Prompt Corner - a thin red line

Some time ago David Crewes ran an article in the ITA Link about the operations of this company.Many of you might know it better as Music Makers Unlimited or perhaps Ballet Workshop Inc (BWI). For many years they have operated from the Quarry Amphitheatre, its undercroft and a number of other venues. More recently i understand their productions have been seen in the Regal and will soon appear at Kings Park.The productions invariably feature a large cast of predominantly young, amateur performers who work hard to put on a good show in very demanding venues.BWI and it's related companies produce several shows per year attracting audience numbering well into the thousands. They regularly fill some of the larger venues available with audiences paying ticket prices as high as $27. They must be doing something right. Right?But the question on the lips of many theatre-goers is "where have all the profits gone?" Now i am not about to suggest that the proceeds from these productions over many years have been lining the pockets of the management of BWI - that would be both libelous and besides this action would be prohibited by the relevant Incorporated Associations legislation. But i challenge anyone to demonstrate that the profits are being ploughed back into the company's productions.We're talking about an incredible amount of money here by any community theatre company's standards. A recent article in the Post newspaper reported that Prompt Corner would be sharing *some* of the profit from one preview performance with the Town of Cambridge in order to cover an outstanding debt of $6,000. Another 8 performances in the season with similar audiences would put *some* of BWI's profit from this production at $48,000. That's profit folks; not gross.BWI will soon be staging Godspell in the Botanic Gardens at Kings Park. I recently paid $24 for a ticket to see a professional production of the Taming of the Shrew in Kings Park. My ticket money and that of the other patrons paid to keep a roof over the head of a large company of professional actors performing this show.How much is BWI planning to charge for Godspell? $27How much are the actors being paid? Well, please correct me if i'm wrong, but i think that as with all the other BWI shows i'm aware of, it's diddly.So... what right do i have to ask BWI what they are doing with the money? I'm not a member. I don't direct or act in their shows.I have every right. In fact i have a responsibility to say "hey, what's going on!" We all do.The rumbling i hear is, that quite a few people want to know. What benefit are the amateurs that work in BWI's shows getting from them? Is there anything there in terms of production values that sets them apart from other community productions? Apart from the ticket price?What about it BWI?CheersGrant