A CONTEMPORARY THEATRE INC
Where artistic ambition and civic engagement unite
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
The problems/needs ACT is currently facing are: ACT eliminated their debt at the end of 2018, starting 2019 on strong financial ground. The challenges we face include continued financial stability, increasing our reserves and a growing decrease in subscription ticket sales. Another of our greatest challenges is cultural diversity. We are working hard to improve our goals and take action on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in all areas of our organization. We are addressing these issues with our new strategic plan to be released this spring.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Mainstage Productions
The cornerstone of ACT's mission, Mainstage plays are the world-class productions that the community has come to expect each year since ACT was founded in 1965. Fully produced, and featuring amazing design value, directing, and acting from local and national artists, Mainstage plays are most often staged in our larger theaters, the Allen and Falls. ACT's Mainstage productions include both world premieres and the new generations of contemporary classics.
Where we work
External reviews

Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
ACT is unique in that we have five distinct performance and event spaces. We produce our own curated and produced Mainstage Season; present a second season of co-productions and presenting works through our ACTLab series; develop and workshop new plays; produce unknown new works; mount our annual production of A Christmas Carol; have a cabaret venue; serve youth; serve artists; and we manage at least eight different artistic programs over the course of a year in our historic landmark building. In all of the great work we are doing, we look to define ourselves and what makes ACT stand out so that our patrons can identify us in the marketplace and so that we can differentiate our company from other theatres in the area. This will help to differentiate and clarify our work in the marketplace, and help with internal bandwidth and shared vision on our staff.
ACT is committed to the programs that are essential to our mission and our success. Our goal is to develop a branding campaign to communicate our offerings and to update and renovate our facility so that it aligns with our mission and vision, as well as attracts audiences who are seeking a place to gather and connect.
Our Strategic Plan will introduce a new, updated mission for the theatre that will include Equity, Diversity & Inclusion, Fiscal Responsibility and incorporate our stewardship of the Eagles Auditorium building.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Our strategies include increasing our staff and capacity building. Based on recent data analysis from the Theatre Communications Group Theatre Facts, we have noted that ACT was meeting benchmarks in subscriptions but is losing ground here, so we must innovate new ideas; we are under performing in single tickets by approximately 10,000 units per year and continue to look for ways to attract new audiences. In contributed revenue, we are underperforming by 10% in the ration of earned vs contributed revenue as compared to our peers. The percent of subscribers who donate is 7% below the benchmark. Of note, we are also underinvesting in the areas of marketing and development as compared to peer benchmarks. ACT is spending 40% less on marketing and 50% less on fundraising than the average. These numbers and their outcomes are directly related. Our goal is to increase our investment in human resources and communication tools so that we can meet or exceed the industry benchmarks. We are making strides in these areas but there is still work to be done. We expect/anticipate that the work we have done to develop our new Strategic Plan will pave the way to many of the actions we need to take to accomplish our goals.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
ACT embarked upon a serious campaign to gain financial stability in 2015. Financial guidelines were set into place and a plan to retire the theatre's debt was started. In 2018 we received two generous bequests that allowed us to complete our goals earlier than anticipated by retiring all of our debt at the end of December 2018. We see the success of the hard work, the faith our supporters have in us and will move forward to continue on this path of fiscal responsibility and strength. The new Strategic Plan includes a foundational goal that states: "Financial Sustainability informs all decision-making".
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
ACT is debt free. We are making intentional choices about diversity in our leadership, staff, patrons and artists and are seeing improvements in this area. ACT embarks upon a new Engagement Ambassador Program in 2019, inviting members of diverse communities to actively participate in ACT's artistic offerings, including the Mainstage and ACTLab. We are intentionally recruiting Teaching Artists of color for our 2019 fall Young Playwrights Program, and leaders of color for our Board of Directors.
Financials
Unlock nonprofit financial insights that will help you make more informed decisions. Try our monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights?
Learn more
about GuideStar Pro.
Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
A CONTEMPORARY THEATRE INC
Board of directorsas of 10/24/2022
Eric Bennett
Amazon
Term: 2015 -
Bill Kuhn
NWX Consulting Inc.
Erika Nesholm
Nesholm Family Foundation
Maribeth Harper
Gary Houlahan
Cynthia Huffman
Sarah Pierre-Louis
Ben Spicer
Bob Wright
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
-
Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? GuideStar partnered on this section with CHANGE Philanthropy and Equity in the Center.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
The organization's co-leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Sexual orientation
Disability
No data