1. Theatre Organization
NYU Tisch School of Drama
Syllabus – Spring 2006 Lory Henning
Tuesdays, 1p – 2:30p lah282@nyu.edu
(917) 405-1805
January 17 Introductions and course outline
Class Discussion: Not for Profit Theatre – An overview
Assignment #1: Choose and make contact with a Non Profit theatre
company.
January 24 Homework review
Class Discussion: Not for Profit Theatre - The Mission Statement
Assignment #2: Learn about your theatre’s mission statement
January 31 Homework review
Class Discussion: Not for Profit Theatre - Organizational Structure
(Board of Trustees, Artistic Director, Managing Director)
Assignment #3: Learn about your theatre’s organizational structure.
February 7 Homework review
Class Discussion: Not for Profit Theatre - Artistic Policies (Play
selection, outreach, etc)
Assignment #4: Learn about your theatre’s artistic policies
February 14 Homework review
Class Discussion: Not for Profit Theatre - Funding and Finances
Assignment #5: Learn about your theatre’s funding and finances
February 21 Homework review
Class Discussion: Not for Profit Theatre – Press, Marketing and
Audience Subscriptions
Assignment #6: Learn about your theatre’s press, marketing and
subscription programs
February 28 Homework review
Class Discussion: British company manager, Adrian Storey, visits us
to talk about theatre structures in the United Kingdom
Assignment #7: Get the goods on your theatre. How are they doing?
March 7 Homework review
Midterm Exam (Group project in class)
Assignment #8: Choose and make contact with a commercial theatre
company.
March 14 No Class – Spring Break

2. March 21 Homework review
Class Discussion: Commercial Theater – Choosing a property and
securing rights.
Assignment #9: Learn from your commercial theatre company how and
why they chose their property. How was it developed? See if you can get
your hands on copies of their contracts!
March 28 Homework review
Class Discussion: Commercial Theatre – Forming a production
company (what kind of company should you form?)
Assignment #10: Learn why your commercial theatre company chose to
form the kind of company that they did.
April 4 Homework review
Class Discussion: Commercial Theatre – Raising Capital and
Budgeting
Assignment #11: Learn how your commercial theatre company raised its
capital and see what you can learn about their production budget.
April 11 Homework review
Class Discussion: Commercial Theatre - Unions and Theater Owners
Assignment #12: Learn about the union contracts and theatre deal that
your commercial theatre company has.
April 18 Homework review
Class Discussion: Commercial Theatre – Long running shows and
tours.
Assignment #13: Get the goods on your company. How are they doing?
April 25 Homework review
Final Exam (Group project in class)
Grade Calculations are made as follows:
Assignments: Worth 5 points each
Mid-term: Worth 5 points
Final: Worth 5 points
65-75 points = A
55-64 points = B
45-54 points = C
35-44 points = D
34 or fewer points = F
Please Note: After three class absences, you will lose one letter grade for the course.