Sherman Theater (Fine Arts Discovery Series Inc)
Your Non-Profit Community Theater
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
The Sherman Theater's goals are to serve our community by providing quality, culturally-diverse entertainment from nationally-known professional acts, as well as community theater, educational programming, and performance opportunities for local artists to develop their careers in music, dance, theater and the visual arts, to bring patrons to the historic Sherman Theater and promote economic development in the region.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Quality, Culturally Diverse Entertainment
The Sherman Theater provides quality, culturally-diverse entertainment from nationally-known professional acts as well as supporting the artistic talents of local artists in the development of their careers in music, dance, theater, and the visual arts.
People from the local area, across Pennsylvania, and from all 50 states come to the Poconos to enjoy shows and events produced by the Sherman Theater inside the Theater itself, at Summer Stage outdoor events across Monroe County, and various Festivals throughout the Pocono Mountian region.
Sherman Theater Kids' Series
A uniquely interactive music and entertainment opportunity for elementary youth to experience and explore the inspiration and wonder of live performances. Artists provide inspiring and educational stories about their art (music, theater, storytelling, etc.) and everyone's capacity to create and participate in the arts.
Where we work
External reviews
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Total number of performances
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
During the 2017/2018 fiscal year, we produced 228 performances in the Sherman Theater and Showcase, at off-site locations, and festivals including nationally known performers and local artists.
Total number of free performances given
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Sherman Theater Kids' Series
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Stroudfest with several stages, Harvestfest, Kids' Series, and other events
Total number of off-site performances held
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of Facebook followers
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of people on the organization's email list
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Goals:
- Improve and expand the quality and diversity of entertainment in the Sherman Theater
- Expansion to include more dance and other visual and performing arts
- Expand programming to reintroduce a full community theater schedule
- Expand community participation and opportunities for artistic expression
- Provide more arts in general to lower income populations with free or low-cost events
- Schedule high-caliber artists and shows that appeal to a broader demographic
- Improve and expand Sherman productions, providing professional staffing, stage building, lighting and sound production and other services
- Continue to utilize excellence in customer service, social media, and email to grow our customer base to increase memberships, donors, and sponsor relationships.
- Grow our Kids’ Series to reach all elementary-age children in Monroe County
- Invest in personnel development in an effort to deliver highest quality service
- Create more avenues that afford the financially-challenged and under-served communities an opportunity to expand cultural awareness
- Increase quality business partnerships with sponsors to increase revenue and ticket sales
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
In 2019, our main points of focus are the continuation and expansion of the newly developed Kids’ Series program and the redevelopment of a comprehensive Community Theater program, as well as expanding awareness of the Sherman as the Poconos Performing Arts Center. The Kids’ Series will allow us to continue to offer free programming to thousands of children who may not otherwise have the opportunity participate in live entertainment. The revival of a year ‘round Community Theater program will allow us to offer additional performance opportunities in dance, music, and theater and will provide additional economic benefits to the community.
We have been successful in achieving the aforementioned goals of the Sherman Theater and intend to improve and expand our services to offer a wider range of shows overall and in the Kids' Series, and to reach a wider range of audiences, particularly low-income residents and those who would otherwise not have access to live performances. An increase in grants, sponsorships, and private donations will allow us to continue to grow and expand all of our programming.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Since 2005, the Management, Board of Directors, Committees, Staff and Volunteers, work together to successfully manage the Sherman Theater, maintain financial stability, provide high-quality arts entertainment, serve the community, collaborate with partners in the community, and all departments have plans and goals and are held accountable.
We have successfully marketed and promoted the Sherman Theater, Sherman Showcase, Events and Festivals using a variety of methods:
Cross promotion with links to the websites of sponsors such as hotels, restaurants and attractions, as well as the Chamber of Commerce and Pocono Mountains Visitor Bureau
Listings of our events on our website (www.shermantheater.com), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/ShermanTheater/), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/sherman_theater/), Twitter (https://twitter.com/Sherman_Theater)
Email blasts
Postings and event listing on over 100 community calendars online on newspaper, local magazine, radio stations, and tourist sites
Press Releases to local magazines and newspapers
Radio, TV, newspaper, billboard and a variety of other means of advertising.
In order to help Sherman Theater contributors quantify the positive economic impact of their support, the 2016/2017 Economic Impact Report indicates that the total economic impact of the Sherman Theater Performing Arts Center is approximately $7,254,422.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Festivals: The Sherman Theater administers and produces a variety of festivals throughout Monroe County, PA, many of which offer free admission. People of all ages from all walks of life come out to enjoy the sights and sounds - artisan craft vendors, foods from around the world, multiple stages with live music, stores and community organizations offering special events and displays. Some of these events, particularly Stroudfest which is attended by more than 10,000 people annually, have become paramount community participation days which give a voice to diverse local organizations such as the Latin Alliance of NEPA, the Indian/American Group of the Poconos, United Way, Monroe County Children and Youth, and Boy Scout Troops. These community festivals enable citizens the opportunity to get out, meet their neighbors, make new connections and spend time with friends, which studies show, will enrich life and improve health. (Mayo Clinic, 2016)
Kids’ Series: Approximately 50% of public elementary school children in Monroe County are in the lower-income, free or reduced price lunch programs at school and due to their lower income, may not otherwise have the opportunity to experience live performances were it not for the Fine Arts Discovery Kids’ Series (FADKS). In 2017 we initiated the FADKS, an educational arts program created to both provide an experiential arts opportunity to Pre-K and elementary-aged youth with established singer-songwriters and entertainers, and to improve their general educational achievement through the inspirational and aspirational message of the role of education in becoming a successful student and citizen. The FADKS included on-site shows with free admission in the Sherman Showcase as well as community performances in the schools. Prior to the development of the Kids’ Series, the majority of Sherman Theater shows and events were planned for older teens and adults.
The goal of FADKS is to ensure that as many children as possible are exposed to arts and culture through our Kids’ Series. Evidence-based research indicates that music and arts serve as the universal means of expression and satisfaction, foster an environment where youth develop stronger social relationships and healthier sense of community, and contribute to a positive general improvement in academic achievement.
Additional ways we serve and support the community include offering the use of our facilities free of charge for other non-profits such as a Kiwanis event, food drive, or the annual Red Cross Blood Drive, and providing a positive economic impact on the region.
What's next? Continuation and expansion of successful programs to include more cultural diversity, serving a larger audience, bringing economic development to the region and giving to the community in as many ways as possible.
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Sherman Theater (Fine Arts Discovery Series Inc)
Board of directorsas of 03/14/2019
Richard Berkowitz
Sherman Theater
Robert Romagno
Retired
Christopher Kemmerer
PNC Investments
Catharine Berkowitz
Accounting
Christine Connolly
Sarah Street Grille
Jake Seip
Realtor
Andy Worthington
Attorney
June Smith
Real Estate
Gil Coronado
Auto Sales