The nonprofit organization Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS has announced four new members joining its board of trustees. Actor Ariana DeBose, Ambassador Theatre Group (ATG) North America CEO Stephen Lewin, production stage manager and producer Cody Renard Richard and Actors’ Equity Association executive director Alvin Vincent Jr. began their respective terms with the Oct. 12 board meeting.
Leaving the board after years of service are actors Kate Burton, Cherry Jones and founding board member Kathleen Chalfant.
President of the Broadway Cares board of trustees and chairperson and CEO of the Shubert Organization Robert E. Wankel spoke of the new members in a statement: “These four movers-and-shakers have made a groundbreaking impact in our industry. Their presence on the board will play a critical role in Broadway Cares’ ongoing fundraising and grant-making efforts. Broadway Cares and the board are committed to bringing new voices to the table who will play an integral role in the organization’s and our industry’s future.”
DeBose is an Oscar-winning actor and a two-time host of the Tony Awards. She made her Broadway debut in “Bring It On: The Musical” and has since appeared in “Hamilton,” “A Bronx Tale” and “Summer: The Donna Summer Musical” — the latter for which she earned a Tony nomination.
Lewin has led the North American division of ATG since 2016. He is responsible for the company’s business operations, including those around ATG’s two current Broadway houses and six venues nationwide. ATG is combining its operations with Jujamcyn, which will include five additional Broadway theaters.
Richard currently serves as the production stage manager of Broadway’s “Sweeney Todd” revival. In addition to having stage-managed on 15 Main Stem productions, Richard has co-produced the Tony-winning productions of “A Strange Loop” and “Parade.” Richard founded the Cody Renard Richard Scholarship Program through Broadway Advocacy Coalition.
Vincent has held the position of executive director of Actors’ Equity Association since 2022. Prior to leading the union for professional actors and stage managers in theater, Vincent was the international vice president and mid-Atlantic region director for United Food and Commercial Workers International.
Broadway Cares is one of the nation’s leading industry-based, nonprofit AIDS fundraising and grant-making organizations. Since 1988, the nonprofit has raised more than $300 million for essential services for people with HIV/AIDS and other serious illnesses across the U.S.
