Two years on, several of these programs remain in limbo, suggesting that systemic change is easier dreamed than done. But other artistic directors are tackling the big questions head on and introducing new programs, offering glimpses into what might be. In conversation with these artistic directors, one trend seems abundantly clear: more equitable access to better opportunities for fewer people.

The Hangar Theatre in Ithaca, N.Y.’s had a fellowship program for actors that was tuition-based. Now the theatre pays participants; whereas the tuition-based model saw a cohort of around 22 young people each summer, the salaried model will accommodate about 15.

Meanwhile, at New York Stage and Film (a partner of Vassar’s Powerhouse Theatre), artistic director Chris Burney, has made dramatic changes after he witnessed the company’s pre-pandemic work culture. “I was shocked,” said Burney, who began at the job in spring 2019. “People were working seven days a week for two months straight. It’s not right, even if it’s fun. It’s not right.” Burney brought all positions at the festival into compliance with state minimum wage laws, which drastically raised intern stipends, and paid for overtime while discouraging workweeks that necessitated it. The company now employs about half of the interns it used to (though not all of the other half disappeared into the ether—some have been moved into staff positions).

And Williamstown Theatre Festival, which as recently as 2019 paid its artistic director more than a quarter of a million dollars a year while employing several dozen unpaid interns and low-paid staff members, has entirely pivoted its operational model. It suspended its internship program and replaced it with smaller, more focused opportunities: in 2021, the Early Career BIPOC Theatre Makers Program, and in 2022, a similar program open to pre-professional theatre artists. Both programs pay stipends and offer room and board, and this years’ program emphasizes a well-rounded theatre education: It will operate “within various departments so participants get a more holistic sense of how theatre is made,” offered interim artistic director Jenny Gersten. Gersten seems genuinely interested in providing hands-on experiences that are of primary benefit to the intern; the new program, she said, “doesn’t require their labor but does allow them to get hands-on experience. And the program combines time in an experiential setting as well as classroom time.”

These companies are leading the charge and walking the walk. But faced with the financial precarity inherent in the industry and exacerbated by the pandemic, it seems unlikely that most other theatre companies that put tuition-based, unpaid, or underpaid entry-level programs on hold will reopen their doors to new crops of well-paid young people. And many of those companies whose programs do revamp and reopen, like WTF and Hangar, plan to sustain their new models with smaller cohorts. All of this adds up to fewer entry-level opportunities in the theatre industry.

DONKEY SALARIES

The unicorn employee: someone with all the skills across a multitude of platforms, isn’t limited by job titles, and efficiently completes tasks at an awe-inspiring pace. They are willing, and even prefer, to wear different hats, inspire colleagues, and never lose empathy.

Unicorns can make the difference between surviving and thriving and perhaps unsurprisingly, they are hard to catch even when you have the right bait.

And this is why it never ceases to surprise me when I come across a job description from a nonprofit arts and culture org that is clearly looking for a unicorn but offering a donkey budget.

Following the pandemic, this has become a bit more common, and I get it; staffs were gutted and the funds to rehire at previous levels doesn’t exist. All of this makes the temptation to offer a little more for unicorn level duties and responsibilities is strong.

All of this is the latest byproduct of a system that has underpaid staffers for decades while expanding the pay gap between entry/middle management and executives at exponential rates. As such, I can’t say any of it is a surprise and while I wish there was a simple solution here, don’t expect much to change until the field begins to make pay equality a priority.

In the meantime, you’ll be more likely to attract the best candidates possible by conducting an honest unicorn to donkey review before posting your next job

OSKAR EUSTIS IS NONPROFIT THEATER’S PANDEMIC PAY CHAMP

https://mailchi.mp/bwayjournal/sprecher-loses-rights-to-rebecca-15042585?e=c0d6480bcc

EXCLUSIVE:

In 2020, a year in which theaters were dark for nine and a half months, Public Theater Artistic Director Oskar Eustis earned $1.15 million in pay and benefits, more than any other nonprofit theater leader in New York.

Eustis’ 10 percent jump in overall compensation — disclosed in the Public’s 2020-21 tax return filed with the New York Attorney General — runs counter to the company’s messaging about pandemic pay. In an April 2020 New York Times story about the cancellation of Shakespeare in the Park and planned staff furloughs, Michael Paulson reported that much of the remaining staff “will take up to a 25 percent pay cut. Eustis will take a 40 percent pay cut.”

The tax return, which details compensation for calendar year 2020, tells a different story. Eustis, one of the highest-profile figures in nonprofit theater since assuming leadership of the storied organization in 2005, was paid $901,000, up from $807,000 in 2019. Benefits and deferred pay were valued at an additional $255,000.

TO PONDER:

Who is the most valuable in a nonprofit?

When should the leader transition to allow for new leaders?

How do you prep your artistic bench?

Interns call your lapsed subscribers…

Why does any of your staff matter?

Every theater artist needs a ghost light!

How do we catch a unicorn?

If you don’t recruit diversity, you will not have diversity in your organization.

Darnelle Radford 8/3/22 Darnelle Radford 8/3/22

TBOT_S01E17 - The Old Ways of Work/Life Balance…Continued.

Today on the podcast, we continue our conversation about work/life balance. We also talk about Fat Ham and The Farm’s rising star, Grant MacDermott!

WORKING TITLE:

FAT HAM SLAYS

REJECTED TITLES:

WORKING SHIT OUT

FAT HAM - Is and Ain’ts

THE FARM - Commissioned Writer, Grant MacDermott and his rising star!

______________________________________________

Too Big NOT to Fail: Nonprofit Arts Behemoths Pre-Post-Pandemic

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/too-big-fail-nonprofit-arts-behemoths-alan-harrison/?trackingId=ZzaptKudQu6xpyqKC5Vweg%3D%3D

TICKETS AND LOTTERY

TKTS - https://www.tdf.org/nyc/8/Locations--Hours?gclid=Cj0KCQjw852XBhC6ARIsAJsFPN3Ypjy6NEZLKAyp_aHVwPVvWhfj3X66pGVTLoj79cRN1_Cv4xJzpqYaAjOzEALw_wcB

https://www.luckyseat.com/

https://www.show-score.com/

Grant MacDermott - http://www.grantmacdermott.com/

Jasper, by Grant MacDermott, Sets Off-Broadway World Premiere

https://www.theatermania.com/off-broadway/news/jasper-grant-macdermott-world-premiere_94105.html

Theatre Exile - Best of Philly - 2022 Theater Subscription

https://www.phillymag.com/best-of-philly-archive/theatre-exile-2/

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen to podcasts. Share the podcast with a friend, colleague or give us some social media love.

This podcast is an Em3ry production.

Visit us online at https://em3ry.com/tbot. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at “em3ryotm”.

Darnelle Radford 7/21/22 Darnelle Radford 7/21/22

TBOT_S01E16 - Cheating, Stealing and Work/Life Balance

Cheating and Stealing and Work/Life Balance. This business is filled with temptations and woes. How do you mange to balance it all out. That’s what we talk about here. So, let’s get down to business.

WORKING TITLE:

I Wish…More Than Anything

REJECTED TITLES:

The Drabinsky Files - Do Not Work

It’s Not COVID, It’s Tonsillitis

Last Summer…”You Will Be Found”

__________________________________________

Rush Tickets - https://playbill.com/article/from-sleeping-on-the-streets-to-swiping-on-a-screen-the-evolution-of-rush-tickets-from-rent-to-digital-lotteries-com-361078

When is it time to leave the wood? Find your family. It’s not about leaving, it’s about growing. Work/Life Balance.

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen to podcasts. Share the podcast with a friend, colleague or give us some social media love.

This podcast is an Em3ry production.

Visit us online at https://em3ry.com/tbot. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at “em3ryotm”.

Darnelle Radford 7/13/22 Darnelle Radford 7/13/22

TBOT_S01E15 - Summer Sizzle

WORKING TITLE:

No Laughing Matter

REJECTED TITLES:

There are giants in the sky

We’re revolting (Edinburgh Fringe)

& Juliet

Tale as old as time - Beauty and The Beast on ABC

Time to leave Paradise Square

A Company Man-ager

LINKS:

- FringeArts - https://fringearts.com/

- Intar Theatre Company (International Arts Relations) https://www.intartheatre.org/

- BroadwayCon - https://variety.com/2022/scene/news/hillary-clinton-broadwaycon-1235312361/

- Edinburgh fringe tries to quell revolt after criticism of 2022 event: https://bway.ly/9rakeg#https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2022/jul/07/edinburgh-fringe-tries-to-quell-revolt-criticism-2022-festival-comedians-open-letter

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen to podcasts. Share the podcast with a friend, colleague or give us some social media love.

This podcast is an Em3ry production.

Visit us online at https://em3ry.com/tbot. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at “em3ryotm”.

Darnelle Radford 7/1/22 Darnelle Radford 7/1/22

TBOT_S01E14 - Mask Optional?

Today on the podcast, I threw away my shot…we talk about The Broadway league lifting Mask regulations, theater owners control what we see on stages, subscriptions and general business chatter. Let’s get into it.

REJECTED TITLE:

Mask or No Mask, It’s Optional

OTHER REJECTED TITLES:

Broadway Really Cares

Saving Britney comes to SoHo

A Man Of No Importance

Macy’s 4th Spectacular

Nothing Can Follow “Defying Gravity”

_____________________________

TOPICS:

Commentary - TBOB Updates

Theatre Owners - Bought a theatre 200-seats. They have a plan but, not for new ideas. Booked through 2024. Spaces between shows to function. They control what we see.

Marketing and Promotion - How the community uses M and P to stay afloat.
Mask Regulations on Broadway - July 1st (Optional)
Subscriptions. What makes them a draw?

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This podcast is an Em3ry production.

Visit us online at https://em3ry.com/tbot. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at “em3ryotm”.

Darnelle Radford 6/24/22 Darnelle Radford 6/24/22

TBOT_S01E13 - The Secrets that you keep

We talk about the secrets we keep from the public, how to stunt, reaching a new audience and the business.

“But, He Does Know The Territory” - Max Clayton, Music Man

REJECTED TITLES:

Great Scott! - Back To The Future to take Winter Garden.

JHUD’s EGOT - Producer credit makes it so!

Suddenly Seymour - Skylar Astin, out with COVID.

If you’re not a draw, what are we coming to the theater for?

Run Length
Reputation
Word Of Mouth
Contingency (A buffer that sustains)
Take the talent. Be consistent.
Give them publicity. Build them up for the show. Create a stunt. (Instagram takeover, Photo Shoots, Interviews and such). Previews as Events!

Could Broadway sustain a Passport!! (Passport with several companies to create a theater crawl!)

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen to podcasts. Share the podcast with a friend, colleague or give us some social media love.

This podcast is an Em3ry production.

Visit us online at https://em3ry.com/tbot. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at “em3ryotm”.

Darnelle Radford 6/23/22 Darnelle Radford 6/23/22

TBOT_S01E12 - AFTER THE TONYS

And, The TONYs went to…

Today on the podcast, we discuss the 75th Annual Tony Awards. What worked, what did not. Highlights, etc.

Starting at a new company.

Also, we talk about summer plans.

WORKING TITLE: IN COMES COMPANY

REJECTED TITLES:

DeBose For The Win!

You Can Take Me Out

A Smooth Criminal

Let It Burn

Mitch Pays My Salary

LINKS:

TONY WINNERS: https://www.tonyawards.com/winners/

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen to podcasts. Share the podcast with a friend, colleague or give us some social media love.

This podcast is an Em3ry production.

Visit us online at https://em3ry.com/tbot. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at “em3ryotm”.

Darnelle Radford 6/9/22 Darnelle Radford 6/9/22

TBOT_S01E11 - Watch The Tonys!

A RUSH TICKET

YOU CALL THAT A STUDENT RUSH?!?!

$250 Student Rush tickets for The Tonys!

REJECTED TITLES:

A Miagi Method

Weep for Willy Loman

Tony, Tony, Tonys

Sing along with Mitch

Links:

Tony Awards (June 12th on CBS and Paramount+) - https://www.tonyawards.com

Death of A Salesman - https://playbill.com/article/wendell-pierce-and-sharon-d-clarke-led-west-end-death-of-a-salesman-to-transfer-to-broadway

The Grapes of Wrath - https://www.steppenwolf.org/tickets--events/seasons/198889/the-grapes-of-wrath/

Get the latest updates for TBOB: https://em3ry.com/updates-june-2022

Subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen to podcasts. Share the podcast with a friend, colleague or give us some social media love.

This podcast is an Em3ry production.

Visit us online at https://em3ry.com/tbot. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at “em3ryotm”.

BOOK| UPDATES | J BLOG | JLS TEAM | CONTACT

TBOT_S01E20 - Are We Ready?

TBOT_S01E19 - Out of Town Tryouts

TBOT_S01E18 - Donkeys and Unicorns

TBOT_S01E17 - The Old Ways of Work/Life Balance…Continued.

TBOT_S01E16 - Cheating, Stealing and Work/Life Balance

TBOT_S01E15 - Summer Sizzle

TBOT_S01E14 - Mask Optional?

TBOT_S01E13 - The Secrets that you keep

TBOT_S01E12 - AFTER THE TONYS

TBOT_S01E11 - Watch The Tonys!

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EM3RY, LLC