Weekly Guest Bloggers in 2010

x

We are so excited to introduce a new program. Each week we will invite a member of our community to be a guest blogger. They will post at least one blog (but they can post as many as they like) and respond to your comments and questions.

Our very first guest blogger will be Jeffrey Keenan. A prolific theatre artist and good friend, Jeffrey has seen it all and done it all.


In the seven years between 1997 and 2004, Jeffrey Keenan wrote, directed, produced and/or acted in over 30 professional theatrical productions in and around Washington D.C., including The Shakespeare Theater, The Kennedy Center, The Olney Theater Center, and the Woolly Mammoth Theater Company in addition to refounding and leading in 1997 The Actors’ Theater of Washington (currently Ganymede Arts), to explore and investigate the American GLBT experience. In those seven years, Mr. Keenan’s productions, actors and designers were nominated for numerous Helen Hayes Awards and national Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) Awards. His productions grossed more than $1,000,000 dollars in theaters never larger than 125 seats. The Washington Post once called him “perfection.” In the summer of 2004, he tired of consistent poverty so he sold out. He now works for a Manhattan law firm making more money than he’s ever made before in his entire life. He had the great good fortune to move to Manhattan three years ago and was honored to be asked to write the 2006-2008 New York Innovative Theater Awards shows. Mr. Keenan is thankful every day that he lives in a city with so many incredibly diverse and creative theater artists and he wants some of them to hire him to direct again for those moments when he's not rolling around in his piles and piles of cash.

Jeffrey will be blogging about year-end funding concerns, a topic that affects us all.

Please check back January 4 - 9 to read Jeffrey's blog(s), join the conversation, share your thoughts and maybe discover something new.

x

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

x


Happy Holidays everyone.

We are wishing you all full houses, loads of excellent reviews and many fulfilling OOB creations this year.

Happy New Year!


x

Support us with Letters from Santa

x

Do you have nieces, nephews, children of your own or friends with kids?

If so…. The IT Awards needs you.

We know it is a tough year and most folks don’t have $100 or even $20 to donate. That’s why this year we decided on a fundraiser that is fun, in the holiday spirit and creates so much joy for such a small price.

PERSONALIZED LETTERS FROM SANTA TO YOUR CHILD

Personalized, Addressed to your Child and Postmarked from the North Pole

$5 Personalized typeset letter to your child

$10 Personalized handwritten letter to your child

www.NorthPoleDispatch.com

During this magical and exciting time of year, every child is anticipating their visit from Santa and the joys and surprises of Christmas morning. Enhance their Christmas experience with a handwritten, personalized letter from Santa, addressed to your child and postmarked from the North Pole. Even the most skeptical child will believe the authenticity of this special keepsake.

And if you are really in the holiday spirit, you can really help out by helping us spread the word about this service.

x

New Housing for Actors

x

Crain's Business reported that the Actors Fund will be opening a new 160-unit residential building in Newark, NJ specifically for low income performing and entertainment professionals. The fund is looking for additional real estate in NYC to continue its goal of providing affordable housing for actors.

If you haven't checked it out, the Actors Fund, it is a fabulous organization that understands the difficulties of being a performing artist and provides some really important services. Their mission is to "help all professionals in performing arts and entertainment. The Fund is a safety net, providing programs and services for those who are in need, crisis or transition." They provide all kinds of financial, health care and housing programs.

All OOB actors should be aware of this organization and the kinds of services that they have available. Check out their website for more information.


x

Shop to help the NYIT Foundation!!

If you're avoiding department stores and heading straight to Amazon.com for your 2010 holiday shopping, think of your favorite (and only) New York Innovative Theatre Foundation!

By following the Amazon.com logo via this link on our website to make your purchases, 10% of your purchase is donated to the New York Innovative Theatre Foundation, at no cost to you! It's the simplest way to help the Off-Off Broadway community this holiday season. Spread the word!

2010 holds promising things for all of us - we are so proud to celebrate this community year round, and we thank you for celebrating us!!