Until the Curtains Rise: How to Support U.S. Theater Artists

Until the Curtains Rise: How to Support U.S. Theater Artists

By Amanda Finn

The novel Coronavirus-19 shuttered America’s theaters in 2020 and, while there is hope for 2021, the majority of theaters are still closed for in-person performances for the foreseeable future. Nine months into the pandemic, with cast recordings on repeat and recorded plays aplenty online, theater fans are clamoring for new ways to support artists in this difficult time.

Though the holidays are over, it’s never too late to give back to the companies we love and ones we’re just discovering for the first time. No matter where you are in the country there are ways to invest in the arts.

First and foremost, the easiest way to support theater artists is by sharing their current work or donating to crowdsourcing funds. Financial relief for artists has all but dried up, but if you aren’t able to give money be sure to share the fundraising efforts wherever you can. Word of mouth is, of course, a great way to bolster support.

One reason why streaming theater performances can be a great source of support is because those shows inspire us to give back or find other ways to sustain companies and artists. Watching theater even from a distance also reminds us why theater means so much to us. It keeps the arts in front of the mind so, when the arts are live again, seeing them won’t feel so foreign.

While you’re waiting for theaters to reopen, you can still buy gift cards! Even if you can’t see a show right now, you can plan ahead and give local theaters some cash now by purchasing gift cards or certificates to use at a later date. This is also something you can do to support your local businesses as well.

Although the holidays are over, consider giving back to local companies by buying merchandise from them. Many theater artists are also major side hustlers and have opened Etsy or other online shops to support themselves. Seek out those sites to directly support artists wherever they are.

For example, the performers who were laid off at Walt Disney World are finding creative ways to support themselves and fellow former cast members. While slightly different than your average live theater performer, the performing cast members at Disney World are actors too! Crowdsourcing within our own communities is a great way to help everyone stay afloat.

Here are a few more ways you can engage with theaters and artists near and far:

West Coast

• Theater Bay Area is keeping a list of streamed performances in the Bay Area. The page is updated weekly to support the artists and institutions.

• Donations can also be made to support individual Bay Area artists through the Performing Arts Worker Relief Fund.

• The Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, through their WBTT Live! series, is offering free streamed performances as well as interviews with their artists. Videos are being added to the site periodically for audiences to enjoy while the theater is closed.

Midwest

• Since the early days of the pandemic, the Chicago Theatre Workers Relief Fund has been giving back to the community. Through the generous support of donors, artists who are missing their employment can apply for much needed financial assistance.

• Back in the spring of 2019, Chicago artists created a grassroots effort through the Chicago Artists Relief Fund to support the community. Donations are still being accepted so they can continue giving grants as funding becomes available.

South

• The South Florida Theatre League has launched their own artist relief fund for local artists in financial straits. This fund is slightly different than others as it is specifically to be allocated to companies who can then pay anyone who will be laid off or lose wages because of the pandemic.

• In Atlanta, the Atlanta Artist Relief Fund is collecting donations to support artists of all kinds who have lost income because of COVID. They are currently just shy of 13% of their initial funding goal.

East Coast

• The Theatre Artists Relief Fund, supported by the American Theatre Wing, has been providing grants to artists who lost income because of canceled or cutshort productions. Donations to the organization can help sustain the fund as the pandemic continues to ravage the live performance industry.

• Theatre Washington in D.C. is still shy of their $500,000 goal to help as many local out of work theater artists as possible. Grants are still being made available for artists in financial need, but donations are still needed.

• All Arts, based in New York, is supporting a stream of Dael Orlandersmith’s Until the Flood until fall 2023. This moving work showcases the interviews Orlandersmith conducted in Ferguson, Missouri following the death of Michael Brown.

• Every evening at 7:30 p.m. EST a different performance is available to watch on the Metropolitan Opera’s website until 6:30 p.m. EST the following day. While the Met will be closed for public performances through at least September 2021, audiences can enjoy opera from home.

• The Kennedy Center has opened its vast collection of recordings on their platform, the Digital Stage, for anyone to enjoy. You can search their public collection for works and there are new performances added regularly. From full shows to iconic performances from the greats like Audra McDonald and Carol Burnett, there’s something for everyone at the Digital Stage.

Everywhere

• The Folger Shakespeare Library has a great list of places to watch Shakespeare. The performances are available from all over the U.S. as well as the world. Are you missing The Bard? Do you want to see David Tennant in Richard II? Check it out!

• Culture Fix has also curated a list of global performances and these can be broken down by style genre depending on what you’re looking for. Interested in classical music for you but family-style shows for the kids? This is going to be your go-to list.

• Kickstarter has an amazing list of other funds and ways to give back to the artists struggling right now. Consider donating or building steam for these programs so they can continue bringing help where it’s needed.