The Theatre Community Benevolent Fund achieved new milestones in 2005.  At the start of the year, Board Chair Mary C. Huntington and board members Jacqui Parker and Kate Snodgrass welcomed new board members: Actor Bill Mootos, Wheelock Family Theatre Co-Artistic Director Jane Staab and Actor Patricia Till. 

In 2005, TCBF distributed a total of $19,902 in grant awards. Individual theatre artists who were facing financial hardship due to medical issues or catastrophic acts of nature received $9,902 and one theatre company received $10,000.  “We are glad that members of our community know they can turn to the Fund for assistance in dire circumstances and also know they will be treated with care and respect,” commented board chair Mary C. Huntington.  “With the Fund in place, people don't have to face difficult times on their own.”

In May 2005, fifteen theatres participated in TCBF's MAY DAY! campaign which raised over $6,200.  Actors and theatre staff collected donations in baskets as audiences left performances at theatre companies throughout the region including Actors' Shakespeare Project, American Repertory  Theatre, Boston Theatre Works, Concord Players, Coyote Theatre, Devanaughn Theatre, Huntington Theatre Company, Lyric Stage Company of Boston, New Repertory Theatre, Shear Madness, SpeakEasy Stage Company, Stoneham Theatre, The Theatre Cooperative, Theatre One Productions, Wheelock Family Theatre and Zeitgeist Stage Company.  “I think I would have had more difficulty getting my actors NOT to participate in this fund drive,” said SpeakEasy Marketing Director Jim Torres.  “The cast and crew of TAKE ME OUT were very enthusiastic about the May Day! campaign and welcomed the opportunity to give back to their community.  I honestly had people battling over who was going to get to hold the baskets.” 

In addition, Boston Playwrights' Theatre once again contributed the net proceeds from the annual Boston Theatre Marathon to TCBF.  The one-day marathon of 50 plays that took place on May 22, 2005, at the Calderwood Pavilion at the Boston Center for the Arts raised $10,324 to benefit the fund.  According to Kate Snodgrass, Artistic Director of Boston Playwrights' Theatre and co-founder of the Theatre Marathon, “TCBF is the perfect charity for the Boston Theater Marathon.  The BTM is a celebration of all our New England theatre artists--playwrights, actors, directors, and theatre companies alike.  What better way to show our appreciation than to give back to the very community who celebrates new work!”

The TCBF Board ended the year with planning activities for 2006 including another May Day! campaign set for May 13, 2006.  For more information about the Theatre Community Benevolent Fund call 617.720.6066.

TO DONATE to TCBF, send a tax-deductible contribution to: Theatre Community Benevolent Fund, c/o StageSource, 88 Tremont Street, Suite 714, Boston, MA 02108.