06.03.2024

Blumenthal Introduces Bill to Revive and Support the Economic Success of Nonprofit Theaters

[HARTFORD, CT] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) joined Senate colleagues in introducing the Supporting Theater and the Arts to Galvanize the Economy (STAGE) Act of 2024. U.S. Senator Blumenthal joins U.S. Senators Peter Welch (D-VT), John Fetterman (D-PA), Jack Reed (D-RI), Alex Padilla (D-CA), and Chris Murphy (D-CT). U.S. Representative Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-01) introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives.

“The STAGE Act is necessary because theater is an investment that produces not only artistic, cultural, and educational benefits, but also creates jobs and supports our economy. Theater is an economic driver in every one of the communities where these stages provide extraordinary artistic production for people of all ages, demographics, and backgrounds,” said Blumenthal on Thursday at a press conference at the Shubert Theatre in New Haven. “Theater has a profound impact long after the curtain falls. We need to keep the marquees lit. We need to keep the artists and employees – 2.6 million people across the country – at work.”

Professional nonprofit theaters, which enrich communities and bolster local economies in every state, have experienced a lagging recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Theaters have been forced to reduce staff and productions, and many have closed permanently. The STAGE Act will establish a new grant program, administered by the Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration, that would provide $1 billion annually to support the industry. The grants would be used to pay rent and payroll, employ artists and support professional personnel, attract new audiences, invest in industry workforce development, study how to best sustain the long-term success of this industry, and– most importantly–ensure the show can go on.?

The STAGE Act is supported by over 170 theaters from across the United States—including theaters in California and Connecticut—as well as national theaters, arts, and economic organizations, including: the Professional Non-Profit Theater Coalition (PNTC); the Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO (DPE); the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC); the Theatre Communications Group (TCG); the League of Resident Theaters (LORT); the National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT); the Theatre for Young Audiences/USA; and the Educational Theatre Association (EdTA).

The nonprofit arts sector generated $151.7 billion in direct spending by organizations and attendees in 2022, and $29.1 billion in tax revenue. The nonprofit arts sector supported 2.6 million jobs and provided $101 billion in personal income to workers in communities across America. Despite these economic contributions and the support of the public, the nonprofit arts—especially nonprofit theaters—are struggling to stay open after the pandemic. Audiences are down 20-50% from pre-2020 levels. Inflation and higher-than-average operating costs are hurting the bottom-line. Some theaters have mounted productions with limited runs or scaled-back seasons, and many throughout the country have closed.?

Despite these economic contributions and the support of the public, the nonprofit arts—especially nonprofit theaters —are struggling to stay open after the pandemic. Audiences are down 20-50% from pre-2020 levels. Inflation and higher-than-average operating costs are hurting the bottom-line. Many theaters have mounted productions with limited runs or scaled-back seasons. Many theaters throughout the country have closed.?

Senator Blumenthal supported venues throughout the pandemic by supporting the Save Our Stages Act, bipartisan legislation to provide Small Business Administration grants for independent venue operators affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, known as the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant program. Connecticut venues received over $150 million through that program. While this federal aid kept theaters in operation during the darkest days of the pandemic, a new infusion of support is needed for professional nonprofit theaters.

Video of Blumenthal’s remarks in New Haven can be found here.