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In this interview Noozhawk spoke with Jim Sirianni Publicity and Social Media Manager at Center Stage Theater to learn more about how the nonprofit offers an affordable and accessible arts venue in Santa Barbara.
Center Stage Theater
Question: What is the name and mission of your nonprofit?
Answer: Center Stage Theater. Our mission: Center Stage Theater exists to provide a professional, affordable, and accessible arts venue for the Santa Barbara community. The theater offers an environment where people of all ages, levels of expertise, and socio-economic backgrounds can participate in a hands-on experience as artists, technicians, and audience members. Center Stage encourages work that celebrates new artists and the cultural diversity of our community.
Q: How long has your nonprofit been in service, and who are its founders?
A: 34 years. Center Stage began by partnering with government, business, and concerned citizens. When Paseo Nuevo Mall was initially built, the City of Santa Barbara mandated that an Arts Plaza be included that contained a theater for the community. Some of the arts warriors who helped lead the charge were Mayor Harriet Miller, Head of the Santa Barbara County Arts Commission Patrick Davis, and many, many more.
Q: What was the inspiration behind your nonprofit?
A: To provide a professional, affordable, and accessible performing arts venue for the Santa Barbara community. Because Center Stage Theater is a venue where “theater, dance, and music begin,” it goes without saying that many of our renters and producers are very new to the process of producing a show. Up-and-coming artists, especially those in underrepresented communities, such as the BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities, typically have limited resources either financially and/or in personnel. It is these communities that Center Stage seeks to assist regularly year after year.
Q: How is your nonprofit primarily funded and what are your greatest needs?
A: Venue rentals, ticket sales, foundation and government grants, and individual donations are our primary funding sources.
Q: In what ways does your nonprofit utilize its funding?
A: Donations are used to support everyone who rents the theater. We raise funds each year to allow us to keep our rental rates as affordable as possible and to do maintenance and upkeep on the theater. Creating performing arts has always been challenging, and right now, it is more challenging than ever. Economics is a large part of that challenge, both materials and personnel costs have increased drastically in recent years and that makes our fundraising efforts more critical.
Every penny we raise helps us better serve our renters, either by preventing rate increases or by investing in equipment repairs and updates. One of the efforts we have started in recent years is to produce one or two productions ourselves that help lift up the voices of underrepresented artists. We select an artist and help them create a production. These are artists from underrepresented communities that, for various reasons, may not have been able to produce at the theater, and this is our way of expanding our diversity at the theater. Donations also support this program.
Q: What types of fundraisers and/or programs does your nonprofit run?
A: Our primary program and income source is the rental of the theater. We do a great deal of fundraising each year to keep our rental rates as affordable as possible. A portion of every rental is subsidized. From time to time, we produce our own in-house events and shows as fundraisers for the venue itself and to help encourage and uplift underrepresented artists. Since 2012, we have also hosted the Annual Santa Barbara French Festival as a fundraiser.
Q: What makes your nonprofit different from others?
A: Center Stage Theater is unique because it’s the only intimate black box theater in downtown Santa Barbara that is a rental venue for the public. (There are other black box theaters at several schools and colleges in Santa Barbara County, but they are generally unavailable to rent to the public.)
The intimacy of Center Stage makes it very accessible to producers who are just starting out. With only 130 seats, it’s the perfect venue for an up-and-coming producer to grow their audience. Also, the intimate setting allows for events and shows that lend themselves to a smaller audience. For example, the audience is better connected to the performers and can be “drawn in” to the storyline in a way that might get lost on a larger stage. A one-person or two-person show works well at Center Stage.
Q: How does the work of your nonprofit get communicated to the public?
A: Through our website, a weekly email newsletter, and through social media such as Facebook and Instagram. Anyone can join our newsletter list and follow us on social media. You can find us on Facebook at CenterStageSB and on Instagram @centerstagetheatersb.
Q: Why should donors trust your organization and are there other ways to help outside of donations?
A: One word comes to mind – longevity. As mentioned before, Center Stage has been around for over 34 years. And because of our excellent relationship with Paseo Nuevo and the City of Santa Barbara, we look forward to being around for the next 34 years and more. One way to help Center Stage is to spread the word about productions and the venue itself. Over the years, we have found word of mouth is the best way to let folks know about our shows and theater space.
Q: Is there anything else you would like to share about your nonprofit that has not been mentioned above?
A: We want to emphasize that anyone can rent the theater and that we work to mentor and support all renters so that they can learn from the process and grow from the experience. One of our “slogans,” if you will, is “Center Stage Theater, where theater, dance, and music begin.” And it’s very much true. One of our long-time renters, Out of the Box Theatre Company, has been with Center Stage for over ten years. They started from scratch, working closely with us to learn how to put on a musical, and they’ve been very successful ever since. Another of our long-time producers is DramaDogs. DramaDogs has been with Center Stage since the very beginning.
We’ve also seen several of our dance companies start out at Center Stage and grow their audiences over the years. Dance companies such as Momentum Dance Company, The Dance Network, the Santa Barbara Dance Arts, and The Arts Mentorship Program, to name a few, have had huge successes over the years with Center Stage.
We look forward to helping the next generation of performers, musicians, actors, directors, and brand-new producers and designers bring their stories, messages, and art to life on the stage!
Click here to learn more about Center Stage Theater’s mission to provide a professional, affordable, and accessible arts venue for the Santa Barbara community.
Check out Noozhawk’s Guide to Giving for a full list of nonprofits to donate to this giving season.
If you would like to include your nonprofit in our Good for Santa Barbara section and Giving Guide click HERE.