Board forges new partnerships to bolster non-profit’s local impact.

When the economy hit a wall last year, funding sources for non-profits dried up in an instant. Many, like the SCV Theatre Project, had to make the tough decision to suspend operations until funding opened up again. The decision was especially hard because the organization was fresh off a quick start; after forming in 2006, they produced local shows starring Stephen Schwartz, Ben Vereen, Corbin Bleu, Linda Gray, Michael Leon-Wooley, and Nita Whitaker. They followed that success with a series of salon performances starring Broadway performers and the production of As The World Goes Round.

Even despite over a year on hiatus, SCV Theatre Project Board President Mark Salyer says out of sight is not out of mind.

“In spite of and in response to current economic challenges, we have come up with some great ideas about how we can continue to promote and support professional theatre in the SCV,” he said in a newsletter to supporters.

Salyer hopes those ideas will help the non-profit provide local services even when funding is hard to come by. The first way they hope to achieve this goal is by forming new partnerships.

“One thought that we had, was that we might try to develop some relationships with some of the other producing organizations in Los Angeles, maybe sharing some productions or raising money specifically to bring another production into Santa Clarita,” he told KHTS.

Salyer went on to say that another facet of this drive could involve helping the Santa Clarita Performing Arts Center with some of their theatrical programming.

“It could benefit the Santa Clarita Valley, but will be some sort of a collaborative effort so that all of the burden of expenses are not just on one organization, which is where I think a lot of people have had a hard time in this tough economy.”

A second idea the SCV Theatre Project Board came up with was to create a support system for local schools’ arts programs. So far the stimulus package has provided a temporary plug for the budget, however Salyer predicts that funding for the arts will be cut dramatically over the next few years.

“There are so many great programs up here, and we’re looking at how we could come in and help underwrite some of their performances, maybe offer some professional help or raise money specifically for that professional advice and consult,” Salyer said. “I think all of those areas will be very helpful when people are going to be looking at some pretty slashed budgets in the upcoming year.”

And in a new approach for the organization, Salyer says they will start looking into creating a touring children’s theatre group.

“We’re developing a contract with Actor’s Equity to produce children’s shows, and our hope is that it would be the type of thing that will tour different schools,” he said.

Forming a performance group that tours is important given the current economic climate.

“Nowadays what’s so hard, is that the money to bus kids from their school to a performing arts center is stretched, and so sometimes its better to put together a program that comes to them.”

Salyer says that he is excited to get the organization involved again, with the hopes of continuing their mission.

“At this point, we really want to start this process again, and we want to start it with things that we think are manageable, and that we think are ways to fulfill our mission while still being prudent enough to not be producing gigantic shows,” he said. “We’re really looking forward and feeling very energized about all of these ideas. I think there’s a lot of potential.”