"Simon Says" 
LTM proudly presents the master of comedy at his best!

Neil Simon’s
Autobiographic Trilogy

BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS
September 2007

BILOXI BLUES
March 2008

BROADWAY BOUND
September 2008

Don't miss this coming season!

 

 
Nonprofit Profile
 
empowering effective philanthropy
Little Theatre of Mechanicsburg Foundation Staff Reviewed
  Organizational Information  
Foundation Staff Reviewed Check Mark-Reviewed profiles have been examined by Foundation staff, including a review of finances and other organizational elements.
Address   915 South York St.
  Mechanicsburg, PA 17055
Phone   717-766-0535
Fax    
CEO/Executive Director   Ms.  Erica  Carl  Web Site   www.ltmonline.net
Board Chair/President   Mrs.  Fran Horkowitz
    Year of Incorporation   1950
   
Mission Statement
Little Theatre of Mechanicsburg provides high-quality entertainment in an intimate setting to mid-state audiences, while simultaneously educating and enriching the lives of volunteer directors, performers and production staff.
Needs Statement
LTM needs to develop a formal marketing plan, and a fundraising resource development plan that focuses on finding new sources of funding. We need major maintenance for both sections of our building-one are over 140 years old and the additions are 10-30 years old. We need to rebuild cash reserves after paying for a new lighting system and new shed roofs both of which were absolutely necessary and purchased as inexpensively as possible. A new piano/keyboard is also needed for our musicals.
Background Statement
Little Theatre of Mechanicsburg began with a meeting of a small group of people who loved theatre. The group’s enthusiasm led to incorporation as the Little Theatre of Mechanicsburg in 1950. The one-room, red-brick Kohlertown School House building, located at 915 South York Street, Mechanicsburg, was purchased in 1964 for ten dollars. The schoolhouse, built in 1863, became the theatre house. There were no dressing rooms, so actors changed costumes in cars and entered the stage directly from the outdoors. The original brick outhouse (now used to store lawn and garden tools) served as the only restroom for both audiences and actors. In the '70s, a lobby with restrooms for patrons, a light booth and one dressing room were added. With these renovations, the building lost its historical status, but gained much needed and valued space. In the '80s, another dressing room and restroom for the cast was added, built by long-time LTM members. A new air conditioning system was installed in 1991. The entire roof was replaced in the early 1990s. Through generous donations, 64 brand new seats were purchased and installed in 1996 to replace seats originally donated by the Dickinson School of Law. The back porch was enclosed to become a paint room and the old paint room became a coat room in the lobby. The box office was enlarged, the light booth renovated, and storage sheds were enlarged to accommodate more set-building. The building’s electrical wiring was completely redone in 1991. An equity line of credit for $30,000 was taken out in 1996 and paid back within a year to finance the addition of the Kohlertown Schoolhouse Room in 1997. Named for the building’s history and for LTM’s continued educational commitment to the community, the Kohlertown Schoolhouse Room serves as a rehearsal, meeting, and socializing space. The room includes a small kitchen and large handicap-accessible restroom. LTM established a website in 2002 that has served as a valuable informational resource for volunteers and patrons. The website was updated in September 2005 and includes a link to accept online donations. The theatre successfully met a monetary challenge donation in 2004-05, resulting in new donor dollars and increased contributions among pre-existing donors. LTM has applied for and been awarded grant money from the Department of Community and Economic Development and Pennsylvania Partners in the Arts, the Mechanicsburg Foundation and the Allied Arts Fund.
Statement from CEO/Executive Director
The intimacy of the theatre space is perhaps LTM's most unique trait. Productions that get lost on a large stage in a huge theatre come alive and draw in audiences to make them feel part of the action. The spirit and heart of our volunteers are at the core of LTM's success. Our board, casts and crews passionately participate for the sheer love of producing high-quality theatre to entertain, enlighten and educate audiences. We love what we do and it shows in our polished amateur productions that have been compared to professional productions many times, and many times thought to be even greater. The age range of volunteers is also unique when compared with other hobbies or activities. Most recreational hobby clubs are age-specific. At LTM, our volunteers range from ages 8 to 80. This type of multi-generational interaction can't be found in most groups, truly setting us apart from other organizations. LTM's greatest trait, its small size, also represents our biggest challenge. People, especially funders, associate "small" with "less than". Consequently, large corporate sponsors and donors are difficult for us to find and cultivate. We are fortunate that some find us; however, it is a constant struggle to fundraise up against the "big" guys. The good news is that once someone sees what we do, they usually want to support our work.
Statement from Board Chair/President
What we do, we do well and continually aspire to do even more to educate and entertain the community that surrounds us. LTM is fortunate to have a board of directors who are well qualified and well-educated with varied experience in areas such as theatre management, production and related activities necessary to operate the organization. We employ a box office person and a bookkeeper on an hourly basis, as well as a part-time Administrative Director who oversees the daily operation of the theatre, freeing board members to fully accomplish their duties. We are proud that LTM is financially solvent and continue to hold fundraisers, art shows, and seek grants. We do whatever it takes to keep us solvent and in operation. LTM’s most recent project, one that is very important, is establishing a theatre for Seniors, the Generational Actors Partnership, in which we offer structured classes for those over 55 years of age. Classes will be offered in acting, directing, play-writing, script-reading, character analysis to mention a few. Completed one- act productions will be taken on the road to local retirement facilities. There is definite interest among the activities directors of these institutions. Classes will begin in late May. Good theatre is like life. It has infancy, adolescence and maturity. LTM has experienced all of these stages and continues to develop the last of these--maturity, continually adding to the richness of the community we serve.
Organizational Category
Arts, Culture & Humanities - Arts & Culture (A20)
Geographic Areas Served
Dauphin County, Northern York County - Dillsburg Area, Cumberland County, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, Franklin County, Perry County
Little Theatre of Mechanicsburg Foundation Staff Reviewed
  Programs  
Organization Programs
G.A.P. Senior Theatre Partnership
Program Description Generational Artistic Partnership is a newly-formed senior theatre program for adults 55+. Once the social and educational parts of G.A.P. are established, we hope to expand our youth theatre offerings with the help of our seniors, creating the only multi-generational theatre in Central Pennsylvania.
Program Category Senior Volunteer Programs - Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
Target Population Served Aging/Elderly/Senior Citizens
Youth/Adolescents only (14 - 19 years)
Children Only (5 - 14 years)
 
Children's Show
Program Description For the past 15-20 years, LTM has produced one children's show per season. The production is performed by children for families. We're working towards expanding from only one show to a year-round program for youth between ages 8 and 18. There is a definite need and desire for such a program in our region that will not require parents to drive into the city of Harrisburg. LTM has a prime space and location to hold such a program, but we lack the volunteers or staff to maintain it presently.
Program Category Educational Programs - Education
Target Population Served Children Only (5 - 14 years)
Youth/Adolescents only (14 - 19 years)
Adults
 
Musical Theatre
Program Description LTM includes at least one to two musical theatre productions in each season. The sizes and themes of the musicals vary, but most touch a minimum of 12 volunteers who produce and perform. As musicals are usually as popular as comedies, audience numbers range from 600-1000, and yield a net income of $2500-$7500
Program Category Musical Performances - Arts, Culture & Humanities
Target Population Served Adults
Aging/Elderly/Senior Citizens
Youth/Adolescents only (14 - 19 years)
 
Comedies
Program Description LTM includes at least one or two comedies in a season. Comedic productions require at least 8-10 volunteers and reach about 600-900 audience members, yielding an average net income of $1000-$3500.
Program Category Theater - Arts, Culture & Humanities
Target Population Served Adults
Aging/Elderly/Senior Citizens
Children Only (5 - 14 years)
 
Dramas
Program Description LTM includes at least one drama each season. Volunteers sometimes prefer to do dramatic performances and the number of volunteers needed is 5+ for a drama. Audiences tend to prefer comedies and musicals, so the attendance of dramas decreases to between 250 and 500, yielding an average net income of only $500-$2000.
Program Category Theater - Arts, Culture & Humanities
Target Population Served Adults
Aging/Elderly/Senior Citizens
Youth/Adolescents only (14 - 19 years)
 
Little Theatre of Mechanicsburg Foundation Staff Reviewed
  Management Governance  
Board Information
Board Chair/President   Mrs.  Fran Horkowitz
Company Affiliation   Retired Adult Educator
   
       
       
Organizational Infrastructure
Does Organization have a Strategic Plan?   Yes    
       
Management Capacity
CEO/Executive Director Name    
Ms. Erica Carl    
Number of Full Time Staff   0     
Number of Part Time Staff   2 Number of Volunteers   150
Collaborations
 
National Affiliations
1985 - Allied Arts Fund
Awards/Recognitions
Is your organization licensed by the government (federal, state, and/or local)?
No
Little Theatre of Mechanicsburg Foundation Staff Reviewed
  Financials  
Operational Sustainability
No Operational Sustainability Data Available

Little Theatre of Mechanicsburg strives to provide high-quality entertainment in an intimate setting to mid-state audiences, while simultaneously educating and enriching the lives of volunteer directors, performers and production staff.

915 South York Street, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055 .  717-766-0535    

This page was last updated on 12/10/2007

 

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