Theatre Development Fund News

On Sunday February 1 at 1:30 PM, Broadway's MATILDA THE MUSICAL, produced by the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) and the Dodgers, will give an autism-friendly performance at the Shubert Theatre (235 West 44th Street) in collaboration with TDF's Autism Theatre Initiative (ATI).

Theatre Development Fund (TDF) believes that future audiences are built by engaging students first-hand in the vital and exciting activity of the creative process as well as by providing opportunities to attend live performances of great art. TDF enacts this philosophy through its various arts education programs that annually bring over 10,000 students to the theatre and is continually seeking to find ways to continue the dialogue with these novice theatregoers for these program participants and for young theatregoers everywhere.

The Dramatists Guild Fund awards $170,000 to theaters across the country. As a part of its mission to support writers, the Dramatists Guild Fund provides grants to non-profit theaters and theatrical institutions across the country that develop and/or produce contemporary American plays and musicals.

Tony award-winning Broadway producer, Robert Cole, will be presented The Commercial Theater Institute's Robert Whitehead Award for 'outstanding achievement in commercial theatre producing' at a reception at Sardi's on Tuesday, March 10, 2015.

Don't Quit Your Night Job, the longest-running variety show featuring Broadway Stars since The Ziegfeld Follies, awakened from hibernation just in time to present the Don't Quit Your Night Job Holiday Spectacular! at 54 Below last night. Check out photos below!

Dress Circle Publishing has announce a partnership with Theatre Development Fund (TDF). Part of the proceeds of The Untold Stories of Broadway, Volume 2 by Jennifer Ashley Tepper will benefit education programs at TDF, one of the nation's largest not- for profit performing arts service organizations dedicated to the audience.

Don't Quit Your Night Job, the longest-running variety show featuring Broadway Stars since The Ziegfeld Follies, awakens from hibernation just in time to present the Don't Quit Your Night Job Holiday Spectacular!!!, tonight, December 11 at 11:30PM at 54 Below.

Don't Quit Your Night Job, the longest-running variety show featuring Broadway Stars since The Ziegfeld Follies, awakens from hibernation just in time to present the Don't Quit Your Night Job Holiday Spectacular!!!, Thursday, December 11 at 11:30PM at 54 Below. Special guests will include 16-time Grammy Award winner Sting (The Last Ship), Josh Radnor (Disgraced, 'How I Met Your Mother'), Tony Award winner James Monroe Iglehart (Aladdin), Derrick Baskin (Piece of My Heart), Alex Brightman (Matilda), Jenn Colella, (If/Then), Erin Davie (Side Show), Dion Flynn (Obama on 'The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon'), Asmeret Ghebremichael (The Book of Mormon), Jason Kravits (Relatively Speaking, Lords of the Playground), Maurice Murphy(Motown), Emily Padgett (Side Show), Alysha Umphresss (On The Town), Kate Wetherhead(Submissions Only, The Other Josh Cohen), and more, joining creators Steve Rosen, Sarah Saltzberg, andmusic director Dan Lipton, with a visit from creator David Rossmer.

Tom Viertel, Executive Director of Commercial Theater Institute (CTI), has announced the 2014-2015 Season. CTI is the theatre industry's leading training and professional development program which covers a wide range of topics and features over 100 of the most distinguished industry professionals as lecturers and panelists including many Tony Award- winning producers. CTI programs include a 14-week program that explores producing in-depth, a 3-day intensive introduction to producing and half-day or one day workshops on specialized topics. More to be announced!

59E59 Theaters will welcome The Directors Company with ON A STOOL AT THE END OF THE BAR, written by Robert Callely and directed by Michael Parva. ON A STOOL AT THE END OF THE BAR begins performances on Friday, November 14 for a limited engagement through Sunday, December 14. Press Opening is Thursday, November 20 at 7:15 PM. The performance schedule is Tuesday - Thursday at 7:15 PM; Friday at 8:15 PM; Saturday at 2:15 PM & 8:15 PM; and Sunday at 3:15 PM. Please note, there is no performance on Thursday, November 27 (Thanksgiving). Performances are at 59E59 Theaters (59 East 59th Street, between Park and Madison Avenues). Single tickets are $35 ($24.50 for 59E59 Members). To purchase tickets, call Ticket Central at (212) 279-4200 or go to www.59e59.org.

The Board of Directors of MAPP International Productions (MAPP) has announced Brian Tate as its new Executive Director.

The Broadway League has announced the recipients of its nineteenth annual National Education and Community Engagement Grants. These grants support inspired and inventive programs for a wide range of participants to experience and understand Broadway performances as a form of artistic expression and a powerful educational tool.

A very special edition of Backstage with Richard Ridge comes to you today, presented by Bergdorf Goodman. The panel features 6 of the theatre world'ss most celebrated and influential costume designers. In this special discussion, they explore current trends in costume design, as well as the impact design has on consumer fashions, and how contemporary fashion influences costume design. BWW TV Exclusive: Backstage Special - 6 of Theatre's Hottest Costume Designers Talk Trends, Fashion & More - PRESENTED BY BERGDORF GOODMANClick and drag to moveA New York landmark since 1901, Bergdorf Goodman represents the pinnacle of style, service and modern luxury. Located at 5th Avenue and 58th Street, it is the leading fashion authority and a singular destination for the most discerning customers from around the world. This special panel was filmed at Eric Winterling Costumes Inc., who have been making costumes for shows on Broadway and beyond for more than 20 years. Featured on the panel are Jess Goldstein, William Ivey Long,Rita Ryack, Carrie Robbins, Gregg Barnes, and David Zinn. Check out Part 2 of the conversation below, and CLICK HERE to watch Part 1!

A very special edition of Backstage with Richard Ridge comes to you today, presented by Bergdorf Goodman. The panel features 6 of the theatre world'ss most celebrated and influential costume designers. In this special discussion, they explore current trends in costume design, as well as the impact design has on consumer fashions, and how contemporary fashion influences costume design. Click and drag to moveA New York landmark since 1901, Bergdorf Goodman represents the pinnacle of style, service and modern luxury. Located at 5th Avenue and 58th Street, it is the leading fashion authority and a singular destination for the most discerning customers from around the world. This special panel was filmed at Eric Winterling Costumes Inc., who have been making costumes for shows on Broadway and beyond for more than 20 years. Featured on the panel are Jess Goldstein, William Ivey Long, Rita Ryack, Carrie Robbins, Gregg Barnes, and David Zinn.

Tom Viertel, Executive Director of Commercial Theater Institute (CTI), has announced the 2014-2015 Season. CTI is the theatre industry's leading training and professional development program which covers a wide range of topics and features over 100 of the most distinguished industry professionals as lecturers and panelists including many Tony Award- winning producers. CTI programs include a 14-week program that explores producing in-depth, a 3-day intensive introduction to producing and half-day or one day workshops on specialized topics. More to be announced!

On Sunday September 28 at 1pm, Theatre Development Fund's (TDF) Autism Theatre Initiative (ATI) will present the fourth autism-friendly performance of Disney's landmark musical The Lion King (which just celebrated its 7,000th performance on Broadway). Tickets which were sold through ATI on TDF's website sold out in only three days, thus underscoring the popularity of the show with families with children on the autism spectrum, as well as the need for access for this underserved community.

Kicking off its 27th Season, Lookingglass Theatre Company presents Death Tax, by Lucas Hnath, and directed by Ensemble Member Heidi Stillman. Death Tax runs September 2, 2014 - October 12, 2014 at Lookingglass Theatre Company, located inside Chicago's historic Water Tower Water Works, 821 N. Michigan Ave. at Pearson. The Press Opening is Friday, September 12, 2014 at 7:30 p.m..

The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) launches its first ever autism friendly series, in consultation with the Theatre Development Fund's Autism Theatre Initiative, the first of its kind for a festival.

This month, the New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) is teaming up wiht the Theatre Development Fund's Autism Theatre Initiative (ATI) to launch its first ever autism friendly series for kids. The shows will be performed in a supportive environment for an audience of families and friends with children or adults who are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder or other sensitivity issues. Slight adjustments to the production may be made, including reduction of any jarring sounds or light cues. The theatre lobby will have a quiet/activity area, staffed with autism specialists, for those who need to leave their seats during the performance. Social narratives and pictures of the theares and productions designed to personalize the experience for each attendee with ASD will be available for download in advance of the performances.

Kicking off its 27th Season, Lookingglass Theatre Company presents Death Tax, by Lucas Hnath, and directed by Ensemble Member Heidi Stillman. Death Tax runs September 2, 2014 - October 12, 2014 at Lookingglass Theatre Company, located inside Chicago's historic Water Tower Water Works, 821 N. Michigan Ave. at Pearson. The Press Opening is Friday, September 12, 2014 at 7:30 p.m..