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This open letter is sponsored content written by Amy Austin, Publisher Emeritus of Washington City Paper and President of theatreWashington
Dear Washington-Area Friends and Theater Lovers,
As all of us face this unprecedented time, we as a theater industry are reeling from the cancellation and postponement of productions, classes, and events. We’re devastated for the loss of art that may simply go unseen.
Theater brings people together. As theatergoers, you know that gathering in a room together to bear witness is essential to our communities, and you know that we’ve had to make the decision to put that vital activity on hold during the current crisis. We can also tell you that the toll of this decision–on our institutions and the people who work for them–is overwhelming. At the same time, we’re inspired by the value of art and artists during this time: reading, writing, singing, dancing, and creating are some of the most valuable ways that people are spending their time and nourishing themselves.
Some theaters have already begun special campaigns to help their organizations weather the storm. Federal, state, and local governments have stepped in to help those who have lost their jobs and the institutions that have lost revenue. But we all need your support now, more than ever, to ensure the DMV’s cultural life returns with gusto in the months ahead. Here are some ways you can help us:
Make a tax-deductible donation to the theaters you love.We recognize that the uncertainty of this moment weighs heavily on all of us, but for those of you who can, a tax-deductible donation in any amount to a theater you regularly attend would go a long way towards helping keep our organizations afloat and ready to reopen when the crisis has passed. If you have purchased tickets for a performance that is canceled, please consider donating that amount back to the theatre, rather than requesting a refund. The CARES Act includes a tax incentive for individuals who typically do not itemize. You can deduct up to $300–or $600 for joint filers–for donations made to 501(c)(3)s in addition to the standard deduction on your 2020 taxes.
Buy a gift certificate or future season subscription. Theaters will be thrilled to welcome you back into their spaces when it is safe, and we know you’ll continue to be the best audiences in the nation. The purchase of gift certificates or a season subscription to use for future productions is a very real way that you can help now and demonstrate your faith that Washington theater will make a triumphant return.
Support freelance theater-makers through the Taking Care fund.Many of the area’s professional theater-makers—actors, designers, directors, stage managers, box-office staff, choreographers, administrators, technicians, and others—are freelance, part-time, and/or contracted short-term employees. These individuals now face unforeseen financial hardship, like many of our region’s workers. theatreWashington has established a fund for theater professionals who are losing income due to performance cancellations. Please consider making a donation to help the people you see onstage and those who work behind the scenes. More information at theatrewashington.org.
Bring Washington theater into your home. Many theaters are moving their work online, offering streamed performances, classes, workshops, readings, conversations, podcasts, and more. We want to bring theater to you, even if we can’t be physically together. There’s programming to keep children, teens, and adults engaged and entertained. Find a listing of virtual offerings at: theatrewashington.org/athome.
Tell your local, state, and federal legislators that arts organizations need support like any small- or medium-sized business. Let your legislators and local officials know that not-for-profit arts organizations need extraordinary help in these extraordinary times to keep our communities as healthy and dynamic as they were before this crisis. The federal support programs, such as the Payroll Protection Plan, need to be supplemented at the local level with additional grant programs to those already announced (and much appreciated) if performances continue to be cancelled.
We will make it through this crisis together, and with your support, we’ll emerge stronger: more nimble, more creative, and more responsive to the needs of our communities. To that end, we’re all working on new stories to share once our world returns to its new normal. We can’t wait to see you at our theaters when they reopen.
And until then stay safe, stay healthy, and keep sharing your stories!
With gratitude,
Amy Austin, President & CEO, and all of the staff at theatreWashington
theatreWashington is a nonprofit organization serving the professional theater industry of the Washington region, including these partner institutions:
1st Stage
4615 Theatre Company
The Actors’ Center
Adventure Theatre MTC
Alliance for New Music-Theatre
Ally Theatre Company
Anacostia Playhouse
Angel Rose Artist Collective
Annapolis Shakespeare Company
Arcturus Theater Company
Arena Stage
Arts on the Horizon
Atlas Performing Arts Center
Avant Bard Theatre
Best Medicine Rep
Brave Spirits Theatre
Capital Fringe
Compass Rose Theater
Constellation Theatre Company
Convergence Theatre
Creative Cauldron
Discovery Theater
The Edge of the Universe Players 2
The Essential Theatre
ETC Educational Theatre Company
ExPats Theatre
Faction of Fools Theatre Company
Factory 449
First Draft at The Rose Theatre Co.
Flying V
Folger Theatre
Ford’s Theatre
GALA Hispanic Theatre
Guillotine Theatre
Happenstance Theater
The Hub Theatre
Imagination Stage
The IN Series
Infinity Theatre Company
InterAct Story Theatre
The Keegan Theatre
The Kennedy Center
The Klunch
The Laboratory for Global Performance and Politics
Landless Theatre Company
Live Garra Theatre
Longacre Lea
MetroStage
Monumental Theatre Company
Mosaic Theater Company of DC
National Conservatory of Dramatic Arts
National Theatre
NextStop Theatre Company
Nu Sass Productions
Olney Theatre Center
Open Circle Theatre
Perisphere Theatre
Peter’s Alley Theatre Productions
Pinky Swear Productions
Pointless Theatre
Prologue Theatre
the Puppet Co.
Quotidian Theatre Company
Rainbow Theatre Project
Rep Stage
Restoration Stage
Rorschach Theatre
Round House Theatre
SCENA Theatre
Shakespeare Theatre Company
Signature Theatre
Sitar Arts Center
Solas Nua
Spooky Action Theater
Studio Acting Conservatory
Studio Theatre
Synetic Theater
Taffety Punk Theatre Company
Teatro de la Luna
Theater Alliance
Theater J
The Theatre Lab
Theatre Prometheus
Toby’s Dinner Theatre
Traveling Players Ensemble
Unexpected Stage Company
Venus Theatre
Washington Improv Theater
Washington Stage Guild
We Happy Few Productions
The Welders
Wolf Pack Theatre Company
Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Workhouse Theatre
Young Playwrights’ Theater