ABOUT DCT

DCT Vision Statement

The Denton Community Theatre is a progressive and vital part of the cultural life of the North Texas Region. Our vision is for a growing, creative theatre company closely in touch with the needs and desires of its various audiences. In addition to its traditional range of first rate plays and musicals, DCT will expand its offerings to include:

1. Progressive/mature/innovative subject matter and original productions;
2. A fun and exciting Children's Theatre Program; and,
3. An interesting and imaginative educational outreach program.

As a result, DCT"s audience will grow to encompass all of the adults, youth and children of the North Texas area.

Underpinning our increased range of offerings, DCT will aggressively pursue an active program of continuous quality improvement, resulting in an enhanced image and improved recognition locally, regionally, and nationally. An intense marketing and communications program will ensure that everyone in the North Texas Region is aware of, and encouraged to participate in, DCT's wonderful productions and programs.

As the scope and thrust of our theatre company grows our facilities will be renewed and revitalized, and where appropriate, additional facilities will be acquired. To accomplish our enlarged vision, DCT will continue to rely upon a wide range of well-trained volunteers as a foundation for its efforts led by a staff of effective, dedicated professionals. Finally, new sources of permanent funding will be developed and available prior to launching any new initiatives.

GOALS

The Denton Community Theatre has created a Vision for its next five years. In order to make that Vision come to fruition, the following challenging goals have been identified and adopted by the Board of Directors.

1. Repertoire
   1. Continue to offer a first rate, well-rounded Mainstage Season of diverse plays and musicals;
   2. Attract and grow younger and more diverse audiences by offering an expanded repertoire of original productions and innovative/progressive/mature subject matter by the 2005-2006 season; and
   3. Strengthen and expand our programs for children and youth into an active and innovative Children's Theatre Program by the fall of 2005.
      
2. Audience and Volunteers
   1. Expand the size and the geographic reach of the current audience by intensifying and broadening our marketing and advertising programs; and
   2. Enhance the demographic diversity of our audiences through improved communications and outreach with various ethnic and special interest groups.
3. Facilities As the scope and thrust of our theatre company grows, modifications to the Campus Theatre will be required to enhance our production capabilities (e.g. flyspace, an orchestra pit, enlarged storage space, and additional seating.) Additional venues will need to be acquired to offer additional productions, house our expanded Children's Theatre Program, and provide additional rehearsal space. We will develop a comprehensive facilities plan that includes:
   1. a plan, and the securing of the necessary approvals, to remodel the Campus Theatre to provide flyspace and such other modifications as will make the theatre a more performance friendly environment for both performers and audiences by September 2004; and
   2. identifying one or more additional venues appropriate for use as rehearsal space, as a Children's Theatre, and for the production of progressive/mature subject matter by September 2003.
4. Funding
To satisfy both the capital and the on-going financial requirements of our expanded program and facilities, we will develop new and expanded sources of funding. Adequate funding will be developed and available prior to launching any new initiatives. To accomplish these objectives, we will develop a comprehensive funding strategy to support all aspects of our envisioned program. This funding strategy will be completed by September 2004 and will include provisions for:
1. Short and long term capital requirements;
2. short and long term expense and working capital requirements;
3. development of local, state, and federal funding sources;
4. development of a DCT Foundation;
5. identification and cultivation of corporate and affluent individual donors;
6. maintaining and enlarging the body of DCT membership; and
7. development of adequate ticket pricing for each of the variety of series offered by DCT (e.g., Mainstage season, Second Venue season, Children's Theatre season, etc.).
5. Staffing
   We will continue to rely primarily on a wide range of volunteers as the foundation for our efforts. Our volunteer base will expand and we will greatly enhance both the quantity and quality of training provided those volunteers. The staff will continue to ensure that all our expanded efforts are delivered in a first-rate, high-quality manner. DCT staffing will increase as the expanded program we envision develops, and funding is available. To achieve our expanded vision:
   1. We will develop a comprehensive staffing plan to meet the requirements of our expanding program by September 20, 2003. The plan may include one or several of the following additions to the staff:
      1. clerical assistance;
      2. an artistic director;
      3. a technical director;
      4. a director for the Children's Theatre, and
      5. a development director.
   2. we will also implement, by January 2004, enhancements to the training of our adult volunteers by initiating a dynamic training program in theatre arts, offering classes and workshops to our adult thespians
6. Education
   DCT will launch educational outreach programs to acquaint all children, youth, and adults in the North Texas Region with the excitement and thrill of theatre. To achieve this goal, DCT will:
   1. In conjunction with the Denton Independent School District, Home School programs, and private schools, develop by January 2005 and implement by Fall 2005 an educational outreach program to bring a knowledge and experience of theatre to the children and youth of our community and the surrounding area; and
   2. Implement adult educational programs in theatre arts by September 2005.
7. Quality
   We will pursue an active program of continuous quality improvement in all of our endeavors. These efforts will result in an improved image and increased recognition locally, regionally, and nationally. To accomplish this objective, we will, by September 1, 2003, develop and implement a strategy for continuous quality improvement in all aspects of DCT activities.
8. Marketing and Communications
   We will develop and implement an aggressive marketing and communications program designed to ensure that everyone in the North Texas Region is aware of, and encouraged to participate in, DCT's productions and programs. Accordingly, we will design and implement an aggressive marketing and communications strategy by June 2004 to accomplish the following objectives:
   1. bring the DCT message to a wider audience, both geographically and demographically;
   2. grow audience size and diversity;
   3. measure and enhance DCT's image and recognition locally, regionally, and nationally;
   4. improve brand identity and recognition; and
   5. cultivate closer relationships with the institutions of higher education in the North Texas Region.