Home » Sponsor Information » TTIP's History, Volunteers, and Staff


Quick Links:

• Mission Statement
• Vision Statement
• A Brief History
• FRIENDS and Volunteers
• Community and Business Partnerships
• Audience Participation and Feedback
• Staffing
• Theatre Council

 

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Mission Statement:

To enhance the quality of life in our community by providing a variety of entertainment programs through public and private partnerships.

 

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Vision Statement:

The Theatre in the Park will be the leader in providing our audiences with quality, affordable entertainment, and our participants with rewarding artistic opportunities.

 

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A Brief History:

The idea of presenting live theatre performances in a Johnson County park was launched in 1970 on a stage comprised of a few boards laid on bricks near a pond in Antioch Park. The early patrons were enthusiastic and supportive, and so hungry for the arts that the park could not accommodate the attendance or the cars. After only two seasons, the stage was moved to an area in Shawnee Mission Park where the program thrived and the crowds continued to grow.

Recognizing the program's obvious appeal and growth potential, the Shawnee Mission Sertoma Club raised funds and a permanent stage was dedicated on June 20, 1980. Many additions and improvements have been made over the years, and today there are dressing rooms, public restrooms, a props building and shop, a technical building, food services and a permanent box office.  In 2007 a new public restroom was added and the old restrooms will be upgraded for 2008.

Celebrating our 39th Season in 2008, we continue a summer theatre tradition that has entertained audiences for generations.  With annual attendance of over 50,000, the Theatre shares the magic of live theatre with young and old alike and draws patrons from throughout the Greater Kansas City area.  We provide creative challenges for hundreds of performers and other volunteers as well as employment opportunities for area residents.  In 2001, we were named "Best in Business" by Ingram's Magazine.

 

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FRIENDS and Volunteers:

Our FRIENDS program is comprised of individuals, families and businesses whose financial and volunteer support grows every year. In 2003, over 460 people joined FRIENDS, providing both funding and volunteer support.

The Theatre in the Park could not exist without volunteers serving on committees, helping behind the scenes and doing the day-to-day work that goes on year-round.  The open door policy for volunteers has created a unique community within the Kansas City arts area that spans generations. Annually, over 450 volunteers contribute over 44,000 hours to the program.

 

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Community and Business Partnerships:

The Theatre in the Park's reputation for presenting shows of the highest quality is a result of literally hundreds of people and organizations working together.

Corporate sponsorship is an essential component of our success with over 60 area corporations and foundations supporting the Theatre with financial, material and service contributions.

We are very proud that organizations such as the Muriel McBrien Kauffman Foundation, the Land-O-Lakes Foundation and the William T. Kemper Foundation have endorsed and supported our Theatre for years. 

Corporate sponsors such as Sprint, Panera Bread, Entercom Media, John Deere, and Coca-Cola Bottling have recognized what an asset The Theatre in the Park is to the metropolitan area and have generously lent their support. The Theatre is fortunate to be a program of the Johnson County Park & Recreation District.

 

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Audience Participation and Feedback:

Over 50,000 audience members enjoy The Theatre in the Park programs annually. A survey completed in 1999 by Applied Marketing Research of Kansas showed the following:

• The average age of an attendee is 42 with half of the attendees between 35 and 54.
• Two-thirds of attendees are married and half have children living at home.
• The average size of the party attending a play is 4.4 people.
• Reasons for attending are the reasonable price, the outdoor theatre atmosphere and the great shows.
• Most study participants are regular attendees with 33 - 40% planning to see all of the season's shows.
• 92% of attendees are highly satisfied with the shows; the least satisfaction is with the restrooms and concessions.
• Attendees are arts conscious with respondents attending an average of 5.6 events at other theatres during the year.

 

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Staffing:

Following the retirement of 27 year veteran producer Demmaree Carns, Mike Musick joined The Theatre in the Park in the spring of 2000 as the Fine and Cultural Arts Manager/ Executive Producer and held the position until the end of the 2007 season.

In January 2008,  Melissa Wyckoff was named the Fine and Cultural Arts Manager/Executive Producer.

Other permanent staff are Stacey Kelsey, Administrative Assistant,  Bill Gintzel, Facilities Manager, and Tracie Holley, Theatre Coordinator.

 

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Theatre Council:

The council is selected from the community and meets monthly to provide guidance and input. The volunteer council brings a diverse wealth of knowledge, experience and insight to all aspects of the program. Current members include Curt Crespino, Doug Allen, Lynn Reddick, Andy Sears ( Chair), Betsy Sears, Jim Royer (Sertoma Club Representative), Nancy Wallerstein (JCPRD Board Representative) and Arvin Zwick.