All stories by Michael Kaiser on BroadwayStars

Monday, February 9, 2015

Executive Committees by Michael Kaiser

The Executive Committee is also a place to "try out" ideas without subjecting them to full board scrutiny. Discussions about board dues, new programming ideas, even new trustees, c…

SOURCE: Huffington Post at 09:19AM[SHARE]
Monday, February 2, 2015

Let Artists Dream by Michael Kaiser

Virtually every arts institutions is concerned with money today--because of cuts in government funding, aging donors,...

SOURCE: Huffington Post at 09:18AM[SHARE]
Monday, January 26, 2015

Clarity by Michael Kaiser

Lack of clarity as a leader results from lack of clarity in the plan going forward. Initiating a comprehensive planning effort can help the imprecise arts manager develop a clear game plan a…

SOURCE: Huffington Post at 09:47AM[SHARE]
Monday, January 19, 2015

Marek Vrabec by Michael Kaiser

Every teacher I know will tell you about the immense satisfaction that comes from watching a former student...

SOURCE: Huffington Post at 09:34AM[SHARE]
Monday, January 12, 2015

Making a MOOC by Michael Kaiser

A MOOC is a Massive Open Online Course. It allows a teacher to have access to an unlimited number of students who participate in online training; the students watch videos, read assignments …

SOURCE: Huffington Post at 10:08AM[SHARE]
Monday, January 5, 2015

Sticking One's Head in the Sand by Michael Kaiser

It is indeed true that there is less demand for classical music than there was in recent decades, that it is harder to balance our budgets and that numerous orchestras (and other arts instit…

SOURCE: Huffington Post at 01:29PM[SHARE]
Monday, December 15, 2014

Heroic Donors by Michael Kaiser

While there certainly is an element of luck involved when searching for these heroic few, the organizations that have built a cadre of dedicated supporters almost always have a few who simpl…

SOURCE: Huffington Post at 09:12AM[SHARE]
Monday, December 8, 2014

Teaching Abroad by Michael Kaiser

The arts environment is deeply challenging here in the United States, but it is more so in other countries where government funding is falling, sometimes precipitously.

SOURCE: Huffington Post at 10:55AM[SHARE]
Monday, December 1, 2014

Young Patrons Groups by Michael Kaiser

Arts organizations must work tirelessly to engage more and more people, to entice them to attend performances and exhibitions, to make it fun and interesting to become donors and volunteers,…

SOURCE: Huffington Post at 08:45AM[SHARE]
Monday, November 24, 2014

What I Am Giving Thanks for This Year by Michael Kaiser

I am grateful to the many patrons who continue to support their favorite arts institutions, especially those who are willing to risk the most when things are at their worst.

SOURCE: Huffington Post at 08:48AM[SHARE]
Monday, November 17, 2014

A Tale of Two Cities by Michael Kaiser

Seattle lost a vital theater company when the Balagan Theatre announced on September 24 that it was permanently suspending operations.

SOURCE: Huffington Post at 09:32AM[SHARE]
Monday, November 10, 2014

No News Is Bad News by Michael Kaiser

I am a voracious consumer of arts news; I read as many news stories, reviews and features as I can in newspapers, websites and other electronic outlets. Yet, as a new arts season has begun, …

SOURCE: Huffington Post at 08:49AM[SHARE]
Monday, November 3, 2014

The Planning Committee by Michael Kaiser

Developing a potent strategic plan is not easy. Simply survey a large sample of plans for arts organizations, and one will find...

SOURCE: Huffington Post at 09:16AM[SHARE]
Monday, October 27, 2014

The Search for Continuity by Michael Kaiser

If arts organizations did far more thorough and forward-looking strategic plans, ones that really anticipated the world in which the organization was going to operate, we could provide our a…

SOURCE: Huffington Post at 09:18AM[SHARE]
Monday, October 20, 2014

City by City: Variations in the Arts Ecology by Michael Kaiser

If the highest quality arts are to be accessible to everyone, after all, some of these regional differences must be eliminated in the coming years.

SOURCE: Huffington Post at 09:42AM[SHARE]
Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Needed: Arts Management Mentors by Michael Kaiser

There is a great deal of discussion about the need for building tomorrow's audiences if the arts world is to survive. In response, most arts institutions devote substantial efforts to arts e…

SOURCE: Huffington Post at 10:47AM[SHARE]
Monday, October 6, 2014

Brava Joan Weill! by Michael Kaiser

I often teach that arts organizations should design their 'ideal board' and then work to build that board over time. By 'ideal,' I...

SOURCE: Huffington Post at 09:20AM[SHARE]
Monday, September 29, 2014

Strife (Again) at the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra by Michael Kaiser

The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra has joined the growing list of arts institutions that have locked out (or threatened to lock out) its artists unless substantial wage concessions can be obtain…

SOURCE: Huffington Post at 12:46PM[SHARE]
Monday, September 22, 2014

Crisis in Europe by Michael Kaiser

The Concertgebouw is considered by many to be the finest orchestra in the world; Is it really possible that a world treasure will be forced to close? Did anyone see this coming?

SOURCE: Huffington Post at 10:01AM[SHARE]
Monday, September 15, 2014

In Search of Balance by Michael Kaiser

A few weeks ago, a seasoned arts professional called me "the patron saint of artistic directors." He did not mean it as a compliment.

SOURCE: Huffington Post at 09:04AM[SHARE]
Monday, September 8, 2014

The DeVos Institute of Arts Management at the University of Maryland by Michael Kaiser

The major problems facing the arts today are not the lack of great artists but the dearth of sophisticated planning, marketing, fundraising and board development skills.

SOURCE: Huffington Post at 09:37AM[SHARE]
Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Settling at the Met by Michael Kaiser

Anyone who cares about the arts must be happy that this great institution will open its new season this month. But did the remarkable firestorm surrounding these negotiations do enough to st…

SOURCE: Huffington Post at 08:13AM[SHARE]
Monday, August 25, 2014

Farewell to the Kennedy Center | Michael Kaiser by Michael Kaiser

This is my last week as President of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. It has been a remarkable honor to serve in this position for well over 13 years. I have had incredibl…

SOURCE: Huffington Post at 09:16AM[SHARE]
Monday, August 18, 2014

Moving Side Show to Broadway by Michael Kaiser

Whenever a show makes this big move it is a cause for celebration. It suggests that the producing theaters created something of value, something that for-profit producers believe will be of …

SOURCE: Huffington Post at 08:17AM[SHARE]
Monday, August 11, 2014

A Trip to the MUNY by Michael Kaiser

It is easy to get depressed about the future of the arts in America when one reads countless stories of arts...

SOURCE: Huffington Post at 08:27AM[SHARE]
Monday, August 4, 2014

The Mid-Sized Gift by Michael Kaiser

Working with so many arts organizations that are facing financial challenges, I often hear board and staff discussion about the need for a mega-gift. "If only we had an angel" is a…

SOURCE: Huffington Post at 08:21AM[SHARE]
Monday, July 28, 2014

Employing Celebrities by Michael Kaiser

Summer is a good time to think through all the celebrities your board, staff and artists know or have worked with and think about ways to use one or two in the upcoming season.

SOURCE: Huffington Post at 08:32AM[SHARE]
Monday, July 21, 2014

The Grass Is Always Greener by Michael Kaiser

The American View: It would be so great to be working in a European arts institution. After all, those organizations get such a large portion of their budget from the government. The Europe…

SOURCE: Huffington Post at 08:55AM[SHARE]
Monday, July 14, 2014

Talking with the Press by Michael Kaiser

Too many talented arts executives - whose organizations have achieved a great deal under their leadership - fail to promote...

SOURCE: Huffington Post at 08:33AM[SHARE]
Monday, July 7, 2014

My Crew by Michael Kaiser

The men and women who run the shows, move the sets, carry the props, light the lights, manage the sound, dress the performers and on and on are among my favorite colleagues in every arts job…

SOURCE: Huffington Post at 08:54AM[SHARE]
Monday, June 30, 2014

Start Spreading the News by Michael Kaiser

Send a clear, concise well-formatted email that focuses on highlights from the season, including some photographs, to donors (and key prospects), volunteers, board members, subscribers and k…

SOURCE: Huffington Post at 08:53AM[SHARE]

All that Chat

2025-2026 BROADWAY SEASON
Jun 12, 2025: Call Me Izzy - Studio 54
Sep 16, 2025: Art - Music Box Theatre
Oct 08, 2025: Beetlejuice - Palace Theatre
Nov 13, 2025: Oedipus - Studio 54
Nov 16, 2025: Chess - Imperial Theatre
Mar 23, 2026: Giant - Music Box Theatre
Apr 06, 2026: Becky Shaw - Hayes Theater
Apr 16, 2026: Proof - Booth Theatre
Apr 26, 2026: Drama Desk Cut-Off