Texas Nonprofit Theatres
Increasing the quality of life entails more than just job creation and protecting the environment. Cultural enrichment is also an important part of helping people attain a better life. The Texas Nonprofit Theatres (TNT) was founded in 1971 to promote and develop the dramatic arts throughout Texas.
TNT continues to provide professional training for aspiring actors, promote educational theater, and aids in the formation of new theater groups. TNT also is the theater’s primary advocate in the Texas legislature. This nonprofit group also hosts several festivals, including the AACT Festival.
TNT produces a directory of all identified nonprofit theatres in Texas and publishes a quarterly newsletter. TNT is also committed to education and has placed up to four theatre/arts management students in in several theatres every year. In 1996, TNT launched the Playwright in Residence program, encouraging theatres to support local playwrights. TNT also runs a lending library of plays so theatres across the state can browse through the dramatic offerings of Texas playwrights.
Enid Holm, the former Executive Director of TNT, traveled all over Texas to provide direct support for theater organizations. In 1995, Ms. Holm completed her book, Theatrically Speaking: A guide to operations for the nonprofit arts organization. Holm gave the publication rights to TNT, and a percentage of the book’s proceeds go to TNT, the AACT Festival, and the Texas Cultural Endowment. In April of 1995, Ms. Holm turned the leadership of TNT over to Linda M. Lee.