Subject
title
Approve and authorize the City Manager to execute the Fiscal Year 2027 agreements that extend resident community performing arts organization status to Rockville Little Theatre, Rockville Musical Theatre, and Victorian Lyric Opera Company to enable these organizations to provide performances at the F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre & Social Hall and use storage units located at Rockville Civic Center Park.
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Department
Recreation & Parks
Recommendation
Staff recommends that the Mayor and Council of Rockville authorize the City Manager to continue to extend resident community performing arts organization status to Rockville Little Theatre, Rockville Musical Theatre, and Victorian Lyric Opera Company in Fiscal Year 2027 and authorize the City Manager to execute the attached agreements.
Discussion
The Fiscal Year 2027 agreements confer renewed designation as a resident community performing arts organization (RESCO) to Rockville Little Theatre (RLT), Rockville Musical Theatre (RMT), and Victorian Lyric Opera Company (VLOC), along with associated benefits for use of City of Rockville facilities commonly known as the F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre & Social Hall and storage units located at Rockville Civic Center Park to both encourage all aspects of theatrical production and facilitate the administration of City affairs.
Historically, the Mayor and Council of Rockville have supported RESCO status for RLT, RMT and VLOC. RLT was designated a RESCO in 1960, followed by RMT in 1974 and VLOC in 1990. Extending the City’s long-standing partnership with its legacy RESCOs into Fiscal Year 2027 will foster continued community engagement and participation in the performing arts. The City and RESCOs mutually recognize the value of support and expertise of each towards accomplishing their shared goal for the public benefit, such as:
• Ability to make available to the community the opportunity to participate in legacy performing arts organizations with a complete theater experience by allowing their members to fully participate in every aspect of a theatrical production.
• Enhancement of the Rockville cultural arts community through enhanced visibility via association with the F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre & Social Hall.
• Contribution of expertise, labor, and resources to community engagement through theatrical productions.
• Rockville citizens benefit from a full production season which showcases different performing styles.
• City receives a minimum number of productions from the RESCOs each season, along with a minimum number of contracted hours.
• Agreed level of participation from the RESCOs in City “give-back” events.
• Allows for limited resources to be redirected knowing quality cultural programming is being provided.
Mayor and Council History
The first time the RESCO agreements were brought to the Mayor and Council of Rockville was in Fiscal Year 2023. The agreements are brought to the body for consent annually.
Next Steps
If approved by the Mayor and Council of Rockville, the RESCO and City Manager will execute the attached Fiscal Year 2027 agreements, which have been reviewed for legal sufficiency by the Office of the City Attorney.