Hope-aholics Initiative Sends Over 2,200 Students to GLORIA: A LIFE

Over 2,200 students have seen Gloria: A Life, the groundbreaking play about activist and icon Gloria Steinem, thanks to the generosity of Hope-aholics. Named for Steinem, who coined the phrase, the Hope-aholics initiative allows donors to underwrite student tickets so that the next generation of activists can take inspiration from her story. Launched in October 2018, the program has raised over $66,000 in donations in under five months.

Producer Daryl Roth (Kinky Boots, The Normal Heart, Indecent) said in a statement, "After hearing from audience members asking how they could help spread the good word, we created the Hope-aholics initiative so that students can share in Gloria's extraordinary story and learn to become change-makers in their own lives."

The student groups, primarily from public and charter schools, have come from all five New York City boroughs, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania. The production has also welcomed young people from the Girl Scouts and performing arts organizations.

For more information about the Hope-aholics program, or to become a Hope-aholic, visit www.GloriaThePlay.com.

The world premiere production of Gloria: A Life, presented by Tony Award-winning producer Daryl Roth, opened October 18, 2018 at the Daryl Roth Theatre on Union Square (101 East 15th Street at Park Avenue South) and is on sale through March 31, 2019.

Gloria: A Life celebrates one of the most inspirational activists of our time. The first act is her story; the second is our own: Act Two is a Talking Circle in which the audience is invited to carry the play into an open conversation.

GLORIA: A Life is written by Tony Award-nominee Emily Mann (Having Our Say) and is directed by visionary Tony Award-winner Diane Paulus (Waitress, Pippin).

The production honors Gloria Steinem's gender equality activism with a company comprised almost entirely of women - cast, creative team, designers, production staff, and producers. Women are represented across every department of the production and occupy nearly all of the highest positions throughout the company. Even in a theatre industry often regarded as an equality leader in the entertainment world, this extraordinary group of women is unprecedented either on or Off-Broadway.

Patricia Kalember stars as Gloria Steinem, joined by Brittany K. Allen (True Right, Minor Character), Joanna Glushak (War Paint, A Gentlemen's Guide to Love and Murder), Fedna Jacquet (Ain't No Mo, The Tempest/ Henry V), Francesca Fernandez McKenzie (As You Like It, Othello, Our Lady of 121st Street), Patrena Murray (Venus, The Death of the Last Black Man), DeLanna Studi (And So We Walked, August: Osage County), and Liz Wisan (Other Desert Cities, These Paper Bullets!).

The creative team features scenic design by Amy Rubin, costume design by Jessica Jahn, lighting design by Jeanette Yew, sound design by Rob Kaplowitz and Andrea Allmond, and projection design by Elaine J. McCarthy.

Casting director is Tara Rubin, CSA. Production manager is Chris Luner. Production stage manager is Ana M. Garcia. Act 2 coordinator is Laura Fischer. Creative consultants are Amy Richards and Kathy Najimy.

Ms. Roth is joined on the producing team by Jenna Segal, Elizabeth Armstrong, Sally Horchow, Janet Kagan and Margie Weingarten, and Alix L.L. Ritchie.

Tickets are now on sale through March 31, 2019 at www.gloriatheplay.com. Performances are Tuesday at 7:00 PM, Wednesday at 2:00 and 8:00 PM, Thursday at 7:00 PM, Friday at 8:00 PM, Saturday at 2:00 and 8:00 PM, and Sunday at 3:00 PM.

Photo Credit: Ahron R. Foster