Front of House Manager

Organization

Located in the state capital of Concord, the Capitol Center for the Arts (CCA) has grown to become New Hampshire’s premier center for the performing arts. Opened in 1927 and initially known as the Capitol Theatre, CCA believes in the power of arts experiences to shape lives and strengthen community bonds. To that end, CCA’s mission is to serve both area residents and virtual and in-person visitors from near and far through live dynamic engagements with performing artists that inspire, educate, and entertain, deepening human-to-human connections, expanding community vitality, and generating economic growth.

CCA offers an exciting and eclectic mix of shows, including Broadway productions, comedy, dance performances, music by pop and country stars, and a wide variety of family and children’s events. It boasts multiple performance spaces, including its 1,304-seat historic Chubb Theatre, which reopened in 1995 after an extensive renovation. This vaudeville-era theater was designed with an Egyptian motif, which was restored to its original glory by a team of 250 volunteers and supported by Congressman Paul Hodes. CCA also houses The Governor’s Hall, which accommodates up to 350 people, and a Victorian mansion, which includes a formal dining room, library, parlor, and board room. In 2019, CCA opened a smaller nearby venue, Bank of New Hampshire Stage, which offers flexible seating arrangements that welcome between 296 and 424 audience members. There are also outdoor mini-concerts presented at the nearby Fletcher-Murphy Park, as well as a robust series of streamed performances and presentations.

CCA is deeply committed to community engagement. More than 8,000 students from regional schools attend the CCA’s extensive educational programming annually. These programs include workshops, performances, and various outreach activities. CCA is a critical anchor in Capital Arts Fest, a free event that closes off Main Street for a weekend of activities. Every year, CCA also donates approximately $10,000 in tickets and services to organizations that support disadvantaged children and families throughout Concord and the surrounding areas.

In order to ensure continued contributed income, CCA established the Ovation Society. More than 100 strong, these donors provide financial support to CCA through multi-year pledges. Members enjoy a wide range of benefits, including advanced and priority booking of shows, complimentary tickets, a selection of concessions discounts, and invitation-only “Sneak Peek” events. In addition, members are recognized in CCA’s Playbill for their contribution.

CCA is governed by a 20-member board of trustees, led by Ron Reed, and currently has 10 full- and part-time staff members, which is down from a high of 42 full- and part-time employees prior to the pandemic, with more than 200 volunteers. For the fiscal year ending July 31, 2020, annual revenues were $3.2 million, with approximately 20 percent from contributions, sponsorships, and memberships and 80 percent from ticket sales, production revenue, and rental income. The 2021 fiscal year is projected to achieve total revenues of $2.2 million and 2022 is budgeted at $3.6 million.

Community

Concord has the charm of a quintessential New England town with all of the cultural assets of a city. The region’s current economy is based primarily in education, health services, finance, utilities, and government. Concord is home to NHTI – Concord’s Community College, Granite State College, and the University of New Hampshire School of Law. A desirable place to work, shop, dine, and live, Concord hosts a variety of businesses, state agencies, and nonprofits that take full advantage of local opportunities for doing business, hosting events and social gatherings, and attending cultural experiences.

Concord’s vibrant downtown underwent a significant renovation between 2015 and 2016 and serves as a cultural hub for the state. United States Senator Jeanne Shaheen has said that “Concord's Main Street really is New Hampshire's Main Street” and “Concord is the civic heart of the Granite State.” The redevelopment has spawned many new high-quality places to dine, including abundant outdoor options following the expansion of sidewalks and the installation of public art and murals along Main Street. The city hosts multiple local farmers markets, arts markets, artisanal brewers, distillers, and a winery. Outdoor recreation is a year-round activity with more than 20 public parks and more than 30 public hiking and biking trails within city limits. In addition, Concord offers convenient access to some of New England’s best skiing, snowboarding, hiking, camping, kayaking, and mountain biking within driving distance.

In the midst of all this excitement is a thriving arts scene. CCA and Bank of NH Stage are at the epicenter of the economic and creative vitality of Concord's downtown district. Other cultural organizations in the city include Red River Theatres, Concord Community Music School, Kimball Jenkins School of Art, Hatbox Theatre, League of NH Craftsmen Concord Fine Craft Gallery, Concord City Auditorium, and a community makerspace. The lively downtown area hosts festivals and markets through the year. A coalition of the city’s arts organizations co-produces Capital Arts Fest each fall, a city-wide celebration that showcases the community’s creativity through artistic festivities. Concord attracts people from all over New England, the country, and the world, with many cultures represented in the fabric of the community. The city celebrates the growing international population each year during Concord's Multicultural Festival.

Concord has a residential population of 43,000 people but, as the capital city of New Hampshire, the active population is upward of 90,000 people during the work week. Situated on the Merrimack River in the south-central area of the state, Concord is 42 miles from New Hampshire's southern boundary and 135 miles from the northern boundary. Conveniently located at the junction of Interstates 89 and 93, Concord is 18 miles north of the state's largest city of Manchester, only 50 miles from the seacoast, within an hour’s drive of the spectacular White Mountains, and 70 miles north of Boston. Concord is among the nation’s top 10 emerging housing markets in an analysis released recently by the Wall Street Journal and Realtors.com.

The surrounding region offers enough things to do to fill a lifetime. Wildlife, covered bridges, art galleries, independent bookstores, local shops, museums, historic sites, walking tours, presidential history, farms, orchards, birding, golf, breweries, wineries, country fairs, community suppers, youth activities and four beautiful seasons are part of the many features that enhance the quality of life in the area.