HF 5454

as introduced - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 05/06/2024 11:14am

A bill for an act
relating to economic development; appropriating money for a live musical theater
production grant program.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1. new text begin MINNESOTA LIVE MUSICAL THEATER PRODUCTION GRANT
PILOT PROGRAM.
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new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Definitions. new text end

new text begin (a) For the purposes of this section, the terms defined in this
subdivision have the meanings given.
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new text begin (b) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of employment and economic development.
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new text begin (c) "Eligible venue" means venues located in Minnesota that have at least 1,000 seats.
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new text begin (d) "Production" means productions that are scheduled for presentation in New York
City's Broadway Theater District after the original production is performed in an eligible
venue.
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new text begin (e) "Tour launch" means a live stage production for which the activities comprising the
rehearsal and production period take place in an eligible venue before a tour of the original
production begins.
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new text begin (f) "Live musical theater" means theater for which the musical score is performed solely
by live musicians.
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new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Eligibility and application. new text end

new text begin (a) An eligible venue seeking a grant under this
section must submit an application on a form provided by the commissioner. The application
must include certification that the eligible venue:
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new text begin (1) holds a temporary theater lease agreement or representation that the venue has
confirmed space prior to applying; and
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new text begin (2) must hire no fewer local union stagehands, wardrobe, and hair and make-up workers
as there are nonlocal workers hired by the production company. The production must hire
no fewer live local union orchestra players, hired by local music contractors, than there are
nonlocal musicians for in-state performances.
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new text begin (b) Upon completion of the production, within 90 days, applicants shall submit verified
documentation of eligible production costs.
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new text begin (c) The commissioner's determination must be based on proper documentation of eligible
production costs submitted for payments. Five percent of the funds appropriated for the
program in any year may be expended for administration, including costs for independent
audits and financial reviews of projects.
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new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Qualifying costs of production. new text end

new text begin Production costs for live musical theater may
include in-state costs for:
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new text begin (1) development and production of a theater concept in preparation for preview and
premiere performances in Minnesota prior to opening on Broadway;
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new text begin (2) salaries of talent, management, and labor;
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new text begin (3) set construction and operations, wardrobe construction and purchase, hair and make-up
accessories, and related services;
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new text begin (4) photography, sound synchronization, lighting, and related services;
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new text begin (5) arrangers, orchestrators, music preparation, and live musical performance of the
production;
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new text begin (6) rental of facilities and equipment;
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new text begin (7) other in-state costs incurred during postproduction;
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new text begin (8) sound, video capture and projection, and special effects;
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new text begin (9) advertising and promotion of the production; and
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new text begin (10) other direct costs of producing a live theater premier in accordance with generally
accepted theater industry practice.
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Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
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new text begin $1,000,000 in fiscal year 2025 is appropriated to the commissioner of employment and
economic development to make grants under section 1 to producers of live musical theater
productions that directly create live musical theater jobs in Minnesota. To be eligible for a
grant, a producer may apply for up to $250,000 or 25 percent of in-state production budget
incurred within a six-month period. Grants are limited to the development and production
in eligible Minnesota venues of pre-Broadway live musical theater, including preview
performances and Minnesota premieres prior to opening on Broadway and launches of
national tours from eligible venues in Minnesota.
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