Curtain falls on shows at New Court Theatre

By GAZETTE STAFF   Friday, Feb. 13, 2009
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— A national economic downturn, corporate cutbacks and individual "belt tightening" mean the end for a local theater group.

New Court Theatre announced Thursday that it would no longer be producing shows.

Beloit was the state's smallest community to host a professional theater, and as such faced a variety of challenges.

Josh Burton founded New Court more than 10 years ago.

Burton, who died 2007, wanted to reestablish the Court Theatre, an organization that put on professional shows in Beloit for decades.

For many years, New Court was successful, hiring professional actors and talented local amateurs.

But in fall 2008, when planning started for the 2009 season, New Court's board of directors quickly realized they were facing a struggle.

"While our 2008 season was an artistic success, a 30 percent reduction from our 2007 audience attendance resulted in a financial deficit," the board wrote in a news release.

After considering several options, such as shortening the season or going to weekend-only performances, the board realized that it could not guarantee the needed support for the season.

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SuperDave
Jun 12, 2009 at 11:53 a.m.
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Bad luck. I see it's Friday the 13th on this page, yikes!
"By GAZETTE STAFF Friday, Feb. 13, 2009"

proartist
Feb 13, 2009 at 3:43 p.m.
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Thanks, New Court, for all the years of excellence in your productions! Many of us will miss you. It can be frustrating to always have critics drown out the accolades for any artistic endeavor that quite often involves hundreds of hours by community volunteers who participate simply because of their love for the arts. Some arts groups are becoming a reflection of the poor economy while others across the nation are actually realizing the national crisis as a time for reassessment and even growth because now people are looking to more local venues for entertainment. A glimpse at American, and world history, will demonstrate that even during the Great Depression, creativity and the arts saw amazing resurgence precisely because of the challenges people faced. Prices at local venues are always an issue but there are dozens of events at JPAC each year that are absolutely FREE to $5 (check out opportunities and events at the UAA website: www.rockcountyarts.com ) making any question of prices a moot issue. It's also always struck me odd that, if you factor in the time and expense to travel to other places, some people will actually outlay far more money in the end going to see performances (of equivalent or even less quality) elsewhere that they could have seen in their own hometown for less. The old adage of the grass always being greener seems to be alive and well...but still just as misguided. I encourage Janesville residents to take advantage of the low prices, exceptional quality talent, and local opportunities that will undoubtedly surprise some by participating or attending any of the area performing and exhibit venues. If you stick to the "same-old same-old", you're missing amazing opportunities and the extraordinary gems right in your own backyard.

janesvillecomments
Feb 13, 2009 at 11:48 a.m.
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J-Pac and Janesville Little Theatre seem to be falling on hard times also. J-Pac used to have an independent web site and now it appears to resolve to a Gazlo page.
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Attendence has been a little light at the last couple of Janesville Little Theatre productions I attended, and I stopped buying their season ticket when they pulled a switch and dropped "Harvey" for another (and in my opinion lesser) play AFTER I'd purchased a season ticket.
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The extra fees for JLT to use the Performing Arts Center has made tickets rather pricy. I don't attend anything else JPAC shows, but I think their business model might have been a little too expensive for the level of live theatre goers in the Janesville Area.
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I haven't been to any show at the Armory yet, but for the prices they charge, I'd rather go to the Fireside in Fort Atkinson where I've already experienced their shows and meals, rather than take a chance on a new place.

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