Industry Theatre Newsroom Page 49

As awards season continues forward, there is a strong sense of normalcy within the industry - however, the announcement last week from both the Broadway League and at least one regional arts organization that mask mandates will continue into the summer is a strong reminder that we aren’t yet back to normal.

McDonald/Selznick Associates' groundbreaking New York City production features exclusively MSA artists, from the Direction and Choreography of MSA's Creative Department, to the Actors, Singers, Dancers, and Specialty Acts of MSA's Talent Department- all together, in one immersive party!

As part of its free virtual salon series, Wingspace Theatrical Design in partnership with Design Week will present a conversation on Sunday, May 22 at 7:00pm ET with Natalie Robin, Meghan Finn, David 'Dstew' Stewart, and Twi McCallum.

Rhinebeck Writers Retreat will host 16 award-winning musical theatre writers of eight new musicals for eight consecutive weeklong residencies between July 3 and August 28.

Today, The Lillys announced the launch of the Lorraine Hansberry Initiative, which aims to honor the great American playwright and civil rights leader's legacy while investing in those following in her footsteps.

Partners Temah Higgins, Mollie Mann and DJ Martin of BOND Theatrical, an independently-owned booking and marketing agency for live entertainment, announced several staffing changes today that build on the agency's innovative and strategic offerings for their roster of clients.

Longtime collaborators Rick Miramontez and Jaron Caldwell officially announced today a new, exclusive partnership between the former’s theatrical P.R. agency, DKC/O&M, and the latter’s newly-formed production services outfit, Built Productions.

JBR Productions, LLC will present three industry readings (by invitation only) of Are You There?, a comedy about love, death, and the supernatural, written and directed by Javier Daulte and starring Josefina Scaro and Ben Becher.

Actors’ Equity Association has released the following statement in response to Senator Bernie Sanders reintroducing his “Medicare for All” bill in Congress. Equity has long supported universal federal health care coverage. 

Theatrical licensor Music Theatre International (MTI) announced the launch of their newest theatrical resource, Social Media Marketing Kits, from renowned design firm Subplot Studio.

The Episcopal Actors' Guild (EAG) has announced that the Barbour Playwrights Award will be back for its fifteenth year this June. The festival celebrating new work for the theatre will feature readings of three new plays nominated by this year's partnering company Playwrights Gallery.

Tony Award winning producer Michael A. Jenkins will present special by-invitation-only industry reading for the new musical BELVA - Don’t Give Up Before the Miracle on Friday June 10th at Pearl Studios (500 Eighth Avenue).

The Society of London Theatre and UK Theatre invite the industry to come together for the first time since the pandemic for the Theatre & Touring Symposium, to discuss and tackle the many issues facing our sector. This flagship industry event is being held at The Brewery, London, on Monday 27 June 2022. There will be moments to celebrate our resilience but most importantly the day will allow space and time to discuss, problem-solve and network. 

On May 26, 2022, AR Productions will present an industry reading of “Food Fighters”, a new musical with book, music, and lyrics by Aaron Morrill. The reading will be directed by Joe Barros (Gigi, The Evolution of Mann) and will take place at The Jerry Orbach Theater at the Theater Center located at 210 W 50th Street, New York, NY 10019.

While governmental support over the past few years has helped companies stay afloat, with rising costs and additional pandemic related support no longer an option, the realities are starting to settle in.

​​Theatre Communications Group, the national organization for theatre, announced that publisher Terry Nemeth will be retiring in the fall of 2022. For almost 40 years, Nemeth has led TCG’s publishing programs, including TCG Books and American Theatre magazine.

The Alliance of Resident Theatres/New York (A.R.T./New York) announced today that Risa Shoup, who began serving as Interim Executive Director in August 2020, has been named to the permanent position of Co-Director in a unanimous vote by the A.R.T./New York Board of Directors.

The 2022 Lilly Award winners have been announced. The Lillys celebrate, fund, and fight for women by promoting gender and racial parity in the American theatre.

Actors’ Equity Association today issued a request for proposal for certified public accountant firms to audit Equity’s financial statements for the 2022-2023 fiscal year, as well as to assist in the preparation of the LM2 form, conduct a financial core audit, complete the 990 information return and audit the staff pension plan. 

Leading musical theatre and production company Stage Entertainment announces the appointment of Kirsty Doubleday as Head of International Brand Management.

Today, the American Guild of Musical Artists, AFL-CIO (AGMA) and Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC) have announced a reciprocal agreement that will build on and strengthen the existing partnership between the two national labor unions.

Actor and Haitian Ambassador at Large Jimmy Jean-Louis is set to host the second annual GHESKIO Fundraiser in Cannes. GHESKIO, the world renowned health, social services and HIV/TB research center in Haiti will team up with sponsor Alta Global Media for the special event. The fundraiser will be held on Sunday, May 22nd, 2022 at the Carlton Beach Club in Cannes during the 75th Festival de Cannes. The event will honor filmmakers and feature a special performance by actor and singer Gary Dourdan who is currently touring in Europe. 

This week’s episode of Hrishikesh Hirway’s Partners Podcast features Wesley Morris and Jenna Wortham, the co-hosts of The New York Times culture podcast Still Processing. They relate the story of their friendship and professional partnership to another story that means a lot to them: When Harry Met Sally. Partners from Hrishikesh Hirway and Mailchimp is a part of the Radiotopia podcast network from PRX. Watch/share the trailer here, and listen to the podcast here.

The John Gore Organization has announced that their 14-week paid fellowship program, in a landmark partnership with the Black Theatre Coalition, concluded with a trip to New York City in April.

A new play about the decades-long, tempestuous friendship between Dorothy Parker and Robert Benchley will receive an industry reading on Wednesday, May 18, 2022.