Theatre Community Benevolent Fund

Karen splits her time between teaching adults ESL, and lighting design. She’s been based in the Boston area for over 25 years, and enjoys the camaraderie of the theater community.

Julie is currently a full-time production manager at the ICA Boston, and spent many years before that as an electrician, master electrician, and assistant production manager across the city. Outside of work, she can usually be found watering her houseplants or taking out an ambitious number of books from the library.

Alex Lonati is a director, producer, and arts administrator in Boston. In addition to serving as the (newly appointed!) president of TCBF, Alex is the Community Programs & Events Manager at SpeakEasy Stage Company, where she has been on staff since 2014. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Theatrical Direction from Emerson College and a Master’s degree in Arts Administration from Boston University. Alex is passionate about accessibility in the arts and believes that everyone who wants to participate in the theatre should not only be able, but actively encouraged to do so. She also loves traveling, cooking, and spending time with her Australian Shepherd named Billie!

The TCBF board has seen some big changes over these past nine months!

We’re pleased to announce the elections of Alex Lonati as the new President and Julie Streeter as the new Vice-President of the TCBF board. We’re also thrilled that Maurice Emmanuel Parent joined the board in September 2020 and Kira Troilo in March 2021.

We have also said goodbye to Amy Spalletta and Bob Murphy after many years of incredible service. Though we are sad to see them go, we wish them the best in their newest endeavors and remain forever grateful for the time and energy that they have each put into TCBF. This organization has been greatly improved by both of their efforts.

As we approach the one-year mark since the COVID-19 pandemic first swept the globe, it is easy to think about all the hardship and grief that has occurred. But instead, we at the Theatre Community Benevolent Fund would like to focus on all the good that has happened this year. 

Because of the generosity of our arts community, TCBF was able to provide over $250,000 in emergency relief funding to artists in need! 

Our community supported each other in amazing ways – planning fundraiser readings and concerts, singing online in our “Care-oke” campaign, asking for donations for their birthdays –  all to raise money for TCBF. Thank you!

With that incredible support, TCBF has been able to grant the following this year:

• 99 grants (totaling $173,253) to individuals who were out of work and/or dealing with medical issues amidst the virus
• 23 grants (totaling $76,750) to theatre companies and arts organizations suddenly unable to move forward

This would not be possible without the support of theatre lovers like you. Each donation made in support of TCBF goes directly back to artists in need, so every single gift made a difference. 

More than anything, we just want to thank you for helping TCBF make a difference in our community, and for your talent, spirit, and vitality. We are inspired every day by the way our community rallies around those among us in need. 

If you are in a place to do so, we hope you will consider renewing your gift, as artists continue to be affected by the pandemic and its impact on the arts industry. Alternatively, you could create your own fundraiser through social media to encourage additional giving. 

Thank you for making what we do possible. We couldn’t do this without you!

See you back in the theater soon. 

The TCBF Board

P.S. If you or an artist you know is in need, please consider applying for relief from TCBF. With the challenges of the pandemic continuing, we understand folks need help now more than ever. We are here to make things easier!

Make sure to get your order in before November 9th!

Black lives matter. TCBF stands in mourning, in outrage, and in solidarity  with the outcry that has come in the wake of the murder of George Floyd and follows in a long line of black men and women who have been harassed, detained and killed by an organization that has sworn to protect communities they serve. 

As storytellers, our choice is to either uphold or help to dismantle the underlying injustices we see in the world. We encourage all members of the Boston theatre community to take action and show your support for our black and POC friends and colleagues by uplifting their voices now and in our rehearsal rooms, production meetings, offices and performance spaces. 

To show our support, TCBF is suspending our direct fundraising activities this week. We ask that anyone who was intending to support the Theatre Community Benevolent Fund this week to direct their donation to the following organizations instead:

·         NAACP

·         Black Lives Matter (Boston Chapter)

·         The Massachusetts Bail Relief 

·         Black and Pink 

·         Violence in Boston 

We all miss the ability to experience live theatre in this area and we think “TCBF’s CARE-oke” is a good way to share some theatre with you while raising funds for our friends and colleagues in need. We’ll link the performances as they’re posted here so you can make sure you don’t miss any!

To make a contribution, click the Donate button at the top if the page. We know that many of you out there are not in a financial position to donate right now and that is really, REALLY ok. Please take care of yourselves. Please share and/or repost this with anyone you think might be able to donate. Every little bit helps; $5, $20, $100 or $1,000! Just think of the money you are not spending on those theatre tickets, dining out, parking and even babysitting! Please direct any questions to TCBFBoston@gmail.com.

#1- Kathy St. George

#2– Robert Saoud

#3- Sam and Tyler Simahk

#4- Erica Spyres

#5- Leigh Barrett

#6- Yewande Odetoyinbo

#7- Dwayne P. Mitchell 

#8- Anthony Pires Jr.

#9- Brittany Rolfs

#10- Amy Barker

#11- Matt Stern

#12-Marissa Simeqi

#13-Cameron Levesque

#14- Russell Garrett and Bill Mootos

#15- Briana Fallon (feat. David Visini)

#16- Jared Troilo

#17- JT Turner

#18- Marci Diamond

#19- Andrea Lyman

#20- Lewis Wheeler

#21- Alex Lonati

#22- Gigi Watson

#23- Kadahj Bennet

#24- Mary Callanan

#25- Maureen Keiller

#26- Nile Hawver

#27- Kira Troilo

#28 Cheryl Singleton

#29 Aimee Doherty

#30- Finale!

Boston Theater Marathon XXIII: Special Zoom Edition features readings of ten-minute plays by New England playwrights in collaboration with New England theatres, via the video conferencing tool Zoom. Audiences are encouraged to lend their support to area theatre companies and to the Theatre Community Benevolent Fund, which provides financial support to theatres and theatre artists in times of need.

Readings begin on April 1 at 12 noon EDT, and will happen six days a week through May 28! To join, click on the link below from your computer, phone, or other device. You’ll need the Zoom app to participate (it’s free!), and it is recommended you call in a few minutes before “curtain” time.

The cast list for each day’s reading will be available on www.BostonPlaywrights.org; theatre links can also be found there and via the Zoom interface itself.

Boston Theater Marathon XXII: Special Zoom Edition features readings of ten-minute plays by New England playwrights in collaboration with New England theatres, via the video conferencing tool Zoom. Audiences are encouraged to lend their support to area theatre companies and to the Theatre Community Benevolent Fund, which provides financial support to theatres and theatre artists in times of need.

Readings begin on April 1 at noon, and will happen daily through May 17! To join, click on the link below from your computer, phone, or other device. You’ll need the Zoom app to participate (it’s free!), and it is recommended you call in a few minutes before “curtain” time.

The cast list for each day’s reading will be available on www.BostonPlaywrights.org; theatre links can also be found there and via the Zoom interface itself.

The list below will be updated as links for each date become available.

April 1
Three Ladybugs by Vicki Meagher
Sponsored by Boston Playwrights’ Theatre
https://bostonu.zoom.us/j/191157347

April 2
Don’t Be a Scrooge by James C. Ferguson
Sponsored by Moonbox Productions
https://bostonu.zoom.us/j/191157347

April 3
Sked Du Al by Ronán Noone
Sponsored by Northeastern University Dept. of Theatre
https://bostonu.zoom.us/j/191157347

April 4
Dinosaur Woman by Marisa Smith
Sponsored by Sleeping Weazel
https://bostonu.zoom.us/j/191157347

April 5
Random Access Memory by Erin Lerch
Sponsored by Flat Earth Theatre
https://bostonu.zoom.us/j/191157347

April 6
Glissade by Richard Ballon
Sponsored by Hub Theatre Company of Boston
Link available soon

April 7
A Call to Mom by Taylor Badoyen
Sponsored by Playwrights’ Platform
Link available soon

April 8
Unapologetic by Andrea Aptecker
Sponsored by Lyric Stage Company of Boston
Link available soon

April 9
Turbulence by Rosanna Yamagiwa Alfaro
Sponsored by Umbrella Stage Company/Umbrella Performing Arts
Link available soon

April 10
The Right Moment by Matt Mayerchak
Sponsored by Cohasset Dramatic Club
Link available soon

April 11
Third Party by Nancy Peavy
Sponsored by Hovey Players
Link available soon

April 12
The Textbook Lady by Nina Louise Morrison
Sponsored by Suffolk University Theatre Dept.
Link available soon

April 13
Millstone by Peter Kimball
Sponsored by Greater Boston Stage Company
Link available soon

April 14
Scattered by Lisa Deily
Sponsored by The Front Porch Arts Collective
Link available soon

April 15
Glenda Jackson in a Bodega (I am Not) by R. D. Murphy
Sponsored by Actors Shakespeare Project
Link available soon

April 16
The Unbearable Lightness of Greening by Nina Mansfield
Sponsored by Titanic Theatre Co.
Link available soon

April 17
The Rental by Tim Lehnert
Sponsored by Forge Theater Lab
Link available soon

April 18
The Handle by Scott Sullivan
Sponsored by The Actors Studio of Newburyport
Link available soon

April 19
The Bull by Greg Hovanesian
Sponsored by Target Stage/Stonehill Theatre Company
Link available soon

April 20
Interventions by Greg Lam
Sponsored by Liars and Believers
Link available soon

April 21
The Vampyr by James Wilkinson
Sponsored by Commonwealth Shakespeare Company
Link available soon

April 22
Cain by Alan Brody
Sponsored by Underground Railway at Central Square Theater
Link available soon

April 23
Misplaced by Cassie M. Seinuk
Sponsored by Wellesley Repertory Theatre
Link available soon

April 24
Strained Bedfellows by Terrence Kidd
Sponsored by American Repertory Theater
Link available soon

April 25
Circles by Amy Oestreicher
Sponsored by Boston Conservatory at Berklee
Link available soon

April 26
Common App by Martha Douglas-Osmundson
Sponsored by ImprovBoston
Link available soon

April 27
Deep Blue by Alex Moon
Sponsored by SpeakEasy Stage Company
Link available soon

April 28
Ships in the Night by Kayce Kvacek
Sponsored by Boston University School of Theatre
Link available soon

April 29
With Intent by Stephen Wrobleski
Sponsored by Fresh Ink Theatre
Link available soon

April 30
A Few Adjustments by Scott Malia
Sponsored by Fort Point Theatre Channel
Link available soon

May 1
Migraine by Cliff Odle
Sponsored by Gloucester Stage Company
Link available soon

May 2
Lo-Fi by Caity-Shea Violette
Sponsored by Boston College
Link available soon

May 3
Pearly Gates by Jack Neary
Sponsored by Acting Out Productions
Link available soon

May 4
The Lady Killer by Erik Nikander
Sponsored by Brandeis University Department of Theatre Arts
Link available soon

May 5
Warm Running Water by Janet Kenney
Sponsored by Firehouse Center for the Arts
Link available soon

May 6
Downgrade by Eliana Pipes
Sponsored by Huntington Theatre Company
Link available soon

May 7
The Stakeout by K. Alexa Mavromatis
Sponsored by Emerson Stage
Link available soon

May 8
Are You One of Those Robots? by Deirdre Girard
Sponsored by Open Theatre Project
Link available soon

May 9
Number 794 by Jayne Hannah
Sponsored by The Wilbury Theatre Group
Link available soon

May 10
Choices by James McLindon
Sponsored by Pilgrim Theatre
Link available soon

May 11
Just Listen by Ken Green
Sponsored by New Repertory Theatre
Link available soon

May 12
The Dobler Effect by John Minigan
Sponsored by Centastage
Link available soon

May 13
Santa’s Dolphins by Patrick Gabridge
Sponsored by Wheelock Family Theatre
Link available soon

May 14
Black Jesus by Fabiola R. Decius
Sponsored by Company One Theatre
Link available soon

May 15
Room 221 by Michael Towers
Sponsored by Forge Theater Co.
Link available soon

May 16
The Wheelbarrow by Ron Radice
Sponsored by imaginary beasts
Link available soon

May 17
12 Days by John Kuntz
Sponsored by Acropolis Stage Company
Link available soon