See notes from the 2026 Town Hall, held January 24th at the Seattle Center Armory
TPS Town Hall 1/24/2026
- Land acknowledgment and state of the world reflection moment
- Introductions – both in person and online
- “Has our world truly recovered or are we still rebuilding in deeper ways?”
- Comes and goes; depends on the shows you do. Careful about what shows you do. People aren’t coming back to pre-pandemic levels and you have to budget and be careful about what your season is.
- How does the cost of tickets affect it? People are still buying expensive tickets to sports.
- How do times of days, word of mouth, and ability to travel to show affect attendance / sales?
- Well known things and high word of mouth help sales a lot it seems (dependent on area). A comment that Vashon is especially word of mouth.
- TPS Events Calendar goes out more than a calendar year – makes event finding in one place. https://theatrepugetsound.org/community-events-calendar/
- Times are changing, state of the world is changing and shows reflect that. Do you want to forget or do you want to think about it?
- TPS Status update
- We are no longer in danger of imminent closure, but we are not out of the woods yet.
- TPS experiences this too with membership in efforts possibly similar to rebuilding ticket sales. While Star Organization Membership is strong, Individual Memberships continue to lag and have settled around 600.
- Ended 2025 at $570k (not including a $230,900 Doors Open Facilities grant!) – largest grossing year for TPS on record.
- How can TPS strengthen and stabilize programming to match expenses? Costs continue to increase making the future picture of TPS still uncertain, especially if we cannot increase individual memberships. This year’s Individual Membership goal is 750.
- How has the industry recovered, what has been working?
- Mergers becoming a new normal
- Ensemble sizes seem to be smaller
- Inflation effecting, costs higher,
- Demographics changing, who’s interested and able to go see theater?
- Is this a new normal and we aren’t actually still recovering?
- Theater has always had the honor and duty to reflect the times; it’s not a new normal its a different same normal
- Group conversation on how theater is a community space and we (the community & TPS) need to show up for that
- Some consensus around this COVID endemic state (post-COVID emergency state) being a new normal.
- How can theater help protect people from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)?
- Knowing rights and enforcing them, knowing the difference between legal and illegal warrant; Could/should TPS be working with the Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network (WAISN)
- Democracy and theater both need the public square and the community, you need each other; theater feeds democracy
- TPS does have the right to refuse service to anyone; applies to both studios and theaters.
- In what ways are we still rebuilding?
- TPS has new agreement with the City of Seattle to manage the Space4Arts rentals program, strengthens revenue as old agreement was not favorable, but was also a nontraditional solution.
- Examples like Latitude Theatre’s Klingon Christmas Carol and The 14/48 Projects bring a lot of fun on premise and that can attract a large variety of people and get people in the door; some sold-out audiences.
- There is a need to recognize what people want.
- What is a win/win, what are people actually getting out of theater, how does everyone benefit?
- Large arching theme of increasing audiences
- What hasn’t worked?
- Huge marketing problem for a busy program, what can get traction (especially with young people) how do we create pathways for people?
- There used to be a physical ticket booth (decades ago) that sold physical tickets for half price (is it possible to bring something like this back). It was located by Pike Place Market. Something like TKTS.
- Looking at a TodayTix model and working with the city, grants, to offer some way to get discounts. They left this area because it wasn’t profitable enough for them, but a nonprofit (such as TPS) doesn’t have the same constraints, but also not the same support structure.
- How do we get people involved? (This Town Hall used as an example on how do we get more people to attend) difficult to get people in the door
- Harbor Island Studios (sound stage / film) brought up – may be tearing down, is there a way for TPS to help?
- Is funding harder to get? What happened to our big funders? How do we get them, have they had their own financial problems?
- Can we work and utilize the large tech existence/presence in the Sound?
- Look into corporate volunteer / matching programs
- Noncorporate grants seem to be the strongest presence
- How do companies actually get potential donors in the door to see the shows to connect with?
- TPS does not currently have a major donor(s)
- With no history, securing major donors would be difficult. TPS should remain focused on membership, make sure people know how they can help, that TPS is here.
- Is TPS part of the Nonprofit Association of Washington (NAWA)? Not currently. Should we be? At TPS’ current size the cost is $350/yr.
- Do people understand what TPS does?
- Look past the recency bias, how to help get people to understand what TPS does all year around. Constituents often seem to remember only the most recent event.
- Suggestion for a recap video of what TPS does
- What are your hopes and concerns for the future?
- Burnout – we love theater and because of that folks have a tendency to spread themselves to thin
- How to keep theater from isolating themselves from each other
- Face to face events seem to be valued by members, celebration together is important, everyone loves a potluck 😀
- Next workshop 2pm Jan 31st! Beyond the Audition with Zandi Carleson @ Center Theater
- Free for TPS members; $25 for non members
- Open to everyone (whether participating in UGA or not)
- Make sure to look at the TPS event calendar by scrolling down just a bit on the homepage, or direct link here.
- What else should TPS be doing at this time?
- A podcast, updates on the area, what’s happening, info, news etc.
- Possible on website to have a new to Seattle info page
- Introductory information about companies
- Referral program and/or loyalty program?
- Bingo night?
- Scavenger hunt or some kind of theater passport as people go around theater / arts areas
- Help create excitement for TPS; excitement for anything
- Celebrate the mundane
- Thank you everyone for coming and participating and being a part of the Town Hall!