Alex Freeman

Nataki Garrett’s appointment as Chair of Theatre Communications Group to a new report on gender disparities in ballet leadership, as well as the announcement of Roundabout’s New Artistic Director, and a transition at the Houston Ballet. Additionally, industry trends such as theater ticket insurance and dynamic pricing.

From the National Endowment for the Arts' report on theater resiliency to leadership transitions at LAByrinth Theater Company and Signature Theatre, the industry continues to adapt and thrive. Other stories include financial struggles at Virginia Rep, as well as an update on the ongoing University of the Arts closure.

From U.S. universities grappling with cuts to drama departments, to the financial troubles of regional arts organizations, funding concerns are a recurring theme. Meanwhile, Broadway gears up for a thrilling fall season, and new leadership emerges with Lear deBessonet at Lincoln Center Theater and Bradley Renner at Orlando Ballet.

Stories include the opening of nominations for the 2024 BroadwayWorld Regional Awards and the donation from Ken Ludwig to save Hall’s Croft. Financial difficulties are impacting institutions like the University of the Arts and Seattle’s theater scene, prompting a rethinking of models and operations.

This edition of our newsletter brings a focus on leadership transitions and legal battles within the performing arts world. From the San Francisco Ballet facing serious lawsuits that challenge its treatment of dancers, to Anna Netrebko's narrowed but ongoing lawsuit against the Metropolitan Opera, the theme of accountability resonates throughout.

Andrea Newby joined TheatreSquared as Patron Loyalty Director in 2020 and Director of Marketing & Communications in 2022. As Director of Patron Loyalty for the North Carolina Symphony, she developed data-driven, patron-centric marketing and fundraising strategies over 13 years.

This week, we look at Richard Ridge’s upcoming discussion on Broadway poster art at the NYPL to NYC’s 2025 budget allocations. Regional and international stories highlight key initiatives and challenges, including Everyman Theatre’s efforts to enhance accessibility and Scotland’s funding crisis, which threatens the future of UK theater.

We have stories from the decline of intervals in London productions to significant organizational changes in regional and international theaters. Other stories include the financial challenges faced by Berkeley's Aurora Theatre, the preservation efforts for Washington's National Theatre, and the strategic rebranding of arts organizations.

In New York, leadership transitions at Lincoln Center signal a new chapter, while regional theaters like Timeline and Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival push forward with ambitious projects despite financial hurdles. Internationally, theaters like the Bristol Old Vic and the Old Vic in London grapple with ethical and economic dilemmas.

In this week's newsletter, we look at national trends impacting arts organizations, including financial shifts and attendance barriers from three different data sources. Moving to New York, we cover Soho Rep's relocation, Signature Theatre's interim leadership, and Under the Radar Festival's upcoming season.

Before joining Allied Global Marketing, Suzanne began her career as a television producer/editor and taught producing and media buying at Columbia College. She later served as the Creative Director at Sitrick Advertising, managing media buying for major accounts including Ty Inc. (during the Beanie Babies craze) and the Chicago Cubs.

We highlight the U.S. House of Representatives' decision to preserve NEA funding, the new collective bargaining agreement between Actors' Equity Association and the Off-Broadway League, and a GoFundMe campaign to save the West Bank Cafe and Laurie Beechman Theatre. Additionally, IATSE joins the No Times Square Casino Coalition.

Tom Viola, Executive Director of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, announced his retirement, and we look at the closure of New York's iconic West Bank Cafe and Laurie Beechman Theatre. Additionally, NYC's HERE Arts Center names four new co-directors, and the beloved Broadway Flea Market & Grand Auction returns this September.

This week's newsletter celebrates New York City's record $254 million investment in cultural institutions. Regionally, Milwaukee theaters respond artistically to the Republican National Convention, and new leadership appointments at Virginia Repertory Theatre and Shakespeare Center Los Angeles promise fresh visions.

BroadwayWorld launches its Trendsetters program to connect influencers and shows, while Drabinsky's legal woes continue with a lost appeal. SOLT and UK Theatre call for governmental support, while QPAC appoints a new Chief Executive. Additionally, the UK Labour Party proposes substantial cultural funding boosts, aiming to revitalize the arts sector

New leadership appointments at Playwrights Horizons and Second Stage signal strategic shifts, while a regionally, new managing directors at STAGES and Creede Repertory Theatre promise fresh visions, the RSC's first London Executive Producer aims to expand its influence.

Jonathan Vietze, the Senior Director of Series Marketing at Segerstrom Center for the Arts, brings 26 years of creative and fun-loving leadership to the performing arts industry. A goal-oriented marketing executive, Jonathan excels at leading teams from strategy development to campaign completion, consistently bringing out the best in others.

We highlight the Situation Project's fundraising campaign for arts education, a viewership drop for the Tony Awards, and Actors' Equity Association's contract halt amid negotiations. Regionally, we explore the economic boost from Hennepin Theatre's Broadway season and the significant arts funding veto by Florida's Governor Ron DeSantis.

This week, we are connecting the excitement of award season with the realities facing theaters. We'll catch you up on the Tony Awards' memorable moments, including a complete winners list and behind-the-scenes photos. Exclusive essays from producers Jeffrey Richards and Rachel Sussman offer personal insights into their Tony-nominated productions.

Starting tonight with a special preview episode, 'The Broadway Cast' with Ben Cameron is coming to BroadwayWorld. Also, we report on the indefinite postponement of NYC's congestion pricing plan. Stories include the Cultural Solidarity Fund's COVID relief efforts, Public Theater crew members joining IATSE.