A Virtual Theatre Workforce Convening

From Dec. 7-9, 2021, Roundabout Theatre Company, with support from The National Endowment for the Arts, hosted Opening Stage Doors, a free virtual convening to share tools and innovations in job training, mentorship, and job placement, with the goal of helping remove traditional barriers to off-stage performing-arts jobs.

Organized by a national team of arts workers who oversee workforce programs, Opening Stage Doors keynotes and sessions ask program managers and organizational leaders to reimagine programs and ensure historically marginalized members of our community are part of a scaffolded and supportive training process that leads to employment.

Day 1

Practical Tool Sessions

Program Spotlight Sessions

Day 2

Practical Tool Sessions

Program Spotlight Sessions

Day 3

Practical Tool Sessions

Closing

Event Expo Program Links

• American Theatre Wing's Andrew Lloyd Webber Initiative
• American Theatre Wing's Network for Emerging Leaders in the Theatre
• Arena Stage
• Brighter Boston
• La Jolla Playhouse
• New York City Center
• New York Theatre Workshop 
• Open Stage Project
• Portland Stage Company
• Roundabout Theatre Company: IATSE Hidden Career Path Days
• Roundabout Theatre Company: Roundabout's IATSE Hidden Career Path Day Handbook
• Roundabout Theatre Company: Internships/Apprenticeships
• Roundabout Theatre Company: Theatrical Workforce Development Program
• Supporting Transitions, a project of the Museum Arts Culture and Access Consortium
• Williamstown Theatre Festival

The Planning Committee for this event includes Shaminda Amarakoon, David Geffen School of Drama at Yale; Jennifer DiBella, Roundabout Theatre Company; Alejandra Duque Cifuentes, Dance/NYC; Jennifer Halpern, The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees; Amy Harris, Independent Consultant; Sharifa Johka, Blk Realities; Olivia Jones, Consultant; Mitch Mattson, Roundabout Theatre Company; Talleri McRae, National Disability Theatre; Leslie Recinos, Theatrical Workforce Development Program; Alexander Santiago-Jirau, New York Theatre Workshop; Camille Schenkkan, Center Theatre Group; Willa J. Taylor, Goodman Theatre; Nikki Toombs, Aurora Theatre; Patricia White, The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees.

Convening Production Team: Amy Harris, Conference Manager; Karen Loftus, Production Stage Manger; Lauren Piscione, Accessibility Coordinator; Marianel Marquez, Stage Manager; Mitch Mattson, Stage Manager; Jennifer DiBella, Producer

Hands On: Providing accessibility to arts & cultural events for the Deaf and hard of hearing communities

Sign Nexus: SignNexus sets the standard for excellence and efficiency when accommodating the diverse communication and cultural needs of individuals who are Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing.

SyncWords: The premiere live captioning solution for streaming live events and meetings, using human captioners and providing a higher level of quality and accuracy than an AI option.

Special Thanks

This Project is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts.

Special Thanks to Maggie Kaplen.                                       

Roundabout’s Theatrical Workforce Development Program is made possible through the generosity of Denise Littlefield Sobel, The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, Altman Foundation, Solon E. Summerfield Foundation, the State of New York through its Workforce Development Initiative, and NYC’s Human Resources Administration and Center for Economic Opportunity’s joint support through the Work Progress Program.

Major funding to establish the Made in New York Stagecraft Bootcamp is provided by the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment and NYC Department of Small Business Services.      

This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Council, under the leadership of Speaker Corey Johnson and by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.