10.e) Staff Report-Festival Theatre events� J
SCANDIA
Staff Report
Date of Meeting: February 16, 2016
To: City Council
From: Neil Soltis, Administrator
Re: St. Croix Festival Theatre use of Community Building
Background:
Due to the renovation of the theatre in saint Croix Falls, the Festival theatre is working with the
the Marine Community Library and Scandia/Marine Lions Club to a series of shows. Since their
performances are normally in their own facility, the City's rental charge is a burden and they are
requesting a reduced charge.
Issue:
Should the City reduce the charge for the Community Center for the Festival Theatre's run of
shows?
Proposal Details:
The normal charge for a non-profit group to rent the Community Building for a group of under
100 attendees is $150 / night. The Festival Theatre has scheduled 9 shows and needs time during
the week before for load in and set up. They have proposed a payment of $50 per set up day and
$50 per performance day along with $1 per ticket sold as an alternative payment. See the
following email for details.
Options
1) Take no action to reduce the current fee
2) Accept a reduced fee based on the event being sponsored by the Lions
Recommendation: Option 2 — With the payment of $1 per ticket sold, there is an opportunity to
recover most if not all of the full fee. This is also an opportunity to bring a large number of
people to Scandia who might not otherwise come into the community.
As part of The Big Read in the St. Croix Valley, St. Croix Festival Theatre is presenting the full -
stage production of The Grapes of Wrath adapted for the stage by Frank Galati from the novel by
John Steinbeck.
This season, Festival Theatre is without their home venue. Their historic Vaudeville house is
closed for much needed renovations so they are taking their shows, "on the road" so to speak.
During The Big Read 2015, the Marine Community Library and Scandia/Marine Lions Club co -
hosted a touring piece of theatre at the Scandia Community Center. This seemed like a great
option for the full -stage production and the center has been booked.
Because of the length of the run, the regular rental fee is a burden for the Theatre especially
during this season presenting work beyond their home venue. Please accept this request for a
modified venue rental fee which will take into account ticket sales while covering a base rate.
We are proposing: $50/tech day and $50/performance day + $1/ticket sold.
The performance schedule is below:
Tech week/load in: April 1 st- April 9th (exact usage to be determined and arranged)
Saturday, April 9th, 7:30 PM (Building use for evening shows 6-10:30pm)
Sunday, April 10th, 2:00 PM (Building use for afternoon shows 12:30-5pm)
Friday, April 15th, 7:30 PM
Saturday, April 16th, 7:30 PM
Sunday, April 17th, 2:00 PM
Thursday, April 21 st, 2:00 PM
Thursday, April 21st, 7:30 PM
Friday, April 22nd, 7:30 PM
Sunday, April 24th, 2:00 PM
About The Grapes of Wrath: The Joad family feel they must escape from the further financial
devastation that will follow a year without crops. Their farm has been decimated by the
Oklahoma dust bowl and bright future awaits them in the promised land of California if they can
get there. Upon arrival, they are met by the harsh reality of the Great Depression and must dig
deep to find the hope to continue.
The Big Read in the St. Croix Valley is coordinated by ArtReach St. Croix with libraries and
other partners around the region. The Big Read is a program of the National Endowment for the
Arts.
Thank you for your consideration.
Heather Rutledge
ArtReach St. Croix
224 N. 4th Street
Stillwater, MN 55082
651-439-1465
http://www.artreachstcroix.org
Find out what's happening in the St. Croix Valley at http://www.stcroixsplash.org