Philadelphia Parent Artists Gather for Support and Solutions (PAAL)

On June 24 in Philadelphia, Parent Artist Advocacy League for the Performing Arts (PAAL) will host their second annual forums for parent artists, the 2018 theme focusing on Initiatives and Solutions and featuring local parent artists who are improving structures and support systems for parents. Co-Hosted by InterAct Theatre Company - home of the "Parents Day Out!" theatre initiative - as part of their June-a-Palooza free events and readings series, the Philadelphia forum is again the first of many cities the PAAL conversation will take place this year. Free childcare will be provided at the forum by PAAL via Creative Caretakers.

National PAAL initiatives will be introduced, including research initiatives on parent artists sustainability and details on the first PAAL Childcare Grants for individual parent artists that open applications this year. Local initiatives will be discussed through panel discussion that will open up to forum dialogue with attendees and include InterAct Theatre Company's "Parents Day Out!" initiative to provide childcare during select shows in their season, parent-artist couple solutions for artists, and the Philadelphia Women's Theatre Festival's upcoming Motherhood Reading Series featuring four mother playwrights, four mother directors, and parent artist actors in paid single-day readings.

Panelists for the Philadelphia forum include parent artists Angelica Jackson-Thomas (2016 Barrymore Award, Journey Beyond - Founder), Dwayne Alistair Thomas (The Americans, MSW Productions - Founder), Christine Petrini (Philadelphia Women's Theatre Festival - Co-Founder), and Jason Lindner ("Parents Day Out!" Initiatives, InterAct Theatre Company - Marketing Director). The panel is moderated by parent artist and PAAL Co-Chief Rep of Philadelphia LaNeshe Miller White (Theatre in the X - Founder).

Upcoming cities hosting PAAL forums this summer are New York City (June 30, 2018 at The Tank), Chicago (July 14 at Vagabond School of the Arts), Boston, Washington DC, and Minneapolis.