Lerner Theatre celebrates centennial, board greenlights strategic planning process
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Summary
Board members recapped the Lerner Theatre's centennial events and endorsed development of a three-year strategic plan to expand programming and regional reach, to be steered by board member Diana Lawson.
The Lerner Theatre's governing board on Jan. 14 recapped a year of centennial programming that drew tens of thousands of visitors and asked staff to lead a formal strategic-planning process to guide the venue's next three years.
Carl Thompson, the Lerner's general manager, told the board he was "super impressed with the strong sense of community" and said the theater held "over 79 event nights and welcomed over 53,000 visitors" in 2025. The presentation emphasized partnerships with Friends of the Lerner, Downtown Elkhart Merchants and the Elkhart County CVB, and highlighted a time capsule and community-curated historical materials displayed as part of centennial events.
Board members agreed to develop a strategic plan that will produce an annual business plan, measurable goals and a steering committee to guide public outreach. Diana Lawson volunteered to chair the steering committee; staff said the plan will include community meetings and a proposed work session for the board.
Thompson said programming plans include additional regional touring acts, a free movie series co-sponsored by the Elkhart County CVB and a proposed 30-minute television special to tell the Lerner's history to a broader audience. The board discussed setting clear yearly metrics tied to the strategic plan so progress can be tracked annually.
The board did not take a formal vote on policy changes at the meeting; the next steps are formation of the steering committee and scheduling of community input sessions and a board work session to review draft plan pillars.
