Page 7 - Volumn 43-Number 03 07-13-20

Wednesday, July 15, 2020
All times are Eastern Daylight Time

2020 Keynote Address

Asking in the Moment

Join Robert Bull, fundraising expert and President of The Compass Group, as he discusses fundraising in this
moment through a part-educational, part-biographical, and part-inspirational keynote talk.

Educational: Understand the philanthropic landscape in this moment and how historic theaters can successfully
12:00 PM
advance their own fundraising efforts amidst a global pandemic, economic uncertainty, and racial unrest.

Biographical: Learn about Robert’s own theatre background, his experience as an African American professional
in the industry, and the intersection between his theater and fundraising roles.

Inspirational: Listen to the ways to make important - and effective - asks in a moment when it is most needed
and most impactful for historic theaters.
Tools & Techniques (Live Virtual Education Session – attendance is unlimited)

Open for Business (Sort of)
1:30 - 2:45 PM
Join your peers who have actually re-opened their doors and hosted events. Limited capacity, social distance
seating, mask or no masks are just some of the topics we’ll cover.
Tools & Techniques OnDemand
Available throughout (Pre-recorded Education Sessions available to attendees at any time during the conference)

the entire conference Select a session from our OnDemand Library (see titles on pages 4-5; speaker info at end of the schedule) and
then plan to join us later for Happy Hour where you can ask questions or give feedback on what you have
learned so far.
The 2020 LHAT Annual Membership Meeting & Closing Remarks
3:30 PM Join members of the LHAT National Board to learn how the organization is doing financially and what plans we
have for the future. We’ll be electing new Board Members and answering any questions.
Networking: Virtual Happy Hour

Grab your Quarantini or a COVID Cocktail and join us for an LHAT Happy Hour. We’ll start by interviewing a few
4:30 PM speakers from our recent webinars, then open audio and video for everyone on the line to share stories, good
and bad. See and hear from your favorite LHAT peeps, share virtual hugs and a toast as we close out another
LHAT National Conference!

1868 Opera House in the Attic

Antoinette Hall Survived Decades of Abandonment

only to be Rediscovered by a Theater Group

By Claudia Johnson questioned the owner about
the exterior appearance
On a cold February of the second floor with its
afternoon in 2007 the unusual mansard roofline.
board of directors of
a tiny nonprofit com- The owner suggested the
munity theatre or- curious entourage take a
ganization, Southern look, and up an exterior
Tennessee Area Arts metal staircase they went.
Repertory (STAAR), in
Giles County, Tennes- “As he cut the door’s pro-
see, visited a poten- tective chained lock, he
tial new “home” in a admitted that he had not
Victorian-era building explored the space himself
located on Pulaski’s historic Courthouse Square. and had no idea of its condition,” Pierchoski said.

The street-level former retail space was immense Dark and dusty from decades of neglect, a wide
and seemed perfect for the large-cast produc- hallway led to ceiling-high double doors. With illu-
tions and dedicated audiences that had caught mination from a single flashlight, the determined
the (negative) attention of the fire marshal in a group pried open the nailed-shut doors only to
smaller venue. With pen in hand poised to sign discover that inside was an abandoned opera
the lease, Tammy Pierchoski, who is now Execu- house.
tive Director of STAAR Theatre at Antoinette Hall, (continued next page)

Summer 2020 INLEAGUE | PAGE 6