10 Ways To Help TheaterMakers on Broadway and off Broadway This Giving Tuesday.
The bad news . . .
No other industry is suffering as much as the theater during this pandemic.
And as I wrote about here . . . who I worry about most are the TheaterMakers on the bubble. Those artists who are still emerging. Who haven’t had time for their art to take root. Especially those from marginalized communities who haven’t had the same chances as others. Those creators who are putting in the effort, but whose number hasn’t come up. Yet. But it will. If they can keep creating.
The good news . . .
More people have stepped forward to help TheaterMakers get through this difficult time. Because people know that art not only inspires, but art heals. And boy are we going to need some great theater when this is all said and done.
Today is Giving Tuesday. The Black Friday deals are over. (By the way – have you noticed that Black Friday is a month now?). The sun has fallen on Cyber Monday. (By the way, have you noticed that every day is Cyber day? A quick peek at Amazon’s stock price will prove that!)
And now we give back.
If you’re in the position to help today . . . I’d encourage you to help a TheaterMaker. (And if you’re in a position to buy yourself a Starbucks, you can help – because every few bucks count.)
Here is a list of 10 Ways to give to TheaterMakers on this Giving Tuesday. And if you can’t decide which one? Divide whatever the total you want to give up amongst them. $100/10 = $10 each. It all helps. And PS – giving always has a way of coming back.
Thank you, in advance.
The Actors Fund fosters stability and resiliency, and provides a safety net for performing arts and entertainment professionals over their lifespan.
The Broadway Advocacy Coalition builds the capacity of individuals, organizations, and communities to dismantle the systems that perpetuate racism through the power of storytelling and the leadership of people directly affected.
A fund established in the name of my Dad who passed this March to encourage TheaterMakers like he encouraged me. He was a doctor who told his son to go into the theater. I mean, how could I not honor that. To see two examples of how The Fund has helped, click here. To read more about The Fund, click here.
Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS raises funds for AIDS-related causes across the United States, headquartered in New York City, and helmed by the theater industry.
If giving to an organization isn’t your thing, find a TheaterMaker for a job you need done, and pay ’em directly! You get something and they do to. Click here for a list of TheaterMakers with side hustles looking for extra work right now.
The Dramatists Guild Foundation provides necessary funds to writers for the stage facing emergency circumstances, while providing a sense of community, educational support, rehearsal spaces, and more.
The Drama League advances the American theater by providing a life-long artistic home for directors and a platform for dialogue with, and between, audiences.
The Indie Theater Fund is made up of a consortium of companies, venues and individuals contributing five cents per ticket sold to a pool of money for independent theater.
Co-founded by T. Oliver Reid and Warren Adams, the Black Theatre Coalition aims to remove the “Illusion of Inclusion” in the American Theatre, by building a sustainable ethical roadmap that will increase employment opportunities for Black theatre professionals.
Podcasting
Ken created one of the first Broadway podcasts, recording over 250 episodes over 7 years. It features interviews with A-listers in the theater about how they “made it”, including 2 Pulitzer Prize Winners, 7 Academy Award Winners and 76 Tony Award winners. Notable guests include Pasek & Paul, Kenny Leon, Lynn Ahrens and more.
