MISSION
The Theatre Alliance of Buffalo (TAB) is a consortium of Western New York professional theatre companies dedicated to promoting the welfare of its member organizations and appreciation of the art of theatre.
Goals of the organization:
- Strengthen and enhance marketing efforts.
- Develop and invigorate communication and coordination among its members.
- Provide opportunities to stabilize and strengthen TAB members as a cultural and regional asset.
ABOUT THE THEATRE ALLIANCE of BUFFALO
Founded September 2004, in an unprecedented and groundbreaking partnership, sixteen professional producing theatres from Western New York came together to create (originally named) The Buffalo Theatre Alliance (TBTA).
The Theatre Alliance of Buffalo is a collection of WNY’s finest theatre groups working together as one to provide market awareness and support for the regions theatrical productions.
Since its inception, the Theatre Alliance of Buffalo (TAB) has now grown to 20 member theatre groups governed by by-laws and elected officials. Regular monthly meetings and committee meetings are held and a shared patron database of over 75,000 contacts has been created, allowing for a multitude of cross marketing initiatives to take place.
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
In early August 2008, a fulltime position was created by TAB members, through the generous support of the John R. Oishei Foundation; a multi-year grant was awarded to support the implementation of new TAB initiatives. In conjunction with this grant, the Buffalo Sabres made an in-kind contribution of best practices and marketing staff expertise supporting and furthering TAB mission and goals while helping TAB endeavor toward sustaining revenue generating initiatives.
Some events that soon followed include:
- TAB joined over 600 theatres in 120 cities nationwide for Theatre Communications Group’s (TCG) Free Night of Theater 2008. Participating TAB members offered tickets to a performance completely free of charge. 400 new people took part; their information was collected and added to our shared database.
- TAB engaged in a promotional partnership with Erie-Niagara Tobacco-Free Coalition (ENTFC). This arrangement created a mutually beneficial community relationship while strengthening the public profile of TAB and ENTFC through a full page TAB profile/advertisement in Business First Magazi and an on-going campaign.
- TAB launched a dedicated website providing a “one-stop- shop” for theatre-goers and making it a focal point of all TAB activities, increasing the value of membership, and creating a critical communication tool for future markets. It also offers a comprehensive weekly picture of theatre in the Buffalo Niagara region while making its link with other regional and community websites an invaluable networking component.
- The 1st Annual World’s Largest Cast Party, a new community event, was initiated to help drive interest to our dedicated website, profile the Spring theatre season, celebrate the vibrancy of our community and draw regional attention to diverse theatrical options. This event will grow annually while affirming TAB as a cultural regional asset.
- Facilitating the ability to recruit professionals to area;
- Contributing assets to our growing knowledge-based economy;
- Providing entertainment; bringing national and international recognition; and
- Enriching educational programs in local schools, universities/colleges and continuing education programs.
Theatre Alliance of Buffalo Members
The Theatre District Association of Western New York, Inc. (TDA) established Theatre Alliance of Buffalo as a new standing committee made up of representatives of all TDA theatre member organizations.