CENTERSTAGE

In January 2008, CENTERSTAGE was facing a transition period with the impending departures of its Managing Director and its Public Relations Director. As Baltimore’s leading professional producing theater company, it was important to CENTERSTAGE to maintain its level of awareness for its productions, special events, and 2008-2009 season announcement as well as for news related to its leadership transition. To support this, Profiles, Inc. was selected by CENTERSTAGE to develop and manage its public relations program.

In its on-going effort for CENTERSTAGE, Profiles uses a series of public relations tactics to ensure that the organization maintains a high level of awareness among target audiences: donors, current and potential subscribers, individual ticket purchasers, media, theater industry leaders and influencers. More specifically, Profiles work on behalf of CENTERSTAGE as follows:

• Managing and maintaining CENTERSTAGE’s media database of reporters, editors and producers who cover news and features related to theater, art, travel, entertainment, lifestyle and special events. This includes updating media database to ensure that contacts and media coverage areas are current.

• Reviewing, editing, and reformatting press materials including releases, media advisories, fact sheets, and other outreach materials.

• Identifying creative and compelling ways to package and pitch news and feature stories about CENTERSTAGE activities (productions, events, news, collaborations, and more) so that they are received, noticed and inspire interest among media contacts.

• Distributing press materials through email, media drops, messenger service, hand-delivery, USPS, etc.

• Implementing aggressive follow-up of distribution of press materials with phone calls, emails, desk visits, etc. to encourage coverage.

• Managing media interviews and photo ops for CENTERSTAGE representatives. This includes scheduling and attending on-site interviews and photo ops as well as arranging in-studio appearances and escorting CENTERSTAGE representatives to those interviews.

• Preparing talking points and key messages for CENTERSTAGE spokespersons to use during media interviews.

• Accepting media inquires and working with CENTERSTAGE management and staff to determine effective responses.

• Serving as media relations liaison for CENTERSTAGE on day-to-day pubic relations and publicity activities as well as special events that require media attention such as opening nights, CENTERSTAGE Presents, Season Announcement, etc.

• Tracking media placements and maintaining a thorough tracking report

CENTERSTAGE has been a client of Profiles since 2008