SBMT Board Minutes

April 13, 2022

Started 6:06 pm

Board Members Present: Barbara Heninger, Jay Steele, Steve Sammonds, Dan Singletary, Raiña Parks, Tipu Purkayastha, Michael Hirsch, Aly Suleman, 

Not Present: Jennifer Maggio, Doy Charnsupharindr, Ed Hunter, Sharon Peng, Doug Hughes (Marketing)

Other members present: Sara Dean (ED)

ð  Please note highlights of activities that Board can take, below. 😊

DISCUSSION

Updates

Technology: 

Venue Updates

• Tech booth stairs are almost done. Doors being varnished and having hardware put on them. 
• Added shelving in the box office and re-did a few things
• Working on projectors. There is a really annoying flickering problem. Occurs every 30 minutes or so and would disrupt a show.
• Piano is being delivered on Friday early in the morning.

Chair update:

• Board meeting in May rescheduled for May 18th.
• Membership meeting is on May 21st.
• Participated in the Blossom Festival this weekend. We got quite a few entries for a contest to win two tickets for on-the-town. Lots of entrants and interest.
• Broadway in Love post that caused a stir. Didn’t follow our process, was not sent to Sara before being passed to marketing. What was presented had a very clear lack of representation and was confusing. Currently cast by invitation and going forward will be cast by open audition.
• We’re in board recruitment season! SBMT wants you!

Budget for 2022-2023:

• Reviewed for the coming season.
• Decision to table the vote on this budget until next month as there is no rush to approve today.

eStudio:

• Not as much participation in #actorlife workshop.

Community, Inclusivity, & Accountability: (update from Aly)

• Discussion about incident re: press release for Broadway in Love and casting concerns.
• Discussed proposal that the team make a running list of guidelines and criteria for casting which embraces community inclusivity. 
• Request from members of the board and the ED that the CIA team help more with recruiting diverse actors/musicians/dancers to SBMT productions

Development and Fundraising: 

• Next meeting June 7th
• Completed brokerage account, how to donate options on Website, updated tickets for changed concert and performances
• 60th Anniversary Celebration 2023
  • WANTED: Committee leaders & members
  • All board members will be involved. Areas needing help include:
    • Production/artistic
    • Silent auction/donor/sponsor management
    • Food & beverage & schmoozing
• Fundraising – Looking for event and program sponsorships 

Organization and Development: 

• Mentorship/apprenticeship/talent development
  • Foothill/DeAnza humanities program funds interns with their own grants (did not receive any interested candidates)
• Will discuss facilities overhead reduction and will discuss at next meeting

Vision & Planning: 

No meeting since March 2nd.

Executive Artistic Director Updates: 

Ongoing:

• On The Town – working on this production
  • Had a cast member test positive so weekend of rehearsals was cancelled. Did not spread to the rest of the cast
  • Concern about next year and doing big shows given rising COVID cases
• Volunteer Needs
  • April 16: Scenic Painting & Set Build
  • April 22 – Load In
  • April 23 & 24: Build days

Non-Agenda Discussion: 

Continued discussion about the Broadway in Love concert press and concerns from the BIPOC communities and Allies.

• Discussed a response from the board and proper forum and format.

Adjourned at 9:03 pm.

Respectfully submitted April13, 2022 by Raina Parks