For Immediate Release: May 15, 2006
Media Contact: Megan Wendell, for the Theatre Alliance of Greater Philadelphia, 215.242.6393

The Theatre Alliance of Greater Philadelphia is pleased to announce the creation of an innovative consortium of Philadelphia-area performing arts organizations to launch a new region-wide box office, marketing and development initiative, beginning this year with The Wilma Theater and The Academy of Vocal Arts. Through the use of cutting-edge technology and a collaborative approach to audience building, the initiative will provide improved customer service to theater patrons and will be vital to the continued financial and artistic growth of the area’s performing arts institutions.

In a unique partnership between The Pew Charitable Trusts and the William Penn Foundation, the Theatre Alliance has received a grant to form the consortium and implement the use of Tessitura Arts Enterprise Software®, the premier theater management system originally designed for and by The Metropolitan Opera. Additional support will be provided by the Philadelphia Cultural Management Initiative, a program of The Pew Charitable Trusts, to strengthen the Alliance’s capacity to lead the Tessitura Consortium.

The technology will revolutionize customer management relations for arts in the region. At least eight organizations will begin to use the new software over the next three years, allowing them to share and analyze customer buying patterns, integrate sales and fundraising functions, and provide to their patrons the convenience of around-the-clock access to ticket purchasing.

The Alliance will also utilize Tessitura, creating the first one-stop real-time online ticketing destination for performing arts across the region. The centralized Web site will offer local patrons and visitors to the area a comprehensive ticket source and even allow them to choose specific seats before purchasing tickets. While commercial theaters have long offered this convenience to their customers, only a small percentage of local nonprofit theater companies were able to do so until now. In keeping with the Theatre Alliance mission to aid nonprofit theatre, Tessitura Software is supported by a nonprofit company, the Tessitura Network, Inc. Over 150 arts organizations worldwide benefit from this software and the unique business model in which a nonprofit technology company supports nonprofits.

Collecting patron data will allow the Alliance to analyze patterns in the region and compare them to trends in other markets across the country. “The ability to track performing arts patrons’ habits, ticket-buying patterns and trends is a vital step in continuing to cultivate the performing arts audience in the region,” says Glenn Knapp, Chair of the Theatre Alliance Board of Directors. “Not only will individual organizations benefit from Tessitura’s unique ability to fully integrate marketing and fundraising data; the entire community, organizations and audiences alike, will find greater efficiencies and services from the collaborative consortium model.”

The Wilma Theater and The Academy of Vocal Arts will be the first to implement the software in time for use in their 2006/2007 seasons. Initial participants will serve as leaders in the community and will assist subsequent participants by sharing their implementation lessons. In addition, the Alliance will employ specialists who will oversee the program’s execution and provide technical support.

“We’re thrilled that the Wilma will pilot the Tessitura consortium,” says James Haskins, incoming managing director of The Wilma Theater. “Access to new technology will have a huge impact on how our box office, marketing and fundraising departments communicate and will allow us to better serve our patrons. With leadership from the Theatre Alliance and collaboration with other participants, the program will truly strengthen our organization and the region’s performing arts community.”

Potential future participants include Arden Theatre Company, Bristol Riverside Theatre, Delaware Theatre Company, The People’s Light & Theatre Company, Philadelphia Live Arts Festival & Philly Fringe, and Philadelphia Theatre Company.

About the Organizations

The Theatre Alliance of Greater Philadelphia strengthens and leads the region’s richly diverse theater community, with more than 100 member organizations and 200 individuals, by promoting awareness and serving as a resource for information, professional development and advocacy. For further information, visit www.theatrealliance.org or call the Theatre Alliance at 215-413-7150.

The Pew Charitable Trusts serves the public interest by providing information, advancing policy solutions and supporting civic life. Based in Philadelphia, with an office in Washington, D.C., the Trusts will invest $204 million in fiscal year 2006 to provide organizations and citizens with fact-based research and practical solutions for challenging issues.

The Philadelphia Cultural Management Initiative (PCMI) was launched in October 2001 through a grant from The Pew Charitable Trusts to support the building of stronger arts and cultural institutions through a wide menu of programs and services addressing such areas as governance, human resources, evaluation, technology planning, financial management, fund development and strategic planning. PCMI can be found at www.artshelp.org.

The William Penn Foundation, founded in 1945 by Otto and Phoebe Haas, is dedicated to improving the quality of life in the Greater Philadelphia region through efforts that foster rich cultural expression, strengthen children’s futures, and deepen connections to nature and community. In partnership with others, the Foundation works to advance a vital, just, and caring community. Learn more about the Foundation online at www.williampennfoundation.org.

To request interviews and more information, please contact: Megan Wendell, Canary Promotion office: 215-242-6393, cell: 267-304-2391, email: megan@canarypromo.com

Go to News Releases»