Society for the Performing Arts

A N N UA L R E P O R T2 017-2 01 8 S E A S O N

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Dear Friends,

The 2017-2018 Season was one to remember, not only because of the disruption and impact of Hurricane Harvey, but also because of the incredible resilience and sense of community demonstrated by the people of this region. The overwhelming support that Society for the Performing Arts received following the storm was tremendous, and we want to extend our most sincere thanks to the dozens of individuals and local, state, and national institutions who gave their resources toward our organization’s recovery.

Society for the Performing Arts exists for the people of our region, and despite last season’s challenges, our organization found a way to deliver the transformative and healing power of the arts when our community needed it most.

Thank you to all of our loyal subscribers, dedicated sponsors, faithful supporters, and generous friends who helped make the 2017-2018 Season a reality and whose love for the arts ensures that Society for the Performing Arts can continue serving our community well into the future.

Leslie Nelson Theresa Einhorn Interim CEO & Chief Financial Officer Chair, Board of Directors

The 2017-2018 Season in Review

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Board of Directors Staff

Theresa Einhorn, ChairWillie C.W. Chiang, Vice Chair

Executive Committee OfficersMark Jodon, SecretaryCurtis Karges, Vice President, Governance and NominatingTheresa Mallett, Vice President, EducationGinni Mithoff†, Vice President, Special ProjectsMelanie B. Rother, Vice President, MarketingWilliam Swanstrom, Vice President, DevelopmentTymothi O. Tombar, Treasurer & Vice President, Finance and Audit

Leslie Nelson, Interim CEO and Chief Financial Officer

Patricia Cooper, Development Manager, Special Events

Shannon Crider, Director of Education & Community Engagement

Jordan Drum, Director of Development

Larisa Gawlik, Marketing & PR Associate

Christina Hadden, Executive Assistant & Board Liaison

Sergio Lozano, Marketing & PR Manager

Helena Oliver, Development Associate

Jennifer Steiner, Director of Operations

Lee Strickland, General Manager

Claire Williamson, Education Coordinator

Terry Zeno, Accounting Assistant

Norah G. Adams Chree Boydstun*Brian BravoRichard E. Chandler, Jr. Charles D. Davidson*†Miguel Espinosa*†Stephen GillMelanie Gray*†Jonathan Homeyer*Shawn K. JacksonEmily T. KuoStephen A. Lasher*†Eileen Lawal*Marian LloydSoraya McClellandMehmet F. Muftuoglu*Katherine Murphy*

Michaelene Lusk Norton Jim Postl*†Nichole PruittAnn V. Rogers*Gloria Ryan*Marisol SalazarLeslie Elkins SasserDonette StubblefieldPatricia D. Tilton*Stephen M. Trauber*†Kristina TraugerRobert B. Tudor III†Marcus A. Watts*†Margaret Alkek Williams

*Executive Committee†Past Chair

LEFT: BRIA SKONBERG

ON THE COVER: BALLET HISPÁNICO SUMMER DANCE INTENSIVE CLASS - Photo by Abbi Gutierrez

TOP LEFT: HSPVA THEATER STUDENTS BACKSTAGE WITH HAMID RAHMANIAN, FEATHERS OF FIRE

Directors

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The mission of Society for the

Performing Arts is to enrich

the cultural life of Houston

by presenting the world’s

best performing artists and

enlightening and educating

youth and others in the joys of

the performing arts.

ABOVE: NUPHONIA MUST FALL - Photo by Shannon Taggart

TROKER - Photo by Calavera Estudio

Society for the Performing Arts’ 2017-2018 Season included 33 main stage performances by 21 artists and touring companies as well as over 80 education and community engagement programs.

SPA presented these performances at four venues across Houston, incuding Jesse H. Jones Hall for the Performing Arts, Zilkha Hall at the Hobby Center, Warehouse Live, and the Cullen Performance Hall at the University of Houston, with outreach programs taking place at dozens of locations all over the greater Houston area.

VarietySince its inception, variety has been a hallmark of Society for the Performing Arts’ programming. Each season’s artist of ferings span several genres, including dance, music, visual art, theater, literature, and multi-discplinary performing arts.

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21

33

4

80+

artists and companies

mainstage performances

theater venues

education & community engagement activities

Photos by Abbi GuttierezRIGHT: SUMMER DANCE INTENSIVE REHEARSAL - Episcopal High SchoolLEFT: BALLET HISPÁNICO ARTISTIC DIRECTOR EDUARDO VILARO - UH Cullen Performance HallCENTER: SUMMER DANCE INTENSIVE JUNIOR HIGH SHOWCASE - Rice University Moody Center for the Arts

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PartnershipsAs a presenting organization, Society for the Performing Arts depends on its partners, including touring artists from around the country and the world, to deliver programming that meets the needs of Houston’s audiences.

Local and national partners at universities, community centers, schools, other local non-profits, and touring artists were a crucial part of Society for the Performing Arts’ 2017-2018 Season. With the help of longtime national partner Ballet Hispánico and local partners the HUB Houston, Episcopal High School, and the University of Houston, SPA successfully delivered this year’s sensory-friendly matinee (even though flooding forced the cancellation of the originally scheduled date), as well as the annual Ballet Hispánico Summer Dance Intensive.

“ T H E P A R T T H A T G I V E S M E T H E

M O S T J O Y I S B E I N G A B L E T O G O

T O H O U S T O N , M Y H O M E T O W N ,

E V E R Y Y E A R W I T H B A L L E T

H I S P Á N I C O A N D S H A R E T H E

E X P E R I E N C E S I ’ V E L E A R N E D

W I T H K I D S W H O A R E T A K I N G A

S I M I L A R P A T H . ” - S H E L B Y C O L O N A ,

B A L L E T H I S P Á N I C O D A N C E R A N D

H O U S T O N N A T I V E

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Affordable access to the performing arts is essential to Society for the Performing Arts’ mission. In keeping with that goal, ticket prices and event registration fees remained low during the 2017-2018 Season. Additionally, SPA offered hundreds of free tickets to Houston-area service organizations and non-profits, especially those most affected by Hurricane Harvey, through the CAST (“Collecting All Surplus Tickets”) program.

Affordable access also means making the expertise of our touring artists available to Houston-area residents. Through master classes, lectures, and meet-and-greets, audiences interacted with several touring artists. Students from Yellowstone Academy had the opportunity to meet the inspirational Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson backstage before his Jones Hall performance while others interacted with artists like Ira Glass and dancers from Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and the National Dance Company of Spain.

AccessALVIN AILEY TEACHER WORKSHOP - Jones Hall Rehearsal Room

NEIL DEGRASSE TYSON STUDENT MEET-AND-GREET - Backstage at Jones Hall; Photo by Jack Gorman

HUBBARD STREET DANCE CHICAGO - Photo by Rowitha VoglerBALLET HISPÁNICO CAST PARTY - Photo by Gary Fountain

27touring artist-led

lectures and master classes

906free tickets distributed

to mainstage presentations

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QualitySociety for the Performing Arts is committed to providing the highest quality programming both on stage and in the community.

HUBBARD STREET DANCE CHICAGO - Photo by Rowitha Vogler

RENÉE FLEMING MASTER CLASS - Rice University Shepherd School of Music; Photo courtesy Shepherd School of Music

The 2017-2018 Season included community activities by several

individuals and companies at the top of their field, including

soprano Renée Fleming, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, and host of

NPR’s This American Life, Ira Glass.

In November 2017, four lucky vocal students at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music had the

once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to take a master class with Renée

Fleming. Many touring artists spend a large part of their time in Houston delivering similar activities each and

every SPA season.

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Flooding in the Theater District caused damage at Jones Hall, where SPA programs the majority of its main stage performances. SPA’s offices, located beneath Jones Hall, also sustained damage, forcing the organization to temporarily relocate. However, the most significant flooding damage in the district was to the Wortham Theater Center, the planned location for approximately 40% of SPA’s 2017-2018 Season presentations, dozens of education and community engagement activities, and SPA’s largest annual fundraiser.

The demand for venues outside the Theater District for displaced arts organizations forced the cancellation or postponement of several programs. Despite these challenges, SPA was able to find suitable alternative venues for many activities. After all, no matter the circumstances, “The show must go on!”

Society for the Performing Arts, like so many individuals and organizations in Houston, was significantly af fected by Hurricane Harvey. The success of the 2017-2018 Season is a testament to the dedication and resiliency of our organization and its supporters.

Hurricane Harvey

Sad TimesEllie Kim

Division B, Second Place

JP Art Studio

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Cries for HelpShaofang Xue

Third Place

Division D, 11th Grade

Shadow Creek High School

“ E V A C U A T I O N W A S D I F F I C U L T A N D

H A R D T O D E A L W I T H , A N D T H I S I S T H E

R E A S O N I C R E A T E D T H I S P I E C E O F A R T . ”

- J A C O R E Y D A V I S , 7 T H G R A D E

LaughterAlex Carrillo

Honorable Mention

Division B, 4th Grade

Goodman Elementary

The Place of ElsewhereEvia Rand

Honorable Mention

Division B, 4th Grade

Mary Marek Elementary

Sad FeelingSeojin Park

Honorable Mention

Division B, 3rd Grade

JP Art Studio

Storytellers:The 20th Annual Wells Fargo Student Art Contest

RedemptionClarissa Chavez

Honorable Mention

Division D, 11th Grade

Carver High School

The 20th Annual Wells Fargo Student Art Contest theme, “Storytellers,” encouraged students to tell their personal story through their submission. A record-breaking 718 students submitted their artwork created with a variety of mediums, which visually depicted narratives including family immigration stories, the loss of loved ones, and other salient moments in their lives.

The strength of every Wells Fargo Annual Art Contest is the theme which students can interpret in a variety of ways. While the “Storytellers” theme was selected well in advance of Hurricane Harvey, many students chose to depict their experience during the storm. The work was cathartic for students, giving them a chance to process the tramatic episode while creating highly personal pieces of art.

718 individual entries

106 participating schools

59 individual awards

74%

13%

13%

14%

25%

7%5%

13%

25%

11%

56%44%

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development

Chart Title

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contributedearned

corporations

foundations*

governmentindividuals

special events

in-kind

hurricane relief*

programming

administrative

Society for the Performing Arts wishes to recognize and thank the sponsors, supporters, and donors whose generous contributions made the 2017-2018 Season a reality.

Corporations and CompaniesAdmiral Transfer and Rigging, Inc. Apache CorporationBank of Texas BBVA CompassBHP BillitonCAMAC International Corp. CenterPoint EnergyChevronChevron Phillips Chemical CompanyCitiCoca-Cola CompanyConocoPhillips DLS Event ServicesExxonMobil FoundationFayez Sarofim & Co. The Friedkin GroupG2X Energy, Inc.Haynes and Boone LLPH-E-B Hotel AlessandraJefferies LLCLegacy Community HealthLittlerLocke Lord LLPLyondellBasell IndustriesMicrosoftNeiman MarcusNorton Rose FulbrightPhillips 66Plains All American PipelinePricewaterhouseCoopersSunTrust BankTD SecuritiesUnited AirlinesVinson & Elkins LLPWells Fargo

Foundations and Government EntitiesAlvin Ailey Dance FoundationThe Brown Foundation, Inc.City of Houston through the Miler Theatre Advisory BoardCity of Houston through Theater District Improvement, Inc.The Cullen Trust for the Performing ArtsGeorge and Mary Josephine Hamman FoundationHouston Endowment, Inc.The Humphreys FoundationKayser FoundationKinder Morgan FoundationM.D. Anderson FoundationNational Endowment for the ArtsSociety for the Performing Arts FoundationTexas Commission on the ArtsThe Tudor Family FoundationThe Vaughn FoundationThe Wortham Foundation, Inc.

contributions

revenue

expenses

*does not include gifts from the SPA Foundation

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Individual DonorsAnonymousNorah and Henry AdamsNancy AllenStanley AlmoneyGloria AlvarezClaudia ArassiroJami ArnstGalina AronJ. ArredondoRain ArteagaSusan AskanaseKarla AssaffAmy BanisterDoris BeallJoseph BeckerBradd BenefieldLinda Bennett and Jeffrey NunnCarol B. BerglassKimberly BiniDenis BlakeAlexandria BlalockGordon BlasiusElizabeth BlokChree BoydstunAna BraunMargaret and Brian BravoLisa BrenskelleBarry BrooksSarah and Oscar BrownChris Caddell Ai-Ping CaiMelissa CamarilloRichard CarterJose CasianoMelissa CasselStewart CasselSandy and Thomas CattarinNancy ChafeDona and Bob ChambersChris ChandlerIsabel and Rich ChandlerDamon J. ChargoisLinda and Willie ChiangRuth ChurchillSusanne and Robert ClarkRobert Coker Michael CondronAmy Cope-GibbsSigmund CorneliusBrian CosgroveNancy and Chuck DavidsonDr. Susan E. DensonAnn Marie Diebel and Keith LutschElizabeth DucharmeKrista and Michael DumasTheresa Einhorn and Donald YurewiczAlexandra EmsleyC.C. and Scott EnsellMary and Mike EspinosaJennifer FergusonMary Sapp Fischer and Carl FischerJoe FisherKristin A. FlanaganAnn and Peter FluorDaniel FordyceMaria GarzaLeslie GassnerJeffrey GibbMignon and Stephen GillHeather GoltzBob GossMelanie Gray and Mark Wawro

Larry and Susan GreenLeamon GreenMargaret GreenTimothy GreenGary GreenbergHarry GrenaderHans GriderDavid GrindleKaren GrubbsCynthia and Ben GuillElizabeth HallMarjorie HalvorsonCorey HarlockJennifer HarrisonJulie HesterRichard HicksLee Ann and Michael HigginbottomCarol Hoffman Amy and Jonathan HomeyerCarol HowenstineVanessa HulmeJohanna HumeMarie JacintoCamille JacksonDavid JacksonJeni JacksonShawn and Bill JacksonJames L. JacobeYvonne and Mark JacobsCarol JamisonTracy and Ken JandaNikki JenningsKris and Mark JodonJanet and David JohnsonSheria JohnsonMichael JohnstonCyndi JonesMarianne KahTeresa KaminskiMichael KaneCurt KargesBarbara and Daniel KaufmanKevin KellerMills KellySuzanne and Barry KellyJohn KennedyKevin KingJennifer and Vyacheslav KirikLisa KirkSusan and Michael KlavenessAllison KnightEmily Korinek and Jordan DrumEmily T. Kuo and Michael ChuBeth LandayEileen and Kase LawalCassandra LehmannIvy LevingstonLarissa LindsayJaniece Longoria and Stephen LasherMimi LloydJane and Steve MalashockTheresa and Edward MallettWilliam MaloneMarilyn Maloney and Paul LongstrethAlex MartinezCristina MassonAbigail MayoDr. Claire McLeodKaren McGowen Gary McNeelRosalinda C. MendezDanielle MeyersVickie Milazzo

Roland Miller Ginni and Richard MithoffBeverly MooreSedella MorganRandy MorrowNektar and Mehmet MuftuogluLoretta MuldrowKatherine and Paul MurphyDr. Barbara E. MurrayJohn T. MyersLynda NguyenLeslie and Kent NelsonSusan NerloveBobby NewmanHeather NickMiki and Ralph NortonKathryn O’BrienDavid PeavySteve PetersonJerry PetrizzoEllen Polotko Christina and Troy PorterDebie PoseyBeverly and Jim PostlNichole Pruitt and Mark BruchmanBill PyleJaime RamosDemi and Ron RandSonya ReedBruce ReevesSandra ReidJohn RejiSonia ResendizKatherine ReynoldsJay RingKean RobertsonGary RodriguezFrancis RoganAnn V. RogersGail RogersRoger RolkeMelanie RotherGloria and Nick RyanGreg SaksidaMarisol SalazarKyttie and Bently SanfordLouisa SarofimLeslie and Shannon SasserAlyssa SchindlerBryan ScrivnerAndrea and Charles SeayDavid SedarisLisa ShawJackie SheahanCathy ShepherdRebecca ShockleyLesley ShoneRobert ShulmanSuhail A. SikhtianMaxine and Bubba SilbersteinJorge SilvaPaul Skrabanek Randal SmithTimmie SmithFrancis SomoanoCristina SosaThomas SpringerTrina StanfieldMary and Gerald StephensDawn Stoecker-SimonLee StricklandCynthia SudelaGail SuttonJanet and Bill SwanstromJennifer TaylorSharon and Tim Taylor

Ann-Marie TcholakianSusan ThompsonKathleen TidwellPatty and Michael TiltonPatricia TorresAshley and Matthew TrauberLeticia and Steve TrauberKristina Trauger and Andrew PierpontPhoebe and Bobby TudorSonia TzeHywel Upshall and Tracey RankinSilvia ValquitaMary and Martin VandenbrookWilson Van TineDr. Laura van VeldhovenJane VaselenakSteve VeedellJohn VitucciDavid WainwrightSharron WallCharles WardThomas WaterhouseJanna WebberJoyce WellmanNicolas WhiteMargaret WischeLynn WyattSteven WyattGina and Joseph WyszynskiMary YtterbergGrace YungSyma and Walt ZerkowGail Zitterkopf

In-Kind Supporters711 FITAdair Kitchen ConceptsAnonymousAlley TheatreArmandosBBVA CompassCristina Bedwell for J. JillburnNancy M. Bell / Maxwell Bell Bergner & JohnsonBernie’s Burger BusBig Blue Whale ToysBrightstarBuffalo Bayou Brewing Co.President George H.W. BushCapital GrilleCollection of Jereann and Holland ChaneyWilliam Chris VineyardsCloud 10 CreameryCorsaire Hotel, New OrleansDeer Lake Lodge and SpaDeutsch & Deutsch Fine Jewelry and Watches Drivetanks.com Evin Thayer StudiosFat Cat CreameryFinishing Touch Fishburn Violin ShopFrench American Chamber of CommerceFriedkin GroupGalatoire’sThe GeorgeMelanie Gray and Mark WawroHamilton Custom ShirtmakersHotel AlessandraHouston Ballet FoundationHouston DynamoHouston First Corporation

Hunter Dance Center The Impeccable PigJackson and CompanyKarbach Brewery Co. Karr Limousine ServiceKendra ScottEmily Kuo and Michael ChuLa TableLas Terrazas Resort & Residences LD SystemsLocal FoodsLocke Lord LLPLochinvar Golf ClubMaison RouxTheresa and Edward MallettMarine LayerMariquita MastersonMasraff ’s RestaurantMelange CreperieThe Menil CollectionWhitney MercilusMegan Murray PhotographyMessina Hof Winery & ResortMetcalf PortraitsNektar and Mehmet Muftuoglu Neiman MarcusThe Nice WineryMiki and Ralph NortonNos Caves Vin, FrostwoodPaloma NailsPhillips 66Phoenicia Specialty FoodsQ ClothierNichole Pruitt and Mark BruchmanAnn V. RogersGloria and Nick RyanRye 51Saint BernardMarisol SalazarSam Houston Race ParkSensia Studio & Japanese Day SpaSt. Arnold Brewery Saint BernardStella + Dot by Kristina BrosigCarole and Michael StrachanLee Strickland and Ashley BalesEvan Thayer StudiosTickets.comTUTS2CELLOSTypewriter TarotNeil deGrasse TysonUnited AirlinesWarby ParkerBrenda and Marc WattsWilliam Chris VineyardsWonderwild

2017-2018 SEASON PERFORMANCES

2017-2018 SEASON PERFORMANCES

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TANGO BUENOS AIRESJones HallNovember 3, 2017

RENÉE FLEMINGJones HallNovember 4, 2017

DAVID SEDARISJones HallNovember 6, 2017

A WYNONNA & THE BIG NOISE CHRISTMASJones HallDecember 7, 2017

2CELLOSJones HallJanuary 17, 2018

KINKY BOOTSJones HallJanuary 19-21, 2018

PIANO BATTLEZilkha Hall atThe Hobby CenterJanuary 28, 2018

NUFONIA MUST FALLJones HallFebruary 9, 2018

THE ILLUSIONISTS PRESENT: ADAM TRENTJones HallFebruary 10, 2018

GLOBALFESTWarehouse Live BallroomMarch 3, 2018

COMPAÑÍA NACIONAL DE DANZA: CARMENJones HallMarch 10, 2018

ALVIN AILEY AMERICAN DANCE THEATERJones HallMarch 16-17, 2018

BRIA SKONBERGJones HallMarch 23, 2018

HUBBARD STREET DANCE CHICAGOJones HallApril 13, 2018

TAO: DRUM HEARTJones HallApril 14, 2018

FEATHERS OF FIRE: A PERSIAN EPICCullen Performance HallUniversity of HoustonApril 20, 2018

TROKERMiller Outdoor TheaterMay 4, 2018

IRA GLASSJones HallMay 12, 2018

BALLET HISPÁNICOCullen Performance HallUniversity of HoustonMay 18, 2018

THE SOUND OF MUSICJones HallJune 1-3, 2018

PENN & TELLERJones HallJune 8, 2018