When I lived in Ohio, community theaters groups operated independently (Footlighters, Tri-County Players, etc.) but were also members of OCTA (Ohio Community Theater Association). This seemed a loose affiliation that administered the organization of theaters while letting people from the community audition for any show they wanted w/o the need to be a member of any individual theater group or theater organization.
In Portland OR, that is very different and I've been trying to understand how it works. The Portland Area Theater Alliance website, on its membership page, says "Advance your career or company within the official Portland arts community." Does that mean there is an unofficial arts community and does that make it somehow, illegitimate?
Do I have the option to go to open auditions with theaters that are not members of PATA or are those theaters looked down on by the "official" arts community? Or must I join PATA to be in any show? I'm not sure how is "community" theater defined in Oregon? It seems much more tightly controlled. Is that for artistic reasons?