“‘Slave Play’ Team Pledges $10K To National Bailout Fund, Challenges Broadway Community” by Deadline’s Greg Evans – “The creative team and producers of Jeremy O. Harris’ Slave Play have donated $10,000 to the National Bailout Fund in support of Black Lives Matter, and have challenged others in the theater community to do likewise.” http://bway.ly/g71h0u

 Jeremy O. Harris (@jeremyoharris): “After seeing the amazing leadership of @constitutionbwy the producers and myself ransacked the funds we had squirreled away for awards season and donated to @NationalBailOut. … We challenge other shows/institutions to do the same … ” http://bway.ly/k4b7ev

 

FOR GOOD:
— Celebration Theatre
 has announced that playwright Roger Q. Mason will be awarded The Chuck Rowland Pioneer Award. The virtual ceremony will stream live on YouTube on June 9 at 9pm EST. The event will also serve as a fundraiser for “100 Black Men” as well as the Minnesota Freedom Fund.

— “Jay Armstrong Johnson & Sam Quiggins Perform in Celebration of 1M Meals from World Central Kitchen” by BroadwayWorld – “As part of an event celebrating the milestone of one million meals served to more than 30,000 healthcare workers in NYC over the past six weeks, Broadway star Jay Armstrong Johnson … along with cellist Sam Quiggins, performed a selection of songs to frontline heroes during lunch at Jacobi Hospital.” http://bway.ly/suukw2

— “At Home With Rebecca Luker, Evening of Song With 3-Time Tony Nominee Luker, Will Also Feature Conversation With Katie Couric” by Playbill’s Andrew Gans – ” … will be presented June 17 at 8 PM ET via Zoom.

 

ONLINE: 
— “Dates Set for Socially Distanced Performances of Lungs, Starring The Crown’s Matt Smith & Claire Foy” by Broadway.com‘s Lindsey Sullivan – “This first part of the new artistic initiative called Old Vic: In Camera will begin performances on June 26 that will run through July 4. … With minimal staging and accessible only to audiences via camera and livestream, the series will serve as both a creative experiment and a means of supporting the box office while London theaters remain shut down as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.” http://bway.ly/ffyz1n

— “National Theatre at Home Will Stream The Madness of George III, Starring Mark Gatiss” by Playbill’s Dan Meyer – “The stream will be available beginning June 11 at 2 PM ET … ” http://bway.ly/w056rg

— “Jim Kierstead and Broadway United Team Up to Launch Broadway Virtual” by BroadwayWorld – “Jim Kierstead and Broadway United have announced the launch of a new company, Broadway Virtual, a subsidiary specializing in streamed and recorded content, as well as the education of artists in order to continue development of their work using technology created to develop virtual theatre-related content for streaming and film.” http://bway.ly/sh3qtm

 

“Brittney Johnson on Experiencing Racism as a Black Broadway Performer” by Playbill’s Ryan McPhee – “”Like so many of the Black artistic voices you AREN’T hearing from right now, I was (and still AM) afraid of being put on some kind of black list,” [Johnson] wrote about speaking out. “But the only way for change to happen is if we first highlight the problems and accept that they are indeed problems.”” http://bway.ly/o0aywv

Billy Porter (theebillyporter): “This is my message to America. #blacklivesmatter #blacktranslivesmatter.” Watch here: http://bway.ly/ckfi1g

“Diane Paulus Responds to Griffin Matthews” by BroadwayWorld – “[Paulus said in a statement:] “In a process filled with creative differences, many rewrites, and heated discussions around a subject matter steeped in the pain of racial violence, it was my responsibility to create a space where those issues were handled with the deepest care. I could and should have done better. I am profoundly sorry for the pain I caused Griffin and any other person involved in our process. I am learning. … Our entire industry, especially those in positions of power, needs to examine our practices and make changes … As artists, we have the power to shine the light on the historical inequities and injustices that have always defined life in America, and we can help model and illuminate the path forward.”” http://bway.ly/3e0tns

ADVOCACY: “Broadway Advocacy Coalition to Hold Broadway For Black Lives Matter Again Forum” by Broadway.com‘s Lindsey Sullivan – “The Broadway Advocacy Coalition … will hold a three-part forum Broadway For Black Lives Matter Again from June 10 through June 12. … “Broadway For Black Lives Matter is returning with a three-part forum for the Broadway community to heal, listen and hold itself accountable to its history of white supremacy while moving towards becoming an anti-racist and equitable space,” [a statement from the organization said.]” http://bway.ly/p068xr

York Walker

Vineyard Theatre and Colman Domingo announced that York Walker will be the inaugural recipient of the Colman Domingo Award. The Colman Domingo Award will be bestowed annually to a multi-faceted Black male or male-identifying theatre artist to provide support and resources to create new work.

 

ACROSS THE POND:
“How we can save our theatres” 
by Sam Mendes for The Financial Times – “First, … the job retention scheme for retained staff needs to be continued, and a package has to be created that supports the army of freelancers and self-employed artists … . Then, the more complex long-term job. … we’re asking that the rate of tax relief be increased from 20 per cent to 50 per cent for the next three years, and that it apply to the production’s ongoing running costs, and to the remounting of suspended productions. We’d also like the private individuals who invest in productions … to be able to offset production losses against production profits, a simple relief not currently possible under existing tax legislation.” http://bway.ly/h3atf3

— “Sam Mendes Calls On Netflix & Amazon To Save UK Theaters From COVID Closure” by Deadline’s Tom Grater – “The … director also suggests that some companies that may have increased profits during the coronavirus could financially assist with saving theaters. He directly calls on Netflix and Amazon for help: ” … I hope you’re reading this, and that you are able to think of the arts landscape as more than just a “content provider”, but instead as an ecosystem that supports us all,” he concludes.” http://bway.ly/md0824

— “Be More Chill production cancels remainder of its run at London’s Other Palace” by London Theatre Direct’s Nicholas Ephram Ryan Daniels – http://bway.ly/u61l0m
— “The Pillowman delays West End production until 2021” by The Stage’s Georgia Snow – http://bway.ly/rh2b3y
— “Chicago Will Embark on 2021 UK Tour” by BroadwayWorld – http://bway.ly/w2bcn4