Pictured above: The Hippodrome Building - photo by Michael A. Eaddy
Letter From the President of the Board
Dear Friends and Supporters,
As we reflect on the past year, it’s clear that this has been a pivotal time for the Hippodrome Theatre, with unique challenges and remarkable resilience shaping our journey. Our theatre, like many across the nation, faced difficulties that tested our creativity and commitment. Yet, amid these obstacles, we continued to deliver compelling stories that reflect our shared humanity and bring us closer together. This annual report offers a glimpse into the work, vision, and determination of our artists, staff, and supporters in navigating these times.
The world of theatre faces increasing pressures: financial constraints, shifting audience expectations, and a rapidly evolving media landscape that calls us to engage audiences in new and meaningful ways. Rising production costs, coupled with uncertainty in funding, mean we must be more resourceful than ever to sustain and grow the quality of our offerings. However, these challenges have only reinforced our belief in the transformative power of the arts, and they have inspired us to innovate and deepen our commitment to serving as a cultural beacon in our community.
We owe particular thanks to the City of Gainesville and Alachua County for their steadfast support. It is through their ongoing commitment to arts and culture that we have been able to broaden our impact and connect with audiences of all ages. We are grateful for this partnership and for the recognition that the arts enrich our region in ways that uplift everyone.
Through these trials, we are also especially grateful for the dedication of all our supporters. You are the foundation of our theatre, allowing us to inspire, entertain, and connect in ways that bring us together and ignite conversations. This past year, we expanded our programming, strengthened our community partnerships, and brought new voices to
our stage, creating opportunities to tell diverse stories that resonate across generations.
Looking forward, we are excited to build on this momentum. We will continue to prioritize inclusivity, engage younger audiences, and invest in educational initiatives that underscore the role of theatre as a catalyst for growth and understanding.
Thank you for your dedication to our theatre and the arts. Together, with the support of our beloved Gainesville and Alachua County communities, we will continue to push boundaries, celebrate creativity, and bring powerful stories to life.
Here’s to a future where the arts not only endure but flourish.
With gratitude,
C. Michael Curry President, Hippodrome Board of Directors
2023 Summer Spectacular - photo by Michael A. Eaddy
Letter From the Artistic Director
Dear Friends and Supporters,
The Hippodrome Theatre has been a part of the Gainesville community for 51 years. The passion and commitment of the six creatives that launched a living, breathing legacy and the first patrons to make their way to that 7-eleven; the couple navigating the ginormous pothole in the parking lot and deciding not only to come back, but to become their very first board members, and the patrons and supporters today who believe in live theatre - these people and this community have proved time and time again that the cultural arts matter here in Gainesville and this state.
At the center of downtown the Hippodrome is the heart of the arts in Gainesville, and we strive every day to work with and support all parts of our community. This is our passion and goal; to share the love of the arts, the high-quality professional theatre productions and cinema events, and our local artists’ work and creations with everyone who walks through our doors.
This community, our community, has proven time and time again that the cultural arts matter, that they are worth investing time and money in, and that at the end of the day, our arts are what tie our community together. And we are beyond grateful to be a part of this very vibrant and special community. We truly would not be here without every single one of you.
With gratitude,
Stephanie Lynge Artistic Director, Hippodrome Theatre
- photo by Michael A. Eaddy
One Nation
The Education Department was the recipient of grant funding from One Nation, a national initiative that began with Gainesville and eight other U.S. cities. The goal of the One Nation One Project is to put a spotlight on the proven health benefits of arts participation in individuals and communities, all while uniting artists, local governments, and community health providers. The funded program, entitled “Lend Me Your Ears” is a writing project that paired student playwrights with professional actors with the focus of using the arts to talk about gun violence.
The writers were young people from a level 6 detention program for young women and students from YouthBuild, where students have the opportunity to earn their high school diploma, multiple nationally recognized construction or CNA credentials, and a postsecondary scholarship; all while giving back to their community. The writers wrote monologues about the impact of gun violence on the community through the lens of characters in Romeo and Juliet. The series also focused on the practices of Restorative Justice This project was a collaboration between We the People Theater, the River Phoenix Center for Peacebuilding, and the Hippodrome Theatre.
Student playwrights from Lend me Your Ears Youth Build Program
The Hippodrome’s 51st Season
Since its inception in 1972, the Hippodrome Theatre has been dedicated to bringing stories to the stage that explore and celebrate the human condition. Throughout its history, the Hippodrome has pushed the boundaries of storytelling by creating memorable productions; our 51st Season was no exception. Our theme, “Empower,” focused on the inspiration that comes from witnessing individuals confront the chaos of an overwhelming world and find the courage to persevere.
The 51st Season featured fewer productions as a response to the fiscal challenges the Hippodrome faced post-COVID. Although the number of productions was reduced, they were extraordinary examples of professional theatre. We brought POTUS to Gainesville, becoming one of the first regional theatres to produce this straight-from-Broadway play by an emerging playwright. We celebrated the holidays with our classic A Christmas Carol, adapted by a local playwright, and enjoyed laughs in The Ultimate Christmas Show (Abridged), which humorously critiqued every holiday tradition. We also broke new ground in storytelling by addressing a family’s struggle with mental illness in the rock musical Next to Normal and tackled the discomfort of systemic racism in the art world with the play White. We concluded our season with the heartwarming and uplifting musical The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, which delighted audiences despite the ongoing challenges of COVID-19.
Additionally, the Hippodrome continued to seek innovative ways to connect storytelling with the community. We pushed the limits through our New Works Festival, which celebrates Floridian voices and stories, and our Hipp Unplugged series, which nurtures new playwrights, directors, and helps cultivate talent within our community.
Sanchi
C.
Connor Neun, Terra C. MacLeod and David Patrick Ford in Next to Normal -
photo by Michael A. Eaddy
Ellison Hill and Niall McGinty in A Christmas Carol 2023 - photo by Michael A. Eaddy
Anthony Chan,
Pandey, Noah
Yager, Ethan James Lync, Ianna Velazquez, Jossyln Shaw in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee - photo by Michael A. Eaddy
Cinema
This year, the Hippodrome Cinema invited invited patrons to not only view great films but to participate in them as well. Our Cocktails & Classics series showcased Science Fiction classics ranging from 2001: A Space Odyssey to George Lucas’ first feature film: THX 1138. We also introduced a new and very popular series, streaming stage productions from the National Theatre in London like Fleabag and King Lear.
Our collaboration with composer David DiDonato brought him back to perform his score for the Swedish occult documentary HÄXAN live in our cinema.
The Cinema also partnered with local filmmakers to create our first Film Festival, Frame by Frame, continuing and deepening our collaboration with the community.
Above: The Hippodrome Theatre’s Cinema and Below: Education Shoot 2023 - photos by Michael A. Eaddy
It has been a full year of activities and programs in the Education Department.
The Hippodrome’s Summer Spectacular 2024 saw over 200 campers There were four productions of Alice in Wonderland, two productions of James and the Giant Peach, and one production of Romeo and Juliet. The students who participated in the Teen Intensive Program led a peer education workshop with middle schoolers and high schoolers from Caring and Sharing Academy. The camps culminated in a performance of Romeo and Juliet at the historic Thomas Center and a devised Alice in Wonderland piece performed by the campers from Hipp Kids.
A special thank you to our phenomenal Teaching Artists: Leila Bakr, Early Whitaker, Chloe Louidour, Emma Agnelli, Calypso Haddad, Gary Greenblatt, Rebecca Levin, Talia Porter, and Adrien Crater.
The Education Department is also proud to host Nilupuli Nayanathara as part of an exchange program with IREX. Nayanathara is from Sri Lanka and will be interning with the Hippodrome for several months. Her focus is literacy and storytelling.
Summer Spectacular 2012photo by Michael A. Eaddy
Summer Spectacular 2022photo by Michael A. Eaddy
Art Gallery
The Hippodrome Theatre Art Gallery is dedicated to showcasing the work of local and regional artists and fostering a vibrant arts community in Gainesville. With a commitment to promoting creativity and cultural expression, the gallery provides a platform for artists to share their unique perspectives and engage with the community. This past year the Hippodrome Art Gallery proudly displayed the work of artists Josiah Llloyd, Shaine McDonald, Lexi Braun, and Panhandle Slim.
Art Gallery - photo by Chris Bailey
Cast of Hipp Unplugged: Heroes of the Fourth Turningphoto by Stephanie Lynge
Panhandle Slimphoto by Gabrielle Byam
Special Events
The Hippodrome Theatre, in partnership with Pulp Arts, produced a show on the Hippodrome mainstage with worldrenowned musician Lonny Holly. We also celebrated 50 years of Hip Hop with Gainesville artist Casey Jones.
Continuing our creative use of the basement space, we produced two popular series this year - Scene Queens, which features local burlesque and drag performers, and Basement Sessions, focused on up-and-coming area musicians.
We continue to lend our support to the local nonprofit program Theatre Connect by offering our space for free and at reduced rates.
The Hippodrome has started what we hope will be a long relationship with Fever Productions. Their candlelight productions sold out the mainstage and introduced world-renowned musicians to the theatre.
Jamari Boothe performing at Basement Sessions - photo by Eli Nino
Lonnie Holley - photo by Abigail Clark and Macy Lamers
Hippvana 2023 - photo by James LaSalle
Challenges Moving Forward
Though this year has not been without its challenges; unforeseen illnesses and state grant funding cuts, we take great pride in our ability to pivot and adjust while remaining in alignment with our mission.
In response, we devised a plan to survive the immediate cash flow shortfall and rethink goals, budgets, and strategies for the medium and long term.
We are hiring new staff to invest in and re-energize our Marketing and Development Departments. We are confident that with this added effort, we will increase attendance as well as institutional and philanthropic support.
The Theatre is making progress, but we are not financially out of the woods. The old rules of running a professional theatre are changing in massive ways. Historical funding sources and revenue streams are in flux. To survive, we must rethink and revamp how we market and sell tickets and subscriptions and how we obtain institutional and public/ private support. Any lasting changes in the future will require rethinking the funding model and careful planning and execution on the part of the Theatre.
We continue to be committed to creating quality theatre and programming throughout these challenging times. The Hippodrome staff, productions and programming are reflections of that commitment.
Thank you for continuing to support the arts as we grow and change.
A Christmas Carol, 2021 - photo by Michael Eaddy
Finances and Statistics
Fiscal Year 2024
Fiscal Year 2024 Total Expenses: $2,188,751
Donations & Sponsorships $430,473 Other: $11,491 Theatre/Cinema/Education: $990,069
Sponsors, Grants, and Donors
Season Producers
City of Gainesville, FL Division of Cultural Affairs, Visit Gainesville, Alachua County, The Collier Campaign
Executive Producers
UF School of Theatre + Dance, 98.5 KTK, 97.3 The Sky, Country 103.7, The Gator, AM 850, Michael and Phyllis Warren on Behalf of AMJ Group, Inc., James Moore Consulting, CBS 4/NBC9/WGFL
Producers
EFN Properties, Gainesville City Lifestyle, GHF, Harry’s Seafood Bar and Grille, Wind FM, Lake and Emerald Publication, Quality Plumbing, WUFT-FM, WUFT-TV, Sweetwater Branch Inn, Ken and Linda McGurn McGurn Investment Company
Production Sponsors
The Traveler Wine Bar, Alta Printing, UF Health, UF Health Psychiatric Hospital, Ben E. Keith Company, Bevis Chiropractic, Destination Florida, Greater Gainesville Chamber, Renaissance Printing, Colortyme Furniture Sales, Marc Radio Group
Production Co-Sponsors
Milam Funeral Home, Myers Briggs, Hampton Inn & Suites, JVC, Oak Hammock at the University of Florida, Gator Moving and Storage Co., Mini Maid, Rips Cleaners, Alliance Credit Union, Sherwin Williams
Performance Sponsors
Bingo, Watchguard Technologies, The Bagel Bakery, JohnRussell Salon Tonewood Family Music, Allstate Agent Judy Locascio
Leading Ladies
Maria Elena Augustin, Jan Baur, Theresa Beachy, Patrice Boyes, Mary Day Coker, Shelia Dickison, Cherie Fine, M. Susan Fulford, Joy Glanzer, Carol Gwin, Nancy Herring, Corneila Holbrook, Marie House, Diane Jacobson, Linda Kallman, Leslie Klein, Margarita Labarta, Mary Rockwood Lane, Susan Latini, Lucinda Lavelli, Jennifer Lee, Melanie Leonard, Judy Locascio, Stephanie B. Lynge, Ginny Maurer, Linda Mcgurn, Carol F Meyer, Kat Moore, Chris M. Morris, Marni Most, Allison Nordqvist, Nell Page Rainsberger, Julie Penrod-Glenn, Emily Pritchett, Vera Rabino, Lynn Rousseau, Sally Ryden, Vivian Ruth Sawyer, Molly Sexton, Ilene Silverman-Budd, Jan Snyder, Florence Turcotte, Justine Vaughen Fry, Helen Warren, Jorgia Wooten, Nicole Yucht
$50,000 Producer
Nathan Collier & Cindy Dorfeld Bruckman
$10,000 - $49,999 Director
Annonymous
$5,000 - $9,999 Playwright
Margaret Ford, Dr. Janet & Burt Silverstein, Mary Trew & Weaver Gaines, Colleen & Ken Rand
$2,500 - $4,999 Designer
Merry Lynne Wilson, Anne Margoluis, Nel & Daniel R Webster, Debbie & Michael Conlon, Midge Smith
$1,000 - $2,499 Composer
Bill & Trina Anderson, Wayne & Penny Archer, David C Bloom, Jill K Bohlin, Cindy Dorfeld Bruckman, Dr. Chris & Rusty Forsmark, Michelle Koidin Jaffee, Joseph & Lucille W Little, Charlene Luke, Anthony Maurelli, Ted & Hallie McFetridge, Judge Karen Miller, Jon & Leah Morris, Bill & Deborah Rossi, Mary M Sanford, Dr. Farol Tomson, Donna & Wilt Wagner, Dr. Roy & Marjorie Weiner, Kathleen Wilkinson, Dr. Elaine Young, Bill & Carole Zegel
Sponsors, Grants, and Donors
$500 - $999 Choreographer
Joy & Michael Avery, Phoebe Bowers, Fredrick J Brenneman, Charna & Stuart Cohn, Dr. Daniel & Lisa Duncanson, Albert Eid, Saundra J Fisher, D.A. Fosser, Dr. Ira H Gessner, Laura Gillman, Michael Gorham, Dr. Carolyn Hanson, Fred Harden, Heather Harrell, Ann Hatfield, Barry & Elaine Jacobson, Gregg Jones, Rev. Maureen Killoran, Nelson & Kami, Boon Landy, Sallie Maxwell, Sally E Ryden, Betty Schelske, Jennifer K Smith, John & Dawn Spindler, Connie & Bob Stern, Dr. Jeff Weingarten, Dr. Cynthia J White
$250 - $499 Cast
Bryce & Catherine Ackerman, Walter Barry, Janice & Tom Bird, Allison Cunningham, Anne D’Amico, John Freeman, David Hammer, Dr. David Hastings, Robert & Lynne Holt, Dr. Gerald & Kathryn Kidder, Dr. John & Carol Koogler, Phyllis Lotzkar, Dr. Timothy Martin, Pat & Robert Teller Moore, Dr. Dan Rimkus, Carol & Jim Sarisky, David & Carole Silverman, Jane Townsend, Timothy & Christine Tucker, Whitney Sanford & Kevin Veach, Steve & Judy Watkins, Samuel Welker, Robert Stan & Peggy Williams, Mz. T Yurkovich, Harvey & Missy Willis Ziegler
Dick Gorenberg Memorial
Candi Adams, John Burton & Anne Clark, Michael Cairo Raftice, John Dobson, Rachael Dorsey, Kate Dugan, Janice Garry, David Hammer, Nicholas Daniel Hoop, Kerry A Keenan, Dr. Jack Kulas, Lawrence Lahiff, Jenni Levy, Dr. Sandy E Levy, Linda Lewis, Joseph & Lucille W Little, Amber Millan, Heather Montanye, Daryl J Mullee, Amanda Padgett Stage, Melissa Peña, Drs. Michael & Jaquie Resnick, Kathie Ruelke, Sally Samuels, Neil Schiffman, Dr. Marianne Schmink, Molly Singletary, Dr. Marvin Slott, Sandra Topp, Geri Treppa, Jeff Wade, Dr. Mary & Barry Wagner
Leading Ladies Matching Grant
Leslie Klein, Carol F Meyer, Frances Gerencser, Joanne Laframenta, Melanie Leonard, Mary Lane, Timothy Altemeyer, Carol Gwin, Cindy Dorfeld Bruckman, Marni Most
The Collier Challenge
Jessica Abel, Erika Aenlle, Sherri Amundson, Julie Anspach, Dr. Lisa Anthony, Karen & James Jr Archer, Christine Aytug, Robert “Kirk” Bachus, Pamela & Carol Barron, Walter & Pamela Barry, Susie Baxter,Theresa Beachy, Azra Bihorac & Charles Hobson, David Bloom, James & Tara Blythe, Joyce Bono, Ralph Bowden, Lisa Bowley, David & Nancy Boyd, Sherry & Carter Boydstun, Martha Brane & Lewis Sussman, Patti Breedlove, Jane Brockmann, Dorothy (Doe) Brown, Jane BurmanHoltom, Cheryl Calhoun & Ester DeJong, Neda Caneva, Alan Carlson &, Theresa Guecia, Peter Carpenter, Paul & Charlotte Chadik, Candace Clift, Amy Coenen, Debbie Conlon, Erin Connelly, Wes Corbett, Bruce Cornwell, Phylis & James Craig, Diane Craig, Ed & Sheila Crapo, Michael Curry, Katie D’Amato-Weinhold, Eddie Daniel & Jason Neumann, Nancy Deren, Sheila Dickison, Lee & Barbara Dockery, Cheryl & Paul Doering, Virginia Dolder, Mark Elliott, Robert Emerson, Jane Emmeree & Erick Smith, Jean Epling, Guy & Rhea Epstein, David Etherington & Jeff Dunn, Skip & Lynda Everitt, John Eyler & Fonda Davis, Tara & Bill Ezzell, Carol Faas, Rebecca Falmlen, Cassandra Farley & Christine McGlaughlin, Mark Fenster, Mark & Terrie Flaherty, Griselda Forbes, David Patrick & Peggy Ford, Paul & Ellen Funderburk, Jessie Furman, Reisa & Paul George, Ira Gessner, Danny & Karen Gilliland, Matt & Rae Gitzendanner, Harvey Goldstein, Caren & Dick Gorenberg, Jim & Sibet Grantham, Aubrey Greene, Jesse & Barbara Gregory, Mary (Gay) & Joe Haldeman, Jeff & Tashia Hale, Anne Hastings, Cliff Haynes, Elizabeth Hicks, Colin Hines, Jay Hmielowski & Mylah Hutchens, Guenther Hochhaus, Robert & Lynne Holt, Chad Hood, Nora Lee Hoover & Amor Villar, John Howard, Sharon (Shea) Huey, Rosemary Hume, Gary & Joann Ihas, Michael Jester, Karen & Jodie Johnson, Elta Johnston,Gilda Josephson, Clay Kallman & Lauren Groff, Dale Kaplan-Stein, Kim Kazimour, Jim & Melissa Keefer, Barbara Keener, Loren Keldsen, Maureen Killoran, Paul & Leslie Klein, Marshal & Laura Knudson, Reggie Kramel, Scott & Joanne LaFramenta, Pamela Lambert & Sandra Paris ,Jeremy Lesifko-Bremer, Marc & Kaye Linden, Carol Locascio, Debbie Louis, Stephanie Lynge, Morgan Lynge, John Malanchuck, Richard & Valentina Mankin, Anne Margoluis, Susan Mastin, Hayley Mathis
Sponsors, Grants, and Donors
The Collier Challenge (continued)
Hilary Mathis, Sarah Maxwell, Helen McCune, Gary & Laura McGill, Kathleen McGlone, Martin & Caryl McKellar, Sue & Jack Mecholsky, Carol Meyer, Jeff & Lauren Miller, Catie Miller & Kirsten Engstrom, Georgia & Ron Mills, Charlie Mitchell, John Matthew Morgan, Richard & Joanna Morrow, Marni Most, Esther Negrin, Dorothy & Gale Nevill, Kimberlee Oakes, Robert & Carole Anne Oglesby, Debi Pais & Bob Kolb, Amy Pazzalia & Joe Stokes, HS & Susanne Pennypacker, Juile & Layton Penrod-Glenn, Liz Perdue, Susan Peters, Peggy & Nancy, Peterson, Ed & Sandra Pettegrew, Bradley & Marta Pollitt, Lisa & James Posteraro, Beckie Pozek, Garry Prowe, Barbara Jean Raskin, Sandy & Larry Reimer, Ralf Remshardt & Caron Cadle, Churchill & Gay Roberts, Janet Roberts, Gail Robinson & Carol Heymann, Arthur & Joyce Rosenblatt, Jane & Mike Ryals, Betsy & David Sanders, Whitney Sanford & Kevin Veach, Carol & Jim Sarisky, Debbie Savage, Karen Scarborough, Suzanne Scheraga, Suzanne Schiemann, Diana & Jeff Shamis, Cindy Shea, Allison & Jason Shinn, Beth & Jeff Siegel, Michael Singer, Halbert & Ruth Smith, Eileen McCarthy Smith, Brenda Smith & Ronald Burrichter, Madeline Smyth, David & Loren Smyth, Jan Snyder, Linda & Keith Stanfill, Caroline Stanhope, Mike Still, GW Swicord, Joe Thigpen & Becky DeMarie. Kelly Thompson, Farol Tomson, Martin & Vibeke Vala, PJ Van Blokland, Kirk Van Meter, Vasanthi Vanniasingham, Gary & Martha Waltman, Marta Wayne, Tom & Mary Louise Weber, Roger & Ellen West, Robin West & Ken Wald, Tom & Julie Whitney, Carol Willis, Gene Witmer, Sarah Wittstruck, Carole & Bill Zegel
Foundation Support
Google, Bryson Foundation LTD, Amazon Smile Foundation, Florida Blue Foundation, The Jelks Family Foundation
Nonprofit Partners
Matheson History Museum, Community Foundation of North Central Florida, Pride Community Center of North Central Florida (PCCNCF)
Alia Munsch in A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder - photo by Michael A. Eaddy
Pictured above: Summer Spec 2023 - photo by Michael A. Eaddy