BroadwayGirlNYC: The Wing that Makes NY Theatre Fly

Today, I want to introduce you to an organization I've known about for years but didn't fully understand until I learned about it through -- what else -- Twitter.  It's simultaneously one of the most visible theatrical organizations, and yet one whose scope is seldom fully grasped.  I'm talking about the American Theatre Wing, best known as the creator and managing organization of the Tony Awards.  But you may not know how much else they do for the theatrical arts, in New York and beyond.

We all know and love the Tonys.  I was first exposed to them as a small child, then grew up watching every year religiously with my Grandma.  It never occurred to me to wonder about the producers, or who came up with the idea for the awards, or who chose the shows that got nominated, or who handled the archiving and bookkeeping required to put on such a spectacle.  Indeed, all I knew was the spectacle itself, which early on became my favorite night of the year.  The Tonys became the symbol of my dream to make it to New York City and become a part of Broadway; so when it comes to my roots, I personally owe a whole lot to the American Theatre Wing.

And I'm not the only one.  The Wing is "dedicated to supporting excellence and education in theatre," phrasing pulled from their mission statement, and support they do.  Once I found out about all of the ways they bring theatrical education to both students, artists, and the general public, I dove in and began to consume as much as I possibly could.

First, I began to DVR every showing of CUNY TV's "Working in the Theatre," a cable-access show in New York City that features panel discussions across all realms of theatre.  My favorite episodes have focused on recent musicals and/or young actors in the field; I've also been impressed and learned a ton from the panels about the off-stage crafts of theatre, like public relations, producing, scenic design, and the making of cast albums.  Every episode is like a master class, featuring the best of the best in the business.  One 2010 panel hosted David Alan Grier, Anthony LaPaglia, Laura Linney, Jan Maxwell, and Alfred Molina exchanging stories and ideas, peer-to-peer.  Everytime I watch, I feel like I should be taking notes -- the information is so compelling that I want to remember every bit.  But I don't, because I know I can watch again whenever I want: episodes dating back to 1980 are available online on the CUNY TV website.

Then I discovered Downstage Center, the weekly interview podcast hosted by the Wing's Executive Director, Howard Sherman.  In each incarnation, Howard speaks one-on-one with theatrical greats.  I'm talking A-list -- recent guests include Angela Lansbury, Neil Patrick Harris, Kristin Chenoweth, Alan Cumming, James Earl Jones and the ultimate: Mr. Stephen Sondheim.  Howard (with whom I tweet often, and whose breadth of knowledge and dry sense of humor never cease to entertain and educate me) is ridiculously well-researched, speaking to his interview subjects from the point(s) of view of a peer, an academic, and a fan all at the same time.  Downstage Center is free on iTunes, and I have it set to automatically download each new interview as soon as it becomes available.  Sometimes on the subway, I accidentally emit a little squeal of delight when I realize that a new one has arrived.

I'm unable to fully immerse myself in some of the Wing's other offerings -- like the Theatre Intern Group and Springboard NYC -- but that doesn't keep me from appreciating how valuable they are to New York Theatre as a whole.  For just $10, anyone currently working as a theatrical intern can join TIG, gaining access to educational lectures, networking events, and even tickets to Broadway- and Off-Broadway shows.  While the Theatre Intern Group is an on-going program that meets multiple times throughout the year and is geared towards management and theatrical business, Springboard NYC is a 2-week "college-to-career transition program" that takes place in June, designed for budding actors.  Famous pros -- from agents and managers to well-recognized Broadway stars -- interact with participants, offering invaluable advice on every aspect of becoming a performer in New York.  And it's not just acting classes; students learn about housing options, resources for struggling actors, and time management skills to better prepare themselves for the often tough transition into acting as a profession.  By the end of the program, participants from all over the country are prepared for the big city, armed not only with an arsenal of tools, but also a built-in network of peers going through the same journey.

I DO get to enjoy the fruits of the Jonathan Larson Grants -- another of the Wing's generoud contributions to the scope of theatrical culture in New York -- even though I'm not a songwriter/ lyricist/ book-writer myself.  The grants go to those following in the RENT creator's footsteps: according to the Wing's website, "Jonathan Larson grants are awarded to an artist to recognize and showcase their work with no strings attached -- except to put it to the best use possible to help further the artist's creative endeavors."  How do I benefit from these grants?  Through the gorgeous music, lyrics and librettos created by their recipients, of course.  Favorite past winners include Kerrigan-Lowdermilk, Joe Iconis, Ryan Scott Oliver, and Tony-nominee Glenn Slater (Best Original Score, The Little Mermaid).

Did I mention that the American Theatre Wing hosts two of my favorite twitter feeds?  @TheWing and @HESherman tweet different but complimentary offerings, with @TheWing providing trivia and facts, while Executive Director Howard Sherman, @HESherman, editorializes a bit and lets us in on the daily goings-on of the man in charge.  Both feeds are full of well-placed humor, in addition to being chock-full of information that fans like me can't wait to eat up.

The American Theatre Wing's website is a treasure-trove of valuable information for everyone from the most casual fan to the most entrenched theatre professional.  The organization itself is like an iceberg, with the Tonys at the tip.  I was so surprised, impressed and excited to learn of the less-visible, but no less valuable, departments of the Wing that I couldn't wait to share.