Area’s Equity, Non-Profit Theatre Company Posts Strong Growth for 2009

Area’s Equity, Non-Profit Theatre Company Posts Strong Growth for 2009

Despite an economy in recession, Chenango River Theatre, the Binghamton area’s only professional, Equity non-profit theatre company, showed a strong increase in both season tickets and overall attendance for the company’s 3rd season of four plays, totaling 57 performances.

Capping the season with the company’s highest attendance ever was the season-ending production of Talley’s Folly, breaking the record set earlier in the season by the quirky comedy More Fun Than Bowling, which proved to be another high point of the year.

Season ticket sales increased by over 50% in 2009, accelerating the company’s fast growth track. Overall attendance was up more than 13%, with particularly strong growth noted for the company’s non-musical productions.

Artistic & Managing Director Bill Lelbach said, “When we started Chenango River Theatre, we thought the tri-county region was big enough to support an Equity theatre (one that uses members of Actors’ Equity Association in every production – the industry standard for defining a professional theatre) and there wasn’t one in this area. It’s gratifying to find there’s obviously a real market out there for the quality and kind of work we do. Part of our challenge now is just getting all those people and businesses who haven’t been to a production to come out and see what we do – once we get them in the door, they usually want to come back and support us. It takes years of strong, community wide support for a regional, non-profit, professional theatre to really develop. We’ve gotten a great start and we’re looking forward to the future.”

The theatre’s growth is all the more surprising coming during an economic downturn that has seen dozens of established theatres nationally go under due to reduced funding from corporate, state and individual sources. CRT is particularly grateful for major support from corporations such as NBT Bank, IBM, The Oakdale Mall, Raymond Corporation, Davidson Fox & Co., Manpower and Page Seed that have provided stability for the company’s establishment and growth to date. In addition, numerous grant agencies and area foundations have worked with the theatre to seed program growth.

Educational drama classes were tripled in 2009, with demand adding a fall class to the summer classes initially planned. Students from throughout the region worked with professional drama instructors learning the basics of communicating as an actor. The company is working on procuring support to increase its educational component for the coming season to include full scale production of an American classic.

The 2010 season will be announced by March and will run from May/June to October. To receive a season brochure, email your name and address to info@chenangorivertheatre.org or leave the information at the box office: (607) 656-8499. For additional information on the company, visit www.chenangorivertheatre.org.



Chenango River Theatre