Auditorium Director Lisa McDevitt with Superintendent Jacob Oliva. The school district is a principal supporter of Auditorium operations. (c FlaglerLive)
Last week the Flagler County School Board approved the Flagler Auditorium’s latest audit, which closed the 2015 financial book on the $628,000 organization.
On Nov. 7 at the Halifax Plantation Golf Club, the Auditorium will host the annual gala that partly supports the performing arts venue, and it’s doing so with a look back to disco fever: The theme, A Night on Broadway–Saturday Night Fever, celebrates one of Broadway’s most beloved musicals, which will be staged at the Auditorium on March 20.
The gala, starting at 5:30 p.m. with dinner at 7 p.m., will feature delicious food, dancing, and performances by local artists and arts students. Guests are encouraged to dress according to the theme. There will be door prizes. All funds will go towards the Flagler Auditorium’s Arts in Education initiatives.
in fiscal year 2015, the auditorium raised $23,300 through fund-raising activities (compared to $26,315 the year before) and awarded $15,312 in scholarships (compared to $23,473 the year before). The auditorium realized an operating profit of $93,580 in 2015, compared to an operating profit of $119,000 the year before. The auditorium had revenue of $470,465 from its performances, and an additional $122,000 in revenue from showbills and advertising sales, concessions and community patronage, according to the audit. In addition, the auditorium received a $150,000 grant from the Flagler Tourist Development Council, much of it devoted to refurbishing various parts of the auditorium and to install its electronic LED marquee, which cost $86,000.
The auditorium paid $366,000 for productions and almost $100,000 in advertising in 2015.
Total operating revenue in 2015 increased by $30,258 to a total of $628,314, compared to $598,056 the prior year, an increase due primarily to performance ticket sales, which accounted for 86 percent of the organization’s revenue. (The full audit is available here.)
“This year’s gala theme A Night On Broadway: Saturday Night Fever will give us a chance to feature one of many shows this season,” Kim Carney, a member of the auditorium board and the gala chairperson, said. “Our professional season has such a wonderful variety of entertainment. However, this show will be a personal favorite for sure.”
The Auditorium’s season begins on Nov. 8 with the National Dance Company of Siberia, followed by “Flashdance: The Musical” on Nov. 11 and “Red Hot Chilli Pipers,” the bagpipe performers, on Nov. 22. The season’s 20-some professional shows will include a performance of “Romeo and Juliet” by the State Ballet Theater of Russia, the always popular Ten Tenors, a tribute to Paul McCartney, a tribute to the Eagles, and “Menopause: The Musical.”
The Nov. 7 Gala tickets and tables are on sale now. To purchase tickets ($75 per person), visit the website, come to the box office, or call (386) 437-7547 during business hours Monday – Friday from 9am – 4pm.
The Flagler Auditorium Dennis Fitzgerald Performing Arts Center was founded by the Flagler County school district in 1991–the district is still a principal supporter of the auditorium, assuming most of its personnel costs–and is in its 24th season of providing quality, affordable entertainment to the Northeast Florida Coast while supporting arts in education.
