2013-2014 Annual Report

2013-2014

Board of Directors

Jocelyn StrausFounding Chairperson

Frank Z. RuttenbergChairman

Kevin ParmanPresident

Linda Guerra TilleryVice President

Jay HigginsonTreasurer

Valerie Samaníego FinchAssistant Treasurer

Laura G. RichmondSecretary

Martha AvantAliza CantuBill CrowEric Dupre’Carmen GoldbergGeorge HincheySteve JohnsonJohn D. LikovichCharline McCombsDavid NicolsonSue Ann PembertonPeggy PenshornBonnie ReedKathy RhoadsBarbara RichmondMichael SchaeferLisa SwannDon ThomasChris TurnerV.T. “Skip” Wood

Lifetime FriendsSunny BlumenthalClifton J. BolnerMary Margaret McAllenPat Wheeler

In Memory OfBob W. ColemanElaine Honigblum “Lainie” Kaufman

Las Casas Foundation is dedicated to the development of the performing arts through education, scholarships and the restoration and preservation of historic theatres.

Founded in 1988, Las Casas is funded through Foundation memberships, the generous support of donors, corporations and grants. It has awarded $485,000 in scholarship funds to deserving students in the field of performing arts since 2009.

This year marked a number of milestones for Las Casas. We celebrated the 100th year anniversary of the elegant Charline McCombs Empire Theatre fêting its namesake in a star-studded evening; we honored the hard work and commitment of our founding chairperson, Jocelyn L. “Joci” Straus, as we dedicated our beautiful theater complex “the Joci Straus Performing Arts Center;” and applauded the amazing talent of our San Antonio youth through the Las Casas Performing Arts Scholarship Competition, awarding over $100,000 in scholarship funds to deserving high school students, bringing the total amount of scholarships awarded since the program began to nearly $500,000.

As we look back to where we started and how far we’ve come, it is a fantastic reason to pause and be grateful for the opportunity we have to continue to impact the San Antonio performing arts community.

On behalf of Las Casas, thank you for your generous contributions and your support as we continue our mission.

This year also marks the opening of the new Tobin Center. We at Las Casas look with great pride at the ever-expanding landscape for cultural arts in our city, which was envi-sioned by Las Casas over a quarter century ago. As many of you have heard me state before, great cities are not remembered by their industry or commerce, or the wealth of their community, but rather by their contribution to the arts. Through your commitment and support of Las Casas, each of you has helped to enrich our city and elevate our community to one of the greatest in our country.

We pause for just a moment to reflect and enjoy the memories of our accomplishments that could only be achieved with your great generosity and knowing that with your continued support, we will reach even greater achievements in the future.

Frank Z. RuttenbergChairman of the Board, Las Casas Foundation

When Las Casas Foundation was founded in 1988, none of us envisioned where we would be today.

2013 GALA HONORING JOCI STRAUSJocelyn L. “Joci” Straus, Founding Chairperson of Las Casas Foundation, was recognized at the 2013 Gala, which also featured the multinational operatic pop vocal group, IL DIVO. The evening honored her lifetime achievements, vision and leadership in making the Majestic Theatre and the Charline McCombs Empire Theatre the treasures they are today. During the gala program, it was announced that the downtown San Antonio Performing Arts Center, as the two theatres were collectively known, would be renamed the Joci Straus Performing Arts Center. Proceeds from the evening, a total of more than $425,200 directly benefited the Las Casas Performing Arts Scholarship Competition.

CELEBRATING

YEARS100

2014 EMPIRE THEATRE’S CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION HONORING CHARLINE MCCOMBSThe Empire Theatre turned 100 in 2014 and Las Casas Foundation celebrated the theatre by honoring its namesake, Charline McCombs, during a star-studded gala that spanned both the Majestic and Empire stages. The night began with cocktails in the rotunda and dinner on stage of the Majestic Theatre, and wrapped up with an original production, “Opening Night,” created for occasion and emceed by six-time Emmy® winner, Bruce Vilanch, at the Empire Theatre. All proceeds from the evening, a total of more than $424,000, directly benefited the Las Casas Performing Arts Scholarship Competition.

Overall WinnerDavid Bologna, $15,000 total winnings

Monologue$5,000 – Joseph Monsour$4,000 – Zack Walker$3,000 – Emilia Baker$2,000 – Asel Swango$1,500 – Kelsi Morse$1,000 – Katherine Tompkins

Duet Acting5,000 each – Alfred Gomez and Emily Kendric$4,000 each – Kathleen Kinlin and Zoe Windham$3,000 each – Rebecca O’Connor and James Ybarra

Vocal$5,000 – Ashton Cleer$4,000 – Jordan Hogan$3,000 – Daniel Loftus$2,000 – Matthew Hernandez$1,500 – Allison Gillespie$1,000 – Amanda Price

Dance$5,000 – David Bologna$4,000 – Christina Poenisch$3,000 – Destiny Nedrick$2,000 – Rachel Nine$1,500 – Brooke Griffin$1,000 – Amber Ludwig

Linda Guerra Tillery/AT&T Essay Award Winners$1,000 – Franchesca Brieg $1,000 – John Davis

2013 SCHOLARSHIP COMPETITION 2013 marked the fifth annual Las Casas Performing Arts Scholarship Competition, where 24 students vied for $85,500 in scholarship funds. David Bologna of Austin, who placed first in the Dance category, was named the overall winner, and was awarded a total of $15,000 in scholarship funds to assist with his performing arts education.

Overall WinnerJoshua Riding, $15,000 total winnings

Monologue$5,000 – Joshua Riding$4,000 – Renelle Wilson$3,000 – Daniel Quintero$2,000 – Anna Connelly$1,500 – Sydney Watt

Duet Acting$5,000 each – Hailey Medrano and Jonathon Stone$4,000 each – Christian Parrish and Samuel Wittlinger$3,000 each – Jorge Espinoza and Marlowe Romero

Vocal$5,000 – Madeline Chancey$4,000 – Michele Yamin$3,000 – Aaron Taylor$2,000 – Konnor Callender$1,500 – Cameron Kauffman

Dance$5,000 – Ashley Olson$4,000 – Ashton Schifani$3,000 – Madelene Hall$2,000 – Andrea Lopez$1,500 – Kaitlen Jung

Linda Guerra Tillery/AT&T Essay Award Winners$1,500 – Chloee Abigail Leos $1,500 – Corbyn Sprayberry

“Jimmy’s”$3,000 & trip to NY – Aria Braswell$3,000 & trip to NY – Aaron Taylor$1,500 – Christopher Heron$1,500 – Michele Yamin

2014 SCHOLARSHIP COMPETITION During the sixth annual Las Casas Performing Arts Scholarship Competition, 25 talented high school seniors battled it out for $100,000 in honor of the Charline McCombs Empire Theatre’s 100th Birthday. In the end, Joshua Riding of San Antonio took the top prize of $15,000 after shining bright in the Monologue category. The remaining talented performers claimed $85,000 in scholarship money as well as two trips to the prestigious National High School Musical Theater Awards (the “Jimmy’s”). Thanks to our donors, this year’s $100,000 was the largest sum of scholarship money to be awarded to college-bound high school seniors since the program began in 2009. For the first time ever, KLRN filmed the competition, producing a show about the competition that was broadcast twice on KLRN and is now available to view online at www.klrn.org.

BEHIND THE SCENES “Behind the Scenes,” Las Casas Foundation’s latest educational effort, provides students unique experiences, paired with a performing arts curriculum, to encourage their interest in the performing arts. Partnering with ACE Theatrical Group, Las Casas Foundation organized and sponsored the program for the 2013-2014 school year. Thirty students from the theater arts programs at SAY Sí and The Playhouse San Antonio participated in the inaugural year of the program, which included educational program-ming on two Broadway shows in San Antonio at the Majestic Theatre shows, Peter and the Starcatcher and Wicked, as well as other activities to ignite a life-long love of the performing arts.

The program is designed to give the students a full range of theater experiences, from enjoying live shows and meeting members of the cast and crew, to seeing what it takes behind the curtain to bring a production to life. The idea is to spark a love of theater and engage the students so that they embrace the performing arts and become active members of the performing arts community, whether on stage, behind the scenes or in the audience.

IN THE NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT National High School Musical Theater Awards/The Jimmy AwardsThe Las Casas Performing Arts Scholarship Competition is now a RAP (Regional Award Program) for the National High School Musical Theater Awards. After proving their talents through their performances during the 2014 Las Casas Performing Arts Scholarship Competition, Aria Braswell and Aaron Taylor of San Antonio were awarded the opportunity to participate in the National High School Musical Theater Awards, fondly called the Jimmy Awards, in New York City. While in the Big Apple, Aria and Aaron experienced private coaching with the industry’s top professionals and were treated to a talkback with Tony-award winning lyricist and composer Stephen Schwartz, tickets to Kinky Boots (2013 winner of Best Musical at the Tony Awards), a talkback with the cast after the show, a special dinner at Sardi’s and much more. Both Aria and Aaron received great crowd responses at the finale event at the Minskoff Theatre in New York City.

National Arts Star AwardIn November 2013, the American Foundation For Arts Education honored Las Casas Foundation with the National Arts Star Award for our positive impact on arts education. Presented annually to individuals and organizations that have made a significant impact on arts education on a national or regional level, the National Arts Star Awards raise awareness of the need for an arts education in America’s public schools, celebrate the contributions of advocates and supporters of the arts in America’s public schools, and the creative and academic achievements of schools, school districts, teachers and students in the nation’s public school arts programs. Kathy Rhoads and Kevin Parman accepted the award on the Foundation’s behalf.

CAMP BROADWAY Camp Broadway, Broadway’s Original Summer Camp, a week-long program that immersed more than 60 campers in an authentic Broadway rehearsal process on the stage of the Charline McCombs Empire Theatre, was held in San Antonio for the first time in summer 2014. Inspired by Broadway’s cherished works and steeped in its grand traditions, Camp Broadway is designed to build confidence, inspire creative expression and instill well-being in both aspiring artists and future audiences.

By utilizing the expertise and experience of genuine Broadway artists, this innovative summer camp allows campers a behind the scenes experience as to what it’s like to be on the stages in New York City.

CAMP BROADWAY WILL RETURN TO

SAN ANTONIO NEXT YEAR!

TO PRE-REGISTER AND FOR MORE INFO,

VISIT LASCASASFOUNDATION.ORG

MEMBERSHIPKristin ChenowethKristin Chenoweth took over the stage of the Majestic Theatre in 2014 and Las Casas Foundation was there to enjoy the show. The Emmy and Tony award-winning star of film, television and stage performed an array of her most memorable songs and Broadway show tunes, including music from Wicked, Promises Promises, Glee, and songs from her album, Some Lessons Learned. After her performance, Chenoweth greeted Las Casas members and guests at a special dessert reception held in the Starlight Suite Lounge.

Cast PartiesThis past season, Las Casas Foundation and Arts Center Enterprises began sponsoring cast parties for each touring Broadway in San Antonio at the Majestic Theatre show following each opening night production. Members of Las Casas are invited for cocktails and snacks, and to mix and mingle with the cast and crew. Please join us to welcome these talented individuals to San Antonio!

Wicked Load-In LunchLas Casas members, friends and partners were treated to a behind the scenes look at what takes Wicked from truck to stage. Guests had the opportunity to chat with the show’s company manager, Ryan Lympus, about what it takes to bring Broadway’s most ‘popular’ musical to life on stage here in San Antonio. Las Casas looks for opportunities to enrich theatre experiences for our members. Stay tuned for upcoming events!

BENEFITSLas Casas Foundation members enjoy exclusive ticket services for events at the Majestic Theatre and Charline McCombs Empire Theatre, including early notice of coming shows, advanced ticket purchasing and access to a block of prime seats saved for members — beneficial for shows that sell out quickly. When members buy their tickets through Las Casas, it’s simply an email or call to the Las Casas office and Las Casas handles the rest, doing all of the work to get members the best seats possible, then delivering the tickets straight to the member, making getting tickets a breeze. And rather than pay ticketing fees, members make a tax-deductible donation to Las Casas for every ticket purchased.

Also, members have first-come, first-served access to purchase the Las Casas Starlight Suite seats, including complimentary valet parking, access to the Starlight Suite Lounge, comfortable and roomy seats with bar service delivered straight to your seat, and an awesome view of the stage and theater for every show at the Majestic.

Planned GivingThe Las Casas Foundation Planned Giving Program is designed to allow those who want to support the long-term financial strength of Las Casas Foundation’s scholarship and educational efforts through planned estate gifts, establishing a formal program to accept estate gifts for the Foundation. Founding Chair Joci Straus announced a $100,000 planned gift as the first desig-nated gift for the program during the 2014 Las Casas Foundation Gala. If you are interested in supporting the planned giving program, contact Las Casas to learn more.

LAS CASAS IN THE COMMUNITYRagtimeWhen flood damage from heavy rains in May 2013 left The Playhouse’s performance space unusable for Ragtime, financial sponsorships from Las Casas Foundation, Arts Center Enterprises and the City of San Antonio allowed the production to take place in the Charline McCombs Empire Theatre. The production went on to garner rave reviews from audiences and critics alike.

McNay Art MuseumIn May 2014, members of Las Casas Foundation’s Behind the Scenes program attended a lecture at the McNay Art Museum featuring Fiddler on the Roof set designers, Sam and Steve Gilliam. After the pair talked about their adventures in set design, Behind the Scenes students led attendees in a sing-along featuring Fiddler on the Roof favorites.

San Antonio Book FestivalLas Casas and San Antonio Public Library Foundation joined forces to make the second annual San Antonio Book Festival a roaring success. A number of events were held at the Charline McCombs Empire Theatre, including a talkback with TV icon Jane Pauley and Literary Death Match. The Literary Death Match featured a mix of four acclaimed and emerging writers who performed their most electric work before an audience, and a panel of three judges who took turns spouting affectionate, off-the-wall commentary about each story. Finalists included: Owen Egerton, screenwriter, performer and author of How Best to Avoid Dying; Roxana Robinson, award-nominated author of Sparta and four New York Times Notable Books; Antonio Sacre, performer and author of My Name is Cool: Stories from a Cuban-Irish-American Storyteller and Malín Alegría, author of Border Town #4: No Second Chances. In the end, Antonio Sacre edged out his compe-tition to secure the win.

Community Advisory GroupLas Casas established its Community Advisory Group in 2014 to receive feedback from educators representing a number of school districts and theatres across our community regarding our Performing Arts Scholarship Competition and other educational efforts. We would like to thank Bohanan’s Prime Steaks and Seafood for sponsoring our bi-annual Community Advisory Board luncheons.

LAS CASAS FOUNDATION APPRECIATES THE SUPPORT OF OUR 2013 AND 2014

DONORS FOR THEIR GENEROUS GIFTS

GIFTS OVER $20,000ACE Theatrical Group, LLC

The Brown FoundationCharles C. Butt

H-E-BCharline and Red McCombs

McCombs FoundationJohn and Florence Newman Foundation

Laura and Jack RichmondJoci and Joe Straus

Valero

IN-KIND SPONSORS

GIFTS OF $5,000 to $20,000Malu and Carlos Alvarez

Kathey and Robert AndersonEstela Avery

Barbara and Cal BankerRamona and Lee Bass

The Edouard FoundationJimmie Ruth and Dick Evans

The Greehey Family FoundationHoward and Betty Halff Fund

Christine and Joe HaynesHaynes and Boone, LLP

Karen and Tim HixonIBC Bank

Linda and Steve LaMantiaKim Lewis

Mays Family FoundationMcCombs Automotive

Dan ParmanFrank Ruttenberg

Shiner BeersSouth Texas Money Management

Texas Capital BankLinda Guerra Tillery and Jim Tillery

Winstead, PCGary Woods

Mollie and Bartell Zachry

GIFTS OF $1,000 TO $4,999Logan and Gene AmesMargaret Anderson and Bill CrowAnn Griffith AshAT&T FoundationCathy and Geary AthertonMartha Avant Richard AzarSteve BanklerSugar BarnesSunny BlumenthalMichele BondRuth McLean BowersLois Bready and Joseph HulahanPhyllis BrowningErnesto CalvoNancy and Charlie CheeverElliott CohenBob ColemanDon Strange of Texas, Inc.Susan and Jeff EdwardsKris and Jim EllisKitty Nelson FergusonValerie and Ron FinchCina ForgasonPat and Kelly FrostFrost BankCaroline FunariGloria GaltDiane GatesCarmen and Steven GoldbergMadelyn GoldfeinHelen GrovesValerie and Jack GuentherKathleen and Curtis GunnMargaret and Sean GunnEmory HamiltonRose Marie and John Hendry IIILeah and Jay HigginsonLiecie and Nick HollisIPACJulian GoldJoan and Herb KelleherBetty and Bob KelsoSusan and John KerrGeorge T. KimbellOlive Ann and Tres KlebergDore and Bart Koontz

Bonnie KorbellMirella and Peter MargolisSuzanne and Gilbert MathewsEdith McAllisterSandra and Arthur MedinaMyfe MooreAnn and Chico NewmanDavid NicolsonDolores and Andew NovakBarbie and Toby O’ConnorHeather and Gary ParkhurstSue Ann PembertonPeggy and Harvey PenshornMary Carrington PhilipDana and William PowellJanette ReamerBonnie Reed and Stuart SchlossbergKathy RhoadsBradley RollinsIris RubinBecky and Stephen SchmittDaniel ScrogginsPatricia StevesPhilip W. StewartJoe R. Straus, Sr. & Emilie F. Straus- Charitable TrustKathy and Mac StringfellowLisa SwannRC ThorCarolyn and Bill ThorntonMargo and Kenneth TrainChristine TurnerUSAA FoundationJulie and Randy VranaGobie Walsdorf, Jr.Wendy and Thomas WirthMertie and Dale WoodSandy and Skip Wood

GIFTS UP TO $999ACE MartSharon AguillenRobert AlbrightJean AlexanderChrissy AnthonyMarco BarrosAnn and Sam BarshopNelwyn BeltLainey Berkus

Susan BieglerCliff BolnerDiane BroceWilliam BrownOllie BryantRon CaalgardJames CalvertMargaret and Richard CalvertRebecca Canary and Ken FineAliza and Willie CantuPaul CarterMonica and Sunny CavazosAlbert CiriloSteve CookTaliaferro CooperFlora C. Atherton CrichtonJo Ann CrowBryan DempseyHolly DentonFrances and Blackstone Dilworth, Jr.Perry Donop, IIIPerry Donop, Jr.Downtown AllianceEddie DuchinDaniel Dupre’Eric Dupre’Marilyn EadesEric EfronMildred EhrenbergRose and Frank ElstonBeth ErwinAnnie Mae and R.E. Fawcett, Jr.Debbie and Marshall FeinMary Jo FernandezPatricia and Joe FloresBette FosterJerry FulenwiderJennifer FurgersonNancy and John GillardLinda Alderman GintelAndrea GiuffridaRuth E. GoldTrini and Joseph GoldzieherJorge H. GonzalezJames W. GormanLorraine and Richard GriffinGail and Robert GurwitzNorman GustafsonCharlton Hagelstein

Sally HalffH.B. HauseMeta and Boo HausserRoxie and Jim HayneJane HegelerGeorge HincheyDaphna HolzmanPatricia and Reagan HoustonBebe InkleyJefferson BankJoe KaplanThomas KaufmanMargie KilpatrickMarion Y. KimbroPamela KittrellHeather and Judd KraftBarbara KressinLaurence KurthCarolyn and Joseph LabattLaura and Weir LabattJean LeePat LeganLillian Ann LehrKaye LenoxNancy and Michael LevineVeronika LiskovaJohn Locke, Jr.Cheri and Richard LongoriaBarbara LozanoAlice LynchPhilip ManfrediPhilip MannaLynda MarloweJaney MarmionJohn McBeeNickey McCaslandGreta and Sean McFurlingBarbara and Elkin McGaughyBeth and Jim MeyerLana and Barry MiddlemanSarah and Joseph MillerRoberta MolderhouerEric MorseJean Marie and William MuellerCarol MuirShari NedlerHarriet and Sam NeumanEleanor and Keith O’GormanDorothea Oppenheimer

Bonnie and William OsburnAnne OwnbyJulie and George ParkerLoretta and James PattersonMary Virginia Pittman-WallerJane Cheever and Tom PowellJames M. RainesCheree ReyAnn RiceBarbara and Lew RichmondDawn and Travis RobinetteLayne and Mark RoetzelJerry RosenSandra and Stanley RosenbergSherril and Joseph RubinRobin and Tom RussellSan Antonio Conservation SocietyDebbie and Michael SchaeferRollette SchreckenghostLinda SeeligsonMary Marshall SidorskyJ. Marrin SmithDoris SpectorCarol and Michael StehlingElizabeth and Scott StephensLinda and Craig StoltzLaura StoutRuth Eileen SullivanPatrick Swearingen, Jr.Charlie ThomasCarole and Greg ThompsonMarilyn and Max Edward TonkonJohn ToomeySandra TrevinoJudy and Lorence TrickBette VexlerJohnye M. VoilesBob WatsonTina and Brian WeinerElizabeth and Graham WestonChristen and George WommackTom WrightLori and Mark WrightCarl E. WulfeKathleen WybleChica and John YoungerMarion Zoch

COMMUNITY PARTNERSChildren’s Fine Arts Series KLRN Public Television

The PlayhouseSan Antonio Public Library Foundation

San Antonio Book Festival SAY Sí

The Magik Theatre McNay Art Museum

Woodlawn Theatre WOAI News 4 San Antonio and Randy Beamer

BY THE NUMBERS 3 YEAR COMPARISON FOR BROADWAY

Subscribers

Season12-13

7,400 8,500 9,300 50 82 96

13-14

14-15

Season12-13

13-14

14-15

Performances

6 shows1 special

6 shows1 special

6 shows4 specials

STAFF KAYE LENOX Chief Executive Officer

Scholarships

43%

CommunityGrants

6%

YouthProgram

12%

Theater Stewardship

39%

DONOR DOLLARS AT WORK

$28,300

$50,000

$185,000

$160,000

ANA FLORESOperations and Communications

DOREN FEINPrograms and Development

There has always been a direct tie between the growth and success of the cultural arts and the economic development of a community. More than any other investment a community can make, the arts inspire, and can transform neighborhoods, communities, minds, hearts and lives. Las Casas Foundation believes that by continuing to nurture and support the performing arts in San Antonio, we are building a better future for the city as a whole and we invite you to be a part of our journey. Through our many programs and partnerships, Las Casas Foundation has turned the stage into a classroom, using the Majestic and Charline McCombs Empire Theatres to spark an interest in performing arts. Our educational efforts continue to grow, as does our role in ensuring that local talent is recognized. As a Regional Award Program for the National High School Musical Theater Awards, the Las Casas Performing Arts Scholarship Competition now offers talented, aspiring students another opportunity to shine — and gain additional funds for their continued education.

We’re also growing Behind the Scenes, our program designed to spark a love of performing arts among at-risk youth. Students from both Woodlawn and Magik Theater are joining our effort and we’ll host 40 students in this year’s program. We’re also extending our relationship with Camp Broadway. After an amazingly successful inaugural run in San Antonio, Camp Broadway will return next summer, providing children and teens from around the area the opportunity to train with and learn from Broadway professionals. To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Charline McCombs Empire Theatre, we awarded $100,000 in scholarships in 2014. We plan to achieve that number every year — and would love to increase the number of scholarships available through the Performing Arts Scholarship Competition even further so we can help more deserving students. We have a phenomenal base of talent in San Antonio. By providing scholarship funding, we help that talent shine even brighter.

The promotion of arts through education promotes a bright future for our city by ensuring San Antonio’s youth grow up to be both well-educated and have an appreciation for the arts. Igniting the love of arts within a child can inspire them to do great things in the future and Las Casas Foundation is proud to help them dream. I hope you’ll join us as we help them climb the ladder of success.

Kevin Parman

President, Las Casas Foundation

LasCasasFoundation.org • 222 E. Houston St., Suite 640 • San Antonio, TX 78205 • (210) 223-4343