A Century Of Community

Client Overview

Celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2026, the State Theatre Center for the Arts in Easton has been a cultural cornerstone of the Lehigh Valley for a century. Their mission is to provide a stage where communities can come together to celebrate and explore the arts, bringing people of all ages and backgrounds together through diverse, high-quality programming. Committed to inclusivity, innovation, and responsible stewardship, the theatre serves as both a performance space and a community hub. As it enters its second century, the State Theatre continues to honor its historic legacy while evolving to meet the cultural needs of future generations.

The Opportunity

Scaling personalization without losing what makes it personal

Since its inception, the State Theatre of Easton has served as a cultural cornerstone for its community. That longevity is powered not just by programming, but by the people. In fact, 70% of priority members say they join to support the theatre’s mission, not for other gains like donor recognition or presale access. With approximately 1,000 renewing members each year, the question became “How do we grow and sustain a high-touch, mission-driven membership program without losing the personal connection that makes it successful?”

The Solution

Using accesso ShoWare enables the State Theatre team to combine automation, data, and real-time visibility, allowing them to scale operations while preserving meaningful human connection.

Automated Renewal Triggers

ShoWare’s built-in notification tools automate membership renewal outreach, sending preset reminders in advance of lapse times. This replaces a manual, list-based process and ensures no member falls through the cracks. These gains are especially impactful at lower membership tiers, where one-to-one outreach isn’t feasible but retention remains critical.

Data-Driven Membership Growth

Using ShoWare’s Patron Value Report, the team identifies high-potential members based on real engagement data using attendance and spend filters to draw insights and power targeted campaigns focused on the audiences most likely to convert.

Real-Time VIP Recognition

ShoWare’s Venue Manager provides real time scan visibility into who is attending each performance and where they’re seated, creating stronger relationships with key supporters and increasing donor satisfaction. Using the live seat map, staff can track arriving guests as seats change from red to green during ticket scanning, allowing for memorable, in-person engagement.

A Scalable Formula for Membership Success

By combining mission-driven engagement with the right technology, the State Theatre has built a membership program that is both stable and scalable.

A True Partnership

At the State Theatre, membership helps connect patrons to the theatre’s mission.