Impact Report 2023
In our 55th season, CMT San Jose celebrated a revival of artistic excellence and accessible arts programming, reconnecting with the community of families, participants, and patrons that we proudly built before the pandemic. This report highlights our work from September 2022 through August 2023.
Mission Statement
CMT San Jose trains and educates today’s youth through musical theater to set and achieve high artistic and personal goals, and to inspire them to become exemplary artists, patrons and citizens of tomorrow.
Letter from Kevin & Dana
We have so much to be proud of during our 55th Season. There’s nothing like feeling the energy of the Creative Arts Center full of activity each afternoon and evening. Watching performers bond together to create beautiful art and lasting friendships is incredibly gratifying. There were many inspiring moments to take note of during our 55th Season. Welcoming CMT alumni back to lead artistic teams, and tackling complex themes and new work, continues to set the bar high for the artistic excellence for which CMT is known. The 55th season welcomed over 500 new participants in our productions, classes and camps. We gratefully attribute our continued success from our entire CMT community. This includes leadership from our Board of Directors, dedicated teaching artists and artistic teams, foundations, local government, corporate sponsors and individual donors, along with our robust and dedicated Team CMT volunteers.
Thank you for believing in CMT and helping our community thrive.
CMT San Jose trains and educates today’s youth through musical theater to set and achieve high artistic and personal goals, and to inspire them to become exemplary artists, patrons and citizens of tomorrow. With inclusiveness and quality as the two touchstones of CMT’s vision, we remain dedicated to providing the highest possible caliber of musical and theatrical training to children from ages 4 to 20, spanning all abilities. We stand behind our promise never turn a child away, regardless of financial or physical limitations.
“As a parent, CMT provides my family with a unique combination of a highly supporting community along with world class creativity. Both of our children love being part of CMT as they thrive in this imaginative, nurturing environment. They, and us, have made lifelong friends; CMT encourages each and every unique person in an individualistic and caring way, and has an inclusive creative vision – a rare, beautiful gift for us all in the present and for the future.”
–Maya Yereslove
“CMT has helped my children to grow and develop their confidence and resilience. As a parent I love being part of the community because of all the connections I have made with amazing people. The other parents are always supportive and friendly, and I have made many new friendships in the years we have been a part of CMT.”
–Steve Flowers
Snapshot of 2023
CMT serves as both the journey of a lifetime and the premier destination for performers and audiences of all ages. Thanks to its artistic vision and unparalleled leadership, CMT is one of the only youth-centric performing arts organizations consistently recognized by the National Endowment for the Arts for artistic excellence.
Research indicates* that involvement in the arts increases student engagement and encourages consistent attendance. In addition to building social and communication aptitude overall, drama courses and performances have been shown to improve student’s self-esteem as well as confidence in their academic abilities and life skills.
* Study of The Effects of Theatre Education from American Alliance for Theater & Education
“I had the privilege to come back from NYC to share my working theatre knowledge, along with many fellow alumni, to choreograph numbers in their most recent production of White Christmas. More than a masterclass, these young artists get firsthand experience and choreography of working with so many different backgrounds and styles and then getting the chance to share what they’ve learned onstage at the Montgomery. I have been impressed with the theater’s effort to bring talent together in the creation of their shows. It’s the kind of special experience that you can’t find at every theatre.”
–Dennis O’Bannion White Christmas (Broadway)
“CMTSJ is solely responsible for igniting my love for musical theatre. CMT allowed me to be myself fully, and encouraged me to follow that passion into the blessed career that I’ve been fortunate to have since I left. CMT is more than just a place; as weird as it sounds, everyone who walks through those doors knows that CMT is a relationship. It is community, it is family, it is home. I’m confident that CMT shaped the artist that I am today. Art is beautiful and captivating, but it is also hard and messy, just like artists. But CMT is exactly the community to let that artist — and that person — thrive and be fully realized.”
-Aaron J. Albano, Aladdin, Broadway
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging
CMT’s commitment to DEIB is woven into the fabric of all we do. We’re driven by four main goals:
Celebrate diversity throughout the organization
Create a true sense of belonging for all who participate
Develop outreach to underrepresented communities
Offer programming that inspires all
This season, our Mainstage production of Head Over Heels was sponsored by the LGBTQIA+ Employee Resource Group at the KLA Foundation, a meaningful collaboration supporting both the production and the values of the community.
Our DEIB team supported our Mainstage production of The Hunchback of Notre Dame by retelling this classic tale through the eyes of the Romani people and worked with our ASL consultant Stephanie Foisy to incorporate ASL into the artistry. Enjoy this production finale which features the entire company signing in unison.
During our Winter Rising Stars production of The Sound of Music, we welcomed a record number of new participants, featuring three casts of nearly 180 performers! Development of this production included discussion with Rabbi Laurie Tapper Hahn to discuss with our artistic team, staff, and cast members, sensitive subject matters centered around the story and World War II.
Education & Outreach
This year, we welcomed 3,500 young patrons to our Student Audience Matinees.
1,000 of those patrons were from Title One Schools.
Our award-winning Camp CMT evolved to two sold-out locations this year with 745 participants.
Alum Rock In The House!
Through a new partnership with the Alum Rock Unified School District, we initiated a new program for their students who were transported by bus to our Creative Arts Center weekly for an 8-week program with one of our finest teaching artists, introducing them to music and dance fundamentals.
Our Kickstarter program returned, collaborating with 2 schools in the Mount Pleasant School District to assist them in developing an insular theatre department over the course of 3 years.
Community Access Program
CMT San Jose’s transformative Community Access Program focuses on introducing live musical productions to schools, particularly Title One students, breaking down barriers to artistic exploration. The program ensures accessibility by offering discounted or cost-free tickets, embodying CMT’s commitment to inclusivity.
National Endowment for the Arts
In 2005, CMT San Jose made history as one of the first youth organizations recognized by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). This season, we were honored for the 13th time with this distinguished acknowledgment, accompanied by a $25,000 grant underscoring our commitment to artistic excellence and supporting our summer production of The Hunchback of Notre Dame.
RAISE YOU UP | CMT’S ANNUAL GALA
Our 31st Gala marked our post-pandemic return to the Civic Auditorium, a homecoming of sorts, with our event model featuring two special events—a brunch and an evening affair—and returning performances from alumni like Anna Marie Perez de Tagle (Disney’s Camp Rock, Godspell), Shawn Clifford (TV’s “13 Reasons Why”), and Megan Haley (Mean Girls, The Devil Wears Prada).
As a non-profit, CMT is always looking for new partnerships and arts enthusiasts to support its programs and participants. To learn more about how you can make the greatest impact, please contact CMT Managing Director Dana Zell at dana@cmtsj.org
WHY FUNDRAISE?
Revenue from ticket sales and registrations only cover about 60% of our overall operating budget. The rest is raised through the support from foundations, corporations, and individuals like you!
OPERATING REVENUE:
2018 | $2,871,905
2019 | $2,895,775
2020 | $1,088,965
2021 | $2,048,063*
2022 | $3,483,000*
2023 |$3,610,180
*(includes one time $1.5M+ in federal recovery funds from pandemic)
2023 Total Revenue: $3,610,180
2021 & 2022 were unique in that over $1.5M in federal recovery funds were received to help CMT recover from the pandemic. These one-time funds allowed CMT to continue to provide a full slate of programming and production values, despite lower participation, audience attendance, and individual donations. In the years ahead, growth across all areas of operation are vital to ensure we’re able to continue to thrive as an arts leader in our community.
Contributed
Earned
Corporate
Individual
Foundation
Government
Contributed Revenue Breakdown
“We give to CMT because the organization is like family to us and many others. The experiences of learning, creating, and performing serve the thousands of children who take part in CMT all their lives. We believe exposing young audiences as well as performers to the arts is important. CMT provides invaluable opportunities to our community.”
– Phil and Katherine Costanza
“It’s incredible to think about the amount of creativity, positivity and pure joy CMT has brought to our family. Show by show we are watching our daughter challenge herself and grow in the safe, professional environment that is the legacy of CMT. We are so grateful for everyone who makes it possible.”
– Julz Arney