My Nonprofit Reviews
jim-patrick
Review for Stageworks Theatre Co, Tampa, FL, USA
I've been a regular audience member and occasional low-level volunteer for this theatre company since its inception, more than twenty-five years ago. The founder, Anna Brennen, created productions anywhere she could seat an audience -- vacant store fronts in Tampa's Latin Quarter, stages in generous colleges and universities, an outdoor location near the river, art galleries, and has co-produced with other local theatre groups and our Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center. After nearly three decades of scrambling for space, the scramble has changed. Now the company is scrambling for funds to complete the buildout of their own venue near downtown, in Tampa's new Channel District. My audience experience at Stageworks Theatre productions has always been exciting -- they've always chosen shows which challenge their patrons. I haven't always "enjoyed" my evenings at Stageworks -- sometimes I come out very angry or sad or melancholy, but I've never left a production with the blahs. Those of us, like me, who have followed local theatre in Tampa for the last 60 years are jubilant that the future of the this home-grown company seems more secure than ever before, and that our grandchildren will experience a continuity of demanding and thrilling live performance in our town.
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I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
their commitment to diversity in their choice of dramatic presentations -- social, religious, racial, and sexual orientation. They don't just talk the talk. They were decades ahead of other Florida theatre companies.
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
decline to make changes. They have already made any changes that I ever thought necessary.
What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
the benefits of their adjunct activities to at-risk school children. Their outreach to public school and incarcerated youngsters in anger management, AIDS-awareness, and diversity programs are unparalleled in this area.
The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
Always interesting. Sometimes sweet; sometimes abrasive; sometimes difficult; always competent; always imaginative.
Ways to make it better...
if I hadn't been out of town when they did "Love, Valor, Compassion..."
In my opinion, the biggest challenges facing this organization are...
Fundraising to complete construction and outfitting of their new space in the Channel District of Tampa.
One thing I'd also say is that...
In recent years, Stageworks' Board has had the courage to make the internal structural adjustments that are periodically necessary for any non-profit corporation to evolve strategically in changing social and economic environments.
How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
About every month
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2010
