January 7, 2013
An Open Letter to:
Orlando City Council
Orange County Commissioners
Community Arts Group Leaders
Dr. Phillips Center Board of Directors
Interested Arts Community Stakeholders
As a leader in the Central Florida Arts Community for more than a decade, I have worked tirelessly with my counterparts from the Orlando Philharmonic and the Orlando Ballet to pursue the dream of a new downtown performing arts center. Throughout this time, we were always assured that the enhancement and growth of Orlando's arts groups would be an integral part of the mission of the Dr. Phillips Performing Arts Center (DPAC). Imagine our shock and disappointment to learn that despite our zealous support for the project and our commitment to the entire arts community, DPAC has chosen to exclude local arts groups from the project, including an attempt to end the life of one of the strongest Orlando arts groups, Florida Theatrical Association (FTA).
For the past 25 years, FTA has been the non-profit presenter of Broadway in Orlando. In that time, FTA has delivered to Orlando the very best Broadway has to offer, including WICKED, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, MISS SAIGON, LES MISERABLES and THE LION KING, to name a few. During those 25 years, the City of Orlando and Bob Carr Performing Arts Center have been FTA's steadfast partner and collaborator. The City has never been at risk and has never lost any money in the Broadway partnership–it has only shared in the profits. In fact, the City can confirm that FTA's annual Broadway Series has been key to the long-term financial stability of the Bob Carr PAC. FTA has also donated thousands of tickets to charities, underprivileged children and theater students, as well as more than $1.5 million in scholarships to theater students in the State of Florida. Most recently FTA has invested in a community spaces downtown called The Abbey and The Mezz, donating its use to charities and local arts groups, resulting in these groups raising more than $2 million for their respective organizations.
EIGHTY PERCENT OF ALL PROCEEDS GENERATED BY FTA STAYED WITHIN AND HELPED THE ORLANDO COMMUNITY.
In June 2012, the Dr. Phillips Center put out a Request For Proposal for potential Broadway presenters. We were encouraged to participate in this process and accordingly submitted a proposal on August 16th. FTA was the only organization to respond. At that time, like others that had competed to be part of the DPAC team, we believed we were participating in a traditional governmental procurement process. However, after submitting our proposal, there was no information on when a decision would be made or who would be making the decision. In fact, there was no selection committee, no timeline and no opportunity to discuss terms or negotiate. After one meeting and request for clarification on our proposal, FTA was notified (four months after we submitted our proposal) that the Dr. Phillips Center had declined our proposal and had chosen to self- present. We have since learned that several business leaders and DPAC board members requested further discussion about and investigation into the decision by the Center’s Executive Committee to self-present; however, those requests were denied. We are left with no other conclusion than the RFP process was intentionally non- transparent and blatantly predetermined to exclude FTA's usage of the DPAC from the onset.
DPAC's strategy to self-present Broadway is short-sighted. By taking on so much of the risk without a partner, they are not only putting the public tax dollars invested in the project at risk but jeopardizing the center’s ability to achieve long-term financial stability. It should be noted that most theaters in the top US markets work with a professional theater operator or presenter, including venues recently cited as part of the DPAC talking points: the Philadelphia PAC works with the NY Shubert Organization, and the Straz Center in Tampa has enjoyed a co- presenting relationship for most of its history, including the relationship currently in place with a NY Theater owner/producer. The newly built Dallas and Durham venues co-present with a commercial Broadway presenter. The two largest PACs in Florida– Broward Center in Ft. Lauderdale and Arsht Center in Miami - have worked with FTA since their openings, and are fully-committed to maintaining and growing their relationship with FTA for continued Broadway presenting success.
We are extremely disappointed with this decision and hope that there is still a chance for reconsideration. If we cannot determine a path to move forward and collaborate, FTA has every intention of continuing to bring the very best Broadway has to offer to Central Florida. FTA will continue its mission to service and support its loyal season ticket holders, as well as support community arts organizations and students. To that end, FTA is currently working with several potential venues to present a Broadway Series. FTA continues to have the unanimous support of the New York Theatre Community, including all of the best productions for the upcoming new seasons, as well as returning favorites like WICKED, THE BOOK OF MORMON and many others.
It’s time for our community and government leaders to come together to do what is right for the entire arts community. Fracturing the arts community will not work. Collaboration between FTA and DPAC is the only path for success!
Sincerely,
Ronald G. Legler
President/CEO Florida Theatrical Association
