Download The Vision

American Shakespeare Festival Theatre
Stratford, Connecticut 06614
www.americanshakspearefestival.com
ASFT Business Plan
The Vision
Within five years, establish the American Shakespeare Festival Theatre and Stratford, CT
as America’s premiere performing arts / professional theater destination through:
 An annual classical theater repertory season highlighted by plays by Shakespeare and
other great playwrights performed by a professional resident, multicultural ensemble
of American theatrical talent (May-September);
 The establishment of the a Classical Theatre Training Academy which will produce
actors, directors, theatre artisans and craftsman to present the finest repertory classical
theatre in the world (January-September);
 Special holiday theater, music and dance entertainments such as The Christmas Carol,
etc. with special guest artists and local, regional and national co-presenting
organizations; (November-December);
 Presentations of classical music, pop & youth-appeal attractions and community and
corporate events (Year-round).
The Mission
 Position the American Shakespeare Festival Theatre as the crown jewel of American
cultural life;
 Build a uniquely American classical repertory theater company of actors and theater
artists;
 Produce classic plays and musicals which speak to contemporary American audiences
of all ages;
 Situate Stratford, CT as a preeminent cultural tourist destination on a par with
Canada’s Stratford Theater Festival and the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, drawing a
potential annual audience of 400,000 attendees from across North America;
 Collaborate
with
top-tier
American
performing
arts
organizations
(theater/dance/opera/music) on shared programming and production expenses, through
joint commissions and collaborations;
 Utilize the cultural resources and educational assets of the American Shakespeare
Festival Theatre to bridge the gaps in the communities of the greater Bridgeport-New
Haven-Stratford region.
Objectives
 Finalize plans for the complete renovation and restoration of the ASFT property;
 Explore partnerships with Connecticut non-profit higher education institutions to
utilize the property year-round, finance property renovation and amortize annual
maintenance;
 Re-brand the American Shakespeare Festival Theatre as a world-class classical
repertory-producing organization, featuring a resident acting ensemble of both
distinguished American theater artists and our brightest new acting talent;
 Revitalize Stratford, CT as a thriving arts-themed community by tapping into the
financial returns which such a classical repertory theater company and a multi-purpose
arts performing arts venue can bring to a community as witnessed by the Stratford
Theater Festival in Ontario, The Berkshires and the Oregon Shakespeare Festival;
 Institute a comprehensive educational outreach program for Connecticut residents of all
ages through a May-June school matinee program;
 Develop classic plays and musical theater “product” for Broadway, national tours and
co-productions with other resident theater companies across the US;
Strategies
 Engage Randall Duk Kim, America’s leading classical actor, and Anne Occhiogrosso
as Co-Artistic Directors to build and train the ASFT resident professional company of
American theater artists (April 15);
 Engage Frank Tobin as Management Consultant for the preliminary strategic planning
/ fundraising / property renovation phase of the project (April 15)
 Develop ongoing relationships with America’s most distinguished theater artists who
will be invited as “Guest Artists” for the summer classical repertory season and the
fall/winter season of American plays and musicals;
 Create additional arts-oriented multicultural programming for all ages (musicals, pop
concerts, classical music events, youth-appeal events, etc.)
Action Plan
 Develop Feasibility Study & Case for Support (June-August)
 Outreach to various state economic development bodies through Stratford Economic
Development Council to explore funding possibilities (May-June)
 Formulate Governor’s Blue Ribbon Leadership Committee strategy with Stratford Arts
Commission to (June)
 Finalize theatre remodeling plans, review bids & launch reconstruction (June)
 Meetings with prospects for F/R campaign & potential members of Board of
Directors (June-August)
 Assemble Artistic “Friends of ASF”& Plan Summer Classical Theatre Evening
Presentation (June-July);
 Report Feasibility Study findings, announce Budget Projections & launch Fund Raising
Campaign (September 15)
 Finalize plans for 2011 Season (October)