40 Years of Impact | New Jersey Theater Alliance 2022 Annual Report

OF IMPACT 2022 ANNUAL REPORT

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DEAR VALUED SUPPORTERS & PARTNERS,

The FY22 season marked the 40th Anniversary of the New Jersey Theatre Alliance. We are pleased to share with you our Annual Report, which highlights the services of the Alliance and the impact we have had on our community, especially this past year.

We are grateful for your support and valuable partnership. We look forward to continuing to work together to strengthen, promote and cultivate professional theatre in New Jersey and our region, and to advance the arts in our state.

As always, we welcome the opportunity to hear from you if you have any questions on our programs or ideas on how we can further our mission.

With great appreciation,

Laura Ekstrand Board Chair

Marshall Jones, III Board President

John McEwen Executive Director

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MISSION, VISION, AND VALUES

New Jersey Theatre Alliance was founded in 1981 by five professional theatres on the belief that the theatre community is stronger united, not divided, and that one theatre’s success is a success for all. Today we serve forty professional theatres in New Jersey and the region, representing fifteen of the state’s twenty-one countiesaswellasBucksCounty,Pennsylvania.

MISSION

The mission of New Jersey Theatre Alliance is to unite, promote, strengthen, and cultivate New Jersey’s professional theatres. We advance the theatre community by developing innovative, collaborative, and engaging programs andservicesformembertheatresandtheirdiverseaudiences.

New Jersey Theatre Alliance and its members envision a field that is flourishing, collaborative, and equitable for artists, administrators, member theatres,organizations,andaudiences.

FY22 BY THE NUMBERS

THEATRES SERVED

All of us in the state’s theatre community benefit greatly from the Alliance’s efforts and advocacy on our behalf. We are deeply grateful for the Alliance’s existence and for their passionate commitment to the art form.

Bonnie Monte Artistic Director of The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey

THE ALLIANCE'S RESPONSE TO COVID-19

We are happy to report that New Jersey Theatre Alliance has not lost one member theatre during the pandemic! Our member theatres remain diligent in communicating with their patrons and keeping the safety of their audiences, artists, and staff center stage. We are grateful that we can maintain crucial support of our member theatres during what remains a challenging time. We were proud to be able to support our membership in the following ways:

Contracted Dr. Stuart Weiss of Intelligent Crowd Solutions to provide the field medical updates and guidance on bi-weekly field calls.

Launched Opening Night, Opening Right (www.openingright.com) to build awareness of our theatres reopening and their safety guidelines. Supported purchases of supplies such as masks, cleaning products, and COVID tests. Distributed $120,000 in grants to theatre workers affiliated with member theatres.

When I opened my email and learned that I would be receiving a $1,000 grant…I actually shedded a few tears. For the first time since the start of the pandemic I felt validated as an artist. Like many others working in the creative arts, I have lost so much during the age of COVID-19, from the passing of loved ones to enduring extreme financial hardship. However, what I have lost more than anything else was the opportunity to be creative. Receiving this grant has given me something that I have not had in a long time, HOPE.

Helena Lewis Affiliated Artist Paterson Performing Arts Development Council

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2022 marked the 25th Anniversary of our flagship program, The Stages Festival. Taking place each year in March, April, and May the festival showcases the diversity and excellence of our member theatres, breaks down barriers of cost and access, and builds new audiences. Over the life of this program, we have reachedover230,000theatregoers

40TH ANNIVERSARY OVATION GALA

OnMay5,2022morethan225guestsgatheredatThePleasantdaleChateau in West Orange to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of New Jersey Theatre Alliance. Guests from the worlds of the arts, government, and business applauded the achievements of the Alliance, the collaborative spirit of its 40 member theatres, and the accomplishments and contributions of its two honorees, Christopher Paladino, President and CEO of the New Brunswick Development Corporation and John McEwen, the Alliance’s Executive Directorincelebrationofhis20yearsofservice.

in West Orange to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of New Jersey Theatre applauded the achievements of the Alliance, the collaborative spirit of its 40

The Ovation Gala, offered every five years, raised more than $250,000 to support the Alliance’s wide range of services and allow the organization to continue to be a critical resource in helping the state and region’s professionaltheatrecommunitythriveintheirpathtofullrecovery.

TopLeft:JohnWootenandMarshallJones,III.BottomLeft:CarolAnnHerbertandJoseph Benincasa.Right:ChristopherPaladino-40thAnniversaryOvationGala,May2022

EQUITY & ACCESS

Although the Alliance has been examining internal practices related to diversity, equity, and inclusion since the creation of our EDI board committee in 2018, the national racial reckoning of 2020 led us to offer training, conversation, and guidance to our members and the field.

In 2021, New Jersey Theatre Alliance and ArtPride New Jersey together launched the Creating Change Network, with a mission to build a more equitable, just, accessible, and anti-racist arts community in New Jersey.

The FY22 activities of the Creating Change Network:

Hosted four virtual roundtables featuring nationally-recognized guest speakers Facilitated 20 New Jersey arts organizations' participation in the National Day of Racial Healing programming Produced the in-person conference, “Creating Change 2022: Accountability and Action for the New Jersey Arts Community” attended by 225 people

Read New Jersey Theatre Alliance's Statement of Committment by scanning the QR code or visiting our website at https://bit.ly/NJTAAccessandEquity

This was the most impactful conference I have ever attended. I am grateful to you and celebrate your courage, vision and expertise. You changed my mind, spirit, heart and imagination. Creating Change Conference Attendee

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NEW JERSEY ARTS AND CULTURE ADMINISTRATORS OF COLOR NETWORK

New Jersey Theatre Alliance serves as the host organization for the New Jersey Arts and Culture Administrators of Color Network (NJACAC). NJACAC, a collaboration between New Jersey Theatre Alliance, ArtPride New Jersey, Newark Symphony Hall, and the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, is designed to connect, empower, and cultivate professional arts and cultural leaders throughout the Garden State. The program affords members the opportunity to develop personal and professional connections, share resources, and foster emerging leaders. Launched in 2019, with a gathering of about 25 individuals, the network grew to include over 180 members in FY22.

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CULTURAL ACCESS NETWORK PROJECT

FY22 marked the 30th Anniversary of the Cultural Access Network Project, a program of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, and New Jersey Theatre Alliance. For 30 years, this program has assisted the state’s theatres and cultural organizations in making their programs, services and facilities accessible to people with disabilities, andolderadults.

Supported by an 18-member Advisory Board, the Cultural Access Network offers the following services:

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Access Thursday Roundtables covering a wide range of topics including: marketing; services for those who Deaf or hard of hearing, those with vision loss or blindness, and those on the spectrum; engaging artists with disabilities; making venues accessible; the use of technology; and the importance of an advisory board. Six roundtables are offered each year, attended by an average of 360artscolleaguesannually.

Excellence in Cultural Access Awards, attended by 145 arts colleagues, which recognizes individuals and organizations for innovation and leadership in making New Jersey’s arts and culturalcommunitymoreaccessibleandinclusive.

Equipment loans to organizations for sound amplification for those with hearing loss and audio descriptionforthosewhoareBlind/LowVision.

The valuable partnership between New Jersey State Council on the Arts and New Jersey Theatre Alliance on the Cultural Access Network is such an important model for our field. Kudos to all of you for 30 years of this amazing work.

Beth Bienvenu Director of Accessibility National Endowment for

the Arts

Krystle Allen (New Jersey Commission for the Blind & Visually Impaired), Bonnie Brown (Allaire State Park), Susan Coen (Consultant), Lisa Cooney (Paper Mill Playhouse), Janet Zoubek Dickson (Educator), Donald Ehman (Arts Advocate), Diane Feldman (Arts Advocate), Pamela Gaston (New Jersey Commission for the Blind & Visually Impaired), Julie Hain (South Jersey Cultural Alliance) Maureen Heffernan (Arts Advocate/Teaching Artist), John McEwen (New Jersey Theatre Alliance), Eileen Murray (Matheny Medical and Educational Center’s Arts Access Program), Peri Nearon MPA (Division of Disability Services, NJ Department of Human Services), Beth Prevor (New Jersey Theatre Alliance & HandsOn), Arlene Romoff (Hearing Loss Association of NJ), Cathy Roy (The Mayo Center for the Performing Arts), Michael Schnoering, FAIA (Mills + Schnoering Architects, LLC), Miss Ruth Williams (Writer & Low Vision/Disability Rights Advocate). Members Ex Officio: Allison Tratner (New Jersey State Council on the Arts), Mary Eileen Fouratt (New Jersey State Council on the Arts).

CULTURAL ACCESS NETWORK PROJECT COMMITTEE CREATING CHANGE NETWORK COMMITTEE

Creating Change Steering Committee Chair: Donna Walker-Kuhne (NJPAC). Creating Change Steering Committee: Rachel Aponte (Center for Contemporary Arts), Dr. Antoinette Ellis-Williams (New Jersey City University), Deonté Griffin-Quick (New Jersey Theatre Alliance), Vince Hall (ArtPride New Jersey Foundation), Chase Jackson (Ocean City Arts Center), Sharnita Johnson (Victoria Foundation), Marshall Jones, III (Rutgers University), John McEwen (New Jersey Theatre Alliance), Erica Nagel (New Jersey Theatre Alliance), Trinity Norwood (Arts Educator), Adam Perle (ArtPride New Jersey Foundation), Alysia Souder (The Institute of Music for Children), Sheldon Steele (Youth Action YouthBuild), Sharon Stroye (Rutgers University).

DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS & A BRAND NEW WEBSITE

The Alliance was thrilled to launch a new website in 2022. Inspired by the input of members during our strategic planning process, and created over a year with our design and development consultants from UK-based company Substrakt, the new website features a streamlined user experience, a robust resource library, and a comprehensive events calendar. We hope you’ll check it out at www.njtheatrealliance.org!

DONORS

We are grateful to the following individuals and organizations for their support and encouragement of our programs and events that enable us to carry out our mission.

SUSTAINERS

($50,000+)

Amazon

Geraldine R Dodge Foundation

New Jersey Arts and Culture Renewal Fund of the Princeton Area Community Foundation New Jersey State Council on the Arts

Joan Rechnitz

PRODUCERS

($25,000 +)

Bank of America

Carolyn Ferolito

F.M. Kirby Foundation

New Brunswick Development Corporation

The Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation

The Grunin Foundation The Shubert Foundation

DIRECTORS

($10,000+)

E.J. Grassmann Trust

Laura Hay

The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey

The Hyde and Watson Foundation

BENEFACTORS

($5,000+)

Joseph and Nan Benincasa

Larry Capo and James Olson

Elkus Manfredi Architects

Ruth Fost

Seth Geldzahler

Carol and Harold Herbert Langan Engineering Mills + Schnoering Architects LLC

OceanFirst Foundation PSEG Foundation Union Foundation Windels Marx

SPONSORS ($2,500+)

Donald Ehman and Linda Kinsey Fund for the New Jersey Blind Inc.

Jeremy Grunin

Hudson County Office of Cultural Affairs and Heritage Lewis Center for the Arts

Matthew Lynch Maryann Pascarella

PATRONS

($1,000+)

Laura Aden

Connie Alexis-Laona

ArtPride New Jersey

Neha Bhalani, Esq.

Centenary Stage Company

Elizabeth Christopherson City National Bank

Crossroads Theatre Company

Etta Denk

Laura Ekstrand and Joseph Zawila

William Engel Epic Management, Inc.

NJM Insurance Group

The Growing Stage: The Children's Theatre of New Jersey Merrill G. and Emita E. Hastings Foundation

Sharon Harrington

James Heston Howard and Pamela Hirsch

Thomasina Hyland

IBEW Local 456

Virginia Johnston

Marshall Jones, III and Chantal Jean-Pierre

Joseph Jingoli & Son, Inc

Sharon Karmazin

KMS Development Partners

Olga Levina

John Lynch

Mayo Performing Arts Center

John McEwen

New Brunswick Performing Arts Center

Paper Mill Playhouse

Mary Chris Rospond and Marc Podems

Premiere Stages at Kean University

Belinda and Ferrill Roll

Penn Rose

Stephanie and Matt Rostan

Saint Peter's Healthcare System

Michael Sencindiver

Jessica Sporn

Michael Schnoering and Jennifer Stark

Gayle Stahlhuth

The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey

US Title Solutions

Vanguard Theater Company

Dr. Stuart Weiss

Paul Whelihan and Ellen Beattie John Wooten

SUPPORTERS

($500+)

Axelrod Performing Arts Center

Bartley and Dick Advertising and Design

Audrey Bartner

Meredith Burns

Debora Clapp

Lisa Cooney

Carol Cronheim

Janet and Peter Dickson

Patrick and Anita Diegnan

Patricia and Stewart Docherty

East Lynne Theater Company

Elizabeth Youth Theater Ensemble

Ralph and Beth Fylstra

George Street Playhouse

Natalie Watson and Sheila Hatami

Michael Hurst

Jersey City Theatre Center

Kean Stage

Suzanne Klar and Marc Brummer

Wendy Liscow

Main Street Counseling Center

Diane Maroukian McCarter Theatre Center

Passage Theatre Company

Adam Perle

Julie Ellen Prusinowski

Stages Consultants LLC

Steve Steiner

Michael Stotts and David Mayhew

Surflight Theatre

Theatre Communications Group

Nina Mitchell Wells and Theodore Wells

ANGELS ($250+)

Jennifer Arnoldi

Jeanne Barrett

Robert Bingaman

Anne Blazejak

Michael Bzdak and Meredith Arms Bzdak, PHD Vivian Scott Chew

Susan and Alan Coen

Chris Coucill

John Dias

Ron Forman

Maureen Heffernan and Betsy Stewart

Judith Leone

Emily Mann Mason Gross School of the Arts

Montclair Film Festival Montclair State University Bonnie Monte

Kevin O'Brien

Martin and Clare Prentice Dipan Ray Chris Roche

Arlene Romoff

Robin Seasock

Nina Stack and Robert Gould Yendor Theatre Company

Young Audiences New Jersey & Eastern Pennsylvania

FRIENDS ($100+)

Maureen Alexander

Art House Productions

Dennis Austin

Virginia Billia

Danny Campos

Carolyn Dorfman Dance Company

Jenna Castano

Janeece Freeman Clark

Deb Cooperman Michael Dundon

Eagle Theatre

Epic Actors' Workshop

Diane Feldman

William Flahive Kevin R. Free Chris and Tina Heintz

Larry Hochman IATSE Local 21

Ann Koeppe

The New Jersey Play Lab Filomena Machleder Lauren Mancuso William Fultz and Gabriel Martinez

Elizabeth Mattson

Michael Mills

Linda Pacotti

Beth Prevor

Pushcart Players Cheryl Mintz and Harris Richter

Steve Runk

Kelly Ryman

Lynn and Donald Siebert

Speranza Theatre Company

Pamela and William Starkey

The Theater Project

Sharon Burton Turner

Sally and Jim Vagias

Vivid Stage

Gene Westbrook

Leslie Gayle Williams Beach Wires

Judith Wooldridge

Programming made possible by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts.

Deonté Griffin-Quick

Lauren

New Jersey Theatre Alliance Board, Staff, and Member Theatres at the Annual Meeting held at The Actors Fund Home in Englewood, NJ, June 2022.

MEMBER THEATRES

American Theatre Group

Basking Ridge

Art House Productions Jersey City

Atlantic City Theatre Company Atlantic City

Axelrod Performing Arts Center Deal

Bucks County Playhouse New Hope, PA

Camden Repertory Theater Camden

Cape May Stage Cape May

Centenary Stage Company Hackettstown

The Company Theatre Group Hackensack

Crossroads Theatre Company New Brunswick

Eagle Theatre Hammonton

East Lynne Theater Company West Cape May

Elizabeth Youth Theater Ensemble Elizabeth

Epic Actors’ Workshop Old Bridge

George Street Playhouse New Brunswick

The Growing Stage – The Children’s Theatre of New Jersey Netcong

Hudson Theatre Works Weehawken

Jersey City Theater Center Jersey City

Luna Stage Company West Orange

McCarter Theatre Center Princeton

The Meta Theatre Company Lebanon

Mile Square Theatre Hoboken

The New Jersey Play Lab New Jersey Repertory Company Long Branch

Paper Mill Playhouse Millburn

Passage Theatre Company Trenton

Paterson Performing Arts Development Council Paterson

Premiere Stages at Kean University Union

Pushcart Players Verona

Ritz Theatre Company Haddon Township

The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey Madison

Skyline Theatre Company Fair Lawn

South Camden Theatre Company Camden

Speranza Theatre Company Jersey City

Surflight Theatre Beach Haven

The Theater Project Union

Two River Theater Red Bank

Vanguard Theater Company Montclair

Vivid Stage Summit

Yendor Theatre Company Newark