Passion Plays on U.S. Economy
by January 19, 2004 12:00 am 95 views
Joe Gies, CEO of the nonprofit Elna M. Smith Foundation Inc., said the Great Passion Play is considered the second-largest tourist attraction in the natural state ranked only behind Magic Mountain in Hot Springs. Carroll County accounts for 4.2 percent of the total amount of travel expenditures in the state.
It is the largest attended outdoor drama in the United States, according to University of North Carolina advisory agency the Institute of Outdoor Drama. The Institute tracks 118 different outdoor performances in three categories: religious drama, Shakespeare festivals and historical plays. Its research indicates that the outdoor drama field, consisting of approximately 43 historical dramas, 64 Shakespeare festivals and 11 religious dramas, employs 5,000 people and has an annual economic impact on the U.S. travel and tourism industry of approximately $500 million.
“No question the Great Passion Play is the most heavily attended outdoor religious drama in the United States,” said Scott Parker, the institute’s director. “There are no history plays that have that kind of attendance and there are no shakespeare festivals. It is the most heavily attended of our 118.”
The play gave 127 performances in 2003 and the next closest was 111 by The Shepherd of the Hills historical drama in Branson, Mo., which drew 78,000 people.
Tab Chart
Foundation Financials
The following is the most recent annual financial information available for the Elna M. Smith Foundation Inc., the principal business of which is to operate the Great Passion Play in Eureka Springs and its related Christian-based businesses.tttt
| Selected Statistics (millions) | 2002 | 2001 | % Change | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 |
| Revenue | $3.51 | $3.15 | 11.3% | $2.93 | $2.79 | $3.02 |
| Assets | $4.49 | $4.57 | -1.8% | $4.86 | $4.82 | $5.16 |
| Merchandise Sales | $1.55 | $1.53 | 1.2% | $1.49 | $1.36 | $1.38 |
| Merchandise Profit | $0.58 | $0.57 | 0.7% | $0.36 | $0.51 | $0.51 |
| Payroll* | $1.67 | $1.63 | 2.5% | $1.60 | $1.58 | $1.46 |
| Contributions, Gifts & Grants (thousands) | $255,532 | $30,720 | 731.8% | $13,862 | $16,750 | $52,563 |
| ? | ||||||
| Selected Itemized Expenses (thousands) | 2002 | 2001 | % Change | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 |
| Officers & Directors Compensation | $160,392 | $96,285 | 66.6% | $94,600 | $106,728 | $221,201 |
| Advertising Costs | $311,576 | $336,142 | -7.3% | $331,662 | $364,919 | $237,915 |
| Animal Feed & Supplies | $19,948 | $22,824 | -12.6% | $16,224 | $21,453 | $24,176 |
| Maintenance & Repairs | $81,123 | $57,757 | 40.5% | $61,906 | $75,635 | $124,991 |
| Employee & Public Relations | $17,375 | $28,283 | t-38.6% | $28,764 | $29,569 | $39,107 |
*Excluding officers & directorstttttt
Source: Internal Revenue Service 990 tax forms