NCTC Spring 2020 Newsletter by New Conservatory Theatre Center

OUR HOME FOR AR ORLD & US PREMIER OUTHAWARE QUEER BEHIND-THE-SCENES ALLIED S P R I N G 2 0 2 0 MMUNITY DRAMA C ATIVITY MUSICALS THEATRE NEW DUCATION CLASSES

newsflash! • How are you? We miss seeing you all at NCTC and chatting in the Lobby and Donor Lounge. With our community unable to come together in person, NCTC wants to know what you’re up to these days. Click here to share your thoughts, send us photos, videos and more. Our goal will be to share these anonymously at a later date to encourage and inspire others. • While we regretfully had to cancel our just-opened World Premiere production of The Book of Mountains & Seas at the beginning of this crisis, we simply couldn’t let this beautiful play go without sharing as much of it as possible with our donors and subscribers. Click here for the script (the bottom right button will allow you to read it on the full screen) and here for the video trailer. For more on how NCTC is moving forward at this time, see page 7.

The cast and production staff of The Book of Mountains and Seas. Photo by Lois Tema.

• As of this month, NCTC has been recognized as a San Francisco Legacy Business. The Legacy Business Registry, created in partnership with the city of San Francisco and the preservation nonprofit SF Heritage in response to skyrocketing rents and rising rates of commercial evictions in the city, offers special benefits and protections to “locally-owned, community-serving” businesses that have been in operation for over 30 years. In addition to strengthening the well-established lease at our 25 Van Ness theatre complex, we will now have access to grants available through the SF Legacy Business Historic Preservation Fund. We are proud to hold this special recognition as a local and national leader in the LGBTQ+ arts community. • NCTC in the News: As a long-time key arts institution in San Francisco, our opinion and experience has been sought for a number of publications in the last couple of months. As Shelter In Place Extends, Theatre Companies Strategize for An Uncertain Future by Rotimi Agbabiaka, Theatre Bay Area Bay Area stage actors, coping with canceled shows, point a way forward in the coronavirus era & How you can help Bay Area theater during the coronavirus outbreak by Lily Janiak, SF Chronicle

Rotimi Agbabiaka as Pythio, the nonbinary Oracle from Head Over Heels. Photo by Lois Tema.

• New Conservatory Theatre Center is proud to announce the naming of the Tucker Theatre, in honor of the incredible generosity of Mr. Ted Tucker. Read more about the unveiling on page 10. • During week 1 of shelter-in-place, the NCTC staff looked for ways to stay Safe & Entertained while stuck at home. This effort blossomed into a huge list of resources for everything from home exercise to media recommendations, and of course, ways to engage with theatre. We are finding it so fun and useful, and we wanted to share it with you! Click the link here to view and enjoy. If you have anything you think belongs on here, send it to us in an email to development@nctcsf.org and we’ll add it in!

• The Youth Conservatory at NCTC is our inspiration during this time. The hilarity and humanity of creative kids shows us the attitude necessary to make the best of it all. In just about a week, our Conservatory pivoted gracefully to all online classes using zoom and other digital tools, providing much needed connection and activity for our students. The best part? We’re all virtual, so absolutely anyone can participate. If you have any young ones in your life that want to learn about performance, let them know about our classes. Oh, and the kids want to say hi to you: click here for a video.

• Give OUT Day, a national day of giving for the LGBTQ+ community usually held in late April, has been postponed to June 30. We plan to take part in that online event, but many in the NCTC community have asked how they can be of help at this crucial time. To that end, NCTC is proud to announce participation in #GivingTuesdayNow, an emergency global giving movement on May 5. We hope you will join us with a gift to help us carry forward with our mission. • The 2020-21 Season has been announced! You can view the season brochure here. For more info on next season, see page 14. • In the past year, NCTC welcomed our newest Encore Society members: Andrew Smith & Brian Savard, and Jonathan Domash & Stewart Kramer. Andrew & Brian are long-time NCTC subscribers and supporters and have been involved as members of our Producers Circle for several years. Additionally, Andrew has been a member of our Board of Directors since 2015 and has served as our Board Chair since 2018. They’ve sponsored several hit productions at NCTC as Executive Producers, including The View Upstairs, When Pigs Fly, warplay, and Buyer & Cellar. and hosted a number of fundraising events in support of NCTC at their Marin county home. Jonathan & Stewart hail from the South Bay and both worked at Stanford University for many years. They have attended and supported NCTC productions for well over a decade, and have recently joined the Encore Society as a part of their giving plans to NCTC. Thank you for setting the stage for NCTC’s future! For more information on the Encore Society, click here.

NC TV 6

LIVE AT FIVE

MAY 1 NEVER HAVE I EVER WITH

ED DECKER & CHARLES BUSCH

MAY 8 PUPPET PARTY WITH

CHRIS AND MELISSA MORRELL

FRIDAYS AT 5PM Once you’ve wrapped up your work week, tune into our Facebook page for a little fun. Starting May 1st, we will have a new livestream every Friday at 5pm. We look forward to seeing you there! May 1: Never Have I Ever with Ed Decker & Charles Busch NCTC Founding Artistic Director Ed Decker chats with Charles Busch, author of such plays as Die, Mommie, Die!, Red Scare on Sunset, Vampire Lesbians of Sodom, and the upcoming play in our 20-21 Season, The Confession of Lily Dare. May 8: Puppet Party with Chris and Melissa Morrell It’s a puppet lesson with a glam rock twist led by Hedwig and the Angry Inch director Chris Morrell and his wife Melissa. Get ready to rock out with your socks out! Additional Friday programming to be announced. Join our Facebook Event to find out how to tune in!

Our

vision is that theatre is a community event and a way to build community.

The first time I skied a black diamond was a low visibility, “white-out” day with fog and snow coming down. My friend, a much better skier, led me to the top of a black diamond run, one of the most difficult rated runs on that mountain. I couldn’t even see the sign marking it as such until it was too late to do anything but try to go down. Since my vision was limited to the 5 feet in front of me, I couldn’t tell how long the hill was, how steep, or the texture of the snow ahead of me. All I could do was breathe deeply and focus on the feet right in front of me. Slowly, and with a few falls, I made it down intact.

The ski run in question, Geronimo at Big Bear Mountain, CA.

Later that afternoon, the fog burnt off and the snow cleared to sunny, bluebird skies. On a lift, I finally saw the true degree of that same slope. I realized I had met a challenge greater than I thought I was capable of, simply by trusting myself enough to get through the next 5 feet, and the next 5 feet after that. Navigating this time sheltering in place, both personally and professionally, has sometimes felt like that day. With circumstances shifting underneath us all, I’ve taken to setting my focus on what is next for us at NCTC, day by day. While we may not know what exactly lies in the months ahead, our vision is clear: the theatre we make is by and for our community. I cer-

8 our Conservatory Parents: From

“I want to thank you deeply from the bottom of my heart for all the effort you and the rest of the NCTC staff have put into staying connected, creative and hopeful during this hard time.” - Natalie T. “We are all very grateful to you for sharing your heart and talent with our kids—we see their growth and joy.” - Ruthie S.

tainly feel the loss of the daily company of our community in the Donor Lounge and the Lobby, but I know you are all still there, waiting to return to our shared artistic home.

In the meantime, NCTC is meeting this moment with incredible creativity and optimism. One only has to look at the work of the Conservatory, who in just 1 week transitioned to online, Zoom based classes. Right now, the next generation of our artists are being homegrown. We will continue to be there for our NCTC family by sharing content to bring you peace of mind, make you smile, bring it back to art, keep you busy at home, and provide some live entertainment while we’re at it. In some ways, we’ve prepared for these circumstances. Throughout our 39 years of theatrical excellence, the company has seen its fair share of turbulent times. A few years ago we created a strategic giving program called Future Stages, wherein donors make non-binding multi-year gifts in order to sustain NCTC’s programs and operations over the longer term. These planned gifts are now helping us stay afloat so we can re-open our doors in a position of strength as soon as we are able. If you are a donor, at any level, who would like to make this kind of commitment, please contact me at 415.694.6158 or at andreap@nctcsf.org. Moving forward in this pandemic means investing in our future, and we hope you will join us and help sustain our work. We also want to make sure our giving family knows what implications this situation has for them as donors. While the CARES Act was just a first step in addressing the financial situation, it has some important provisions for donors to note. Firstly, it provides a $300 “above the line” tax deduction for charitable gifts made in 2020 ($600 for couples filing jointly). Even if you don’t itemize your charitable contributions and take the standard deduction, you can still deduct that amount from

your adjusted gross income (AGI), whether you’ve given that amount already or will do so by year’s end. The legislation has also removed the itemized charitable deduction limit for this year. Previously, individuals could deduct donations up to 60% of their AGI. Now, donors are able to deduct contributions up to 100% of their AGI. This benefits donors who would like to make a large gift this year with the most advantageous tax circumstances, either for cash gifts or gifts of long term capital gains assets.* As you are in our hearts and minds during this time, we hope NCTC is in yours as well. We’ll all get through these challenges in community and in solidarity with one another. With your support, NCTC will be there to welcome you home. We’re all working for that day when the Lobby is once again full of joyful conversation, hugs of recognition between friends, and a good drink or two shared in good company. When we can put away the ghost light and turn on our stage lights once more, it will be because of the unwavering support of the NCTC family. Thank you for being a part of that. With deep appreciation,

Andrea Partridge

Director of Individual Giving P.S. If you have questions about how NCTC is moving through this period, or if you just miss me as much as I miss you, drop me a line! My inbox is open and my phone is on. E: andreap@nctcsf.org P: 415.694.6158 *More information can be found at these sources: https://wish. org/stimulus, https://www.schgroup.com/resource/blog-post/ how-did-the-cares-act-change-charitable-deductions/ Information provided is not intended as legal or financial advice. We encourage you to contact your tax and financial advisors for all matters relating to 2020 changes in charitable giving deductions with regards to the CARES Act.

DECKER 10

WALKER

TUCKER

NCTC LOOKING FORWARD

thrilled to celebrate Mr. Tucker’s generosity with a permanent theatre in his name that will carry us through the next 40 years and beyond.

Ted says, “Having a theatre with my name on it is overwhelming, and something I never imagined.”

Those

primarily

familiar

with our mainstage season may not realize that our basement complex has not two but three full theatres. As you approach Mason’s Bar for a preshow or intermission cocktail, look down the hallway to your right to find our third theatre’s entrance. In recognition of Mr. Ted Tucker’s transformative and substantial long-term gift, New Conservatory Theatre Center is proud to announce the naming of our black box theatre. On December 30, 2019, an intimate group of NCTC Board members and staff gathered to witness this momentous occasion and toast to Mr. Tucker and NCTC’s continued future as the region’s premiere Queer & Allied theatre company. Re-christened the Tucker Theatre, this serves as the main playing space for our children’s Conservatory program, the inceptive program of NCTC started by Ed Decker in 1981. As we approach our 40th year in 2021, we are

Mr. Tucker’s giving is emblematic of that forward-thinking spirit. He has committed his support in the long-term as the inaugural member of NCTC’s visionary giving program, Future Stages. Members of Future Stages make multiyear commitments to support NCTC at their current level or beyond. The ability to look ahead at future funding sources has been immeasurably helpful in building the kind of budget projections that establish sustainable growth for our programs and the security needed to bring long-term projects, like world premiere commissions, to our stages every season. For our Future Stages donors, it carries the added benefit of allowing the opportunity to focus their ex-

Guests gather at the theatre’s entrance to reveal the new name.

periences at NCTC on engaging with the art through workshops, readings, and behind the scenes opportunities – not on fundraising. Although Mr. Tucker has attended NCTC off and on for some time, he has in more recent years become a subscriber thanks to the encouragement from his good friends and long-time subscribers Dennis Setlock, Max Subervi, and Larry Klein. After using friends’ tickets while they were travelling, Ted “started to appreciate the quality and the content of the productions – and realized what a treasure it is for the Bay Area. There’s no other theatre company like it.”

“Once I realized what a valuable resource NCTC is, I wanted to help ensure its sustainability,” he continued. We hope others will follow suit and consider adopting a multiyear giving plan with Future Stages. It is the next step in building a sustainable financial foundation for our work so that NCTC can continue to serve the community for years to come. For more information on Future Stages, please contact Director of Individual Giving Andrea Partridge at andreap@nctcsf.org, or at 415.694.6158. We welcome you to be a sustaining part of NCTC’s legacy and future.

Ted with friends Dennis Setlock, Max Subervi, Larry Klein, and Ed Decker at the naming event.

13 We wanted to take a moment to extend our heartfelt gratitude and acknowledge the incredible support of our Producers Circle, and in particular, those who gave their support to productions that were unable to go forward. Below are the Season Producers, Executive Producers, and Producers of the final shows in our 2019-20 Season.

SEASON PRODUCERS Alvin Baum & Robert Holgate Michael Golden & Michael Levy Ted Tucker Lowell Kimble

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS

The Bob A. Ross Foundation

Mr. Alan Ferrara & Dr. Allan P. Gold Bill Gregory Dave Madsen & Rick Norris Alan Mattacola Andrew Nance & Jim Maloney

Andrew Smith & Brian Savard Jim Taul & Dave Hopmann

PRODUCERS Gary Demyen & Les Partridge Frank Yellin & Mark Showalter

PRODUCERS Erwin Kelly Andrew Leas & Bong Villa-Leas Bennet Marks & Kim Harris

Your stories.

Our stage. Find it all at NCTC.

Click here for more information on the shows!

“The immediacy of theatre invites us all to lean into the rich variety of 15 experiences that make us human. Whether it be an adventure to someplace new, a walk down memory lane, travels upon the trails of love lost and won, or simply a nudge towards the unexpected. As we all hunker down to help curb the spread of Covid-19, let’s take some comfort in looking ahead to the stories we will share together when this crisis is behind us.” - NCTC FOUNDER & ARTISTIC DIRECTOR ED DECKER

This season has two world premieres, a legendary rock musical, a timeless classic and three regional premieres, all carrying forward the NCTC hallmark of stories that enlighten, enrich and entertain. If you are a member of our Producers Circle, please let us know what show you’d like to select for next season! Contact Director of Individual Giving Andrea Partridge at andreap@nctcsf.org or 415.694.6158. You can find more about our Producers Circle here. Those of you who are already subscribers will have received personalized renewal information via email. You can also go online to nctcsf.org/subscribe for more information and to purchase a subscription. Please note that we will be upgrading seating in the Walker Theatre. Your equivalent seats have been reserved and are noted on your renewal email. If you have any questions, please contact us at boxoffice@nctcsf.org or 415.861.8972. With circumstances surrounding the future of live performances in the coming months continuing to shift, some may not feel ready to renew their subscription just yet. We completely understand and support anyone’s decision to wait. We are asking, however, that those who usually make annual gifts at this time consider making their contribution separately, so that NCTC can sustain revenues through this period and, when circumstances permit, return to making the soul-moving art that is sorely missed. For now, we are proceeding with caution, optimism, and imagination. Our next season will be a homecoming for our community, and we’re looking forward to seeing you there.