STAGE SOURCE AND THEATRE BENEVOLENT FUND UNITE TO BETTER SERVE THE BOSTON THEATRE COMMUNITY

(BOSTON, MA) – StageSource, the Alliance of Theatre Artists and Producers, and The Theatre Community Benevolent Fund (TCBF) have joined together to further the growth and management of the Fund to benefit the Greater Boston theatre community. 

The TCBF mission is to provide financial relief in a confidential, respectful manner to theatre artists facing extreme illness, catastrophic acts of nature, and other events such vandalism/theft, and who have limited or no resources with which to handle such occurrences. The Fund recognizes the essential value of artists and arts organizations to society, and treats all applicants with dignity, discretion, and compassion.

In the fall of 1997, a member of the Boston theatre community was struck down by a life-threatening illness.  Because he had no medical insurance and was unable to work while hospitalized, his situation was quite desperate.  Ron Ritchell and Polly Hogan (founders of the Lyric Stage Company and Lyric West theaters) and Mary C. Huntington (Artistic Director of The Nora Theatre Company) organized a fund-raiser with the generous help of the theatrical community and with donated space by The Big Easy nightclub.  The party was an unqualified success and over $20,000 was raised to help defray medical expenses.

Recognizing this was not the only time a member of the theatrical community had suffered a catastrophic loss, the three founders formed an organization whose sole purpose would be to develop a fund from which Boston area theatre artists could receive help in times of extraordinary need.  Thus, the Boston Theatre Community Benevolent Fund was born.  Since its inception, the Fund has raised over $50,000 in donations.  The Boston Theatre Marathon has been a major benefactor for TCBF donating profits from four years of its annual event, and additional contributions have been received from many individuals.

The Fund will be managed and administered by a separate board of directors including original organizers Ritchell, Hogan, and Huntington, and Kate Snodgrass, Artistic Director of Boston Playwrights' Theatre and a founder of the Boston Theatre Marathon, Jacqui Parker, Artistic Director of Our Place Theatre Project, and by StageSource Executive Director Jeff Poulos.

Since both Stage Source and The Fund are dedicated to serving the Boston theatrical community, it seems only logical for the two institutions to join forces.  “I am delighted by the merger of Stage Source with the Benevolent Fund,” affirmed Polly Hogan, one of the Fund's original founders. “This union will enable the Fund to better serve the theatrical community and fulfill the purpose for which it was founded.” StageSource Executive Director Jeff Poulos commented, “When I was approached about StageSource working with the Fund, I thought it was a natural fit. StageSource's mission spells out its commitment to providing leadership and resources for theatre in New England. We believe in creating an environment where our artists and theatres can achieve artistic excellence.  Critical support in a time of need for those that typically do not have access to resources is another example of how StageSource can continue to be there for the theatre community.”  Donors interested in supporting the Theatre Community Benevolent Fund should contact StageSource at 617.720.6066.

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