TDF Annual Report by Theatre Development Fund

tdf

Theatre Development Fund 2011-2012 ANNUAL REPORT

tdf WelCome The richness, vitality and astonishing variety of the performing arts—from theatre to dance to music—are among the glories of New York City. Theatre Development Fund is the only not-for-profit organization dedicated to serving the entire spectrum of the performing arts with programs that touch the lives of millions of New Yorkers and visitors each year. Created in 1968 by a dedicated group of theatre professionals, TDF has developed groundbreaking programs to encourage and support the production of new artistic works and ensure the availability of affordable tickets to millions of theatregoers each year. TDF’s most renowned program is TKTS. Consistent with its goal of expanding audiences while supporting new works of merit, TKTS provides critical revenue for productions while simultaneously enabling a diverse audience to enjoy New York’s greatest asset… the theatre.

TDF MISSION STATEMENT

Theatre Development Fund, a not-for-profit organization, was created in the conviction that the live theatrical arts afford a unique expression of the human condition that must be sustained and nurtured. TDF’s two-fold mission is to identify and provide support, including financial assistance, to theatrical works of artistic merit and to encourage and enable diverse audiences to attend live theatre and dance in all their venues.

Behind the scenes, TDF has created and maintains a diverse roster of programs that provides audiences for virtually every theatre and dance production in New York—through its membership and ticket subsidy programs, accessibility programs for theatregoers with physical disabilities and award-winning arts education programs. In an era of declining attendance for theatre and dance, TDF has taken the lead in developing new audience programs that make theatregoing a reality for underserved audiences of all ages in New York City. Additionally, TDF’s recent forays into research and advocacy have moved the organization to the forefront of national awareness. TDF is committed to seeking new ways to support productions and to broaden the public’s awareness of and access to theatre, dance and music.

TAblE OF CONTENTS

“TDF’s programs may be diverse, but they all serve a common objective, making theatre accessible to anyone who loves the theatre.” —Linda Lavin

Theatre Development Fund 520 Eighth Avenue, Suite 801 New York, NY 10018-6507 Phone (212) 912-9770 Fax (212) 768-1563 Twitter@TDFNYC Facebook.com/TheatreDevelopmentFund TDF.org

Chairman and Executive Director’s Letter

TDF Donors

TDF Theatre and Dance Subsidy

TDF Membership

TKTS Discount Booths

TDF Accessibility Programs (TAP)

TDF Education Programs

TDF Costume Collection

Audience Development

TDF Honors

TDF Gala

Board of Trustees and Staff

tdf leTTer From The ChaIrman anD eXeCuTIve DIreCTor Dear Friends of TDF: As we complete our 44th year of service to the performing arts, our programs, both existing and new, continue to grow, reaching larger and more diverse audiences in New York City and beyond. We speak often about what we do but less often about why we do it. The why is contained in our mission statement. All of TDF’s programming is rooted in the “core belief that live theatrical arts afford a unique expression of the human condition that must be sustained and nurtured.” Through the years, we have done this by building bridges between potential audience members and theatre and dance productions. This was powerfully illustrated with the launch of the Autism Theatre Initiative, part of TDF Accessibility Programs (TAP). After a year of planning, we presented the first autismfriendly performance of a Broadway show. We worked with dozens of consultants in the autism field, and with the cooperation of Disney Theatrical Productions, we created a safe environment for a sensory-friendly performance of Disney’s The Lion King. We filled the 1,600 seat theatre with families with children on the 3

autism spectrum. These families had been virtually unable to enjoy a Broadway show in a stress-free environment. We were thrilled that this first attempt was such an incredible success. The response from families was extremely moving; for many, it was the first time they had gone out as a unit and enjoyed an event without judgment. We presented an autism-friendly performance of Mary Poppins in the spring and are committed to expanding this program on Broadway and working as a consultant and advocate for these performances across the United States. In 2011-12, TDF’s combined programs were responsible for over 2.62 million admissions to hundreds of theatre, dance and music productions. All of these tickets were sold at significant discounts, bought by performing arts lovers who couldn’t go to the theatre without us. Our TKTS Program, with discount booths in Times Square, Downtown Brooklyn and South Street Seaport, had a record-breaking year with 1,872,001 admissions—the largest number of admissions in the program’s 39-year history. TDF’s membership program now provides tickets and information to over 90,000

individuals, the vast majority of whom hail from New York City. To ensure that New Yorkers will always feel that they have a place in theatres throughout the city, we have continued our New Audiences for New York program. The program introduces Broadway to folks who are underrepresented in Broadway audiences. This year, 18 groups from church, senior, youth and other community organizations in all five boroughs participated. Our partnership with The City University of New York (CUNY) called BEAT—Bridging Education and Theatre— doubled its reach in its second year, expanding from four to eight campuses. BEAT introduces the CUNY community of students, faculty and staff to New York City’s performing arts through a range of programs designed by TDF and tailored to the needs of the CUNY community. In December, we hosted a gala in support of the program, honoring CUNY’s Chancellor Matthew Goldstein and Broadway, television and film star and Brooklyn College alum Jimmy Smits. Through TDF’s education programs, nearly 6,000 New York City middle and high school students attended the

theatre this year. All of these programs are provided at no cost to the schools or the students. We continued to deepen and strengthen our presence online at TDF.org, which hosts nearly 6 million visitors each month. The reputation of our online magazine, TDF Stages, continued to expand as a go-to spot among serious theatregoers in search of thoughtful and inventive interviews and video features. We’d like to take a moment to note some important transitions. We welcomed Hector Lozado to the Board. Hector’s expertise in marketing and education has already proven to be a great asset to TDF. We had several long-standing trustees retire from the Board, including one of our founders, Stephen Benedict, and long-time dance advocate Donald McDonagh. On a sadder note, two of our long-time trustees passed away this past year. We lost both Howard Kissel and Alan Senter, far too soon. We welcomed Daniel Renner as TDF’s Director of Education. Daniel, a national leader in the field of arts education, is a welcome addition to the TDF senior staff. Marianna Houston, who created TDF’s Education Department in 1994, retired

this year and we thank her for her many contributions. Without the support and trust of our funders, constituents, colleagues and friends, we wouldn’t be able to act on our core belief that the arts are a key part of the human condition. For that support and trust, we thank you.

Earl D. Weiner Chairman

Victoria Bailey Executive Director

tdf DonorS

Bravo!

TDF gratefully acknowledges our corporate, foundation, government and individual donors for helping us to build current and future generations of theatre and dance audiences. Corporate, Foundation and Government Donors $100,000 and above Bloomberg Philanthropies City of New York Department of Cultural Affairs New York State Council on the Arts New York City Theater Subdistrict Council, LDC Stavros Niarchos Foundation $50,000–$99,999 City University of New York* The Shubert Foundation, Inc. $25,000–$49,999 Helene Berger Foundation Laurence W. Levine Foundation, Inc. National Endowment for the Arts New York City Department of Education SAP The Joseph LeRoy and Ann C. Warner Fund $10,000–$24,999 Harry S. Black and Allon Fuller Fund The Bulova Stetson Fund Con Edison CUNY Central Office* CUNY TV Foundation* The FAR Fund Chancellor Matthew Goldstein, CUNY* The Heckscher Foundation for Children

Home Box Office The Rona Jaffe Foundation Herman Lissner Foundation, Inc. Hunter College* MetLife Foundation Newmark Knight Frank* New York City Council Member Lewis A. Fidler New York Community Trust and Charles M. Phinny Fund The Henry Nias Foundation Ronald McDonald House Charities Adolph and Ruth Schnurmacher Foundation, Inc. Showtime Networks, Inc.* The Shubert Organization, Inc.* Sony Corporation of America Treasurers & Ticket Sellers Union Local 751* $5,000–$9,999 Theodore H. Barth Foundation, Inc. Bespoke Theatricals Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS* Continental Grain Foundation The Max and Victoria Dreyfus Foundation, Inc. Harkness Foundation for Dance Infinia Group* Jujamcyn Theaters* Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation The McGraw-Hill Companies Medgar Evers College, CUNY* Sherwood 48 Associates $2,500–$4,999 Bronx Community College Auxiliary Enterprises* Build-A-Bear Workshop Foundation Hostos Community College* Herbert H. Lehman College* Edith Meiser Foundation Serino Coyne, Inc. Xerox Foundation

$500–$2,499 321 Theatrical Management* The Asen Fund* Auxiliary Enterprise Board of NYC College of Technology, Inc.* Brooklyn College* The Dramatists Guild Fund, Inc. Fathom & Hatch* Friars National Association Foundation Lutz and Carr Music Theatre International* New York Marriott Marquis Hotel* Planet Hollywood* Queensborough Community College Auxiliary Enterprise, Inc.* Red Crane Foundation The Segal Company Signature Bank* Stage Entertainment USA* Times Square Alliance* Universal Pictures Individual Donors $10,000 and above Robert Fried and Karen Kowgios* Deborah Hartnett* William and Sheila Lambert* H. Gwen Marcus* Marc Platt Thomas Schumacher Eileen S. Silvers and Richard Bronstein* Earl D. and Gina Ingoglia Weiner* $5,000–$9,999 Virginia Brody Anna E. Crouse Patricia A. Florness Edes Gilbert* Chris and Don W. Harrell* David D. and Andrea Holbrook* Sandra Kresch and Sam Hagler* Gail and Alan Levenstein*

$2,000–$4,999 Jody and John Arnhold* Penelope and John Biggs* Amy Chin and James Lo* Wendy Davies and Walter Johnsen* Phyllis Dealy* Sharon Dunn and Harvey Zirofsky* Sharon and Noel Frankel The Gershon Fund* Judith and Robert T. Goldman* Meg Herrman* The Jane Fund Michael Kellogg* Hector R. Lozada Irene Mecchi Sarah Saltzberg Ruth Sarfaty and Jeffrey Miller* Alan Z. Senter* Harold M. Spielman* Becky Diamond and Jamie B. Stecher* Cathy and Stephen Weinroth* $1,000–$1,999 Curtis Behrent Al Berr Alicia Carew* Peggy Howard Chane* Barbara and Christopher Dixon* Steven Eisenstadt Bettye Fletcher* Melissa Gibbs* Steven Guggenheimer* Helen and Peter Haje* Mariet Hamrah Fredda Harris* Angela and Scott Jaggar* Susan and Michael Katzke Suzanne Marquard* Peter Marra Joan and Robert Matloff F. Richard Pappas* D. Kenneth Patton* Charles L. Reinhart Daryl Roth* Ed Sandler* Linda Shapiro

Martha and Robert Solimine Nancy SooHoo-Miranda Maria Spinelli* Mala Thao Paul Wolf* Edward N. Wolff $500–$999 Jane Bowers* Philip Burford Nicholas Cantalupo Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Chapin* Katherine Chia Cory and Robert Donnalley Sarah E. Cogan and Douglas H. Evans Heather Fuentes, Esq. Sarah Galbraith* Ellen and Dale Glasser Gordon and Mary Gould Merrill G. and Emita E. Hastings Foundation Peter Irwin Hope Jessup* Stephanie and Roy Katzovicz Paulette and Bill Kaufmann Kenneth Koen, Esq.* Robert S. Levinson Barbara Ligeti* Carolyn and Alexis Michas* Tomas D. Morales* L. Michael Newman Molly Parkinson* Matthew Patsky Jeffrey Peck* Carmen Ross Mary and Saul Sanders* Jonathan Sills Tymand F. Staggs* Susan and Jeffrey Stern* Gayle Stone Susan and Charles Tribbitt* The Winter Family Fund Thomas and Wendy Woodhouse

$200–$499 Laurie Abramowitz Cathy Allen* Anonymous Robert S. Astrowsky and Yvette A. Geary Oliver Baer Hilton M. Bailey, Jr. Victoria Bailey Catherine Bambrick Ellen Banner Lillian M. Bartok Cheryl Basile Gail Galvani Bell Timothy Bevelacqua Peggy Blackford Jerome Blake Borsky Wiesenfeld Fund Audrey Boughton Barrington L. Branch Kenneth Brickman Victoria and James Bruni Kamala Buckner* Pamela and John Campbell Robert M. Carr* Pamela Cedarquist Henry and Constance Christensen* Susan Cowie* Susan and James Dubin* William Edwards M. E. Ellis Deborah and John Evangelakos* Marsha and Jeffrey Feinberg Glenda and Bob Fishman Mr. and Mrs. William H. Foulk, Jr.* Michael Fowlin Aaron Frankel Hugh P. Gabriel James J. Gallagher Donna Garren Eudelia Gassaway-Price Michele B. Gerrig Ira Gilbert* Susan Glazer Shelby Goldgrab 5

Michael Greco Marilyn and Stephen Greene Amy and Bruce Gutenplan* Gloria Halberstein Gordon Hanson Noella Hermanns Thomas Hessman Lyn S. Hill Mark Hochberg Mary S. Jemail Carol Kaplan Alicia Kershaw and Peter Rose* Howard Kissel Nathaniel Kramer Cheryl T. Lambert Stephen Liebmann Gilbert Lopez Carrie Lupardo Eleanor and Kent Martin Leo Marzen* Donald McDonagh and Leslie Getz Ann McDonald Chris McNally David Mechanic Ellen Mendel Kyle Merker* Clara Miller Mark Elliot Mindlin Jeannette Morrison Benjamin H. Natelson and Gudrun Lange Ellen and George Needham Gayle and Daniel Nixon Laura Odell Jane and Olakunle Ogbara Roger W. Oliver Jonathan Parker Penny Peters Alicefay and Richard Prine* Elise and Jerome Pustilnik Lynn Randle Estie Rappaport and Neil Aresty James and Deborah Reda Evelyn J. Rich Grace Richardson James Rosen

Robert Rosenberg Conrad P. Rutkowski Regina and Dennis Santella Michael Santulli Toby Schreiber Nancy Schwartz Berta Segen Gary Shelton Bruce Smith Joan and Gavin Solotar Carrie Sorensen Elise Sosenko Dianne B. Stillman and Robert I. Greene Ian Strasfogel Helen Tannenbaum Fran and Richard Ticktin Richard Titan Neeta Tolani Kenneth Usdin Anita Verbeke Deborah Wallace Chris Wasserstein Donald A. Weber Peter J. Wertheim Sharon Whitt, Esq. Denise Williams Flora Wilson Jason Wu * Includes support of TDF’s 2011 Gala

We applaud all of the individuals who contributed to TDF in 2011-12. Unfortunately, due to space limitations,we are unable to list all of our valuable supporters. Thank you for your support!

TDF/Irene Sharaff Awards

Friends of TDF

Event Sponsor The Tobin Theatre Arts Fund

Since 2005, the Friends of TDF have volunteered their time to help TDF raise our profile in the community by helping to plan outreach and fundraising events. Additionally, the Friends assist with specific TDF programs throughout the year. We wish to thank the Friends for devoting their time to TDF over the past year.

$1,000–$5,000 Bespoke Theatricals Dean Brown Katherine L. Leech United Scenic Artists Local 829 Mary H. White $500–$999 Costume Armour, Inc. Jess Goldstein Gail C. Hecht Paul Huntley Kaufman’s Army and Navy John Kristiansen New York Inc. Wallace G. Lane Donna Langman Costumes Lauren Manning The Rolfe Company, Inc. Michael J. Stanton Tricorne LLC Eric Winterling, Inc. $200–$499 Carl A. Baldasso Charles Bonheur Daniel Geoly Melissa Gibbs Alyce Gilbert Gordon Gould Susan Hilferty Constance Hoffman Holly Hynes Martin Pakledinaz Gregory Poplyk Kenneth Posner Lighting Design, Inc.

Executive Committee Susan Schwarz, Chair Fredda Harris Marsha Kaplan Gilda Schneider Steering Committee Members Peggy Howard Chane Anne Frankel Melissa Gibbs Mary Gould Marilyn Grosswirth Simone Kaplan Phyllis Klein Joan Pearlman Nancy Rubinger Barbara Williams-Henry Jane Zucker

tdf TheaTre anD DanCe SuBSIDY SUbSIDY: THE FACTS

TDF’s Theatre and Dance Subsidy programs are central to the organization’s mission, as they marry the goals of supporting productions of merit and bringing audiences to the theatre that otherwise might not be able to attend. TDF subsidy, which supports both commercial and not-forprofit Broadway and Off Broadway productions, was TDF’s first program. In 1968, TDF purchased tickets to The Great White Hope and distributed them to students. This was the first of 33 Pulitzer Prizewinning plays to receive subsidy support from TDF, the most recent being Bruce Norris’ Clybourne Park. Since the program’s inception, TDF has provided subsidy support to over 1,000 plays and musicals by purchasing over 3.2 million tickets for TDF members, thus supplying an audience of avid theatregoers, usually during the crucial preview period. For the Theatre Subsidy program, scripts are first submitted to be considered by TDF’s Play Selection Committee.

Theatre productions subsidized: 44 (24 Broadway, 20 Off Broadway)

If a production is approved for subsidy support, TDF agrees to purchase up to 6,000 tickets to sell to its membership of 90,000 theatregoers.

Admissions: 83,018 $ Amount returned to productions: $3,800,235 Dance productions subsidized: 48

TDF offers these tickets to its members at a cost below what TDF pays the production, thereby creating a margin of subsidy.

Admissions: 21,156

As a consequence, TDF subsidy provides both financial assistance and a loyal and receptive audience at a key moment in the life of a new production.

Productions sold: 995

TDF supports off-Off Broadway theatre, music and dance groups through “Off-Off @ $9,” a program whereby TDF members may purchase tickets to these smaller productions for only $9 each. TDF pays these productions the entire $9 from each ticket purchased. TDF Dance Subsidy operates in a similar manner to TDF Theatre Subsidy and has proven to be a valuable audience builder and revenue stream for dozens of established and emerging not-for-profit dance companies each year.

$ Amount returned to productions: $777,280 OFF-OFF @ $9: THE FACTS Admissions: 29,284

“In addition to offering discounts to individual members that helped us expand our reach, TDF made it possible for a group from the Ganesh Temple in Queens to attend our production of Rangoon. Many in the audience had never been to see theatre in the U.S. before, but were thrilled to have connected with Pan Asian Rep, and will likely be back this season!”

“Theatre Development Fund’s subsidy and discount ticket programs bring the magic of dance to New Yorkers. Through its leadership in building audiences, the organization provides critical support to dance makers of all sizes and moves the art form forward.”

$ Amount returned to productions: $263,556

—Lane Harwell, Director, Dance/NYC

—Tisa Chang, Artisitic Producing Director, Pan Asian Repertory Theatre

tdf memBerShIp MEMbERSHIP: THE FACTS Productions sold (non-subsidy): 708

TDF maintains a membership of over 90,000 eligible theatre lovers who enjoy deep discounts on admissions to hundreds of theatre, music and dance productions each year. As TDF members, these avid theatregoers are able to experience, at affordable prices, all the cultural richness New York has to offer.

Drama Dialogues are moderated discussions with theatre professionals offered as an enrichment program for TDF members to enhance their theatre going experience. This year there was a special Drama Dialogue with actress and TDF Open Doors Mentor, Kathleen Chalfant.

Additionally, there is a National TDF Membership, whereby eligible theatregoers who live outside the tri-state area but visit NYC may become TDF members for a reduced annual fee.

TDF’s Victoria Bailey introduces Kathleen Chalfant to an audience of TDF members at a TDF Drama Dialogue

TDF members’ most popular shows of the 2011-12 season broadway Anything Goes Baby It’s You! Follies The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess Hair How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying The Lyons The Phantom of the Opera Sister Act Zarkana Off broadway, Music and Dance The Big Apple Circus Freud’s Last Session Fuerza Bruta Gazillion Bubble Show Love, Loss, and What I Wore Million Dollar Quartet New York Philharmonic Rent Traces Voca People

Admissions: 560,070 $ Amount returned to productions: $16,265,263

“I first joined TDF in the early '70s while I was working in the Education Department of the Metropolitan Opera Guild. TDF has enabled me to see a lifetime of plays that I would have never been able to afford during my work life, and now that I’m retired, attending would be impossible without my membership. What makes TDF special is how they pay it forward by bringing thousands of students to the theatre each year as we did at the Guild. Bravo, TDF!” —Harriet Kirk, TDF member since 1972

“The TDF subsidy is a wonderful way to bolster a new production, not simply as an early boost to revenue. TDF members give us the benefit of a house filled with dedicated and educated theatregoers, while the members themselves obtain an early glimpse at a new production. I am a big fan of TDF.” —Tamar Haimes, Partner, Richard/Climan, Inc.

tdf TKTS DISCounT BooThS TKTS: THE FACTS

In addition to TKTS Times Square, TDF operates two satellite TKTS Booths: TKTS Seaport at South Street Seaport and TKTS Downtown Brooklyn.

TKTS Discount Booth “under the red steps” in Times Square

TKTS Patron Services representatives

TDF’s TKTS Discount Booth, “under the red steps” in the heart of Times Square, continued to garner rave reviews for its innovative architecture, utilization of public space and ease in purchasing discount theatre tickets. The expression “meet me at the red steps” has been adopted by theatre lovers from New York City and around the world.

tion for theatregoers who prefer to see non-musical productions.

TKTS continues to be a gateway for theatregoers attending their first Broadway or Off Broadway show. The exciting urban fellowship at TKTS— people from the world over lining up to purchase tickets to a large variety of shows— remains as popular as it was when TKTS first opened on June 25, 1973. It is clear that

TKTS is as valuable a service as ever, proven by the fact that this fiscal year showed the highest number of TKTS admissions in the service’s 39-year history. For the 2011–12 fiscal year, TKTS was responsible for 1.82 million admissions. These ticket sales made it possible for TDF to return over $128 million in revenue to 216 productions. Our “TKTS Patron Services” program, whereby specially trained representatives were present at all three TKTS Booths, continues to help make the TKTS experience more pleasant for both first-time and veteran theatregoers. The “Play Express” window at the Times Square Booth, where there is rarely a wait to purchase tickets, has become a popular attrac-

Our TKTS app shows patrons, in real time, what shows are available for sale. This helps patrons choose the shows they want to see before reaching the ticket windows, expediting the process. The app also links to TDF’s popular “show search” feature and the online theatre magazine, TDF Stages. Since TKTS first opened for business, 57.3 million theatre admissions have been sold at a discount to theatregoers from the United States and abroad. These TKTS admissions represent over $1.8 billion in revenue returned to thousands of theatre, dance and music productions.

TKTS bEST SEllERS broadway Chicago How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying Jersey Boys Mamma Mia! Mary Poppins Memphis The Phantom of the Opera Priscilla: Queen of the Desert Sister Act Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark Off broadway Avenue Q Blue Man Group The Fantasticks Freud’s Last Session Million Dollar Quartet NEWSical Perfect Crime Rent Stomp Traces

Times Square: Father Duffy Square, Broadway and 47th Street Lower Manhattan: South Street Seaport, corner of Front and John Streets Downtown Brooklyn: 1 MetroTech Center Admissions: 1,872,001 $ Amount returned to productions: $128,731,101 Productions sold: 216 (69 Broadway, 142 Off Broadway, 5 Dance)

“I’ve been using TKTS ever since I moved to New York, and today I’m thrilled to be taking my niece and nephew from Tampa to see their first Broadway show.” —Steven Birkeland, TKTS Patron

tdf TheaTre aCCeSS proJeCT (Tap) TAP: THE FACTS

An autism-friendly performance of Mary Poppins

TDF Accessibility Programs, also known as TAP, is Theatre Development Fund’s invitation to the performing arts for people with physical disabilities, as well as individuals on the autism spectrum. TAP arranges for special discount tickets for orchestra seating to be made available to theatregoers who are hard of hearing or deaf, partially sighted, blind, require aisle seating for medical reasons, use wheelchairs or cannot climb stairs. For children and adults on the autism spectrum and their accompanying family, friends or guardians, TDF buys out the entire house and makes tickets available at a discount, with varied pricing, in all seating areas of the theatre. Autism Theatre Initiative (ATI)

This past year, TAP provided another “first” when it launched the Autism Theatre Initiative 9

A signed and open captioned performance of Broadway’s Sister Act for TAP’s Access for Young Audiences program

(ATI) by presenting an autismfriendly performance of Disney’s The Lion King on October 2, 2011. The show performed in a friendly, supportive environment for an audience of families and friends with children or adults who are diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or other sensitivity issues. This first performance was so successful that TDF presented an autism-friendly performance of Mary Poppins on April 29, 2012, scheduled future The Lion King performances and is consulting with theatres across the United States on how to best serve this underserved audience. Open Captioned and American Sign language Interpreted Performances

This year marked TAP’s 32nd season of American Sign Language (ASL) interpreted

performances and its 15th season of open captioned performances of Broadway and Off Broadway shows for people with hearing loss. Open captioning continues to grow in popularity, especially among individuals who experience hearing loss later in life. National Open Captioning Initiative (NOCI)

Through its National Open Captioning Initiative (NOCI), TDF offers a limited number of two-year regional theatre partnerships to sponsor open captioned performances and help increase attendance on a national level for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. Access for Young Audiences

Access for Young Audiences, TAP’s theatre enrichment program, now in its 17th year, offers tri-state elementary and

secondary school students the opportunity to attend accessible Broadway performances. For these mostly first-time theatregoers who are hard of hearing or deaf, TDF provides sign language interpreting and simultaneous open captioning. For students who have low vision or are blind, audio description is provided at special performances. TAP sends a teaching artist into the classroom to prepare students before attending their first Broadway show. This program is offered at no cost to the school.

Total TAP ticket admissions: 8,929 (28 Broadway productions, 37 Off Broadway productions) Open captioned admissions: 1,097 Sign language interpreted admissions: 224 Access for Young Audiences: 1,477 students from 65 participating schools TAP Plus: 9 organizations received grants totaling $41,869 National Open Captioning Initiative (NOCI): TAP sponsored 68 open captioned performances in 10 regional theatres across the United States.

TAP Plus

In partnership with the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA), TDF is strengthening its commitment to increase accessibility for people with hearing loss through the re-granting program TAP Plus. This program has provided funding for open captioning services to eligible cultural organizations throughout New York State since 1999, enabling an underserved constituency to enjoy the unique cultural experiences provided by these institutions.

“My 8-year-old daughter is legally blind/visually impaired and had always refused to go to theatre and film because it was difficult for her to enjoy the performance. But we’ve attended several TDF audio described performances, and she’s loved every one. It makes all the difference in the world!” — Ann Marie Prevost, TAP member since 2006

tdf eDuCaTIon proGramS

Students at a TDF/CUNY Production Process talk

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. During the 2011-12 fiscal year, TDF’s in-depth arts education programs—Stage Doors, Residency Arts Project (RAP), Open Doors and Youth Theatre Initiative (YTI)—served nearly 6,000 students in middle and high schools throughout New York City. Stage Doors provides students

with an in-depth introduction to live theatre. Each class attends a Broadway or Off Broadway performance and participates in eight in-class workshops to prepare for the theatregoing experience and

2012 RAP graduates from Marble Hill High School

reflect on the performance. This program, TDF’s largest arts education program, is offered at no cost to the schools. Residency Arts Project (RAP)

is TDF’s intensive playwriting program, which integrates the craft of playwriting into the NYC public high school English curriculum. Through extensive collaboration, a TDF teaching artist and partnering classroom teacher develop a tailored playwriting curriculum, with 12 workshops per semester and professional productions as models, to broaden students’ creative expression and encourage artistic risks. Each RAP residency culminates with select student plays being given staged readings by professional actors in an Off Broadway theatre.

RAP Summer Intensive Scholarship (RSIS) provides

select graduates of TDF’s RAP playwriting program the opportunity to engage in a two-week summer intensive workshop, attend two plays on or Off Broadway and interview professional playwrights. RSIS culminates in a staged reading of the original works. The following week, school teachers from across the city attend a weeklong version to provide new techniques in playwriting as they engage in the RAP program at their school. Open Doors operates on the

belief of its co-founder, playwright Wendy Wasserstein, that “theatregoing is the birthright of every New Yorker.” Through Open Doors, dedicated theatreand dance professionals each

TDF Open Doors students with their mentor Director/Choreographer Kathleen Marshall

mentor eight underserved New York City high school students and bring their groups to six Broadway and/or Off Broadway performances over the course of the school year. For this, Open Doors’ 14th year, there were over two dozen mentors working with groups of students from 21 high schools throughout New York City. This year’s TDF Open Doors mentors were: Adam Bock, Mark Brokaw, Kathleen Chalfant, Rachel Chanoff, Kirsten Childs, Graciela Daniele, Alan Eisenberg, Scott Ellis, Miguel Gutierrez, David Henry Hwang, Scott Landis, James Lapine, Robert Longbottom, Aubrey Lynch, Joe Mantello, Kathleen Marshall, Lynn Nottage, Derek McLane, Marc Platt, Frank Rich/Alex Witchel,

Tom Schumacher, Rachel Sheinkin, Tracey Scott Wilson, David Zippel. Youth Theatre Initiative (YTI) is TDF’s after-school arts

education program aimed at students who have a strong interest in theatre, writing and performing. Classes are conducted by a TDF teaching artist working in cooperation with a classroom teacher. Students meet weekly at their high school and also attend a production of another NYC youth theatre group as an inspiration. The semesterlong program culminates with a performance of a new work that the students produce, direct and perform. YTI is offered at no cost to the school.

STAGE DOORS: THE FACTS Number of participating students: 5,000 Number of participating schools: 68 Shows attended by students: War Horse, The Nightmare Story, Stickfly, The Blue Flower, My Children! My Africa!, Once, Peter and the Starcatcher OPEN DOORS: THE FACTS Number of participating students: 168 Number of participating schools: 21 RAP: THE FACTS Number of participating students: 450 Number of participating schools: 8 Shows attended by students: Stickfly, 4000 Miles

Playwrights Lucy Thurber and Adam Bock talk to students at Brooklyn College

PxP (Play by Play), now in

its 16th year of publication, is New York City’s only theatre magazine written by and for teens. Published quarterly, PxP is distributed free of charge to students, teachers, and the arts-in-education and theatre communities. A teacher guide is provided to enhance the PxP experience in the classroom. PxP online, the PLOG (play + blog) at www.tdf.org/ PxP, has allowed PxP to expand the range of access for NYC teens to NYC theatre.

DOE Partnership

TDF partnered with the NYC Department of Education (DOE) and the Gershwin Foundation to provide workshops for 1605 students from 24 schools who were attending the new Broadway production of Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess. 11

YOUTH THEATRE INITIATIVE (YTI): THE FACTS Number of participating students: 120

Stage Doors students at Broadway’s Peter and the Starcatcher

Number of participating schools: 6 Shows attended by students: The Nightmare Story, Sugarhouse and the Edge of the Wilderness, The Possibility Project, Renaissance in the Belly of a Killer Whale

PxP, TDF’s theatre magazine written by and for teens

“TDF’s Stage Doors allows me to bring theatre arts into my classroom. Without it, my students would never have exposure to one of the cultural riches their city offers.” —K.A. Keener, Teacher, Bronx Community High School

“The show that took the breath out of me was Katori Hall’s Hurt Village. In it I saw my own life on stage. It was too painful. I was so grateful to have my Open Doors group, especially my mentor Adam Bock, for his support.” —Marquan White, Senior, Brooklyn High School for the Arts, Open Doors Program

PxP (Play by Play): THE FACTS Circulation: 55,000 per issue

tdf CoSTume ColleCTIon TDF COSTUME COllECTION: THE FACTS

TDF/Irene Sharaff Awards

The staff of TDF’s Costume Collection in their new home at the Kaufman Astoria Studios

Theatre Development Fund’s Costume Collection provides professionally designed costumes primarily to not-forprofit organizations nationwide. Based on a sliding scale, the reasonable rental rates not only allow fledgling companies to mount more professionallooking shows but also help organizations to produce a greater number of new works by keeping production costs down. Performing arts companies, colleges and universities, middle and high schools, and community and charitable groups are among those eligible to take advantage of all the TDF Costume Collection has to offer. The Costume Collection houses more than 80,000 costumes and accessories, and much of

2012 TDF/Irene Sharaff Awardees

its inventory is contributed by Broadway and Off Broadway productions, opera companies, touring productions and individuals. This past year, the TDF Costume Collection received donations from the Broadway productions of The Little Mermaid and Follies, the Off Broadway production of the concert version of Company, the Off Broadway productions of Dogfight and The Blue Flower, the Metropolitan Opera, items from the personal collection of legendary Tony Awardwinning clown/actor Bill Irwin, including pieces from Fool Moon. Other sizeable donations came from Spoleto Festival USA, Temple University, City Center Encores, and major regional companies, including

Papermill Playhouse and Act II Playhouse. The TDF Costume Collection moved into its new home at the Kaufman Astoria Studios and re-opened in the new facility on November 14, 2011. Customers are amazed by the bright and open space. Several tenants of the Kaufman Astoria Studios have used the TDF Costume Collection’s services for their productions, including a film directed by James Gray, starring Jeremy Renner, Marion Cotillard, and Joaquin Phoenix, and the upcoming ABC series 666 Park Avenue.

The TDF/Irene Sharaff Awards honor excellence in the world of theatrical costume design by presenting five awards: Lifetime Achievement Award, Young Master Award, Artisan Award, Memorial Tribute and Robert L. B. Tobin Award for Sustained Excellence in Theatrical Design. The awards this year were in celebration of designers in education. This year, the legendary scenic designer Lloyd Burlingame was presented with the Robert L. B. Tobin Award for Sustained Excellence in Theatrical Design. The TDF/Irene Sharaff Lifetime Achievement Award was given to the Tony Award-nominated costume designer Carrie Robbins; Mathew J. LeFebvre received the Young Master Award; Author/Designer Lynn Pecktal received the Artisan Award; William and Jean Eckart were the honorees of the TDF/Irene Sharaff Memorial Tribute. The awards were presented during a reception at the Hudson Theatre on May 4, 2012. This ceremony was generously underwritten by The Tobin Theatre Arts Fund.

Number of organizations served: 424 (289 performing arts organizations, 95 universities and colleges, 40 secondary schools) Number of states served: 28 Number of productions mounted: 854 (128 musicals, 441 plays, 55 operas, 6 dance productions, 42 films, 29 other/special events, 153 commercial productions)

“The TDF Costume Collection is my greatest resource when I am costuming Off Broadway and regional productions. I know I’m going to find treasures there, and their incredible staff is key in helping me uncover those treasures!” —Martha Hally, Costume Designer

tdf auDIenCe DevelopmenT TDF/CUNY Partnership: bEAT (bridging Education and Theatre) TDF enjoyed the second year of its partnership with CUNY, the nation’s leading urban public university. The program is called BEAT (Bridging Education and Theatre), and it is an initiative designed to provide access to New York City’s performing arts through a wide range of access, education and ticket programs specifically designed by TDF, tailored to the needs of the entire CUNY community of students and faculty. Since 80 percent of CUNY students remain in New York City after graduation, this partnership will help them become lifelong theatregoers, able to enjoy and participate in a vital and vibrant part of the cultural life of New York City. TDF and CUNY share unique roles in New York City, with long traditions of education and the arts, enriching millions each year—CUNY, through educating over half a million academic credit, adult, continuing and professional education students at 24 campuses, and TDF, which serves over one million New Yorkers and visitors each year through its TKTS Discount Booths, membership, education and access programs. 13

For its second year, BEAT involved programming on eight CUNY campuses. Eventually, TDF intends to be represented on every CUNY campus. A TDF benefit in support of the program honored CUNY Chancellor Matthew Goldstein and internationally known Brooklyn College graduate Jimmy Smits. TDF.ORG and TDF STAGES TDF’s Web site, TDF.org, is one of the theatre’s most popular destinations, attracting more than 6 million visitors each month. The site’s editorial content, fully searchable show listings, information about ticket availability and purchasing procedures and options, and accessibility information for theatregoers with physical disabilities all work to integrate all facets of TDF’s mission. Visitors may be aware of just one of TDF’s many programs, but by surfing the site, they are exposed to the full range of TDF’s activities. Our programs and activities are varied, but they all have one goal: to advance live theatre and dance. TDF Stages, which is TDF’s online magazine, is designed to give audiences an exclusive look behind the scenes of theatre and dance productions

in New York City and beyond. The magazine focuses especially on craft, exploring how artists from every realm of live performance create and perfect their work. TDF Stages posts up to four exclusive items per week— including features, videos, Q&As, profiles and slide shows—and this year, the magazine has expanded its reach with a weekly, personalized newsletter from editor Mark Blankenship. Sent to both TDF members and general readers who have signed up for an online subscription, the newsletter highlights recent TDF Stages stories and engages readers with weekly questions. The answers to these questions are published the following week, and they have generated consistent, fascinating conversations. Currently, the newsletter—which always directs readers back to TDF Stages and TDF.org—is read by an average of 19,000 people per week. New Audiences for New York (NANY) In 2009, TDF launched a new audience development initiative, “New Audiences for New York,” which was designed to build new audiences for Broadway among diverse and

underrepresented New Yorkers across the City. For this third year, the NANY program was funded by a grant from the City of New York Theater Subdistrict Council Local Development Corporation and the City of New York. TDF selected 18 community groups located throughout the city to participate in this new initiative. Each participating group had the opportunity to attend two productions at prices they could afford. Each performance was preceded and followed by a moderated discussion with a TDF teaching artist, as well as a TDF-trained group leader from each of the organizations. The program includes student, community, senior, religious and other groups from all five boroughs.

artists and arts organizations. The goal is to develop “highend” audience development software solutions and tools that will be available to arts organizations at no or very low cost, leveling the field for all arts organizations. Currently, Project Audience is beta testing a prototype Web site for gathering and distributing cultural event information from arts presenters and organizations across Southern California. It has scheduled further implementations in other regions of the U.S. over the next year. Project Audience provides an opportunity for the community of arts and culture professionals and their patrons to work together, sharing cultural event information and measuring participation and interest.

Project Audience TDF is on the Project Audience Oversight Committee of this national audience development initiative funded by the Mellon Foundation. Project Audience is focused on developing new technologies to help community-wide arts service organizations become centers for vibrant interaction and information about cultural activities among audience members,

LaGuardia College students at TDF/CUNY Production Process talk

tdf honorS

tdf Gala

TDF Board with the Tony Honor for Excellence in the Theatre

Victoria Bailey accepts the Mayor’s Award for Arts and Culture from Mayor Bloomberg

Broadway star Billy Porter hosts TDF’s gala in support of BEAT

In addition to having a smash year in terms of theatre admissions and program development, we were honored that both the City and our colleagues showed their appreciation for our work with special recognition.

the Theatre. The Tony Honors for Excellence in the Theatre were established in 1990 and are awarded annually to institutions, individuals and/ or organizations that have demonstrated extraordinary achievement in theatre but are not eligible in any of the established Tony Award categories.

With a commitment to continue the exciting, new TDF/CUNY partnership named BEAT (Bridging Education and Theatre), TDF hosted a benefit gala honoring CUNY graduates Chancellor Matthew Goldstein and actor Jimmy Smits on December 1, 2011, at CUNY’s Graduate TDF Chairman Earl D. Weiner and honoree Jimmy Smits Center. Mr. Goldstein, a graduate of City College, and Mr. Smits, a graduate of Brooklyn College, along with the 250 attendees, were entertained by some of Broadway’s most talented performers. The show was hosted by Billy Porter, and there was a special performance by Eden Espinosa, with special appearances by Julie Halston and Priscilla Lopez.

In the fall, Theatre Development Fund was named as an awardee of the 2011 Mayor’s Award for Arts and Culture. The award was presented to TDF’s Executive Director Victoria Bailey by Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Alec Baldwin in a ceremony at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall on November 1, 2011. The award acknowledges the role TDF plays in the public-private partnerships that sustain the City’s

creative vitality and economic well-being. TDF was certainly in terrific company, with other recipients being Mikhail Baryshnikov, Artistic Director, Baryshnikov Arts Center; Alice Diamond, Arts Advocate; Jimmy Heath, Musician and Educator; Maya Lin, Artist; Ronnie Schuster, Principal, P.S. MO94; and Stephen Sondheim, who was the 2011 NYC Handel Medallion Recipient. As if that wasn’t exciting enough, it was announced in the spring of 2012 that TDF’s Open Doors program, which was originally founded by TDF with Wendy Wasserstein, would receive a special Tony Honor for Excellence in

The honor was presented by Theodore Chapin, Chairman of the American Theatre Wing, and accepted by longtime TDF Open Doors mentor Scott Ellis, on behalf of TDF, at a reception the evening before the Tony Awards. It was a very exciting night for everyone at TDF.

The evening was a huge success and launched TDF’s dedication to presenting an annual gala in support of a different TDF program each year. 14

tdf BoarD oF TruSTeeS anD STaFF TDF bOARD

Chairmen Emeriti

Officers

August Heckscher (1967) John E. Booth (1967-70) George Backer (1970-73) Stephen Benedict (1973-75; 1987-90) Anna E. Crouse (1975-77; 1981-84) Lloyd Richards (1977-81) Edwin Wilson (1984-87) David D. Holbrook (1990-97; 2005-08) John F. Breglio (1997-2005)

Earl D. Weiner Chairman Barbara R. Biben Vice Chairman Sandra Kresch Vice Chairman Robert T. Goldman Treasurer Deborah Hartnett Secretary Trustees Victoria Bailey Stephen Benedict Amy Chin Wendy Davies Sharon Dunn Bettye R. Fletcher Robert Fried Edes P. Gilbert Don Harrell Meg Herrman David D. Holbrook Howard Kissel Gail Levenstein Pia Lindström Hector Lozada Gwen Marcus Donald F. McDonagh D. Kenneth Patton Penny Peters Charles L. Reinhart William J. Riordan Ruth Sarfaty Alan Z. Senter Eileen S. Silvers Donna Williams Edward N. Wolff 15

Founding Trustees Stephen Benedict John E. Booth (1919-2008) August Heckscher (1913-97) Stuart W. Little (1921-2008) John F. Wharton (1894-1977) TDF STAFF Victoria Bailey Executive Director Michael Naumann Managing Director Stephen Cabral Director of TDF Costume Collection Lisa Carling Director of TDF Accessibility Programs (TAP) William Castellano TKTS Head Treasurer Julian Christenberry Director of National Services and Ticket Programs

Joy Cooper Director of Development David LeShay Director of Communications Daniel Renner Director of Education Doug Smith Director of Web Services Eric Sobel Director of Finance Tymand Staggs MIS Director Thomas Adkins Sarah Aziz Stephen Banovich Patrick Berger Mark Blankenship Angel Blasini Michael Buffer Joseph Cali John Cinelli Fred Collay George Connolly JoAnn Gall Robert Gore Joanne Haas Joseph Haws Craig Henniger Tony Heron Joyce Hinds Jennifer Hurlburt Tina Kirsimae Nesly LaFontant Pierre LaFontant Nicole LaPene Darryl Love Ronnie March Howard Marren Shirley Martignetti Ann Mathieson

Erica McLaughlin Michael McCarthy Ginger Meagher Christophe Mentor Costas Michalopoulos Oleg Mishchenko Joseph Monte Robert Neely Denyse Owens Barbara Palmeri John Palumbo Jane Pfeffer Frances Polino Salvatore Polizzi Richard Price Ann Ramirez Christopher Reichheld Eve Rodriguez Brian Roeder William Roeder Matthew Runion Cheryl Schoonmaker Rajesh Sharma John Sheehan Michele St. Hill Catherine St. Jean Charles Stuis, Jr. Paula Torres Laura Turcinovic Thomas Westerman Julie Williams Michael Yaccarino

“As a leader in the field of services to artists and audiences, TDF is in the forefront, developing programs that bring theatre into the lives of audiences that might not otherwise have had an opportunity. As colleagues, we could not ask for better than the generosity and collaboration that TDF always brings to every meeting and every request. They have enhanced the American Theatre immeasurably.” —Deb Clapp, Executive Director, League of Chicago Theatres

tdf Theatre Development Fund 520 Eighth Avenue Suite 801 New York, NY 10018-6507 Phone (212) 912-9770 Fax (212) 768-1563 Twitter@TDFNYC Facebook.com/TheatreDevelopmentFund TDF.org