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Sooner Theatre highlights Broadway/DreamWorks collaboration, scholarships and growth
Summary
Sooner Theatre executive director Jennifer Baker told the Park Board the theatre has expanding enrollment, higher scholarship giving and upcoming collaborations with Broadway and DreamWorks; the board accepted the report and forwarded it to City Council.
Jennifer Baker, executive director of the Sooner Theatre, presented the organization's annual report to the City of Norman Board of Park Commissioners on Sept. 4 and the board voted to accept the report and forward it to City Council.
Why it matters: Sooner Theatre is a community arts provider that uses city facilities and partners with Parks & Recreation on accessibility and programming. The report documents audience and program growth as well as partnerships that bring visiting artists to Norman.
What the board heard: Baker said the theatre is expanding student opportunities and partnerships. She reported a national recognition — she was one of five recipients of the Freddie G. Fellowship — and said the fellowship included a $5,000 award that the theatre is using for staff development. Baker told commissioners DreamWorks and Broadway representatives will be in Norman in December as part of a premiere of a new children’s musical; she said the theatre is “in the midst of working with I Theatrics and DreamWorks” and that representatives will visit in December.
Baker summarized other recent and planned activities: an invitation for students to sing with the Oklahoma City Philharmonic on Sept. 21 as part of the Philharmonic’s Discovery Series; a planned performance at Allied Arts’ Opus fundraiser; participation in the United Way Celebrity Sing; and a seniors’ program partnership with Healthy Living Norman called Theater 55 which will stage Guys and Dolls next June.
Baker reported enrollment trends: although the packet covered the previous fiscal year, current enrollment was already up about 15 percent, with more than 100 new enrollments before the studio opened for the new season. She said scholarship requests were up and that the theatre awarded nearly $138,000 in scholarships last year, and reiterated the theatre’s policy to avoid turning away students who cannot afford fees.
Staff and audit notes: Baker said the theatre is near completion of an auditor’s review following a transition to QuickBooks; the transition had produced a large accounts-receivable entry that has been corrected.
Board action: After Baker’s presentation the board accepted the annual report and voted to forward it to City Council for the next step in the city’s review process.
Ending: The theatre’s report, accepted by the board, will be included in the packet sent to City Council. The Sooner Theatre has asked to coordinate future accessibility tours with Parks & Recreation staff.
