Bruce E. Whitacre News

In response to the COVID-19 outbreak and to support citywide efforts to reduce the spread of the virus, Theatre Forward, a non-profit arts organization based in New York City has cancelled the Theatre Forward Chairman's Awards Gala at The Edison Ballroom on March 30th to celebrate Bruce E. Whitacre and Kelli O'Hara.

On March 30, 2020, Theatre Forward, a non-profit arts organization based in New York City, will hold its Chairman's Awards Gala at the Edison Ballroom, 240 West 47th Street, New York City to honor stage and screen star Kelli O'Hara, and Theatre Forward Executive Director Bruce E. Whitacre. Kelli O'Hara will receive the Theatre Artist Award presented by Bartlett Sher, and Bruce E. Whitacre will receive the Theatre Forward Leadership Award presented by Regina Taylor.

On January 31, 2020, Theatre Forward presented its 17th Annual Broadway Roundtable at UBS, 1285 Avenue of the Americas, New York City, focused on the question, 'How Does Theatre Mirror Society?' with Broadway luminaries on the panel including Blair Underwood, Celia Keenan-Bolger, Jacob G. Padrón, Lois Smith and Jack Viertel and moderated by Theatre Forward Executive Director Bruce E. Whitacre. Panelists shared their personal experiences and perspectives on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. Topics covered a wide range of opinions and comments in an open-ended dialogue about opportunity, access, education and social justice. Panelists all shared a passion for the power of storytelling and how it reflects and influences our world. Special thanks to Gregory S. Hurst, UBS and Theatre Forward Board of Directors, for hosting the panel at UBS.

How Does Theatre Mirror Society? will be explored along with drawing on the panelists' experiences and perspectives on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. Topics of the 17th annual Theatre Forward Broadway Roundtable will include an open-ended dialogue about opportunity, access, education and social justice. Panelists all share a passion for the power of storytelling and how it reflects and influences our world.

On November 7, 2019, the nonprofit organization Theatre Forward announced the launch of the Bank of America ACTivate Awards, a Theatre Forward program that awards grants to member theatres that help promote social good by building lasting relationships, one community at a time. The breakfast event, held at Bank of America Tower in Manhattan unveiled the next phase of Theatre Forward's community access grant program, made possible by Bank of America. With this substantial, multi-year partnership with exclusive corporate sponsor Bank of America, Theatre Forward will continue to support theatre programs that accelerate change in the areas of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and expand the audiences and communities engaged with theatre throughout the country. The first round of grants will be awarded in 2020, and the second round awarded in 2021, with each grant of $50,000 or more.

On October 18, 2019, Theatre Forward, a non-profit arts organization based in New York City, held an evening of Creative Conversation & Cocktails with Special Guests David Henry Hwang, Tony-winning playwright of M. Butterfly, Author of Soft Power, Center Theatre Group/Public Theater, and Douglas C. Baker, Producing Director, Center Theatre Group, Los Angeles.

Theatre Forward and UBS will host the 16th Annual Broadway Roundtable on Friday, January 25, 2019 at UBS (1285 Avenue of the Americas) from 12:00pm - 2:00pm.

 Seattle Repertory Theatre today announced that after an extensive national search, the organization has hired Angie Kamel as the next Public Works Seattle Director. Adapted from the nationally recognized model built by New York City's prestigious The Public Theater, Public Works Seattle creates theatre of the people, by the people, and for the people of our region, and seeks to engage audiences in new ways by making them creators and not just spectators.

Theatre Forward is pleased to announce the inaugural recipients of its Advancing Strong Theatre grant program, an initiative focused on funding and promoting greater access and opportunity in the American Theatre.  Advancing Strong Theatre seeks to accelerate change in the areas of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) by providing the resources for recipients to explore, initiate or deepen collaborative relationships with those from a group currently under-represented in the activities of the theatre as audience members or participants in other programs.

Earlier this month, Theatre Forward and UBS hosted the 15th Annual Broadway Roundtable, moderated by Theatre Forward Executive Director Bruce E. Whitacre. The exclusive luncheon explored the current Broadway landscape with some of Broadway's leading players and stars, with a panel that included Heather A. Hitchens, President and CEO of the American Theatre Wing; Keegan-Michael Key, Emmy-winning actor, comedian, writer and producer (Meteor Shower, Hamlet, 'Key and Peele'); John Leguizamo, Emmy and Obie Award-winning actor and playwright (Latin History for Morons, Freak, Mambo Mouth); Daryl Roth, award-winning Broadway producer (Kinky Boots, Indecent); Lea Salonga, Tony Award-winning actor (Once On This Island, Miss Saigon, Les Miserables) and Irene Sankoff and David Hein, the Tony-nominated and Outer Critics Circle and Drama Desk Award-winning songwriting and book-writing team behind Come From Away.

Moderated by Theatre Forward Executive Director Bruce E. Whitacre, the exclusive luncheon will explore the current Broadway landscape with some of Broadway's leading players and stars, with a panel that includes Heather A. Hitchens, President and CEO of the American Theatre Wing; Keegan-Michael Key, Emmy-winning actor, comedian, writer and producer (Meteor Shower, Hamlet, "Key and Peele"); John Leguizamo, Emmy and Obie Award-winning actor and playwright (Latin History for Morons, Freak, Mambo Mouth); Daryl Roth, award-winning Broadway producer (Kinky Boots, Indecent); Lea Salonga, Tony Award-winning actor (Once On This Island, Miss Saigon, Les Miserables) and Irene Sankoff and David Hein, the Tony-nominated and Outer Critics Circle and Drama Desk Award-winning songwriting and book-writing team behind Come From Away.

Tonight, November 6, Sam Shepard's The Late Henry Moss will be presented in a reading to benefit The New Group, with a company including Keith Carradine, Lily Gladstone, Vincent D'Onofrio, Ethan Hawke, Dana Lyn, Clark Middleton, Alessandro Nivola and Yul V zquez. Ethan Hawke directs.

A.C.T. Director of Education & Community Programs Elizabeth Brodersen announced today the successful culmination of its 2016-17 season ACTsmart Intensive Residencies. Selected to participate in a national evaluation effort-Theatre Forward's Staging Success Initiative supported by AT&T-A.C.T.'s ACTsmart Intensive Residencies give Bay Area youth the opportunity to experience live theater, write original monologues and short plays, and explore the social issues most relevant in their lives.

Theatre Forward and UBS will host the 14th Annual Broadway Roundtable today, February 3 at UBS (1285 Avenue of the Americas) from 12:00pm - 2:00pm.

Theatre Forward and UBS will host the 14th Annual Broadway Roundtable on Friday, February 3 at UBS (1285 Avenue of the Americas) from 12:00pm - 2:00pm.

Dallas Theater Center (DTC) is pleased to announce involvement in the Theatre Forward Staging Success Initiative supported by AT&T. DTC's nationally recognized educational program, Project Discovery, will be one of four programs across the country to be measured and evaluated as part of this initiative to study the impact of theatre education on school engagement and participation. The Staging Success study, benefiting almost entirely Title 1 students, spans a two-year time period, tracking participation, school engagement and students' beliefs and attitudes over time with exposure to 21st century skills.

American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) is pleased to be part of the Theatre Forward Staging Success Initiative supported by AT&T. This initiative will study the aggregate results of four programs across the country to measure and evaluate the impact of theatre education on school engagement and participation. The Staging Success study, benefiting almost entirely Title 1 students, spans a two-year time period, tracking participation, school engagement and students' beliefs and attitudes over time with exposure to 21st-century skills.  

Theatre Forward is pleased to announce AT&T is supporting its Staging Success initiative.

THEATRE FORWARD and Chairman JAMES S. TURLEY will lead a celebration to support American theatre at the annual Chairman's Awards Gala tonight, April 11th at The Pierre New York (2 East 61st Street at Fifth Avenue) at 6:30pm. The Chairman's Awards Gala supports the creation of theatrical works and arts education at the country's leading nonprofit theatres.

THEATRE FORWARD and Chairman JAMES S. TURLEY will lead a celebration to support American theatre at the annual Chairman's Awards Gala on Monday, April 11th at The Pierre New York (2 East 61st Street at Fifth Avenue) at 6:30pm.  The Chairman's Awards Gala supports the creation of theatrical works and arts education at the country's leading nonprofit theatres.