Support the League
Donate to the League of Chicago Theatres Foundation and take a leading role in what Time Magazine calls "the best theater in the U.S."
Our Mission
The League of Chicago Theatres (LCT) is an alliance of theaters which leverages its collective strength to promote, support and advocate for Chicago's theater industry locally, nationally and internationally. The League of Chicago Theatres Foundation (LCTF) is dedicated to enhancing the art of theater in the Chicago area through audience development and support services for theaters and theater professionals.
By supporting the League of Chicago Theatres Foundation you will provide us with the vital resources to respond to the needs of theaters throughout Chicago and Illinois. Our services help theaters:
Increase Visibility of Chicago Theaters
www.chicagoplays.com
Praised by the Toronto Star as "a model of centralized theatre information," our searchable show database has links to theaters' home pages, show openings and closings, a free Guide offer and details on League promotions. The Hot Tix page lists available shows, updated twice a day. This site is the most up-to-date, comprehensive source of information for Chicago theater on the web.
Cultivate Emerging Theaters
Our one-on-one consultations with emerging member theaters help give them the tools they need to expand and grow as well as help support their staff and board in all areas of theater management as they evolve from start up to established theaters.
Build Audiences, Boost Revenue, and Cut Costs
Theater Thursdays
This new promotion has added-value experiences to make Thursday night "the" night for new audiences to enjoy Chicago's live theater scene. Created to help target new audiences, this event adds a social element to the theater experience. Every Thursday one theater will host the main event. Other theaters are encouraged to participate as well by offering special ticketing discounts to increase attendance on Thursdays. This popular new program gained citywide attention when Mayor Daley and the City Council honored this program, officially naming Thursdays "Theater Thursday" for all of Chicago in February 2005.
Hot Tix
A strong marketing tool that sells nearly 100,000 tickets/year, and returns over $1.8 million dollars annually for a full range of local theaters, Hot Tix is one of the most successful audience development tools available to League members. All League members provide is a minimal number of half-priced, day-of-show tickets weekly to maintain variety. In addition, we also sell full-price Ticketmaster event tickets. We now offer an opt-in, daily email of Hot Tix listings, plus full-priced tickets for all member shows and advance half-priced tickets, as available. We have a total of seven Hot Tix outlets with locations in Chicago and the suburbs.
Cooperative Advertising
To encourage small to mid size theaters to advertise, this program pools their resources for discounted rates from area print and radio media. We place more than $1.8 million in advertising/year in the Chicago Tribune, Sun-Times (includes Pioneer Press, The Doings, the Star and the Daily Southtown), Reader, New City, the Daily Herald, the Onion, WBEZ radio, Key Magazine, and new this year, Time Out Chicago. Savings to theaters can be as much as 40% off the open rates and League members have no minimum contract requirement to receive these discounts.
Establish Government Relations
Advocacy
The League interprets its advocacy role broadly, striving to raise the profile of Chicago theater and our industry's involvement in all major sectors. We raised theaters' business sector profile via a recent publication "Live Theater is Big Business in Chicago" (in partnership with the Illinois Arts Alliance). This brochure documents the theater industry's economic power and continues to generate new opportunities for promoting theater and creating new partnerships to benefit our membership. We maintain active partnerships with such civic groups as State Street Council, Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce and Greater North Michigan Avenue Association and arts organizations such as the Technical Assistance Providers Network (coordinated by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs).
Government Relations
The League facilitates government relations for live theater and drives the push for a simpler and less burdensome license and code process for performing arts venues. Our achievements include reduced costs for smaller theaters by simplifying Electric Code and zoning standards, the exemption of all non-profits from the cumbersome accounting and extensive liabilities our non-profits face when processing gift certificates, and we are now finalizing plans to streamline the licensing procedure through creation of a new Performing Arts Venue license type. The League works closely with government agencies to expand the role of theater in City programs. As partner to the Department of Cultural Affairs, we provide show listings on information kiosks, and we serve on several urban development committees for the Department of Planning.
Networking & Communications
Member Communications
We host a variety of community-wide social events as well as networking meetings that bring together theater professionals and create a unique camaraderie in the Chicago theater industry.
Contributions may also be mailed to:
The League of Chicago Theatres Foundation
228 S. Wabash, Suite 200
Chicago IL 60604
All contributions will be acknowledged by letter.
The League of Chicago Theatres Foundation is a 501(c) organization, FEIN 36-3031980,
and all donations are tax deductible to the extent of the law.
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