As with any performance with an audience, rights and royalties are involved in a "Pay What You Will” performance (including a preview performance), but this is a muddy area for many of us in community theatre.  Author Michael Cochran reached out to licensing representatives at two royalty houses, and presents responses from Dramatic Publishing and Music Theatre International.
  

If your theatre is one of the lucky ones, there will come a time—sooner than you think—when an “anniversary” will arrive. Whether it’s 25, 50, 75, or 100 years or beyond, moments like these in your theatre’s history will warrant public acknowledgement and celebration.

This article, by Katrina Ploof, offers some ideas on how to celebrate with your volunteers, audience, and alumni--and kick-start long-range fundraising. 

Your theatre relies on volunteer support—but skilled, reliable volunteers don’t appear out of thin air. You need strategies that will attract and retain top-quality, passionate volunteers that you can count on.

Volunteer management is crucial to the continued success of most theatres. They bring skills, dedication and, most important, passion to the time they give you.

Proper volunteer management has the potential to grow your volunteer pool and foster retention, helping you maintain access to skilled, reliable support. In this guide, we cover the core components of an effective volunteer management strategy, including:

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) protects people with disabilities from discrimination. 

This easy-to-understand document was written by Steven John Fellman, ADA Counsel, National Association of Theatre Owners.  It covers almost every area of a theatre in terms of ADA requirements.

In addition to our goal of making theatre as inclusive as possible, federal law states that if the patrons have paid to be in attendance, venues are required to provide interpretive services for their Deaf audience members, upon request. 

This article offers suggestions on finding a certified, experienced ASL interpreter for productions, classes, special events and meetings. It also explains the way in which these services are provided, and how interpreters are positioned to best advantage.

This classic work by Marlene Wilson (now out of print) focuses on psychological and power-structure issues that have changed little since it was first published.  

This five-page article by Geoffrey Kiel and James Beck provides a practical framework of key questions that boards should consider when planning an evaluation. It explains the he value of properly conducted board evaluations, as well as the importance of the board evaluation process in providing meaningful results.

This classic book by Sue Vineyard (now out of print), remains highly relevant today, with chapters including "Motivating and Volunteering," "Why People Volunteer," "What Turns People On (And Off)" and advice on keeping them, too.

This classic 49-page booklet from the Independent Center provides a comprehensive set of principles, whose  purpose is to reinforce a common understanding of transparency, accountability, and good governance for the sector as a whole—not only to ensure ethical and trustworthy behavior, but equally important, to spotlight strong practices that contribute to the effectiveness, durability, and broad popular support for charitable organizations of all kinds.