INTRODUCING THE “NATIONAL THEATRE NETWORK” – REGIONAL THEATRE’S NEW DIGITAL STAGE
Press Contacts:
Matthew Troillett / Gerilyn Shur
matthew@omdkc.com / gerilyn@omdkc.com
212 695 7400
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, PLEASE
REGIONAL THEATRE’S NEW DIGITAL STAGE
INTRODUCING THE
NATIONAL THEATRE NETWORK
A FIRST OF ITS KIND DIGITAL PLATFORM
SPECIFICALLY CREATED FOR MAJOR REGIONAL THEATRES
TO STREAM THEIR PRODUCTIONS WORLDWIDE
FOUNDING MEMBERS INCLUDE:
AMERICAN CONSERVATORY THEATER
WOOLLY MAMMOTH THEATRE COMPANY
IRISH REPERTORY THEATRE
NEW PLATFORM DEBUTS SATURDAY, MAY 15
WITH THE WOOLLY MAMMOTH THEATRE COMPANY
AND AMERICAN CONSERVATORY THEATER
PRESENTATION OF THE ORIGINAL FILM ADAPTATION OF
THE BUSHWICK STARR’S PRODUCTION OF
“ANIMAL WISDOM”
New York, NY (April 19, 2021) – Introducing the National Theatre Network, the first of its kind digital platform for major regional theatres that allows audiences to watch, support and connect with these iconic and beloved institutions. The National Theatre Network is created by and for regional theatres, in collaboration with Broadway On Demand, the industry leading theatre streaming platform.
The National Theatre Network provides an entire online platform and app for organizations to stream their professional-grade digital programming and creates a single source for theatre fans around the world who want to discover the rich content American regional theatre companies are producing.
On the cutting edge of how theatre artists and fans are using technology, the National Theatre Network brings live and recorded performances, classes, galas, award ceremonies and more to an expanded global audience. Offering a fully integrated digital content platform for each regional theatre company, the app is being launched to serve the appetite of the theatre fan base and the mission and vision of these regional theatre partners. This new avenue of digital programming breaks down barriers to entry that have long been problematic, growing audiences exponentially and creating an opportunity to deliver the content fans love, live, on whatever screen is handy and with technology that raises the bar.
The National Theatre Network debuts on Saturday, May 15, 2021 with the Woolly Mammoth Theatre and American Conservatory Theater presentation of the original film adaptation of The Bushwick Starr’s Production of Animal Wisdom, by Heather Christian. Filmed at the Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company in Washington D.C., the film is directed by Amber McGinnis with stage direction by Emilyn Kowaleski and features a cast that includes Sasha Brown, Eric Farber, B.E. Farrow, and Maya Sharpe.
Timmy Metzner, Director of Marketing at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company said, “We partnered with Broadway on Demand to create the National Theatre Network because we found that they are the experts in this brand-new technology and in this completely exciting and innovative way to reach audiences. They were able to merge with our existing technology to provide a service that we could not have created on our own and have been partners with us as we have built up our virtual and digital programming over the past year. We knew that they would be there to iterate, innovate and collaborate alongside with us rather than provide an out of the box solution for a time in which being nimble and flexible was really important.”
Sean Cercone, CEO/President of Broadway Licensing, the parent company of Broadway on Demand, added, “We are thrilled and honored to be supporting the mission of America’s great regional theatre institutions at this very challenging moment in history. With great disruption comes great opportunity and to be a small part of helping these visionary organizations evolve and expand is tremendously rewarding for our Broadway on Demand team.”
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The National Theatre Network’s platform and app will begin showcasing regional theatre programming on May 15, 2021 from early partners including American Conservatory Theater, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company and the Irish Repertory Theatre. For more information on how to join the National Theatre Network, please visit nationaltheatrenetwork.com.
American Conservatory Theater is an essential gathering place that brings artists and communities together to inspire and provoke. Under the leadership of Tony Award-winning Artistic Director Pam MacKinnon and Executive Director Jennifer Bielstein, A.C.T.’s mission is to engage the spirit of the San Francisco Bay Area, activate stories that resonate, promote a diversity of voices and points of view, and empower theater makers and audiences to celebrate liveness. A.C.T. values inclusion, transformational learning, participation and rigorous fun. A.C.T. is a Tony Award-winning nonprofit theater serving almost 200,000 people in the San Francisco Bay Area annually through theater, training, education and community programs. www.act-sf.org.
Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company is “the hottest theater company in town” (Washington Post); priding itself on developing, producing, and making theatre that disrupts conventional processes and stimulates transformative experiences. For almost four decades, Woolly has held a unique position at the leading edge of the American theater, earning a reputation for staying “uniquely plugged in to the mad temper of the times” (New York Times). The co-leadership of María Manuela Goyanes (Artistic Director) and Emika Abe (Managing Director) is supported by a core company of artists that holds itself to a high standard of artistic excellence. Woolly is relentless in its desire to take risks, experiment, innovate, interrogate, and create a radically inclusive community. Located in Washington, DC, Woolly Mammoth stands upon occupied, unceded territory: the ancestral homeland of the Nacotchtank whose descendants belong to the Piscataway peoples. www.woollymammoth.net
Irish Repertory Theatre, co-founded by Producing Director Ciarán O’Reilly and Artistic Director Charlotte Moore, is now in its 32nd season after first opening its doors in September 1988 with Sean O’Casey’s The Plough and the Stars. Irish Rep is currently the only year-round theatre company in New York City devoted to bringing Irish and Irish American works to the stage. Recognized with the Jujamcyn Theatres Award, a special Drama Desk Award for “Excellence in Presenting Distinguished Irish Drama,” an Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Achievement, and the Lucille Lortel Award for “Outstanding Body of Work,” Irish Rep celebrates the very best in Irish theatre, from the masters to the new generation of Irish and Irish American writers who are transforming the stage. Nearly 50,000 audience members annually attend productions at Irish Rep’s theatre located in the heart of New York’s Off-Broadway community. Once here, they witness Irish Rep’s engaging perspective on the Irish and their unique contributions to the world of drama.
Broadway On Demand is the industry-leading livestream platform housing performance & theatre education programming, and the preferred choice of top Broadway artists, producers, educators, and professionals. Broadway On Demand has streamed 2,500 events and live productions—from Broadway shows to concert series, performance venues to individual artists, and original content—in 82 countries to over 300,000 viewers. Thanks to a unique licensing interface, ShowShare, approved middle school, high school, college, community, and professional theatre productions utilize the platform to stream to their audiences.
Broadway on Demand is available on the web, mobile, Apple and Android app store, AppleTV, Roku, Chromecast, and Amazon Fire TV.
For access to the complete and ever-expanding Broadway on Demand library, subscribe at BroadwayOnDemand.com.
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