Graham Jaehnig/Daily Mining Gazette Calumet Theatre Director of Operations Nate Jones presented his monthly operations report to the Theatre Board on Monday, discussing the demographics of the audiences attending theater events, and how studying the demographics will serve in planning future events moving forward.

CALUMET — The trustees of the Calumet Theatre Company Board reflected on its mission to the public during its regular June meeting on Monday. The mission of the board directing a community theater, is to provide the community with shows, concerts, and entertainment and educational programs for the entire community, from children to the elderly.

The bulk of that mission falls on the theater’s director of operations to study which shows and programs draw the most people, and the demographics of those the events draw.

Director of Operations, Nate Jones, reported that the Theatre had five shows between February 9 and May 31, ranging in genres from country music to post punk-rock/new wave, to classical music. As would be expected, some shows were a great success, others were not.

At the same time, Jones has used the shows to closely study concertgoer demographics as a way of scheduling future shows and concerts.

Jones said that in looking at all the factors of each show, Baby Boomers made up the largest proportion of concertgoers, with Generation X being a close second. In other words, audience participation has consisted mostly of those born between 1946 and 1980.

The Keweenaw Symphony Orchestra concert and the Drifters concert drew principally Baby Boomers, those born between 1946 and 1965. In the case of the Drifters concert, however, something else was learned. That concert was on Feb. 9, 2024.

“When we did the show in February,” Jones said, “we proved that we can do a show in February — in the middle of winter — despite the snowbirds being gone.”

The success of that show, he said, dispelled the myth of the Calumet Theatre functioning solely as a tourist season venue.

Jim Enrietti, addressed the board, discussing an example of revenue generated by community theaters in other areas, particularly the Sheboygan Opera House.

“The executive director of that theater,” Enrietti said, “her objective, she said, is not to make money on the shows, but to make money through grant writing, donations and theater memberships.”

As a community theater, the Calumet Theatre also relies heavily on volunteers for its many projects, such as the renovations to the Green Room area, located under the theater stage, as well as the balcony of the Red Jacket Ballroom. Volunteers also serve the theater as ushers, ticket sales, event organizing, hosting at fundraisers and just about anywhere people are needed to make a community theater a success. The trustees of the Board of Directors, in fact, are volunteers; none of them is paid for their position.

Editor’s Note: Gazette staff writer Graham Jaehnig is a member of the Calumet Theatre Board of Directors.