Dear TPS members,
As many of you know, we are currently one of two possible tenants to take over the lease for the Seattle Playhouse (formerly Intiman Theatre). We have a final presentation on August 21st that will determine the future of that space.
In brief, here is what TPS hopes to do:
- Create a pipeline for the entire performing arts community. Larger companies already existing within TPS are poised to expand. We want to encourage the growth of these companies into the Playhouse, opening up our mid-sized venue (Center Theatre and Theatre 4) for smaller companies. This pipeline will allow for expansion in our community for every company, large and small by providing a tiered system that would allow for maximum growth.
- Open up our rehearsal and class space providing diversity in access and space offerings. Our community has grown drastically in the past several years. The rehearsal rooms at the Armory (formerly Center House) are frequently in use and booked well in advance. This growth is amazing, but we want to provide more opportunity to use the space especially to those companies and projects that have not been able to book six months in advance. Winning the bid for the Playhouse would mean more spaces for rehearsals and classes.
- Keep the union in place. TPS is working with union leaders to make sure that the Playhouse remains a union house so that no one is losing out on work and ultimately in order to create more jobs. We will also work with companies who worry they will not be able to afford union crew so that they can employ union crew members. This helps our community and ensures everyone stays safe in the space.
- Aggregation of resources under the umbrella of TPS, providing balanced opportunities for all organizations. This includes a cross-pollination of all arts organizations that would enter the Playhouse, fueling the fire for collaboration, uniting of patrons from participating organizations, increasing attendance, and sharing resources like office space, equipment, props, knowledge, etc.
- Continued commitment to serve the arts community and the public. TPS has served the community through space management for thirteen years. In that time we have created many initiatives and programs that have benefited our organizations (rehearsal/performance space, audition posting), members (message boards, TPS General Audition, resume posting), and the larger community (Arts Crush). We will continue this service and be able to extend those initiatives so that we serve more people, offer more resources, and open up more performances for audiences hungry for year-round innovation and collaboration that our community consistently provides.
If you would like to read our proposal in full, as well as the other proposal up for discussion, you can find them both here: http://www.seattlecenter.com/news/detail.aspx?id=1734. We encourage you to read both and decide for yourself which proposal is serving you and the arts community.
In addition to keeping you informed about our progress through this process, we wanted to ask you for your help. If you think that our proposal is serving you, your organization, and/or the community, we’d love to hear your vote of support!
We have drafted two letters (one for an organization, and one for an individual) that provide a space for you to voice your choice for TPS as the best option for the Seattle performing arts community. If you want to stand with us, please forward on to Kerry Smith (SeattleCenter.CustomerServiceDesk@seattle.gov) at Seattle Center and Karen Lane (karen@tpsonline.org) here at TPS.
The letters allow ample room for you to explain how this is a benefit to you and the larger community. Want to write your own? Please do! We want to make sure that Seattle Center hears from you about what you want and what’s serving you.
We appreciate your support and want to hear from you. Thank you!
For individuals:
Cut and paste as needed – Please share your personal story with Seattle Center
Kerry Smith
Seattle Center Executive Officer
315 Harrison St.Seattle WA 98109
SeattleCenter.CustomerServiceDesk@seattle.gov
RE: TPS is my choice to manage the Seattle Playhouse
Dear Kerry,
I am writing to endorse TPS winning the bid for the Seattle Playhouse lease. TPS winning the bid would mean more access for artists, groups, and community with the development of more culturally and regionally significant work. This not only benefits our community at large, but offers amazing opportunities for working artists.
I have used TPS for the past ___ years. I have found it easy, accessible, cost effective, and the best option in the city in terms of services offered.
Because our community has expanded over the past several years with more arts groups needing spaces for classes, rehearsals, and performances I know that giving TPS the opportunity to manage a larger space for our community would open up other potentials in existing spaces while offering larger organizations a chance to fill the Seattle Playhouse.
Additionally, I feel that TPS could benefit the community by managing the Playhouse in the following ways:
TPS is my choice to manage the Seattle Playhouse. They are the service organization of the performing arts community. As such they benefit the most organizations, especially the underserved, and those most desperately seeking space. I would ask you to consider the larger community when making your decision and ask how your choice affects the entire arts community.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
(Your Name)
(Address)
(City/State/Zip)
(or email/phone)
For Organizations:
Cut and paste as needed – Please share your personal story with Seattle Center
Kerry Smith
Seattle Center Executive Officer
315 Harrison St.Seattle WA 98109
SeattleCenter.CustomerServiceDesk@seattle.gov
RE: TPS is my choice to manage the Seattle Playhouse
Dear Kerry,
I am writing to endorse TPS winning the bid for the Seattle Playhouse lease. TPS winning the bid would mean more access for artists, groups, and community with the development of more culturally and regionally significant work. This not only benefits our community at large, but offers amazing opportunities for working artists.
My organization has used TPS for the past ___ years. I have found it easy, accessible, cost effective, and the best option in the city in terms of rehearsal and audition space.
We are a/started as a small organization, but TPS has given us the opportunity to grow through their service and space. Examples:
Because our community has expanded over the past several years with more arts groups needing spaces for classes, rehearsals, and performances I know that giving TPS the opportunity to manage a larger space for our community would open up other potentials in existing spaces while offering larger organizations a chance to fill the Seattle Playhouse.
My organization would take advantage of the opportunities provided by TPS winning the Playhouse by
Additionally, I feel that TPS could benefit the community by managing the Playhouse in the following ways:
TPS is my choice to manage the Seattle Playhouse. They are the service organization of the performing arts community. As such they benefit the most organizations, especially the underserved, and those most desperately seeking space. I would ask you to consider the larger community when making your decision and ask how your choice affects the entire arts community.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
(Your Name)
(Address)
(City/State/Zip)
(or email/phone)