Member Theatre Staff Roundtables & Affinity Spaces
The events listed below are for MEMBER THEATRE STAFF ONLY.
Please Note: If you register for one of the below roundtables and are not on staff at one of our member theatres, you will be removed from the registration list.
Roundtables and affinity spaces are typically virtual with the exception of a few in-person events (in-person events are noted in the descriptions). All staff members, (full-time, part-time, and interns/apprentices) of theatres within the New Jersey Theatre Alliance membership are welcome to attend any roundtable that is of interest to them.
Roundtables are peer-to-peer resources to learn and network; usually facilitated by a guest speaker, the roundtable chair, or a staff member of the Alliance. Affinity Spaces are brave spaces to connect with peers where the priority is self-care and community care.
Annual Meetings & Membership Gatherings
Membership Gathering
Monday November 9, 2026
Two River Theater | Red Bank, NJ
The morning will feature updates from the New Jersey Theatre Alliance and then we will discuss opportunities and challenges facing our field. Lunch will be served at noon and our afternoon will feature a panel discussion on AI and its impact on our industry. Panelists will be announced soon.
2027 Annual Meeting
Wednesday, June 16, 2027 | 3:00 PM
More information to come!
Affiliate & Associate Spring Gathering
Stay tuned for more information soon!
Affiliate Gatherings
These offerings are an opportunity for affiliate member theatres to connect to discuss their specific needs, interests, and challenges.
Fundraising Strategies
Thursday, November 5, 2026 | 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
John McEwen, Executive Director at NJ Theatre Alliance, will join us for a conversation all about strategies for fundraising. Which grants should you apply for? How do you create a sustainable multi-year plan? How do you convert loyal fans of your theatre’s work into recurring donors? We will explore these topics and more. We strongly encourage you to come to the session with questions.
Artistic Staff Roundtables
How Are You, Really?: The Relationship Between Feelings and the Art We Create
Friday, October 16, 2026 | 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Did summer end too quickly? How is your autumn experience so far? What stories would you like to share about the energy at your theatre these days? How do we welcome people into our space? What is embedded in the DNA of your theatre versus the DNA of your current leadership team? Are they aligned or in dissonance? This session will explore answers to these questions and how they shape our artistic planning.
Interrogating Perfectionism
Friday, February 19, 2027 | 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
As artistic leaders, sometimes we get caught up in chasing impossible standards that we lose sight of the incredible work we’re creating. How can we make sure perfect is not the enemy of good while still fulfilling our potential? This mid-season checkpoint will help attendees connect back to our why surrounding our mission.
Artistic Collaborations
Friday, May 14, 2027 | 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
This session will explore potential artistic collaborations among theaters. What are ways that artistic staff can share resources and build true community with one another? This includes but is not limited to actors and scripts. Perhaps you have come across a play that is not right for your theatre, but the perfect fit for another. Maybe you want to join forces with a fellow member theatre to cross-promote similiar programming. Wherever the synergy lies, we always have more to offer with one another than we realize.
Associate Gatherings
These offerings are an opportunity for associate member theatres to connect to discuss their specific needs, interests, and challenges.
Exploring Possibilities for Growing & Sharing Staff
Monday, October 19, 2026 | 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
It’s serendipitous when organic connections with talented artists, administrators, and freelancers emerge when you’re looking for support at your theatre. You meet an awesome emerging leader who is volunteering at a fundraiser, fresh out of college, and looking for work. Your passions and goals align and now they are an instrumental part of your staff. But how can we create the infrastructure for this matchmaking process and what are the possibilities for what that could look like? Together, we will share our experiences and needs as well as brainstorm solutions.
Development Staff Roundtable
Beyond the First Gift: Turning Donors into Long-Term Supporters
Monday, November 2, 2026 | 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Getting an individual to make a gift is hard enough, getting them to come back for a second one is where things get interesting. Join your development peers for a candid conversation about what’s working (and what’s not) when it comes to donor stewardship, deeper engagement, and reconnecting with lapsed supporters. Come ready to swap ideas, share challenges, and maybe steal a good idea or two from your colleagues.
This roundtable is perfect for anyone at your theatre who is involved in your individual giving campaigns. If appropriate, trustees are welcome.
Education Staff Roundtables
Back to School!
Tuesday, September 22, 2026 | 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
What plans are you excited for as we kick off the new school year? Which discoveries from last season are you taking with you and what are you leaving behind? Join us for a group brainstorm and reflection.
AI in Arts Education
Tuesday, January 26, 2027 | 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
These days, AI is showing up in the education space in even more surprising ways than we previously witnessed. While the leadership at some organizations are leaning into it, others are raising red flags. At the same time, tensions among staff are emerging as differing opinions surface. How is your theatre navigating AI?
Ethical Internships
Tuesday, May 4, 2027 | 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Attendees will revisit this ever-evolving subject to share success stories and challenges with internships, apprenticeships, and fellowships. How can organizations ensure that they value the time of both emerging leaders and managers on the brink of burnout? How are organizations making concerted efforts to address accessibility needs, including for neurodiverse individuals? When designing ethical programs, how does shifting language help us strengthen the goal to be both inclusive and respectful to various communities? This session will address how we can develop processes, from the first interview to hiring, that are mutually beneficial to both newcomers and the organization as a whole.
Emerging Leaders Affinity Space
These affinity space gatherings are open to Alliance Member Theatre Staff who identify with ANY of the following: 35 years old or younger, have been in the theatre/performing arts field for five years or less, recently transitioned into the arts from another sector, and/or are new to the New Jersey theatre community.
Emerging Leaders Affinity Space #1
Stay tuned for more information soon!
Emerging Leaders Affinity Space #2
Stay tuned for more information soon!
Emerging Leaders Affinity Space #3
Stay tuned for more information soon!
General Management Staff Roundtables
Top of Mind
Friday, September 25, 2026 | 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
This session is an idea-generating space for attendees to shape upcoming roundtable sessions and lean on each other for resources and general support. What are the relevant topics and pressing issues for you? What are your burning questions?
Keep or Delete
Friday, February 5, 2027 | 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
As general managers and related staff, what is working for you and what do you want to move on from? As a seasoned staff member, how are you learning from emerging leaders? What got the theatre to where it is today and what will get it to where it wants to go? How do you stay true to your mission while also allowing room to evolve in the current landscape?
General Management Roundtable #3
Friday, May 7, 2026 | 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Stay tuned for more information soon!
Marketing Staff Roundtables
First Time Ticket Buyers
Thursday, October 22, 2026 | 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
How do we bring in new audience members? What motivates someone to come to our theatre for the first time? We will brainstorm strategies surrounding new ticket buyers.
Earned Income Brainstorm
Thursday, January 28, 2027 | 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
The beginning of the calendar year serves as a natural time to evaluate the season so far as well as plans for the near future. What marketing strategies are proving most effective in driving earned income at your theatre? How is your team balancing affordability for patrons with revenue goals during a turbulent economy? How are you collaborating with other departments to advance marketing efforts?
Marketing Staff Roundtable #3
Thursday, May 20, 2027 | 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Stay tuned for more information soon!
Production Staff Roundtables
Overhire & Staffing
Tuesday, November 17, 2026 | 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM
This session will cover overhire practices and staffing challenges. What are the best methods and resources for maintaining a reliable pool of overhire talent? How do the unique and changing demands of each production impact staffing needs? Attendees will share experiences, discuss recruitment and retention strategies, as well as explore questions around scheduling, budgeting, equitable hiring practices, and building relationships with freelancers.
Creative Solutions for Limited Resources
Tuesday, May 11, 2027 | 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
How do production staff members adapt when resources are limited? What creative solutions have helped your theatre sustain quality work through budget, facility, and time constraints? Are there opportunities for collaboration between theatres to share equipment, personnel, etc.? Attendees will help each other problem-solve during this session.
