Theatre Design & Technology - Spring 1982 - 8

because the student has an opportunity to deal with the realities
of a theatre management situation."
The investigation summarized here indicates that professional theatre managers are concerned about the quality of management training and about the quality of training program graduatrb (FEDAPT) was contacted. At the 1979 American Theatre
in general. Indeed, many were complimentary of person-al
experiences with interns, graduates, or programs. Their suggestions were constructive and given in the light of real concern for
the field in which they have made their profession.

Frederic Vogel Comments
To obtain an analysis of these comments and results given
here, Frederic Vogel, Executive Director of the Foundation for
the Extension and Development of American Professional Theatre (FEDAPT) was contacted. At the 1979 American Theatre
Association conference held in New York, Vogel had been quite
outspoken about the current management training available in
American colleges and universities. His professional credentials
and contacts, coupled with his personal interest in management

training, make him an appropriate commentator on these findings.
Vogel said he agreed generally with the findings and said
similar results had been discussed five years earlier. In June,
1975, former Ford Foundation management interns had met at a
Theatre Communications Group meeting and mentioned some
of the same needs for good management training: (1) basic
management skills, (2) strong theatre background, (3) integration of professionals as full or adjunct faculty, (4) the need for
internships, and (5) realistic employment placement.
Vogel also said programs have trained graduates since 1975
who are elite. The elitism is partially due to the geographic
location of the better programs. These east and west coast
programs introduce students to influential professionals during
their education. Upon graduation, the graduate is reluctant to
take less prestigious positions with lesser-known personnel.
Vogel is currently working with a program which would
subdue that elitism by using contacts with smaller organizations.
He said such contact is necessary for students to gain sensitivity
(both for the organization and its personnel).
Management training programs can help solve the same
dilemma through symbiotic programs with professional groups.

QUESTIONNAIRE AND LISTING OF RESPONSES
(Numbers in parentheses indicate respective responses)
1. Has your theatre had contact with theatre management training
programs?
(19) Yes
(1) No
If you answered "Yes" to question 1, please answer questions 2, 3, 4
and 5. If you answered "No" to question 1, please proceed to question 6.
2. In which capacities has your theatre had contact with theatre
management training programs?
@L Theatre staff teach with a training program faculty (on a continuing basis).
~ Theatre staff teach as guest lectures (on an irregular basis).
@ Theatre has hired graduates of management training programs.
UID Theatre has used interns from management training programs.
.ul Other. Please specify: "Sent staff members to management
training programs."
3. Based on your contact with the programs, how would you rate the
quality of training? (Check one.)
@L Outstanding. (Graduates are prepared for staff positions of high
responsibility in middle or top management.)
@L Good. (Graduates are prepared for staff positions of responsibilty, but require a year-or less-of residence to fully apply their
knowledge.)
@L Average. (Graduates are capable of handling responsible assignments, but lack either experience or knowledge to assume a staff
position.)
~ Below average. (Graduates have a good understanding of management theory, but lack application skills necessary for staff
positions or assignments without supervision.)
fQL Poor. (Graduates have minimal understanding of management
theory and are not competent to complete assignments of
responsibility.)
~ No comment due to limited contact or unwillingness to generalize.
4. Are there specific reasons governing your answer to question 3? If
"Yes", please explain briefly.
(see text)
5. Based on your answers to questions 3 and 4, do you feel changes
should be made in theatre management training programs? If "Yes",
please list (up to three) your suggestions.
Yes
ill No comment
(see text for specific suggestions)
If you answered "No" to question 1, please answer questions 6 and 7.
6. My theatre has not had contact with theatre management training
programs because (check one):

Theatre Design & Technology

fQL
fQL

Location. (Our theatre is not close to existing programs.)
Others' experience. (Other theatres have not had positive experiences with management training programs.)
fQL Size. (Management students cannot be involved due to theatre's
small staff size.)
fQL Quality of training. (Graduates are not adequately prepared for
positions and would require expensive on-the-job training.)
.ul Other. Please specify briefly. ("No one ever offered internswould accept if not salaried.")
7. My theatre would have future contact with theatre management
training programs if changes were made in the following areas (check
one):
fQL Accessibility. (If an entire program or program interns were more
readily available.)
.ul Performance record. (If other theatres' personnel could highly
commend the contact they have had.)
fQL Theatre staffing. (If our theatre needed a new position or
vacancy filled.)
fQL Training programs. (Current management training does not fulfill
our management needs.)
8. Regardless of your contact with theatre management training programs, which areas of study do you believe hold the most practical
worth? (Please note preference by putting #1 as the most practical, #2
as the second most practical, etc.)'
* Courses were originally listed alphabetically. The courses appear here
in preferential order with the average numeral rating appearing in
parentheses-#2 representing the highest preference, #9.18 the lowest.
(2.00) Management
@J.§) Accounting
~ Marketing
(5.50) Public Relations
(5.58) Business Law
(6.00) Dramatic Literature
(6.36) Theatre History
(6.58) News/Media Relations
(7.09) Stage Management
~ Directing
9. Regardless of your contact with theatre management training programs, what is your general evaluation of theatre management training?
(see text)
10. Regardless of your contact with theatre management training
programs, what are your suggestions for an institution about to begin a
new theatre management training program?
(see text)

USITT/Spring, 1982

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