JOHN GORE ORGANIZATION AND BLACK THEATRE COALITION CREATE FELLOWSHIP FOR BLACK PROFESSIONAL
Press Contact:
Rick Miramontez / Marie Bshara / Kendall Edwards
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, PLEASE
JOHN GORE ORGANIZATION AND
BLACK THEATRE COALITION
ANNOUNCE THE CREATION OF
THE BLACK THEATRE COALITION /
BROADWAY ACROSS AMERICA
FELLOWSHIP
SPONSORED BY THE JOHN GORE ORGANIZATION
PROGRAM TO FEATURE 10 FELLOWSHIPS NATIONWIDE
BEGINNING JANUARY 2022
New York, NY (August 17, 2021) – The John Gore Organization (JGO), the leading presenter, producer, distributor, and marketer of Broadway theater worldwide, is pleased to announce a landmark partnership with Black Theatre Coalition (BTC), an organization dedicated to eradicating racial inequities in the theater industry, by creating sustainable and ethical hiring practices for Black Professionals on Broadway and in the American Theatre. BTC and BAA’s collaboration is in the creation of a comprehensive paid fellowship program specifically for undergraduate college juniors and seniors and recent college graduates interested in pursuing a career in commercial theater. The program, called The Black Theatre Coalition/Broadway Across America Fellowship, sponsored by the John Gore Organization, will provide ten paid part-time fellowships across the United States with specific training in the areas of Marketing, PR, Sales, Programming, Accounting and Finance, Operations, Venue Management and Ticketing.
Recognizing the underrepresentation of BIPOC professionals in the commercial theater industry, this program will be dedicated to fostering and preserving a culture of equity, diversity, access, and inclusion while providing an invaluable, in-depth education in the business of commercial theater. BTC-BAA Fellowships will initially be available in New York, Atlanta, Baltimore, Cincinnati, Fort Lauderdale, Houston, and Louisville, and will launch Spring Semester, 2022.
BTC-BAA Fellows will gain practical experience through on-the-job learning in Broadway Across America offices and learn the intricacies of the business through an education curriculum taught by JGO professionals as they embark in an offstage career in the business of Broadway. Fourteen-week, paid fellowships will provide undergraduate/postgraduate students with an opportunity to develop the job skills, broad understanding and network connections necessary to begin a professional career in the commercial theater industry.
At the John Gore Organization, we believe that live theater is for everyone. Everyone means people of all races, ethnicities, gender identities, sexual orientations and people with disabilities. We specifically want to increase participation for those that have been historically underrepresented in the commercial theater industry.
John Gore, owner and CEO of The John Gore Organization, stated, “The Black Theatre Coalition is already doing such important work on Broadway and we’re proud to be able to help them bring this fellowship program to different cities across the country. Careers in this industry start from the ground up and we’re excited to help usher in a new generation of young and ambitious theater makers.”
Black Theatre Coalition’s founders Reggie Van Lee, T. Oliver Reid and Warren Adams commented, “We are thrilled to be partnering with BAA on this endeavor. Our mission states our goals of removing the “illusion of inclusion” in the American Theatre. This partnership offers the opportunity to stretch our reach far beyond the lights of Broadway and into the hometowns of black professionals across the country.”
Candidates interested in applying for Fellowships should sign up at BroadwayFellows.com to be notified when applications will be accepted this fall.
ABOUT THE JOHN GORE ORGANIZATION
The John Gore Organization is the leading presenter, producer, distributor, and marketer of Broadway theater worldwide. Under the leadership of 14-time Tony-winning theater producer and owner John Gore, its family of companies includes Broadway Across America, Broadway.com, The Broadway Channel, BroadwayBox.com, and Group Sales Box Office. The company presents shows in 48 cities across North America as well as on Broadway, Off-Broadway, London’s West End, Japan, and China. It has won Tony Awards in every producing category as well as numerous other Drama League, Drama Desk and Olivier Awards. The John Gore Organization is committed to supporting theater access and education programs that introduce Broadway to the next generation of audiences and theater professionals.
ABOUT BLACK THEATRE COALITION
Black Theatre Coalition was founded by T. Oliver Reid and Warren Adams during the Summer of 2019. They identified the disparity between the growing inclusivity onstage, versus the almost non-existence of Black professionals off stage. They invited their colleague, Reggie Van Lee, (Chief Transformation Officer of the Carlyle Group) to join them as Co-Founder and Chairman of The Board. Afton Battle is the Executive Strategist and Tamica Clanton is Digital Marketing Strategist.
BTC’s mission is to remove the “illusion of inclusion” in the American Theatre, by building a sustainable ethical roadmap that will increase employment opportunities for Black theatre professionals. Their vision is to reshape the working ecosystem for those who have been marginalized by systemically racist and biased ideology.
Black Theatre Coalition officially filed as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) in June of 2020.
www.BlackTheatreCoalition.org
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