Community

Articles about BLT’s relationship to the community, and articles about people who are, or have been, involved with BLT.

BAT meets the Burien Arts Commission

The Burien Arts Commission has a few new members. A good thing. But they do not know BAT. A bad thing.

So, soon BAT will be introducing itself the Burien Arts Commission. BAT was asked to tell the Commission what BAT does. Here is a brief outline of what BAT does. (Can you think of more?)

Brief History

BAT is getting ready for the 40th consecutive season in what is now called the Burien Parks Annex. Originally this space was offered free to BAT, but when Burien became a City, the City saw the Annex as a profit center and began changing BAT rent. That rent has gone up significantly over the years.

About BAT

BAT has a 94 seat house in the Annex

BAT typically does four main stage shows a season (usually over four weekends). EXAMPLE  HERE are some photos from BAT’s recent seasons!!!

According to the 2017 study by Foster School of Business at the University of Washington, these four shows bring $141,000 to Burien, over and above ticket prices. On average each patron spends $22.70 per person in Burien

70% of BAT audience is from outside Burien. The audience comes from as far away as Vancouver, BC, and Vancouver, WA. The audience is mostly from nearby cities, and the Eastside and Covington areas.

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An open letter to the Federal Way City Council

Dear Council,

I am the artistic director at Burien Actors Theatre, http://www.burienatorstheatre.org.

BAT is a small 94-seat theater located in Burien. In May of 2017, the Foster School of Business at the University of Washington conducted a study of BAT’s economic impact on the City of Burien. Over and above ticket purchases, BAT adds over $141,000.00 annually to the City of Burien’s economy. That is $22.27 per participant. BAT does that with a budget of about $100,000.00 per year. (These are not National numbers, these are numbers from a city just north of Federal Way.)

Undoubtedly, Centerstage Theatre Arts Conservatory, with its larger house, and a bigger budget, a greater number of productions, and outreach adds significantly more to the economy of Federal Way. Theater-goers tend to eat and drink at a restaurant near the theater so they are not caught in traffic and miss the show.

Live theater is not a zero-sum game. Great theater in Federal Way, like that produced by Centerstage, adds to the success of better live theater in Burien and other performing arts in surrounding areas. Therefore, although I am not a resident of Federal Way, your decision about renewing Federal Way’s contract with Centerstage directly impacts BAT and the health of all the arts in South King County and North Pierce County.

Lately, there has been much discussion about how compared to Seattle, South King County is an arts desert. One of the bright spots in that desert, that casts a better light on Federal Way and South King County, is Centerstage. BAT has been impressed with the quality of work produced by Centerstage. In a very good way, Centerstage’s high standards have kept BAT on its toes.

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