Theatre Facts 2004

2004 marks the 30 th anniversary of TCGs Theatre Facts, an annual report on the fields attendance, performance and fiscal health, based on information provided by theatres that participate in the annual TCG Fiscal Survey. This report contains information for the fiscal year that theatres completed any time between September 1, 2003, and August 31, 2004. Last years Theatre Facts 2003 reported on the fiscal year following 9/11 and the negative impact of the economic downturn on the nonprofit professional theatre industry. In 2004, the industry rebounded in many areas, showing that belt tightening after the hardships of the prior year and vigorous commitment to income generation left the average theatre in a better position than it was in 2003. Theatres continue to make tremendous contributions to the nations artistic heritage, to their communities and to the economy despite the severe challenges of recent years.

This report complies with the audit structure recommended by the Federal Accounting Standards Board (FASB). We examine CUNA (Change in Unrestricted Net Assets), which is the balance that remains after subtracting total unrestricted fund expenses from total unrestricted income, rather than accounting only for changes in operating funds. Unless otherwise noted, income is reported as a percentage of expenses because expenses serve as the basis for determining budget size.

The long form Fiscal Survey was completed by 198 theatres. Their indepth information provides a solid foundation for our examination of finances and operational activity. Because theatres provide different levels of detail in their responses to the annual survey, via a long and short form, we offer three sets of analyses that offer an increasing level of detail.

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By Zannie Giraud Voss and Glenn B. Voss, with Christopher Shuff and Ilana B. Rose, Theatre Communication Group