DOWNSTAGE PRESS

Theatre Washington, the leading service organization for the D.C. metropolitan arts community, has released its first economic impact report, providing a comprehensive assessment of the Washington, D.C., region's theater industry. Analyzing publicly available IRS Form 990 data, the study offers a detailed snapshot of the industry's financial scale, operational scope, and economic value. The organization stated that the analysis reinforces that D.C. theater is not only "artist

A new community-powered nonprofit, Theatre Commons L.A. (TCLA), has been launched by theatre leaders, artists, and supporters to serve the entire Los Angeles theatre ecosystem. TCLA’s initial and most visible step is the creation of a centralized public listings website, TheatreCommonsLA.org, designed to simplify how audiences discover what is playing across the vast spectrum of theaters in the greater L.A. area. "TCLA is about building a stronger theatre ecosystem for all of

Actors’ Equity Association has reached a tentative agreement with The Broadway League on a new Production Contract, temporarily avoiding a strike. The announcement of the deal, which followed an extended overnight negotiation session, was made by union leadership on Saturday morning. Al Vincent, Jr., Actors’ Equity executive director and lead negotiator, confirmed the agreement, stating the deal was reached after a "marathon mediation session lasting until 6 a.m." The Product

Cygnet Theatre, San Diego’s third-largest theatre company, and Arts District Liberty Station have officially unveiled the new Joan and Irwin Jacobs Performing Arts Center (The Joan). This $43.5 million project transformed a historic former Navy building into a world-class performance venue, now serving as Cygnet’s permanent home and the only free-standing live performance space in the Arts District. The Joan is named in honor of the late Joan Jacobs, a devoted arts patron and

In a potentially landmark move for the regional theater landscape, the three largest independent theaters in Pittsburgh — Pittsburgh Public Theater (PPT), Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera (CLO), and City Theatre Company—have announced they are actively exploring a merger into a single, overarching performing arts entity. While theatrical collaborations and absorptions are not new (such as the recent consolidation of Seattle Shakespeare Company and ACT Theatre), this proposed unio

The Alliance Theatre in Atlanta has announced that Brandon Kahn, a veteran of theater management and stage production, will join the organization as its new managing director, effective August 1. Kahn will partner with artistic directors Christopher Moses and Tinashe Kajese-Bolden to lead the premier producing theater in the Southeast. Kahn succeeds Mike Schleifer, who held the position for 11 years before departing to become managing director of Lincoln Center Theater. “Bein

A new international award dedicated to excellence in immersive storytelling, the Annwn Prize, has been announced by Wales Millennium Centre and Crossover Labs. The launch took place at The Big Thing, an annual gathering for the immersive arts community. Supported by Peter and Janet Swinburn, the prize will begin its inaugural cycle in 2025-2026, offering a substantial reward for innovative creators: Award: The winning artist or studio will receive £20,000. Support: The winner

The American Theatre Wing, in collaboration with artists Celia Keenan-Bolger, Sara Bareilles, Catherine Brunell, and friends, has announced the creation of the Gavin Creel Fellowships. This new annual program will grant $25,000 to five emerging theatre actors in tribute to the late Gavin Creel, the Tony-winning actor, friend, and dedicated mentor. Gavin Creel, who received crucial support when he first transitioned from college into his professional acting career, felt a stro