Live theater and storytelling through performing arts are an essential part of any community and culture.
Whether it’s drama, comedy, puppetry, opera, dance, or something else entirely, theater performances have always had a way of bringing communities together through storytelling and song.
Today, nonprofit theater groups provide performers of all ages with a place to discover their talents, develop their skills, gain lifelong friendships, and share their gift with the world.
Just like the performances they bring to life, every nonprofit theater group is different — with different missions, specialties, and priorities. That means each theater group has their own unique needs when it comes to their insurance.
So, what do nonprofit theater groups need most from their insurance?
Meet some NIA-insured nonprofit theater groups.
We talked with some nonprofit theater groups about how their missions, their specific operations, and the communities they serve help them identify and prioritize what they need most from their insurance coverage.
In their own words…
San Jose Dance Theatre (San Jose, CA)
“San Jose Dance Theatre is a nonprofit ballet company and school dedicated to inspiring our community through exceptional performances, professional training, and inclusive access to the art of dance.
We nurture dancers of all ages and backgrounds while enriching Silicon Valley with classical and contemporary ballet experiences.
We offer a range of programs designed to inspire and engage our community.
Our annual ‘Nutcracker’ — celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2025 with a live orchestra — is a beloved holiday tradition.
‘Once Upon a Nutcracker,’ our children’s school show, welcomes students from across the region, including Title 1 schools, to experience ballet at a deeply discounted rate.
Each spring, we present an innovative full-length production aimed at inspiring young audiences; recent titles include ‘The Wizard of Oz Ballet’ and ‘The Little Mermaid Ballet.’
Our academy provides professional ballet training for all ages — from pre-ballet to adults — and we are committed to accessibility through scholarships, including male dancer scholarships, diversity scholarships, and tuition assistance for families in need.”
— Elizabeth Sweeney, Executive Director, San Jose Dance Theatre
All The World’s A Stage (Macomb County, MI)
“We are a theatre arts education organization whose mission is to teach life skills through theatre arts education.
A significant number of programs are provided to at-risk, underserved, and special-needs populations.
We believe that skills intrinsic to theatre arts contribute to the growth and development of our kids and community.”
— Louis Fazzini, Executive Director & Founder, All The World’s A Stage
Iowa City Community Theatre (Iowa City, IA)
“Established in 1956, Iowa City Community Theatre is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community organization dedicated to promoting high-quality, all-volunteer theatrical productions in the Iowa City area, and encouraging the participation of diverse community members.
We put on five to six shows per year, including dramas, comedies, musicals, classics, and edgier shows, which provide many roles — on- and off-stage — for community members to get involved.”
— Nicholas Rudzianski, Treasurer, Iowa City Community Theatre
What did these nonprofit theater groups need most from their insurer?
Broad scope of coverages for productions.
“We needed liability coverage, which covers our studio space but also extends to the theater venues we use for productions. We also needed Directors & Officers (D&O) coverage for our board, and cyber coverage after we had a cyber fraud incident with one of our venues.”
— Elizabeth Sweeney, San Jose Dance Theatre
Cost-effective coverage for specialized needs.
“We had specific needs associated with being a theatre arts nonprofit organization.
As a small, community-based organization, we needed comprehensive coverage that not only filled our needs, but provided the necessary criteria required from our community partners to meet their needs.
And we needed it to be cost-effective, which it has continued to be.”
— Louis Fazzini, All The World’s A Stage
Affordable coverage above all.
“For Iowa City Community Theatre, our biggest need when it came to our insurance was affordability.”
— Nicholas Rudzianski, Iowa City Community Theatre
How did these community theater groups hear about NIA?
An agent’s recommendation.
“Our former agent set us up with NIA many years ago.”
— Elizabeth Sweeney, San Jose Dance Theatre
An introduction from a nonprofit-support organization.
“I believe we were introduced to NIA through the American Association of Community Theatre (AACT).”
— Louis Fazzini, All The World’s A Stage
Continuing a relationship begun by a predecessor.
“We have been insured by NIA since before I took over as treasurer for Iowa City Community Theatre, so I am unsure of how we initially got connected to them.”
— Nicholas Rudzianski, Iowa City Community Theatre
Since becoming an NIA member, how has that relationship helped these theater groups?
Affordable coverage, easy access, and community involvement
“As a nonprofit, we count all of our pennies and NIA offers the best rates.
I like that I can easily access our documents on our website directly without having to go through our broker.
I like that NIA also gives back to the community. We used NIA for a small loan this past year to help with our production of ‘Nutcracker.’”
— Elizabeth Sweeney, San Jose Dance Theatre
Budget-friendly coverage backed by a professional team.
“All of our insurance needs have been covered through NIA.
NIA not only meets our needs, but has proven to be affordable, professional, personal, and extremely efficient.”
— Louis Fazzini, All The World’s A Stage
Transparency, affordability, and a responsive team.
“NIA has always responded to questions very quickly, been upfront with costs associated with any changes to coverage — and they provide good coverage at a reasonable price.”
— Nicholas Rudzianski, Iowa City Community Theatre
Nonprofit theater groups deserve insurance that puts them center stage.
Why do nonprofit theater groups prefer to get their insurance coverage from NIA?
It’s simple: They want reliable and affordable insurance — not drama (they already have that).
With NIA as your theater group’s insurance provider, you can be confident that you’re getting quality coverage, at a fair and equitable price, from a team that understands nonprofits — and the unique risks that come with running them.
After all, when you’ve got rehearsals, choreography, set design, lighting, soundboards, and so much more to think about — you shouldn’t have to stress about your insurance, too.
