2023-2024 SEASON
ANNUAL REPORT
A SEASON OF GROWTH
Dear Friends and Supporters of the Pioneer Center,
During the 2023-2024 season, the Pioneer Center celebrated 56 years in business as the premier performing arts center in northern Nevada, and we experienced substantial growth within the organization. From creating several new full time staff positions and launching new programs and strategic partnerships, to bringing the biggest musical in Broadway history right here to our community, this season defined the phrase “Go big or stay home!” Thankfully, the community did not stay home but responded to this ambitious season by showing up in record numbers.
This Annual Report looks back on the highlights of our programming and community engagement from September 2023 through August 2024. Inside you’ll discover the wide range of work that our nonprofit accomplishes each day, turning the words of our mission into intentional action. We recognize our unique position as a regional leader, pioneering an optimistic path to the future of the performing arts in northern Nevada.
The success of our nonprofit is directly tied to the community we serve. Thank you to our partner arts organizations, sponsors, donors, and incredible team of volunteers who contribute to the Pioneer Center’s regional impact. Our staff and Board are grateful for the opportunity to enrich the quality of life in our region through the performing arts.
Sincerely,
Dennyse Sewell, CEO
ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION
Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts is a private 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that owns and operates the historic Pioneer Center in downtown Reno.
Our mission is to cultivate exceptional performing arts experiences in our historic venue and throughout the region because we envision a community that is connected, enriched, and inspired through the power of live performance.
As stewards of a cultural treasure, we believe that we are all stronger together, education is fundamental to a thriving community, and the arts are for everyone.
STAFF
EXECUTIVE
Dennyse Sewell
CEO
Chisa Oros-Harry Executive Assistant
ADMINISTRATION & FINANCE
Devenney Leijon
Managing Director
Korona Phelps
Comptroller
Shelby Kaae
Bookkeeper
Anette Christensen
Theatre Administrator
Italo Crocco
Technical Director
Bryce Hall
Assistant Technical Director
Eric Skye
Assistant Technical Director
Derek Smith
Facilities Supervisor
Taylor Ichord
Facilities Technician
Mark Robinson
Spruce Custodial
Adam Cates
Director of Community Engagement
Heather Boni Lemmons
Education Manager
Jordyn Mahoney
Marketing & Communications Manager
Breana Edgerton
Events Director
Clark Demeritt
Box Office Manager
Jesse Spooner
Assistant Box Office Manager
Dianna Krueger
House Manager
Olivia Huerta
Assistant House Manager
Demerey Grant
Concessions Manager
Since 1995, the Pioneer Center has been bringing Broadway touring productions to our mainstage direct from New York City. Broadway Comes to Reno is presented in partnership with Nederlander National Markets, a subsidiary of the Nederlander Organization.
TINA: The Tina Turner Musical
September 2023 | 8 Performances
by
SIX The Musical
January 2024 | 8 Performances
Disney’s The Lion King November 2023 | 15 Performances Presented at the GSR Grand Theatre
Pretty Woman: The Musical February 2024 | 8 Performances
102,136
TOTAL BROADWAY COMES TO RENO ATTENDANCE
Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical November 2023 | 8 Performances
Mean Girls March 2024 | 8 Performances
Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird
June 2024 | 8 Performances
Photo by Matthew Murphy for MurphyMade
Photo by Jenny Anderson
Photo by Julieta Cervantes
Photo
Matthew Murphy for MurphyMade
Photo by Joan Marcus
Photo by Joan Marcus
Photo by Jeremy Daniel
LOCAL RESIDENT COMPANIES
40,476
TOTAL COMBINED RESIDENT COMPANY ATTENDANCE
41
TOTAL COMBINED RESIDENT COMPANY PERFORMANCES
RENO PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
• Classix Series 1-6
• Mr. Smith’s Bowl of Notes Family Concert
• Youth Orchestra
• Young Peoples’ Concerts
• The Music of John Williams
• Spirit of the Season
A.V.A. BALLET THEATRE
ARTOWN
• Coppélia
• The Nutcracker
• Cinderella
• Snarky Puppy
• Paul Taylor Dance Company
• The 5 Browns
TOURING & LOCAL PROGRAMMING
The Pioneer Center presented or hosted 35 performances and events created by 16 additional touring and local arts organizations. These events were attended by a combined total of 20,652 patrons.
Conservatory of Movement
Core Connection Dance Company
The Holland Project Kalin & Jinger
Nevada Arts Council
Reno Dance Company
Shamrock Productions
Sierra Nevada Ballet
UNR School of Medicine
Washoe County School District
Xscape Performing Arts Center
Bluey’s Big Play
F-Rock Crew
Izzi Tooinksy
Maya Soleil Traditions
20,652
TOTAL COMBINED ATTENDANCE
Photo by Ariana Pride
Benise: Fiesta!
Photo by Arianna Pride
Photo by MCB Creative
Photo by MCB Creative
Produced by the Pioneer Center, this three-night annual outdoor festival is free to the public and serves as a spotlight benefit for SPCA of Northern Nevada. Thank you to festival sponsors: Bloch Inc., City of Reno Arts & Culture, Design on Edge, Healthy Performers Nevada, and Stellar Snacks.
HEADLINING COMPANIES
Ballet Folklórico Pueblo Nuevo
bellē contemporary dance company
Danza Azteca Aztlán y Ballet Folklórico
Internacional de Reno
Entity Movement
Nevada Dance Company
White Light Bollywood Productions
GUEST ARTISTS
Haley Davis
Keely Cobb & Alex Meade
OPENING NUMBERS
Ballet Folklórico Flor de Castilla
The Dapper Tappers
NoteAble Music Therapy Services
Dance Troupe
“The Dog Days of Summer Dance Festival event was an extraordinary weekend filled with outstanding performances and art.
The Pioneer Center’s plaza, with its stunning view of downtown Reno and the sunset, provided the perfect setting for our performance, making it a truly magical experience that we will cherish forever.”
- Sierra Taylor-Cline, co-director, Entity Movement
“We are thrilled to partner with the Pioneer Center for this unique and exciting opportunity to share our lifesaving work and mission with a captive audience.”
- Jill Vachhina Dobbs, Executive Director SPCA of Northern Nevada
Photo credit Andy Barron.
EDUCATION
The Pioneer Center believes education is fundamental to a thriving community. The arts strengthen educational outcomes and inspire creative, compassionate citizens. We are committed to facilitating and providing dynamic arts education opportunities.
Field Trip performances created by The Reno Phil and Sierra Nevada Ballet, and facilitated by the Pioneer Center, were collectively attended by 10,827 students.
The Pioneer Center sponsored and hosted Nevada Arts Council’s Poetry Out Loud competition.
The Pioneer Center is a training house for technical theater and provided workshops to members of IATSE Local Chapter 363, the professional stagehands union.
Photo credit Logan Veith.
Photo courtesy of The Reno Phil.
PCYP brings educational performance programming to elementary schools, public libraries, and community spaces across 9 Nevada counties with free admission. PCYP also provides Free Family Series performances at our downtown venue and master class workshops for high school and college students with the touring artists. Brüka Theatre for Children
FINAL NUMBERS
TESTIMONIALS
Music touches the soul and this made many kids more interested in learning to play music. This is great for such a rural location. Thank you!
ADULT PATRON PERSHING COUNTY LIBRARY (LOVELOCK)
My students loved this performance! I love how the performers incorporated the history of hip hop through dancing and in a way my students could understand. They are still showing their moves on the playground!
2ND GRADE TEACHER
MARIPOSA LANGUAGE & LEARNING ACADEMY (RENO)
I loved it when we sang the 4 R’s song out loud. I learned to always recycle, reuse, reduce, and respect the earth.
3RD GRADER LIBBY BOOTH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (RENO)
Mi familia es de latino america y me encanta ver espectaculos de los paises de latino America. Todo era fantastic!
ADULT PATRON SPANISH SPRINGS LIBRARY (SPARKS)
I learned that you can imagine a story while listening to music! This made me feel excited and want to play their instruments!
3RD GRADER JACKS VALLEY ELEMENTARY (CARSON CITY)
My favorite part of the performance was the juggling. It surprised me how smooth he could do it! I learned that you can do anything and don’t give up. If you fail, try again!
4TH GRADER
C.C. MENELEY ELEMENTARY (GARDNERVILLE)
PCYP received grant support from The Arthur & Mae Orvis Foundation, City of Reno Arts & Culture, National Endowment for the Arts, Nevada Arts Council, Nell J. Redfield Foundation, Susanne & Gloria Young Foundation, and Creative West (formerly WESTAF).
In November 2023, the Pioneer Center launched Golden Encore, a new lifelong learning entertainment program for seniors. Golden Encore brings the power of live performance to seniors in nursing homes, public libraries, assisted living, senior centers, rehabilitation centers, retirement communities, and more across Washoe County. Performances are presented with free admission! Golden Encore was made possible with support from the Washoe County Community Reinvestment Grant program and Renown Health.
ROSTER
ARTIST
2023-2024
Aria 51
Erika Paul & David Aller Duo
Heather Boni Lemmons
In-Tune Tales with Scot Marshall
Karen Burns
Embraceable You brought tears to my eyes. I wish I could embrace my husband one more time.
SENIOR PATRON OSHER LIFELONG LEARNING INSTITUTE
The participants were engaged and sang along to songs they knew. It was a wonderful experience.
STAFF MEMBER DEMENTIA FRIENDLY NEVADA
I learned that movement can be fun. It reminded me of when I was young.
VETERAN PATRON VA SIERRA NEVADA
FINAL NUMBERS
79
TOTAL NUMBER OF PERFORMANCES
2,676
TOTAL PROGRAM ATTENDANCE
22
TOTAL NUMBER OF PARTNER VENUE ORGANIZATIONS
Thank you so much for hosting an event like this at the library. The band was wonderful, and the performance was something I wouldn’t have experienced otherwise.
SENIOR PATRON SPARKS LIBRARY
2023-2024 EXPERIENCES
• Observing the load-in process and Q&A’s with touring technical crew and stage managers from TINA: The Tina Turner Musical and Mean Girls
• Shadowing stage management teams backstage during performances of TINA, Mean Girls, and To Kill a Mockingbird
• Acting Workshop with cast members from To Kill a Mockingbird
• Onstage Theatrical Lighting & Sound Demonstration Seminar with Technical Director Italo Crocco for the Hunter Lake Elementary Robotics Class
• Guided Backstage Tours for students from Tahoe Expedition Academy, Reno/Sparks Homeschool Co-op, and Washoe County Library System staff
Providing local performing arts students opportunities to engage directly with Broadway touring professionals and Pioneer Center staff.
TOTAL BEHIND THE CURTAIN EVENTS
TOTAL STUDENT & TEACHER PARTICIPATION
“I learned that to keep working in tech you have to be kind. A lot of future jobs depend on that (and doing a good job at the same time). I was surprised to hear how many light cues there are in a show and that someone programs all those cues as a job.”
- High School Student, Damonte Ranch High School, Reno
“Seeing TINA: The Tina Turner Musical and its creative process unfold backstage was truly fascinating. It has inspired me to keep achieving my goals no matter the trials, so that I too can be a part of something so wonderful. Thank you for this transformative experience.”
- College student, Truckee Meadows Community College, Reno
“I loved the feeling of being on that stage. I was surprised to learn the amount of wigs used in the Broadway show Cats.”
- 6th grader, Tahoe Expedition Academy, Incline Village
“A new skill I learned from this acting workshop is how to use breath throughout a monologue. This workshop was personal and wonderfully set up. Each participant who shared their monologue received real and true advice, while also being given the opportunity to observe and learn throughout the experience.”
- College student, University of Nevada, Reno
TICKET BUYER DATA
Ticket buyers during the 2023-2024 season came to the Pioneer Center from the Reno/Sparks greater metro area, surrounding communities within a 50-mile radius (includes Carson City, Lake Tahoe, Fernley, Fallon, Truckee, etc.), and from communities outside our region.
According to The Broadway League, the national trade association for the Broadway industry, the 2023-2024 Broadway Comes to Reno season made an estimated:
$28.2 MILLION
REGIONAL ECONOMIC IMPACT
Americans for the Arts, the nation’s leading nonprofit arts advocacy organization, estimates the following economic impact of the entire 2023-2024 Pioneer Center season:
Our team of 400+ local volunteers who serve as ushers and event staff at every Pioneer Center performance are the lifeblood of our nonprofit organization. Thank you to all who donate their time and talents in service to the community.
The Pioneer Center facilitated collection of goods and funds donated by our patrons to support the work of:
BACK The Pioneer Center provided financial sponsorship for programming produced by: SPONSORSHIPS
Photo credit Logan Veith.
PARTNERS & SUPPORTERS
Thank you to our key community partners who work with us on all events at the Pioneer Center.
PARTNERS
DESIGN ON EDGE
Courtney & Chris Meredith
Owners / Creative Directors
IATSE LOCAL 363 STAGEHANDS UNION
John Olszewski
Chapter President
MARTIN ROSS SECURITY
Jason Patterson President & CEO
SUPPORTERS
The Pioneer Center Board of Directors and staff wish to extend our sincere gratitude to the individual donors, in-kind donors, foundations, and corporate donors and sponsors who provided support throughout the season.
THE PIONEER CENTER IS PROUD TO RECEIVE OPERATIONAL GRANT SUPPORT FROM:
