Remembering Doric

As we look at the importance of documenting and archiving this month, we are reminded of the contributions of the pioneers who founded the OOB movement and are so thankful for their bravery and commitment.

Doric Wilson receives the 2007 Artistic Achievement Award




Applications are currently being accepted for the 2014 Honorary Awards. Help us recognize the amazing work, artists, companies, leaders, and champions that make up Off-Off-Broadway.

Get Archiving!

This month we are very excited to dedicate our blog to archiving. 

For decades Off-Off-Broadway shows have come and gone. Many without much fanfare, press or enduring record of their existence. Artifacts and evidence of an entire generation of theatrical work is being discarded even as we post this. Personal collections of programs, photos and posters are moldering away in the back of closets or warping in old file cabinets. As venues shutter or companies disband or people move on, many of these historical items are being lost. 

We encourage all OOB companies and artists to start archiving today. Documenting our productions is not only important now, but for generations to come.

This month we are so excited to host a number of theatrical historians and archivists including:

• Trav S.D., Vaudeville Historian
• Tiffany Nixon, Archivist for the Roundabout Theatre Company
• Arminda Thomas, Curator for the Ruby Dee/Ossie Davis Archives
• Ozzie Rodriguez, LaMaMa Archivist
• Frank Kuzler, Executive Director of DecadesOut

and others

And we will conclude this month with a very exciting announcement. We're so excited that we can hardly wait to share it with you.

April Fools Day

"A fool thinks himself to be wise, but a wise man knows himself to be a fool."
                          ~ William Shakespeare

"The most difficult character in comedy is that of the fool, and he must be no simpleton that plays that part."
                        ~ Miguel de Cervantes

 "Failure is unimportant. It takes courage to make a fool of yourself."
                      ~ Charlie Chaplin

OOB Resource Wrap Up

We are so excited that we were able to share so many useful resources with you this month. We would like to thank everyone who weighed in and let us know about their favorites.

Here is a recap of some of our Favorite OOB Resources:

• Favorite Indie Theatre Blogs
• Favorite OOB Websites
• Favorite OOB Ticket Outlets
• Theatrical Unions & Guilds
• Favorite OOB Job Listing Sites
• Favorite OOB Advocacy Groups
• Favorite OOB Production Material Resources
• Favorite OOB Funding Resources
• OOB Support/Service Organizations
• Favorite OOB Resources

If you have additional ideas or stumble across a little known gem, please let us know.

The Arts Stimulate Creativity

“In my own philanthropy and business endeavors, I have seen the critical role that the arts play in stimulating creativity and in developing vital communities….the arts have a crucial impact on our economy and are an important catalyst for learning, discovery, and achievement in our country.”
              ~ Paul G. Allen, Co-Founder, Microsoft

Favorite OOB Resources

There are some invaluable resources that just defy categorization. This list includes champions, services, products, associations and just great resources. Here are some of our favorites:


Indie Theater Now (ITN)
www.indietheaternow.com
ITN is a digital library of the scripts that are being produced now on Indie stages. Not only does this service help preserve these plays, it also helps to promote them, share them to a larger audience and gives you some insight about the playwrights. And plays are available for download for only $1.29. Read more about Indie Theater Now.

United Stages
www.unitedstages.com
United Stages provides professional, low-cost playbills for Off-Off-Broadway. It also offers some great cross-marketing opportunities.

Custom Merchandise
There are companies that produce small batch custom promotional merchandise such as T-Shirts, messenger bags, caps or even iphone covers. It is a great way for OOB companies to create unique products that feature their company logo or a show specific design. Unlike many companies that create merchandise in bulk, which can require a significant upfront cost, there are a couple of sites that offer on-demand or one-off purchasing. Our favorites are:

• cafe press
• Zazzle

Stage Directions Magazine
www.stage-directions.com
Stage Directions covers the "art and technology behind making theatre." It also featured a "Jobs" section, reviews and information on all kinds of theatrical equipment, and a nice resources section for backstage and front of house.
Show Business Weekly
www.showbusinessweekly.com
This performing arts magazine includes: news, reviews and features. Because it is dedicated to helping actors find "success in their careers," it has issues that provides listings for agents, managers and casting directors.

Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts
www.vlany.org
VLA believes that artists and arts organizations deserve the proper counseling to understand legal issues that affect and protect their creative endeavors and when needed, qualified legal representation. They meet this mission by providing, legal services, advocacy and education.

NYC Performing Arts Spaces
nycpaspaces.org
This is a searchable online database of performing arts spaces that are available for rent in NYC.  It includes details such as location, stage dimensions, house size, and much more.

Alliance of Nonprofits (ANI)
www.ani-rrg.org
ANI is a non-profit insurance company for non-profits. The organization is dedicated to providing affordable insurance fort the nonprofit sector.

Actors Welfare Fund 
www.actorsfund.org
"The Fund" is a nonprofit human services organization that supports "everyone in entertainment" - not just actors.  It has some really fantastic programs including: health care services, employment training, housing assistance and financial assistance.
National Performing Arts Convention (NPAC)
www.performingartsconvention.org
NPAC is an coalition of national performing arts service organizations. The goal of this organization is to address the "priority areas" of artists across the country to help build a better environment for the performing arts in America. The focus of their efforts include: advocacy, diversity, education and technology.
American Association of Community Theatre 
www.aact.org
Ok, we know that Off-Off-Broadway is not "Community Theatre," but this is still a great resource. These organizations have an immediate and meaningful impact for neighborhoods and communities and their events can offer a great opportunity to make connections across the country. Their services include: advocacy, research, networking, and participation in festivals.

DCA's NYCultural calendar
www.nyc.gov/portal/site/nycgov/menuitem.6a3b6e0c54cc5afac634761056a09da0/
The DCA not only provides funds, it also has an arts and culture calendar. The great thing about listing your production on their site is that its free, it reaches general public, and it gets picked up and distributed to other NYC community calendars.

Theatre Library Association
www.tla-online.org
If you are a theatre scholar, you should know about the members of the Theatre Library Association. The TLA represents: curators, libraries, historians and archivists. Their list of theatre libraries and archives is great and they have a nice resource list as well.



Do you LOVE a resource that we missed?  Please share it with us.