Community Corner 2013
Updated 8/20/13
8/21/2013
HAPPENINGS, EVENTS & ISSUES AFFECTING OFF-OFF-BROADWAY8/21/2013
Curated by Heather Cohn
Here is a list of important events and happenings and ways for you to get involved now, support the community and help promote the needs of Indie Theatre. (Community Corner was originally created in May of 2009)
WHAT'S NEXT
- Obamacare for Artists
Do you have questions the Affordable Care Act? Does it work for artists? Check out this website that answers a lot of your FAQs - EstroGenius Festival
The 14th Annual EstroGenius Festival is running now through Nov. 10th. Check out the full schedule of events. - The Sh.I.T. List wins
The inaugural LIT Fund grant recipient was announced on October 7th and will support Shared Independent Theater (aka "The Sh.I.T. List") to create a craigslist-like database where Indie companies can rent, sell, buy, and borrow set pieces, costumes, props and more. Details HERE. - Speaking of Stuff
FAB ("Fourth Arts Block") is hosting Load OUT! A Reuse and Repurposing RIOT on Sat. Nov. 2nd from 12:00-3:00pm. Looking for stuff? Want to get rid of stuff? This is for you! Facebook event HERE. - Boomerang Celebrates 15 Years!
Congratulations to Boomerang Theatre Company, which is celebrating 15 years of producing new, forgotten & classic plays. They are holding an Anniversary Bash on Saturday, November 16th. Get your tickets!
WHAT HAPPENED
- Time to Vote!
There are 9 projects up for the first round of voting for The LIT Fund grant and ANYONE can vote in this first round. Voting open until Sept. 27th. To choose your favorite project that will best support our Indie theatre community, just click the Like button on YouTube. - Grant Opportunity.
The Network of Ensemble Theaters NET/TEN grant just announced a new round of their Travel and Exchange grants. Travel grants range from $300-2,000 and Exchange grants from $3,000-10,000. You must be a member of NET in good standing to apply! - Get to know the artists in our community.
There are several wonderful blogs out there that interview indie theatre artists, and we think you should know about them. Check out playwright Adam Szymkowicz' "I Interview Playwrights", playwright/actor Zack Calhoon's "People You Should Know", director Cat Parker's "DirectorSpeak", and sound designer Janie Bullard's brand new "StoryCraft" on indie designers. - Pro-Arts candidates win in the primaries!
Over 50% of the League of Independent Theater-endorsed candidates got selected in the Democratic Primaries on Sept. 10th. For continued updates, visit litny.org - A.R.T./NY's Curtain Call - September 16 from 7-10pm
All member companies of A.R.T./NY can send 2 representatives to this annual event to hear Executive Director Ginny Louloudes' "State of the Industry" remarks and a keynote address from DCA Commissioner Kate D. Levin. If you aren't a member of A.R.T./NY yet, now's the time to apply! - Fringe Madness
The NYC Fringe Festival is deep underway, but it's not too late to check out some great shows. We know that you are bound to have friends involved in at least one of them! - Art Responds
Lots of artists have been responding to the Trayvon Martin case in the creative way artists do. Check out TCG's blog salon about the topic, and consider submitting a post. See what The New Black Fest is up to. Or Willing Participant'sslow-moving human sculpture in Times Square. How is your company reacting? How are you? - LIT Fund's Community Resource Grant
Remember those 5 cents per ticket sold that you gave to the LIT Fund? Well, many of you probably applied for the inaugural LIT Fund Community Resource Grant opportunity (that was due this past Friday), but we want to make sure everyone is on the lookout over the next couple weeks for your chance to VOTE on which project should be funded to best support our Indie theatre community. Stay tuned at - Indie Theatre Midsummer Classic
Mark your calendar for the Indie Theatre Softball Game Saturday, July 27th at 5pm on the Great Lawn! - DCA Funding at Risk
You can help prevent cuts to next year's NYC Dept. of Cultural Affairs budget by writing your City Council member today! - NYC Summer Theatre
We all know summer means tons of theatre festivals (including Planet Connections, MITF, FringeNYC, Women Center Stage, NYMF), but did you know that NYC Parks host lots more FREE theatre than just Shakespeare in the Park? Check out their free summer theatre listings. - TCG Conference
Curious what happened at the TCG Conference? Check out this video archive to view many sessions from the recent TCG Conference in Dallas. - Renovated theatre space for rent
Teatro Circulo, a member of Fourth Arts Block, recently renovated and now has two theatre spaces available for weekly rentals: a 74-seat flexible black box and a 45-seat black box. Check out the details. - LIT makes endorsements
The League of Independent Theater announced its first round of endorsements for NYC public offices...and then made a VIDEO about it. More information is available. - Ice Factory Festival celebrates 20 years
The New Ohio celebrates 20 years of its Ice Factory Festival, which presents cutting edge new works. Their Benefit Sunset Cocktail Party will take place on the roof of their new venue on June 20 from 7:00-10:00pm. Get your tickets now. - Planet Connection kicks off
The Planet Connection Theatre Festivity, the only eco-friendly theatre festival in NYC, kicks off May 29th and runs through June 23rd. Check out the full calendar.
- Support Women in Theatre
Join the League of Professional Theatre Women on June 11 from 6-7:30pm as they march in support of women's equality in theatre - learn more...
- TCG Blog Salons
In the lead up to the TCG National Conference in Dallas this June, the TCG Circle is hosting blog salons this month on: Artistic Innovation (curated by Caridad Svich), Diversity & Inclusion (curated by Jacqueline E. Lawton), Financial Adaptation (curated by Adam Thurman) and Audience Engagement (curated by David J. Loehr). - Cultural Resource Network
The new Cultural Resource Network is an exciting open-source network on culture-related research. And while you're visiting Ian David Moss' post, if you aren't familiar with the wonderful Fractured Atlas' blog, you should be. There are always interesting posts relevant to Indie theatres on topics such as fundraising, policy, technology, business models and jobs. - LIT Endorsed Candidates
The League of Independent Theater has made its first round of endorsements: Scott Stringer for Comptroller, Eric Adams for Brooklyn Borough President and Jimmy Van Bramer for City Council District 26 in Queens. - Arts Advocacy Day
Arts Advocacy Day took place April 8-9 in D.C. Yo-Yo Ma gave the keynote Nancy Hanks Lecture, which is very much worth a watch. - World Theatre Day
And if you missed World Theatre Day's Around-the-Globe Chain Play live, you still watch it. - Pop-up Journalism
Things are stirring in the arts journalism world with a new pop-up model called Engine 31 that received some attention at the recent Humana Festival. Check it out.
- LIT's "Meet the Candidates" Forum on March 12
On March 12th at 7:00pm, members of the Indie Theatre community had the opportunity to meet and hear from the NYC candidates running for office this year. Candidates discussed their performing arts platforms and then took questions. Location: the Players, 16 Gramercy Park South - Sad news from our friends at Horse Trade
Horse Trade recently announced the sad news that after 15 years, they will no longer be operating out of The Red Room on East 4th Street. However, to celebrate the good times they've had there, they held a ton of events the entire month of March. Check out the list. - Community DISH Meeting scheduled for March 10
If you aren't already a member of the Community DISH, you should be! The DISH, which meets approx. 6 times a year, is a forum to discuss Indie theatre. The DISH also runs a listserv where you can seek resources, post audition notices, seek advice, etc. To subscribe email OOBComm-subscribe@yahoo.com - Congratulations to Drunken! Careening! Writers!
D!C!W! is celebrating a decade of bringing writers and booze together. Learn More... - Congratulations to TheaterLab
For securing a new home at 357 West 36th St. between 8th and 9th Avenues (75 seat theatre and rehearsal space) - NYS Budget = $4M increase for the Arts
Can you believe it? In April NYS Representatives voted to INCREASE funding to the arts!?!!! Take a moment now to thank your elected officials! Find yours here.
- World Theatre Day
In honor of WTD 2013, the New York World Theatre Day Coalition produced "The Around the Globe Chain Play," a play written by 16 playwrights from 13 countries. You can learn about the playwrights on the nycwtd blog. And the LARK presented a reading of this chain play on March 27th at 7pm. - The Brick's 10th Anniversary Event
Brooklyn's own Brick Theater celebrated its 10th Anniversary this year and on March 25th presented "Decennial: A Brick Odyssey" featuring transmedia, one-minute plays. - NoPassport Gun Control Theatre Action
In collaboration with force/collision, NY Madness and New York Theatre Review, NoPassport will host an evening of works in support of gun control on April 29th at 6:30pm at New Dramatists. The plays were recently published in 24 Gun Control Plays. More info. RSVP @ nopassport2013forguncontrol@gmail.com beginning 4/1 - The Sequester impacts national arts funding
The national sequester is an across-the-boards cut to federal agencies totaling $85 billion in reductions to most areas of domestic social programs, including the National Endowment for the Arts. The NEA's portion of this cut is $7.3 million. Want to add your voice to the arts advocacy efforts to restore funding? You can attend National Arts Advocacy Day on April 9th in D.C. Registration open. - Cherry Lane's Mentor Project celebrates 15 years
Cherry Lane is celebrated the 15th anniversary of their Obie Award-winning Mentor Project program. The Mentor Project engages leading dramatists in one-on-one mentoring relationships with emerging playwrights for a theater season, culminating in a showcase production in Cherry Lane's Studio theatre. Read this Blog Post about their recent gala honoring the program. This year's mentors are: Kia Corthron, Cynthia Hopkins, Eduardo Machado, and Enda Walsh. - Art Space in the Hudson Rail Yards
Are you a non-profit organization that rents or owns an art/theatre space in zip codes 10018 or 10036? If so, Community Board 4 NEEDS to hear from you. Space may be available on the ground floor of this new community complex in Hell's Kitchen.
Find Out More
Take the survey
Contact the Committee
Check out the 2012 Community Corner.
Check out the 2011 Community Corner.
Check out the 2010 Community Corner.