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Holladay council backs city‑supported pilot for Holiday Theater Company, approves initial budget boost
Summary
A volunteer arts team presented a plan to launch a Holiday Theater Company; council agreed to fund a pilot this fiscal year (estimated $7,500–$8,500) and signaled support for additional funds next year while urging active fundraising.
Susan DeMille, a representative of the volunteer Holiday Theater Company, urged the Holladay City Council on March 6 to approve a city-supported pilot production this summer, saying the effort would create community performance opportunities for children and adults. “When we bring a community together, it’s magical, and it is indeed something that Holiday needs,” DeMille said.
City staff described how the program would operate and what the city would cover. Holly (city staff liaison to the arts council) told the council the pilot’s cost is likely “a little bit higher, maybe between, like, $7,500 to $8,500” once a venue deposit and required background checks are included. Staff recommended the Arts Council contract the artistic team, secure performance rights, manage ticketing and marketing, and use existing city insurance to cover volunteers.
Council members generally praised the volunteer team’s experience and the arts council’s endorsement but pressed for clarity on long‑term costs and fundraising. Council members noted that the first year’s pilot will rely on city funding to meet an accelerated timeline, while future years will likely require a larger operating budget — staff and the volunteer team estimated ongoing costs could be substantially higher (staff cited scenarios up to roughly $30,000–$70,000 depending on venue and production scale).
To ease startup, council discussed a mix of options including: (1) a budget amendment to cover the pilot this fiscal year and a planned appropriation for next year; (2) supplying a smaller city grant while the theater company operates as an independent nonprofit; or (3) actively pursuing sponsorships and ticket revenue to reduce long‑term city support. Council members expressed interest in soliciting private donors and corporate sponsors similar to the city’s summer concert underwriting to help offset costs.
Mayor closed the discussion by endorsing staff’s recommended option to move the pilot forward, summarizing the sentiment: “Let the show go on.”
Next steps: staff will adjust the pending budget amendment to reflect the higher pilot estimate and bring the amendment back to council for a vote on the next meeting agenda; the arts council and the volunteer theater team will begin rights acquisition, scheduling and fundraising outreach.
