Page 13 - November 2018 inLeague with Resource Guide - Thank You Version

Historic Midwest Theatres

Gathered in Fort Wayne, Indiana

Staff and Board Members share stories, discuss experiences, and get to
know more about their theatres and each other

Nearly 30 staff and board members from historic theaters in Indiana, Michigan and Ohio gathered for a few hours in
Fort Wayne, Indiana, to share stories about their buildings, discuss experiences with programming and get to know each
other a bit better.

Hosted by the Embassy Theatre on Sept.
19, the group met after requesting more
meeting opportunities while attending
a League of Historic American Theatres
Midwest regional conference at the
Embassy in April 2017.
The day’s format mirrored LHAT
conferences by offering lots of time to talk
with each other in addition to a panel-led
discussion on a current events topic. For
this initial session, venue security was
selected from survey suggestions made
by the regional conference participants.
Panelists on the security topic were
Christine Delaney of Tibbits Opera House Photo Credit: Steven Linsenmayer, Embassy Theatre
in Coldwater, MI; Brian Ernsberger, Arts United, Fort Wayne, IN; and Kelly Maahs, Embassy Theatre. A lively Q&A session
took place in addition to the screening of an active shooter training video.

The group met from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Lunch was provided by the Embassy and $100 in League Bucks was given by
LHAT to one lucky attendee – Ruthie Berjawi of Kalamazoo State Theatre – selected through a random drawing. In a
roundtable discussion, topics ranged from alcohol management to Lost and Found procedures and show routing to
working with promoters.

The next meeting will be hosted by Christine Delaney of the Tibbits Opera House in Coldwater, MI. Venues not currently
LHAT members were encouraged to join and membership forms were made available.

Rob Shilts of the Artcraft Theatre summed it up by saying, “I like it
when you’re able to say ‘swamp cooler’ in a meeting and everyone
knows what that is.” Added Christine Delaney, “From my very first
LHAT meeting, I learned I’m not alone.”
Attending venues were T. Furth Center, Angola, IN; Kalamazoo State
Theatre, Kalamazoo, MI; Foellinger Outdoor Theatre, Fort Wayne,
IN; Tibbits Opera House, Coldwater, MI; Clyde Theatre, Fort Wayne,
IN; Niswonger Performing Arts Center, Van Wert, OH; Paramount
Theatre, Anderson, IN; Arts United, Fort Wayne, IN; Honeywell
Center, Wabash, IN; Lerner Theatre, Elkhart, IN; Huber Opera
House & Civic Center, Hicksville, OH; Artcraft Theatre & Franklin

Photo Credit: Steven Linsenmayer, Embassy Theatre Heritage, Franklin, IN; and Embassy Theatre, Fort Wayne, IN.
Resource Guide & Directory November 2018 INLEAGUE | PAGE 11