Stagebill Ups the Ante
Small not-for-profit com-panies stand to be most affected by the policy. “It was a shock,” says Mark Gagne, artistic director of the Free Associates, who adds that “the photos were a nice constant with Stagebill.” The Free Associates are presenting five different plays in repertory in the Ivanhoe’s smallest, 44-seat house. Gagne’s company comprises 15 actors, all of whom appear in the company’s Stagebill. That means the Free Associates will have to pay a minimum one-time fee of $200 in January, assuming they make no changes in their program. “That seems a little steep for a 44-seat theater,” Gagne says.
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Gagne says the Free Associates will either try to absorb the additional costs or drop photos altogether. Most small not-for-profit theater companies agree it’s prohibitively expensive to produce a program in-house. But others say that Stagebill should watch its back.
Last summer the circuit court ruled that funds held by ATC, from performances at the Auditorium Theatre, are the property of Roosevelt, but ATC has appealed that ruling. Privately some ATC members say they are fighting the court decision because they fear Roosevelt will use Auditorium earnings to support other university projects instead of continuing to restore and improve the landmark theater.
Art accompanying story in printed newspaper (not available in this archive): photo/Nathan Mandell.
