal you should: visit DallasTheaterCenter.org, click "About DTC" in the menu, click "Board of Trustees" in the sub-menu, and finally click the "Trustee Online Resources" button to access the login panel. The login is DTCBOTrusteesand the password isAug2011. These are case sensitive and must be typed in the first time, not copied and pasted. It is likely that the browser being used will allow this info to be stored after the initial entry. If there is a question mark by your contact information it’s because we do not have a picture of you. Please be sure to send a picture to and copy Mel Lopez.]

GIANT Gala Barbara Page & Pilar Henry

  • October 13 is the screening of GIANT at Annette Strauss Square.
  • January 28 is the Gala. Underwriting letters have been mailed. There is limited seating in the orchestra level, everyone is encouraged to get their information in soon to guarantee a good seat.

Other Business

  • The first assembly of the Advisory Council Committee was held on Thursday, September 22 and had an attendance of about 45 people. The committee’s effort is to widen the interest of community leaders in Dallas Theater Center. Congratulations to Sarah Warnecke on a successful event.
  • Another reminder was given to Board Member to look out for the focus group email and sign up for a group meeting.

5:45 pm Executive Session of Board Meeting concludes

Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes: September 22, 2011(APPROVED)Page | 1