How Theater Managers Manage [Paperback]

Tess Collins (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 2003

How Theater Managers Manage brings together the stories, beliefs, and experiences of a few seasoned theater managers. Through them, a portrait and a concept emerge depicting what they have unknowingly practiced throughout their careers.

Designed to be a stepping stone for new theater managers, this book covers a wide variety of topics including budgeting theater costs, gross potentials and ticket prices, show contracts, settlements, and emergency and security procedures, to name a few. A sample budget, building forms, and show and performance forms are also included.

While most of the experiences in this book relates to commercial theater, many of the ideas put forth can be applied to not-for-profit theater and facility management.

Editorial Reviews

Review

...a very practical and straightforward guidebook to the business of running a community theater. From dealing with unions, to the nuts and bolts of determining ticket prices, to a sample budget, to building forms, and a great deal more How Theater Managers Manage is an invaluable resourceful guide which is very highly recommended for anyone starting out in theater management, or who is contemplating the business side of theatrical management theater. (Library Bookwatch )

...a solid primer for anyone considering theater management as a career and a helpful mid-career review for the professional manager. Appendixes provide a variety of helpful procedural outlines, daily operation and performance forms, information data sheets, emergency and security measures, and sample budgets. (Choice )

How Theater Managers Manage is a valuable resource for the field. The job of the theater manager has always been an intricate part of the theatrical community and will be a necessary component in the 21st Century which will blend new technology with old challenges in both front of house and backstage. (Veronica Claypool )

Tess Collins' book should be the bible for every theater manager. (Maria A. Somma )

This book is more than an eye opener to this specialized world – it's a total and complete education for theater management. How Theater Managers Manage makes an impact on the reader because it combines theory with reality, experience with examples, and challenges with proven solutions. This book is a must read for anyone associated with the theater, and for those who simply enjoy the results of great theater management, it's a privileged peek behind the curtain into this unique and mysterious world. (Pat Mayfield )

Essential reading for the manager in training and invaluable continuing education for the seasoned professional. Tess Collins' book is packed with clearly explained information that will help make you a better manager. Well written and entertaining. I'd recommend this book without reservation. (Douglas C. Baker )

About the Author

Tess Collins has worked for the Shorenstein-Hays Nederlander Organization in theater management for more than 25 years. She managed the Golden Gate, Orpheum, and Curran Theaters in San Francisco.

Product Details

• Paperback: 296 pages
• Publisher: Scarecrow Press (September 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0810846837
• ISBN-13: 978-0810846838
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,013,434 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Tess Collins is a coal miner's granddaughter raised in the southeastern Kentucky town of Middlesboro, she spent her early years listening to mountain tales of haunted hollows, ghosts, moonshiners and unsolved murders. No doubt they influenced her writing. She is the author of THE LAW OF REVENGE, THE LAW OF THE DEAD, and THE LAW OF BETRAYAL, thrillers set in Appalachia. Her non-fiction book HOW THEATER MANAGERS MANAGE (June 2003) is published by Rowman and Littlefield's Scarecrow Press. Her web page can be accessed at www.tesscollins.com/


THE LAW OF BETRAYAL was a 2003 finalist for ForeWord Magazine's Book of the Year in the Mystery Category while HOW THEATER MANAGERS MANAGE garnered the Bronze Award in the Performing Arts Category.


Miss Collins received a B.A. from the University of Kentucky and a Ph.D. from The Union Institute.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A very practical and straightforward guidebook, October 14, 2003

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: How Theater Managers Manage (Paperback)

Knowledgeably written by Tess Collins (a professional theater manager of twenty-five years' experience), How Theater Managers Manage is a very practical and straightforward guidebook to the business of running a community theater. From dealing with unions, to the nuts and bolts of determining ticket prices, to a sample budget, to building forms, and a great deal more How Theater Managers Manage is an invaluable resourceful guide which is very highly recommended for anyone starting out in theater management, or who is contemplating the business side of a theatrical management career.