Continuing in the tradition of many Broadway actors who give back to their communities, Broadway Serves is an organization created three years ago for those in theatre who want to be active in social issues.
In March 2012, during the Million Hoodie March in New York’s Union Square, members of the theatre world came together for a rally in response to the death of Trayvon Martin. At the event, co-founders Dana Marie Ingraham, Dionne Figgins, and Kimberly Marable realized there wasn’t an organized group the need for such an organization, and shortly after, Broadway Serves was born.
The first project the group embarked was participating in the 2012 New York City AIDS Walk, followed by joining with BookPALS and the Children’s Museum of Manhattan’s program for Homes for the Homeless, and City Harvest’s Mobile Market produce distribution events. Later that same year, the BROADWAY SERVES “To Go” Program began, which allows national touring companies and regional theaters across the country to serve the community wherever they are.
In only a year, Broadway Serves helped areas all over the globe, including Canada, St. Maarten, and Uganda, and they inspired London’s WEST END SERVES, which also seeks to be the “change beyond the stage.”
On August 14 from 9:45am-4pm, Broadway Serves will stage manage 4th & 5th grade students from the Children’s Aid Society Summer Theater Intensive, as they perform original plays about health and nutrition in the community. In addition, on August 17 from 7pm to 7am, the group will raise funds and sleep outside in solidarity with the homeless youth of Covenant House NYC at the 3rd annual Broadway Sleep Out (eligible participants must be 23 or older, and have worked professionally either on Broadway, off-Broadway, or in a Broadway touring production; visit www.broadwaysleepout.org to RSVP).
For more information on how to volunteer, e-mail Dionne Figgins at broadwayserves@gmail.com.
