About Us

Our Approach

SST Productions, Inc. is the non-stock, not for profit corporate entity offering several capacity building options to the nonprofit community of Los Angeles County and beyond.

On our “legacy site” pages you can view our theatrical work and history of productions since 2007/8. We invite you to contact us if you are interested in partnering on exceptional theatrical experiences in LA or elsewhere!

Over the past few years, SST has broadened its management support for nonprofits beyond theatre arts to encompass all types of nonprofits:

In addition to the production of unique and compelling theatrical productions here and abroad, SST has expanded its mission to support nonprofit endeavors of all kinds through a new service line dubbed, “SST Nonprofit Services.” The first offerings of SST Nonprofit Services are two distinct supports for small and mid-sized nonprofit organizations: NonprofitBackOffice.NET and FindALeader.org. Most recently, “Nonprofit First Aid” has been added as a quick intervention option for organizations with timely operational challenges.

NonprofitBackOffice provides specialty administrative “back office” support for organizations with a special time-limited need, to save the costly process of adding permanent staffing and to access high level expertise appropriate to the task.

FindALeader offers support to boards of directors who have determined that they will be conducing their own search for a new President, CEO or Executive Director. It also supports CEO’s in their search for a new CFO, CIO, COO or other senior positions. Affiliated with the most experienced nonprofit leadership transition firm in California, Third Sector Company, FindALeader supports your search to make the best hire in the most cost-effective way. By conserving resources while being able to focus on a well articulated process, you best serve your public benefit mission.

Meet the Team

We are experts in nonprofit governance and administration.

Marc Haupert

President

Marc has over 45 years of executive nonprofit management experience in the Midwest and California.

Kurt J. Swanson

Managing Director

Mobilizing a 25 year career of maximizing the administrative potential of community benefit organizations.

Our Story

The mission of SST Productions is to produce and present theatrical and performing arts events that stimulate thought, and entertain and challenge audiences, and to empower nonprofits of all kinds to excel in their efficiency and leadership. We present topical, relevant works that are created and performed by the most talented and internationally diverse teams of artists available. We also undertake projects that utilize arts for societal benefit, and our most recent expansion provides administrative support to nonprofits of all types.

Our Theatrical Niche: SST, as an independent producing organization without a standing ensemble, assembles appropriate teams for each performing arts endeavor; utilizing artists who may or may not be part of other companies or ensembles. We feel that this approach provides a distinction that will continue to attract audience and critical respect for its unrestrained creativity and collaboration. With an active link to and from the UK and Europe, we include international performers among our featured artists.

An important element of its programming is the use of arts activities to improve the condition of identified populations in need. Among projects being considered are those that utilize the medium of theatre to have an impact on the development of at-risk youth, particularly those within the Los Angeles dependency and delinquency court systems.

Venues – Performances will be presented in Los Angeles, as a touring production, or in other cities or countries that host such performances. The organization mounts productions at facilities in the Los Angeles area or elsewhere. When possible, the organization will attempt to “export” its productions to wider audiences at festivals and/or other performance spaces, in order to share our productions with other communities, cultures and countries. Likewise, we will bring the best of the world’s performing art to greater Los Angeles.

History – Since its beginnings, the development of original works has been a hallmark of the organization. Indeed, as many local playwrights will attest, SST has become a safe and nurturing home for projects to be developed in the crowded Los Angeles theatrical milieu, particularly because of the “open architecture” of the organizational structure. Most small theatre groups in LA are of two types: those endowed by a wealthy individual (usually connected to film or TV), or those that depend on a set coterie of ensemble members, each of whom “buys in” to the group in return for the possibility of being cast in a play. While either is a reasonable approach to covering finances for the organization, they also have the inevitable effect of limiting the experimental vision to that of the regular participants/funders/founders.

Alternatively, SST’s “pan-artistic” and “ecumenical” approach to theatrical development has evidenced itself in stunning ways, including: the resurrection of a ’70’s era ensemble creation by America’s longest continuously operating experimental theatre company (Milwaukee’s Theatre X); the script finalization and full production of a play by a noted local playwright/educator that had been workshopped at SST for another local professional ensemble; the completion and full production of six world premieres by three acclaimed local playwrights, not to mention international undertakings. We also hosted dozens readings of new plays in our first ten seasons.

The future – Theatrical productions will continue, and our new services to nonprofits of all kinds will benefit fellow nonprofits that are working to change the world for the better.

Next Steps…