Some people join community theatre with visions of stardom dancing in their heads.
About the only time these people are seen backstage is when they're waiting to go on-stage.

Others join for less stellar reasons. These people choose to apply their various talents behind the scenes building sets, selling tickets, painting, ushering or any other important job crucial to the success of community theatre.

No one joins community theatre to discuss insurance premiums, general liability limits or what to do if a patron slips and falls. But this is exactly what is expected of the brave souls elected to serve as a board member or a managing director. It may not be as glamorous as cleaning out the paint room, but somebody's got to do it. Unfortunately, most of the people elected to these jobs do not know very much about insurance.

And that's the cue for this column to make its debut appearance!

The purpose of this monthly column is to provide Community Theatre associates with timely information about a wide variety of insurance related matters in a way that makes sense to a layman. How much coverage is enough? What do we do if a patron has a slip and fall accident? Does our insurance cover our costumes and props if we loan them to another group? What are loss controls and how do they affect our premium rates? How do I get insurance certificates naming someone else as an Additional Insured?

So, who am I to tell you about community theatre insurance?

I am a licensed agent and the AACT Insurance Program Manager. I work for the PONTA, CASTLE & INGRAM AGENCY. I work for Dan Castle who developed the AACT-endorsed insurance program based on his extensive experience in both the insurance industry and community theatre.

I have done most every community theatre job--props, directing, costumes, lights, box office, acting, concessions, scenic, makeup, publicity, budget committee and my personal favorite; house and grounds.

I am associated with four community theatres in the Detroit metropolitan area and have served on the Board of Directors of two of these groups. I was also elected to three terms as president during which time I had to administer a million dollar renovation project. In addition, I was Dan’s theatre manager for two years when he and his partners produced the Detroit production of Forever Plaid.

Between the two of us, Dan and I have over 37 years of community theatre experience and over 21 years of insurance experience. [As of 1996 when this article was first published]

Hopefully all of this is enough to convince you that I can provide, through this column, timely and reliable information about whatever community theatre insurance matters you may have. If you have questions or concerns, do not hesitate to call.

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