The League of Sacramento Theatres is a nonprofit organization established in 1998 to unite, strengthen and advance live theatre in the greater Sacramento region. The League began as a roundtable discussion sponsored by the California Musical Theatre (Broadway Sacramento, The Cosmopolitan Cabaret, and Music Circus). It currently has over 30 theatre members, producer/director members and associate members. Annual Membership is $135 for theatres and producers/directors.

Our first president was Michael Mannion, of Michael Mannion Productions. Michael was a Sacramento actor and theatre producer. It was a great loss to the League and to the Sacramento theatre community at large when Michael died of lung cancer in August of 2000. Subsequent presidents have been David Czarnecki, Ivan Sandoval and Jackie Schultz. Click here to see a photo of the founding members taken on the Community Center Stage in our early days.

Since its inception, the League has organized the following services, events and activities:

COMMUNICATION: The League provides a communication network to its members through its e-bulletin which broadcasts information and announcement updates on the web site on a weekly basis and through its general membership meetings. Membership meetings are held quarterly.

CONFERENCES: The League sponsored conferences provide an opportunity for beginners as well as professionals to sharpen theatre-related skills, to network with directors and managers and to collaborate with other people interested in producing, directing and acting. In the past, conferences have included workshops and discussions on directing, acting, playwrighting, technical theatre and theatre management.

WORKSHOPS AND OPEN FORUMS: The League of Sacramento Theatres sponsored a series of discussion forums open to membership and the public on a variety of theatre-related issues. The League also offered a six-part artistic forum on the directing process.

SEE A PLAY: The See A Play campaign premiered August 25, 2001, with the Run for the Arts. The program included commercial ads, print media support and sponsorship by Sacbee.com, Sacramento.com and the Sacramento Bee. Regular press releases were issued by the League of Sacramento Theatres to build public awareness about theatre, summer youth programs, and to suggest theatre tickets and season subscriptions as gift ideas. The campaign has now become seeaplay.com and creates awareness of live theatre in the Sacramento region through an interactive website.

CO-OP ADVERTISING: The League's co-op advertising program has worked to help make advertising in Sacramento's major publications affordable for all theatres. The League has worked with members of the Sacramento Bee arts staff to standardize press releases and photograph submission in an effort to optimize exposure for all theatres. The League is also developing an electronic press list to share with members.

PERFORMING ARTS ADVOCACY: League members worked closely with the Arts & Business Council of Sacramento in bringing the Mayoral Candidates Forum on the Arts to the Golden State Museum, bringing the arts to the attention of candidates. League members are active with the Arts & Business Council's Arts Leadership Forum, Sacramento Area Regional Theatre Alliance, the SMAC Arts in Education Task Force, SMAC's Arts Development Committee, the Sacramento Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Sacramento Bee's web site Sacramento.com. The League hosted a breakout panel session at the California Arts Council Arts Congress here at the State Capitol, June 8, 2001. This was a two-day statewide conference with arts organizations from all over the state in attendance. The League also assisted California Arts Advocates in planning for the Arts Celebration Rally on the North Capitol Steps on June 7, 2001.

Being a member of the League of Sacramento Theatres provides an opportunity to exchange ideas, information, technology and equipment and stay connected with others who share a passion for taking the page to the stage.

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