What a tremendous year it has been. This year it was clear how strong and necessary community is right now and will continue to be. We here at RISE have made great strides because of our collaborators and partners we are so fortunate to have.
We are so grateful for the multiple rooms we were able to move in, the partnerships we were able to build and the communities we were able to support.
At RISE we were founded on the goal of moving from a place of abundance, and this past year proved that a rising tide does indeed lift all boats. Our events varied from the launch of the inaugural RISE Summit, to hosting a mixer for all of the mentees and fellows in our network. Our work has been building and will continue building programming that addresses the current gaps in connection and community building for the theatrical industry.
This is just the beginning, the catalyst for continued change and collective action, it takes a community- and we thank you for supporting, showing up, and showing out.
We hope you will continue to support us, and join us as we continue building on this moment, rising together. Happy holidays.
For more information or to donate to our work please visit risetheatre.org
Our network partners are hosting some great events this month. Check out what’s On the RISE in the RISE Theatre Network. If you want to stay in the know, check out risetheatre.org.
Black Theatre Coalition Company Management Fellowship with Bespoke Theatricals
BTC has partnered with Bespoke Theatricals to offer this paid opportunity on "Stranger Things: The First Shadow." The Company Management Fellow will work directly with the Associate General Manager and Company Managers for the production heading to Broadway in 2025. Any mid-career professional committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in the theater industry can apply for consideration with a current resume and a 300-word personal statement.
Broadway Advocacy Coalition Artivism Fellowship Now Open!
The Broadway Advocacy Coalition has teamed up with New York City based advocacy organization, Community Capacity Development to ground and expand their upcoming BAC Artivism Fellowship. Applications for the program are now open.
The Artivism Fellowship is one of Broadway Advocacy Coalition’s flagship programs. Started in 2020, the program supports a group of artists activists in developing their own artivism pieces over the course of a several month-long residency with the organization.
This year's fellowship will be an evolution of the past four years, providing even deeper support and more focused mentorship for one fellow who has participated in BAC’s Theater of Change Program. The fellowship will enable one participant to blend artistry, law, policy, and community engagement, and produce narrative-based pieces with powerful impact in the policy spaces where change can happen. Artivism - art that attempts to sway policy and culture to create a more just and equitable society - is a core part of BAC’s work.
This year BAC will support one narrative based creative - writers, poets, playwrights, songwriters, composers - in advancing social change in NYC through a partnership model alongside Community Capacity Development. The annual work in progress will take place at MCC Theater in May of 2025.
Through the fellowship process all the participants will work with community members to amplify the power of their stories informed by legal and policy research culminating in a 30 min workshop presentation to advance the work of Community Capacity Development.
The fellowship, which will begin in January 2025 and run through September 2025 Applications are due by January 1, 2025 at 11:59PM ET.
Each participant will be compensated $10,000 as a fellow stipend and $4,500 in production support.
Applications are now open.
Spectra Media Collective Theatrical Public Library Launching Soon!
www.spectra.theater will be launching its Public Library for Theater in the coming weeks. The new library will house past and present performance data from professional and amateur licensed productions - Off Broadway, Broadway, Regional, community theaters, high school, and more. In stealth mode since 2022, Spectra has been developing the data infrastructure to bring theater into the 21st century. By gathering and organizing live performance data, Spectra.Theater will connect the industry on a digital level, aiming to bring theater back to the forefront of American culture (just a few small goals).
Spectra is founded by a family of theater makers deeply entrenched in the professional and Broadway scene, and raised by community theater. The Saunders are deeply passionate about the art form and the positive impact that theater has, and can have.
Keep an eye out in the coming weeks for your chance to be able to explore this new library and submit your own programs to be added to the hundreds of thousands of productions already housed. And stay in touch with us by following us on instagram!
RISE Summit Episodes from the Women in Theatre Podcast
Season 4 of the Women & Theatre Podcast features eleven bonus mini-episodes recorded at our Inaugural RISE Summit, including conversations with RISE co-founder Lin-Manuel Miranda and RISE Program Manager Victoria Detres. The bonus episodes also include conversations with leaders at Business of Broadway, Access Broadway NY, Theatre Advocacy Project, and other leading advocacy organizations.
NYC Jam Session with Annie Touring Band
Leapin’ Lizards! The MUSE and Maestra members of the Annie Touring Band are hosting MUSE’s next Jam! Come by on December 17th from 6:30-8:30 for some mingling, making music, and to hear about life on the road.
For more information, visit https://www.risetheatre.org/ or create a profile for the RISE Theatre Directory and join the community.
