Please Donate to AMTSJ ... 73-Year Old Company in $$ Woes!!

[tmm_fan]

Posted: 4/6/07 at 4:38am

I just bought a sixth row ticket to opening night of Smokey Joe's Cafe off of http://www.amtsj.org, even though I am also going on the 21st with two second row tix I bought off of craigslist. And this is in "addition" to donating $250 every month (for a $250,000 annual donation). I ask you all to please give ... whether it's $10 or $10,000, every amount helps. And remember, if you are in or near the area, to purchase tickets to their productions!

Michael Miller and this latest staff is totally comitted to turning AMT around; unfortunately, they have inherited all of the terrible decisions made by the previous team (ie switching to mostly touring shows in the late '90's, which is one reason why they're in financial trouble now). And in order "to" turn the theatre company around, and hopefully bring it back to greatness, they need more money.

How to Donate:

Check: Make check payable to AMTSJ and send to:
AMTSJ Donor Services
1717 Technology Drive
San Jose, CA 95110-1305

Credit Card and how to find out about the various donor levels: Call Donor Services at 408.453.1542

They are improving, or at least attempting to ... they are bringing back the Technical Theatre Training program this Summer, which is a hopeful sign. But AMT's audience has shrunk because of a decline in overall "quantity" of local stuff in previous years, and as a result they have had to let go of some staff (they were recently forced to let go of their two year old artistic director, which was really tragic).

The reason I am donating is because AMT still has the ability and -- finally -- expertise to return to greatness; and while it probably won't be anytime soon, their productions are still top-notch, and hopefully, more people "will" donate and thus give AMT the resources it needs to turn around.

Please ... give all you can. We look at Papermill's troubles, and AMT is even older than that theatre.

In an interesting twist, Michael Miller was Director of Production at Papermill from 1998-2002, when he returned to AMT in '02 and became CEO in '04.

Updated On: 4/22/07 at 04:38 AM

Posted: 4/6/07 at 6:03am

If I could afford to, I would donate...everything I have seen there has been top-notch, and they provided me with my first chance to see a fully-staged, big grand production of FUNNY GIRL and it was amazing. DREAMGIRLS there was astounding too, I got to work backstage on that one in the presence of Brenda Braxton! I hope they get the funds they need to stay afloat!

[tmm_fan]

Posted: 4/6/07 at 1:11pm

Me too ... I am optimistic, though :). And remember ... even if you can aford only $10 a month or so, every little bit helps.

AMT is one of the oldest musical theatre companies in the nation, and one of the largest.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 4/6/07 at 1:19pm

I feel a telethon coming on.

[tmm_fan]

Posted: 4/8/07 at 1:06pm

Well, hopefully that is a good thing :)

[bah1138]

Posted: 4/8/07 at 3:33pm

Any company that hires a two-year-old as their artistic director deserves what they get!

Sorry! Couldn't resist!

But seriously, I grew up on this company, and witnessed the alienation they did to their audience (and subscribers!) in the late 90s. My family had 2nd preview choice seats, but were pushed back (seats and dates) when we reupped in fall of '95, when the tour shows started coming in. The big problem is the San Jose Center for the Performing Arts. It is a bohemoth of a space that can only handle huge productions. And technical standards of theatre are pushing the budgets through the roof. What company can afford to produce 5 or 6 multi-million dollar shows a year. The annual budget is probably higher than the capitalization for THE PIRATE QUEEN. The answer is not pledge drives or more donations. The enterprise must be re-invented. The times are demanding it. All the big regional companies are dying: Goodspeed, Papermill, Houston. Now AMT. It's because they can't afford the market anymore. If someone has the answer, let them come forth. We all need it, or the regional theatre will go the way of the dinosaur.

[emo_geek]

Posted: 4/8/07 at 5:38pm

I donated last summer. Lovley people

[tmm_fan]

Posted: 4/8/07 at 8:46pm

Updated On: 4/8/07 at 08:46 PM

[tmm_fan]

Posted: 4/8/07 at 8:47pm

Two year old artistic director ... funny :).

I definitely do see what you're saying and all, and do agree. On the other hand, when it is reported that San Jose Rep is in the red becuase of poor management and knowingly over-spending for years, and AMT is also having financial troubles due to -- what I think everyone sees -- a tragic ripple effect of awful decision-making from the previous management team (after Michael Miller left in '95 up to becoming AMT's CEO in '04), donations definitely make a difference.

As you said, things do need to change if theatre is to survive, especially musical theatre. Mike and his team is turning AMT around, slowly but surely, and hopefully, SJ Rep will manage themselves better from now on.

I mean, if it weren't for overloading AMT with tours in the late '90's (touring companies charge $10-$25 more a ticket, and I am sure that is what kept some people away), the theatre company would probably be in better shape today. I breathed a sigh of relief when they started balancing outthe seasons; half touring and half local. Of course, by then, it was too late ... I am sure that it was a bit of a challenge to get those four days of Jesus Christ Superstar's Farewell Tour in Decemeber.

[tmm_fan]

Posted: 4/11/07 at 3:05am

Just got back from opening night of Smokey Joe's Cafe at AMT. The show is great; if you are in or near the Bay Area (heck, even if you aren't), I strongly urge you to buy a ticket.

A number of empty seats, which is common for an AMT show, but also pretty full, which is uncommon (but awesome). During the traditional pre-show shpiel, Michael Miller said that subscriptions were up, AMT has paid back San Jose's $1 Million loan and is on track to reaching their fundraising goal (they need a couple thousand dollars by late June).

However, lest we forget the past. Subscriptions/donations at AMT have risen and fallen fast before. I am not saying they will again this time, but my point is that people cannot donate only when it is announced that a theatre is in the red. If you love theatre, musical theatre especially, then please give all you can. It not only says something about you, but it is also helping out the future of the musical theatre.

Especially at AMT, really one of our oldest, largest and most treasured theatre companies.

Updated On: 4/22/07 at 03:05 AM

[tmm_fan]

Posted: 4/22/07 at 2:18am

bump

[zoom]

Posted: 4/22/07 at 2:50am

Thanks for bumping this cause everyone here just loves AMTSJ.

A collective....who?????

[tmm_fan]

Posted: 4/22/07 at 2:58am

AMT is actually one of the oldest and most treasured theatres in the nation. "Because" they're one of the oldest and largest alone makes it a very special company, you know?

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 4/22/07 at 4:12am

"Because."

That means sorta.

[emo_geek]

Posted: 4/22/07 at 4:19am

I like them and I live five hours away...

[tmm_fan]

Posted: 4/22/07 at 4:30am

OK

AMT is a well-known, historic and renowned musical theatre, and that is why I fully support it, that is all.

I am just trying my best to get more people to donate, as it is how theatres survive and is the right thing to do. I don't want to start a debate on ... why donating to one of the oldest and most historic companies is important.

[Mr. Tuttle]

Posted: 4/22/07 at 2:34pm

As former person who worked for this organization, this is neither one of the nation's oldest or "most respected" theater companies. They are not a leader in the theater world and, unfortunately, never have been.

What they are is big. They have a great facility. They have a great scene and costume shop (well..they use to). What they don't have, like Papermill, is a clue. And they still don't.

Consistant bad choices of casting and directors (and we're talking recently...not years ago under Dianna). Then they thought it was best just to present touring shows and screw their mission statment of "presenting locally produced shows." Now, they suddenly realize "Hey, we're loosing thousands of theatergoers. We better do soemthing." And how do they fix that? By presenting some cheesey Christmas show that even Branson wouldn't touch? That show's their committment to the future of theater? Right.

AMTSJ, like Papermill, needs to get a clue. Before we start giving hand outs, let's make sure that the new leadership (or, in their case, ANY leadership) have a plan. Currently, they don't. If they want to go pleading for money, let them prove they are real.

This company has abused the goodwill of theatergoers for far too long. As soon as they prove they have their act together, I will support them. They have done nothing to prove they are serious about providing quality, local theater to the SF Bay Area. Just because they have new leaders doesn't mean they will "turn the company around." Why throw good money after bad.

And..yes..no one outside the SF Bay Area has a clue what this company is. Which is sad, cause they had potential to be a force.

Updated On: 4/22/07 at 02:34 PM

[tmm_fan]

Posted: 4/22/07 at 4:38pm

In its heyday, AMT did used to be a huge force; and they are "one" of the country's oldest musical theatres (founded in '34; I think that meets the qualifications). I remember back in middle school, some of my classmates were involved in CMT, and together, CMT and AMT were huge forces. The CEO and newest team now are turning it around and trying to reverse the terrible decisions made by previous leadership; believe me, I have spoken to them and they are fully comitted and do have a plan.

There are too many people who donate to theatre only when it is announced that they're in the red; it's sad, but it's true. When Michael hired Tim Bair, things did really look great; but he was forced to let go of Tim because previous managements decisions in the late '90's finally backfired financially on the current ownership. Everything goes in cycles, and everything has a ripple effect. And unfortunately, current management has inherited the huge mess leftover from previous screwed up years (a friend of mine even said she auditioned once in the late '90's, and said that it was not a good experience).

I still cannot believe that I have to defend why donating to AMT is an important thing.

And CMT is awful, yes, so don't go into the companies mess

Updated On: 4/22/07 at 04:38 PM

[Mr. Tuttle]

Posted: 4/22/07 at 6:30pm

While it's great that you've "talked" to them about their "exciting" new direction, show us what exactly have they done. What exciting new plans have the made to revitalize the company and bring back its local focus? I'm glad that they have had all this time to "talk".

Bottom line...actions speak lounder than words. Since you seem to know them and this organization so well, maybe you can tell them to actually DO SOMETHING instead of talk about it.

And this is the end of my participation in this thread cause, as stated above, when poeople read about your so-called "oldest" and "respected" AMTSJ...there's a collective..

WHAT?

[tmm_fan]

Posted: 4/22/07 at 6:51pm

I just support them because they're one of the oldest and largest musical theatres in the nation, and call me naive, but I think that's important. When Miller became CEO, he reversed a seven year decline of subscriptions. The decline began in '98, a year before AMT got overloaded with tours, which to me is a sign that musical theatre is unfortunately dying in terms of popuularity and really needs to be supported more and more. He hired Tim Bair, which he was recently forced to fire due to the ripple effect I referred to above.

I hate being singled out as this enemy when all I am doing is supporting and getting other people to support a 73 year old musical theatre that used to be the heart of this areas once-thriving theatre scene and is working hard to get back to greatness.

And if you don't wanna contribute to this thread anymore, fine; it's a free country. Just don't refer to AMT as my little theatre and thus single me out as pathetic.

Updated On: 4/22/07 at 06:51 PM

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 4/22/07 at 6:59pm

I just support them because they're one of the oldest and largest musical theatres in the nation, and call me naive, but I think that's important.

You're not naive. You're illogical, and idealistic to a fault. Like those people who give awards (generally aired on low-ratings cable networks on Saturday afternoons) to old actors because they're old.

Updated On: 4/22/07 at 06:59 PM

[tmm_fan]

Posted: 4/22/07 at 7:03pm

If it's illogical to support theatre, knowing fully that if nobody supports it it wouldn't be here, then yes, I am illogical.

If a major company is in danger, do you donate or just allow them to die out?

Updated On: 4/22/07 at 07:03 PM

[Lenexajones]

Posted: 4/22/07 at 7:13pm

had to run a Google search to figure out what the heck AMTSJ was... Seems like a worthy cause and may send off a check based on your representation. You would help your cause if you tell a little about the group up front. [or I may just be a little slow].

[tmm_fan]

Posted: 4/22/07 at 7:19pm

Awesome ... just everybody go to

http://www.amtsj.org

Back in the day, AMT really was considered a major player in community musical theatre. Hopefully, it can get to that level again soon.

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 4/22/07 at 7:22pm

tmm_fan, I think what Lizzie is trying to say is that you seem to be supporting this company simply because they are old. Just like giving awards to actors simply because they are old and have done impressive work in the pass.