13.6.142.397 Application
Gulfshore Playhouse, Inc.

Proposal Information

Item	Response
Application #	13.6.142.397
Program	General Program Support
Proposal Type	Discipline-Based
Funding Category	Level 2
Discipline	Professional Theatre
Applicant is requesting REDI waiver	N/A
Residency Contact Hours	N/A
Proposal Synopsis	Gulfshore Playhouse will continue to provide high-quality programming, on stage and in the classroom. With innovative artistry and stimulating content, their productions will engage, inspire and challenge audiences. Their Theatre Education Project will expand its in-school programs creating an inclusive environment in which to teach the core curriculum, and help raise self-esteem, as well as develop an enduring appreciation for the arts through extra-curricular educational opportunities.

Applicant Information

Item	Response
Corporate Name	Gulfshore Playhouse, Inc.
Department
DBA Name	N/A
Federal Employer ID	90-0178566
Principal Address	755 8th Ave. South Naples, FL 34102-4962
County	Collier
Applicant Email Address	kcoury@gulfshoreplayhouse.org
Grant Contact	Kristen Coury, Producing Artistic Director/CEO
Authorized Official	Kristen Coury, Producing Artistic Director/ CEO
Website	www.gulfshoreplayhouse.org

Mission Statement

To ENRICH - producing the finest high-quality professional theatre, affordable and accessible to all;
To EDUCATE - providing first-class educational outreach for students and unique learning opportunities for residents and visitors of all ages;
To ENTERTAIN - encouraging all people to explore theatre as an art form, thus contributing to the growth of Southwest Florida as a cultural center.

Proposal Description

Gulfshore Playhouse is one of a very few professional theatres that maintains affordable ticket prices. Gulfshore's highest ticket price (except for opening night) for regular productions is $40.00, with preview prices at $25.00 for all sections. There are reduced student tickets as well as group and subscriber rates. Maintaining affordable ticket prices supports the mission of the organization through increased participation by local residents, greater attendance by audience members from different cultural and socio-economic ranks than is usual with higher priced tickets. Dedicated student matinees were created in the 2010-2011 season, and will continue as long as programming is appropriate for school-aged children.

This dedication to high quality professional theatre at affordable prices has paid off, as Gulfshore Playhouse doubled its ticket sales from the 2008-2009 season to the 2009-2010 season and AGAIN doubled its sales (and subscriber base) from the 2009-2010 season to the 2010-2011 season. Before the fiscal year for 2011-2012 has even officially begun, the Playhouse has sold nearly the same amount of subscriptions that it sold in 2010-2011 total.

The season was expanded from three shows in the 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 seasons to four shows in 2010-2011 with two additional cabaret events where the room is set up like a New York Jazz Club. The Playhouse continued this model into the 2011-2012 season to ensure that the expansion to four shows is able to be sustained and populated with patrons.

To manage the growth of 200% in the annual budget between 2008 and 2012, the Artistic Director of the Playhouse had carefully chosen small plays for the fall offerings since there are normally less part-time residents and visitors in that part of the season. This allowed the Playhouse to work with a smaller in-house and Production staff thus lightening the financial load and easing cash flow. The spring includes larger productions and an increased Production Staff including interns.

The 2012-2013 Season will exhibit more growth once again, including the hiring of a full time Artistic Associate, getting a dedicated rehearsal space, and expanding to a six-show season, which will include two in the fall and four in the spring, requiring an overlapping of rehearsal and production, increasing the need for housing as well.

The Gulfshore Playhouse Theatre Education Project serves Southwest Florida through a wide variety of unique educational opportunities. The programming provides people from the diverse community accessibility to the art of theatre. The program offerings range from ART SMART, the in-school residencies which teach content curriculum in the schools, to the STAR (Student Theatre Artist in Residence) after-school theatre classes and summer acting intensives.

ART SMART, the in-school component of The Gulfshore Playhouse Theatre Education Project, has been recognized as an innovative program providing educators with a highly effective tool to use in the improvement of content curriculum delivery in the classroom. Growing rapidly over three years from a beginning of 6 workshops in an entire school year, to having 89 workshops booked in 2009-2010, and over 100 (half of which were purchased by the Collier County Public School System, and the other half provided free of charge to schools in-need due to foundation funding) booked in 2010-2011, ART SMART has received the support of funding from the National Education Association, Culture Builds Florida 2009, the Suncoast for Kids Foundation, The Immokalee Foundation, The Rabb Foundation and many other friends and supporters.

Timeline
Between the summer educational initiatives, the production season that stretches from October 2012 through April 2013 and the expanded year-round marketing programs, the timeline for this proposal covers the full year of July 1, 2012 through June 30, 2013.

Services
In addition to the opportunity to attend quality professional theatre performed by Broadway veterans and Florida’s best artists, audiences have a variety of additional opportunities to become engaged in the artistic experience.

Gulfshore Playhouse offers:
• Talk-backs post-performance with the directors, actors, and playwright.
• Cabaret Series Events – musical evenings with some of Broadway’s best-known names.
• Opening Nights - after which there are "meet the stars" parties which are included in the tickets price. The actors, director, and designers attend and mingle with the guests, answering questions, taking photos, etc.

The Proposed 2012-13 Season is as follows:

October/November, 2012 - "God of Carnage", the Tony Award Winning Hit Comedy by Yasmina Reza, and "Art" also by Yasmina Reza, performed in Repertory

January, 2013 - "Clybourne Park" by Bruce Norris

Feb, 2013 - "Master Class" by Terrence McNally

March, 2013 - "The Importance of Being Earnest" by Oscar Wilde

April, 2013 - "Mary's Wedding" by Stephen Massicotte

Culture Builds Florida's Future

1. Strengthening the Economy

   The arts are vital to a healthy community. Tourists are no longer coming just for the beach and golf and are seeking other sources of entertainment. The arts help provide an alternative, and/or a supplement to the plethora of outdoor activities the Paradise Coast has to offer. As an economic driver, the arts have no parallel. People attending an event at a theatre on the average spend an auxiliary $40 on nearby restaurants and retail establishments. Bringing as many as 400 people a day to a downtown which is no longer the geographic center of the greater cosmopolitan area and thus can most definitely use the business, is an economic contribution to the community by creating an enhanced opportunity for an expenditure of tourism dollars and discretionary funds.

2. Learning and Wellness

   With the expansion of all educational programming, Gulfshore Playhouse will be making new experiences available to children of all ages, ethnicities, and economic capacity in the southwest Florida region.

   In addition, the Gulfshore Playhouse educational initiatives are creating new theatre-goers, people who will hopefully become life-long supporters and lovers of the theatre. It has been frequently argued over the past 20 - 25 years that theatre has lost an entire generation of audience members who, because of cuts in school budgets, never had exposure to the arts as children and young people. In a small but vital way, Gulfshore Playhouse has begun a process to help mitigate that both in adults and in the present millennial generation of children.

   The core of the Gulfshore Playhouse education initiatives are the educators and artists of ART SMART. ART SMART is a model for arts education that educates by delivering traditional curriculum (history, science, social studies, etc.) through theatre arts-based lessons. There are very few arts education programs that address curriculum delivery methods that are not solely arts-based but, like ART SMART, blend the traditional education delivery methods with those of the theatre arts during the regular school day and not as an after-school extension.

   Lastly, participation in the educational programming will continue the life-long learning process for the educators, through Professional Development and direct access, and the artists involved.

3. Building Leadership

   Vision, attitude, wisdom and good judgment are generally considered basic qualities of good leadership. Participating in the arts, where the rigor demands improvisation, risk-taking, innovation, team-work and the willingness to try and fail, develop all of these attributes.

   Learning extends throughout our lives and we are constantly changed by it. Even the adults participating in the educational theatre programming at Gulfshore Playhouse will find their abilities to lead effectively strengthened.

   In addition, the professional internship program being developed is growing quality professional artists for the future. Well-trained, experienced young people become the leaders of tomorrow.

4. Design and Development

   No answer provided.

Proposal Estimates

Estimated Number of	Response	Instructions to the Applicant
school based youth benefiting	3,600	Enter the number of individuals under the age of 18 that are expected to be participating in organized school based cultural events. This figure should reflect a portion of the total individuals benefiting.
non-school based youth benefiting	100	Enter the number of individuals under the age of 18 that are expected to be participating in non-school based cultural events. This figure should reflect a portion of the total individuals benefiting.
elders benefiting	7,200	Enter the number of individuals over the age of 65 that are expected to benefit from the proposal activities. This figure should reflect a portion of the total individuals benefiting.
artists participating	75	Enter the estimated number of professional artists that will be directly involved in providing artistic services specifically identified with the proposal. Include living artists whose work is represented in an exhibition regardless of whether the work was provided by the artist or by an institution. This figure should reflect a portion of the total individuals benefiting.
individuals benefiting	33,500	Give the total number of individuals that are expected to be involved in proposal activities as artists, non-artists, participants, or audience members. This number should include the values listed for youth, elders and artists.
proposal events	160	How many different events will be produced or presented within the grant period as a part of this proposal? Be sure to list different events, not performances. For example, a musical performed 10 times is only one event, but a musical performed 10 times and workshop done once are two events.
opportunities for public participation	274	Each event will have one or more opportunities for public participation. For example a musical performed 10 times is one event with 10 opportunities for public participation.

Project/Program Location

• Collier
• Lee

Proposal Impact

Collier and Lee Counties are the primary service area for the Gulfshore Playhouse programs.

Collier County is the second largest county in Florida, with roughly 2000 square miles of land and an estimated 315,839 population. Collier County is the sole county in the Naples-Marco Island Metropolitan Statistical area.

Lee County is located on the southwest coast of Florida. The county makes up the entirety of the Cape Coral-Fort Myers, Florida Metropolitan Statistical area and is the most populous county in Southwest Florida.
As of 2000 the two counties housed the following demographics:
Total Population: 840075
White: 763,294
Black: 52,515
Hispanic: 103799
Native American: 9046
Asian: 6361
Two or More: 15274

Collier and Lee counties in southwest Florida reflect the best and worst of the socio-economic spectrum.

From the glittering villas on the Gulf to the abject poverty in areas like the migrant-heavy Immokalee, the needs of the community vary wildly.

Gulfshore Playhouse’s staff and Board are committed to making theatre available to the widest possible demographic. Bringing art into every life enriches that life... no question about that. But, for under-served populations, those who have daily struggle to find the means to live and thrive, art is an escape, an education, a community event, and a way of acknowledging common humanity.
Making that kind of resource available through programming or educational outreach is enriching to all parties involved. Making theatre available to all is the foundation of Gulfshore Playhouse. It is the impetus that motivated its founder and the engine that keeps the organization moving forward and is ingrained in every decision made by the organization.

In terms of sheer dollars, it is proven that each person who comes to theatre spends at least $40 in auxiliary services such as dining and shopping. In Collier County, that number is even higher. By growing to a six show season, Gulfshore Playhouse is actively bringing between 25,000 and 28,000 people to downtown, an area that is economically suffering since Naples has grown North, and has seen the advent of mixed-use developments such as "Mercato" where people frequent and otherwise spend their discretionary dollars. This computes to approximately $1M in auxiliary dollars spent by theatre goers downtown, and this is not even counting the money spent by the 20 employees employed daily during season that are also spending their money downtown for lunches, dinners, quick shopping, etc., as well as the rent paid to the City of Naples for the office and theatre space, the money spent locally on lumber, paint, costume materials, warehouse and rehearsal space, and all the other necessities of theatre-making.

Operating Budget

	Operating Expenses	Completed Fiscal Year ending 6/30/10
1.	Personnel: Administrative	98,756
2.	Personnel: Programmatic	69,819
3.	Personnel: Technical/Production	126,114
4.	Outside Fees and Services: Programmatic
5.	Outside Fees and Services: Other
6.	Space Rental, Rent or Mortgage	46,070
7.	Travel	20,935
8.	Marketing	43,359
9.	Remaining Operating Expenses	126,399
A.	Total Cash Expenses	$531,452
B.	In-kind Contributions	$0
C.	Total Operating Expenses	$531,452
	Operating Income	Completed Fiscal Year ending 6/30/10
10.	Revenue: Admissions	224,989
11.	Revenue: Contracted Services	21,821
12.	Revenue: Other	95,707
13.	Private Support: Corporate	97,300
14.	Private Support: Foundation	27,735
15.	Private Support: Other	60,890
16.	Government Support: Federal
17.	Government Support: State/Regional	21,172
18.	Government Support: Local/County
19.	Applicant Cash
D.	Total Cash Income	$549,614
B.	In-kind Contributions	$0
E.	Total Operating Income	$549,614

Additional Operating Budget Information

No answer provided.

Proposal Budget: Summary

	Proposal Expenses	A. Request	B. Cash Expenses	C. In-kind	Total
1.	Personnel: Administrative	15,000	15,000	0	$30,000
2.	Personnel: Programmatic	0	0	0	$0
3.	Personnel: Technical/Production	7,500	7,500	0	$15,000
4.	Outside Fees and Services: Programmatic	0	0	0	$0
5.	Outside Fees and Services: Other	0	0	0	$0
6.	Space Rental	0	0	0	$0
7.	Travel	0	0	0	$0
8.	Marketing	32,400	32,400	0	$64,800
9.	Remaining Proposal Expenses	0	0	0	$0
D.	Total Proposal Expenses	54,900	54,900	0	$109,800
	Proposal Income	A. Request	B. Cash Income	C. In-Kind	Total
10.	Revenue: Admissions		54,900		54,900
11.	Revenue: Contracted Services		0		$0
12.	Revenue: Other		0		$0
13.	Private Support: Corporate		0		$0
14.	Private Support: Foundation		0		$0
15.	Private Support: Other		0		$0
16.	Government Support: Federal		0		$0
17.	Government Support: Regional		0		$0
18.	Government Support: Local/County		0		$0
19.	Applicant Cash		0		$0
E.	Total Proposal Income	54,900	54,900	0	$109,800

Proposal Budget: Detail

	Proposal Expenses	A. Request	B. Cash Expenses	C. In-Kind	Total
1.	Personnel: Administrative	15,000	15,000	0	$30,000
1.1. Artistic Associate		7,500	7,500	0	15,000
1.2. Producing Artistic Director		7,500	7,500	0	15,000
2.	Personnel: Programmatic	0	0	0	$0
3.	Personnel: Technical/Production	7,500	7,500	0	$15,000
3.1. Technical Director		7,500	7,500	0	15,000
4.	Outside Fees and Services: Programmatic	0	0	0	$0
5.	Outside Fees and Services: Other	0	0	0	$0
6.	Space Rental	0	0	0	$0
7.	Travel	0	0	0	$0
8.	Marketing	32,400	32,400	0	$64,800
8.1. Ad Placement		32,400	32,400	0	64,800
9.	Remaining Proposal Expenses	0	0	0	$0
D.	Total Proposal Expenses	54,900	54,900	0	$109,800

	Proposal Income	A. Request	B. Cash Income	C. In-Kind	Total
10.	Revenue: Admissions		54,900		$54,900
10-1 Ticket sales			54,900		54,900
11.	Revenue: Contracted Services		0		$0
12.	Revenue: Other		0		$0
13.	Private Support: Corporate		0		$0
14.	Private Support: Foundation		0		$0
15.	Private Support: Other		0		$0
16.	Government Support: Federal		0		$0
17.	Government Support: Regional		0		$0
18.	Government Support: Local/County		0		$0
19.	Applicant Cash		0		$0
E.	Total Proposal Income	54,900	54,900	0	$109,800

Additional Proposal Budget Information

As the Playhouse continues to grow, the necessity for increased marketing dollars is evident. Also, in 2012-13, the Playhouse will hire an Artistic Associate to help with fielding plays, directing some of the increased amount of plays, and acting in one or two per year as well. Funds are also requested to help defray costs of key artistic and production staff: Producing Artistic Director and Technical Director.

Fiscal Condition and Sustainability

Since its founding in 2004, Gulfshore Playhouse has continued to expand and grow each year. In these seven years the reputation of the Playhouse and The Gulfshore Playhouse Theatre Education project has become synonymous with quality, innovation and affordability.

In 2007 the ART SMART program began with five workshops and two presentations. 2008 saw 13 workshops and four presentations. In 2009, 92 workshops and two presentations were offered. The workshops are extremely effective and the word has spread throughout the education community.

Over the past four years, the production side of the Playhouse has grown exponentially as well as evidenced by the below:

Ticket sales:
2007-2008 $42,725
2008-2009 $77,667
2009-2010 $161,485
2010-2011 $338,954

Subscriptions:
2008-2009 - 6 subscribers
2009-2010 - 201 subscribers = $21,594
2010-2011 - 466 subscribers = $57,930

Fiscal Stability
Gulfshore Playhouse at present is obligated to no debt. Since its inception revenue from ticket sales have covered production costs and added a bit of income, and the additional unearned income covers overhead costs associated with administrative, education and general overhead needs.

Until the organization has a stable, recognizable location dedicated to its initiatives, there are no plans to begin to amass an endowment.

Already two major partners, Cohen Grigsby and Fidelity Investments, have committed to sponsorship for the 2011-12 season.

With successful programs such as The Ambassadors Group, the Playhouse has found effective ways to spread the word in a cost-effective manner. Their annual fundraisers, both a Golf Tournament with Ambassadors' Reception as well as a Musical Gala, are well-supported and in fact awaited within the community. Many foundations have come on board to donate funds to the Scholarship Program which allows the Playhouse Education Project to give in-school workshops for free to schools in-need such as The Immokalee Foundation, The Suncoast for Kids Foundation, The Rabb Family Foundation and the Wachovia Foundation.

Evaluation Plan

Questionnaires and surveys
When a customer purchases a ticket for Gulfshore Playhouse, in person or on-line, they are requested to answer a short survey. Survey questions cover past shows attended and the opinion of it, as well as whether or not the patron is a full or part-time resident and/or visitor and how did they hear about this show. The survey also solicits suggestions from the customer regarding future production or event ideas.

The same questionnaire is a part of the process for any customer who signs up for the mailing list at the theatre, and is available in the theatre at each performance as well as continually in the lobby of the Norris Center.

General comments are also solicited on the Gulfshore Playhouse website.

Peer Review
Every production and many general events produced by Gulfshore Playhouse are reviewed by local media critics.

Visual Documentation
Every stage production, student performance or workshop and most general events such as the Cabaret performances are extensively photographed for visual documentation.

Rubrics and Surveys
For ART SMART, the in-school division of the Gulfshore Playhouse Theatre Education Project, teachers are asked to submit comments on and reviews of the work performed by Gulfshore Playhouse artist/educators for each workshop. These reactions are gathered through both a Likert Scale form and ad hoc written comments and letters.

Every workshop requires student participants to give feedback on the presentation and content of the work, as well as take a pre-workshop and post-workshop assessment quiz.

Use of Evaluation Material
In every case, these review and evaluation methods, whether for the general performance schedule, educational workshops and classes or in-house documentation, are regularly reviewed by staff and board members. These evaluations are mined for ideas and suggestions that would improve the quality of the work of the playhouse, or might contribute to the expansion of the same.

Applicant Accessibility

Question	Response
Does the applicant have policies and procedures (including a complaint process) that address non-discrimination on the basis of disability?	Yes
Does the applicant have a staff person that is responsible for compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, Americans with Disabilities Act and Florida Statutes 553?	Yes (Nathan Renner-Johnson)
Has the applicant completed the Section 504 Self Evaluation Workbook from the National Endowment for the Arts (linked) in the last 5 years?	Yes

Accessibility

Gulfshore Playhouse Accessibility Policy and Procedures
• As tenants of The Norris Center/The City of Naples the physical facilities of Gulfshore Playhouse are compliant with all applicable standards as set by part V of Florida State Statue 553.
• Access to any and all Gulfshore Playhouse programming will be open to all regardless of age, race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, creed, socio-economic status, or disability.
• Visually and Hearing Impaired Patrons: Individual requests will be evaluated on a case by case basis. Front of house management is authorized to reissue seating in order to accommodate the needs of visually or hearing impaired patrons, without any increase in price or fee assessed to the patron, based upon availability if no advance notice is given.
• Special Seating Requirements: Individual requests will be evaluated on a case by case basis. Front of house management is authorized to remove, adjust or reconfigure the facility’s flexible seating in order to accommodate the needs of any patron with a disability or discomfort. No increase or fee will be accessed to these patrons.
• Requests, complaints and suggestions concerning any Accessibility Policy or Procedure can be submitted via phone, email or written and sent to the attention of Kristen Coury, Producing Artistic Director or Nathan Renner-Johnson, Audience Services Coordinator.

Item #1- Executive Director’s Letter
Item #2- Articles of Incorporation
Item #3- Review Examples from 2006-2009
Item #4- 2009-2010 Production Photos/Reviews
Item #5- 2010-2011 Production Photos/Reviews
Item #6- 2011-2012 Season Announcement
Item #7- Letters of Support
Item #8- Education
Item #9- Awards and Recognition
Item #10- Long Range Plan
Item #11- Organizational Chart
Item #12- Board and Staff Biographies
Item #13- Marketing Materials
Item #14- Sample Playbill, “Blithe Spirit”