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{{Short description|Non-profit corporation assisting the theatre industry in New York City}}{{Under construction|placedby=P,TO 19104}}{{multiple issues|{{Advert|date=June 2024}}
{{Short description|Non-profit corporation assisting the theatre industry in New York City}}{{Under construction|placedby=P,TO 19104}}
{{cleanup-PR|date=August 2019}}}}
{{Infobox organization
{{Infobox organization
| name = Theatre Development Fund
| name = Theatre Development Fund
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== History ==
== History ==
The TDF was founded in 1968 in order to originally provide assistance to [[Broadway theatre|Broadway productions]] that were viewed as not likely to survive without some financial assistance, but would likely have some significant cultural impact. This came in the wake of productions on Broadway seemingly becoming more and more formulaic. The original goal of the organization was thus to buy up tickets of those plays and give them away for free. The organization first bought 1,112 seats to [[The Great White Hope|''The Great White Hope'']] and gave them away to students for free using grant money from the [[Rockefeller Foundation]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fierberg |first=Ruthie |date=October 18, 2018 |title=Celebrating 50 Years of TDF |url=https://playbill.com/article/celebrating-50-years-of-tdf |website=Playbill.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Beling |first=Sarah |date=2023-05-13 |title=TKTS Turns 50: “A Lot of People Said It Would Never Work” |url=http://w42st.com/post/tkts-turns-50-a-lot-of-people-said-it-would-never-work/ |access-date=2024-06-18 |website=W42ST |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Taubman |first=Howard |date=1972-02-08 |title=Audience Growth Stimulated by Theater Fund |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1972/02/08/archives/audience-growth-stimulated-by-theater-fund.html |access-date=2024-06-19 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> After this first initiative was successful, the TDF set up the TKTS booth in [[Duffy Square]] in 1972 that sold tickets to shows at discounted prices, which turned out to be a more effective way of [[Subsidy|subsidizing]] the plays.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1986-03-14 |title=How Theater Development Fund [sic] develops theater |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/03/14/theater/how-theater-development-fund-develops-theater.html |access-date=2024-06-18 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> In its early form, the organization received some criticism because it used federal funds to [[bailout]] the commerical theater industry, and that it undermined the nature of the competition in the market.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hershberg |first=Marc |date=April 2, 2018 |title=TDF To Celebrate Five Decades of Building Broadway Audiences |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/marchershberg/2018/04/02/tdf-to-celebrate-five-decades-of-building-broadway-audiences/ |access-date=2024-06-18 |website=Forbes |language=en}}</ref>
The TDF was founded in 1968 in order to originally provide assistance to [[Broadway theatre|Broadway productions]] that were viewed as not likely to survive without some financial assistance, but would likely have some significant cultural impact. This came in the wake of productions on Broadway seemingly becoming more and more formulaic. The original goal of the organization was thus to buy up tickets of those plays and give them away for free. The organization first bought 1,112 seats to [[The Great White Hope|''The Great White Hope'']] and gave them away to students for free using grant money from the [[Rockefeller Foundation]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fierberg |first=Ruthie |date=October 18, 2018 |title=Celebrating 50 Years of TDF |url=https://playbill.com/article/celebrating-50-years-of-tdf |website=Playbill.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Beling |first=Sarah |date=2023-05-13 |title=TKTS Turns 50: “A Lot of People Said It Would Never Work” |url=http://w42st.com/post/tkts-turns-50-a-lot-of-people-said-it-would-never-work/ |access-date=2024-06-18 |website=W42ST |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Taubman |first=Howard |date=1972-02-08 |title=Audience Growth Stimulated by Theater Fund |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1972/02/08/archives/audience-growth-stimulated-by-theater-fund.html |access-date=2024-06-19 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> After this first initiative was successful, the TDF set up the TKTS booth in [[Duffy Square]] in 1972 that sold tickets to shows at discounted prices, which turned out to be a more effective way of [[Subsidy|subsidizing]] the plays.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1986-03-14 |title=How Theater Development Fund [sic] develops theater |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/03/14/theater/how-theater-development-fund-develops-theater.html |access-date=2024-06-18 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref name=":6">{{Cite web |last=Hershberg |first=Marc |date=April 2, 2018 |title=TDF To Celebrate Five Decades of Building Broadway Audiences |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/marchershberg/2018/04/02/tdf-to-celebrate-five-decades-of-building-broadway-audiences/ |access-date=2024-06-18 |website=Forbes |language=en}}</ref> The TDF has continued to expand the network of [[TKTS]] discount ticket booths to other sites such a satellite booth at the [[Lincoln Center]] and another franchized booth in London.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Viagas |first=Robert |date=January 26, 2017 |title=Lincoln Center TKTS Discount Booth Will Become Permanent |url=http://www.playbill.com/article/lincoln-center-tkts-discount-booth-will-become-permanent |website=Playbill}}</ref>


Starting in 1972, the TDF began subsidizing [[Off-off-Broadway]] productions by offering vouchers<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=History |url=https://www.tdf.org/about-us/history/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240601012659/https://www.tdf.org/about-us/history/ |archive-date=2024-06-01 |access-date=2024-06-18 |website=Theatre Development Fund |language=en}}</ref> to people that would be typically unlikely to see them, such as teachers and retired persons. At the time, the vouchers would cost 80 cents for the consumers and would entitle the playhouse to $2.50. In 1974, the fund sold over 40,000 vouchers and estimated that 300,000 people were supported by the program, which resulted in recoginition from industry groups of the program.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1974-07-15 |title=Off Off Broadway Emerging From Wings |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1974/07/15/archives/off-off-broadway-emerging-from-wings-40000-vouchers-in-season.html |access-date=2024-06-18 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> The TDF continues to offer Off-off-Broadway vouchers, but in a different format.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-07-03 |title=TDF [Theatre Development Fund] |url=https://ooa.hunter.cuny.edu/tdf/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220521124152/https://ooa.hunter.cuny.edu/tdf/ |archive-date=2022-05-21 |access-date=2024-06-18 |website=Office of the Arts at Hunter College, [[City University of New York]] |language=en-US}}</ref>
Starting in 1972, the TDF began subsidizing [[Off-off-Broadway]] productions by offering vouchers<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=History |url=https://www.tdf.org/about-us/history/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240601012659/https://www.tdf.org/about-us/history/ |archive-date=2024-06-01 |access-date=2024-06-18 |website=Theatre Development Fund |language=en}}</ref> to people that would be typically unlikely to see them, such as teachers and retired persons. At the time, the vouchers would cost 80 cents for the consumers and would entitle the playhouse to $2.50. In 1974, the fund sold over 40,000 vouchers and estimated that 300,000 people were supported by the program, which resulted in recoginition from industry groups of the program.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1974-07-15 |title=Off Off Broadway Emerging From Wings |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1974/07/15/archives/off-off-broadway-emerging-from-wings-40000-vouchers-in-season.html |access-date=2024-06-18 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> The TDF continues to offer Off-off-Broadway vouchers, but in a different format.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-07-03 |title=TDF [Theatre Development Fund] |url=https://ooa.hunter.cuny.edu/tdf/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220521124152/https://ooa.hunter.cuny.edu/tdf/ |archive-date=2022-05-21 |access-date=2024-06-18 |website=Office of the Arts at Hunter College, [[City University of New York]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 1974, the TDF Costume Collection opened, renting costumes to nonprofit and commercial productions. TDF Costume Collection houses over 65,000 costumes and accessories providing professionally designed costumes to [[not-for-profit organizations]] at affordable prices.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hogan |first=Jane |date=March 1, 1999 |title=The TDF Costume Collection |url=https://www.livedesignonline.com/tdf-costume-collection-0 |website=LiveDesign}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=McEvers |first=Kelly |last2=Lewin |first2=Naomi |author-link2=Cabral |last3=Stephen |date=September 29, 2017 |title=The Theater Development Fund In New York Takes Playing Dress-Up To Another Level |url=https://www.npr.org/2017/09/29/554600975/the-theater-development-fund-in-new-york-takes-playing-dress-up-to-another-level |work=[[NPR]]}}</ref>


In 1979, the TDF created the TDF Accesibility Program (TAP), which offers services to theatergoers with disabilities.<ref name=":1" /> The first service that was provided to deaf people was a live [[American Sign Language|ASL]] translation of the performance of ''The Elephant Man'' in 1980.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=November 20, 1980 |title='The Elephant Man' To Be Interpreted In Sign Language |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1980/11/20/archives/the-elephant-man-to-be-interpreted-in-sign-language.html |website=The New York Times}}</ref> Since the implementation of the [[Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990|Americans with Disabilites Act]] it has expanded its programs for the disabled by assisting theatres in their compliance of the law. This includes offering open captioning, discounted seats that are closer to the stage, as well as live description of the performance (introduced in 2008) to the deaf and blind respectively.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |last=Tyler |first=Dana |date=2008 |title=Audio Described Performance of "Grease" |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhUguo4DfSg&ab_channel=TDF |work=CBS News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Piepenburg |first=Erik |date=2010-03-02 |title=Making Broadway Accessible for the Disabled |url=https://archive.nytimes.com/artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/02/making-broadway-accessible-for-the-disabled/ |access-date=2024-06-19 |website=ArtsBeat, [[The New York Times]] |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Lunden |first=Jeff |date=March 14, 2017 |title=A Blind Theatergoer's 'Hamilton' Lawsuit Aims Spotlight On Broadway Accessibility |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2017/03/14/520008274/a-blind-theatergoers-hamilton-lawsuit-aims-spotlight-on-broadway-accessibility |website=NPR}}</ref> In 2011, the program also started providing services to adults and children on the autistic spectum by providing autism friendly sources.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |date=2011 |title=Theatre Development Fund Pilots Autism Theatre Initiative at Disney's The Lion King Oct. 2 |url=https://playbill.com/article/theatre-development-fund-pilots-autism-theatre-initiative-at-disneys-the-lion-king-oct-2-com-183167 |access-date=2023-08-12 |website=Playbill}}</ref>
In 1979, the TDF created the TDF Accesibility Program (TAP), which offers services to theatergoers with disabilities.<ref name=":1" /> The first service that was provided to deaf people was a live [[American Sign Language|ASL]] translation of the performance of ''The Elephant Man'' in 1980.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=November 20, 1980 |title='The Elephant Man' To Be Interpreted In Sign Language |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1980/11/20/archives/the-elephant-man-to-be-interpreted-in-sign-language.html |website=The New York Times}}</ref> Since the implementation of the [[Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990|Americans with Disabilites Act]] it has expanded its programs for the disabled by assisting theatres in their compliance of the law. This includes offering open captioning, discounted seats that are closer to the stage, as well as live description of the performance (introduced in 2008) to the deaf and blind respectively.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |last=Tyler |first=Dana |date=2008 |title=Audio Described Performance of "Grease" |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhUguo4DfSg&ab_channel=TDF |work=CBS News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Piepenburg |first=Erik |date=2010-03-02 |title=Making Broadway Accessible for the Disabled |url=https://archive.nytimes.com/artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/02/making-broadway-accessible-for-the-disabled/ |access-date=2024-06-19 |website=ArtsBeat, [[The New York Times]] |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Lunden |first=Jeff |date=March 14, 2017 |title=A Blind Theatergoer's 'Hamilton' Lawsuit Aims Spotlight On Broadway Accessibility |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2017/03/14/520008274/a-blind-theatergoers-hamilton-lawsuit-aims-spotlight-on-broadway-accessibility |website=NPR}}</ref> In 2011, the program also started providing services to adults and children on the autistic spectum by providing autism friendly sources.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |date=2011 |title=Theatre Development Fund Pilots Autism Theatre Initiative at Disney's The Lion King Oct. 2 |url=https://playbill.com/article/theatre-development-fund-pilots-autism-theatre-initiative-at-disneys-the-lion-king-oct-2-com-183167 |access-date=2023-08-12 |website=Playbill}}</ref>
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In 1995, the TDF began to offer theatrical educational programs and opportunities in the community.<ref name=":1" /> They offer an introduction class for theatre called "Introduction to Theatre", which is offered to about 10,000 high school students in New York City. Students receive eight workshops provided by TDF and are offered a trip to see a Broadway or Off-Broadway production.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rabinowitz |first=Chloe |date=April 6, 2023 |title=TDF School Programs Serve 10,600 NYC Public School Students in 2022-23 School Year |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/TDF-School-Programs-Serve-10600-NYC-Public-School-Students-in-2022-23-School-Year-20230406 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230407074552/https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/TDF-School-Programs-Serve-10600-NYC-Public-School-Students-in-2022-23-School-Year-20230406 |archive-date=2023-04-07 |access-date=2024-06-19 |website=Broadway World |language=en}}</ref> In 1997, TDF introduced the Wendy Wasserstein/Open Doors program, which provides select students interested in theatre the chance to see a variety of plays over the course of a year with "accomplished theatre professionals" and discuss them afterwards.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Wasserstein |first=Wendy |date=1999-06-20 |title=A Place They'd Never Been: the Theater |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/06/20/theater/theater-a-place-they-d-never-been-the-theater.html |access-date=2024-06-19 |work=[[The New York Times]] |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Gans |first=Andrew |date=June 13, 2019 |title=Open Doors Program Renamed TDF Wendy Wasserstein Project |url=https://playbill.com/article/open-doors-program-renamed-tdf-wendy-wasserstein-project |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200812183129/https://playbill.com/article/open-doors-program-renamed-tdf-wendy-wasserstein-project |archive-date=2020-08-12 |access-date=June 19, 2024 |website=Playbill}}</ref>
In 1995, the TDF began to offer theatrical educational programs and opportunities in the community.<ref name=":1" /> They offer an introduction class for theatre called "Introduction to Theatre", which is offered to about 10,000 high school students in New York City. Students receive eight workshops provided by TDF and are offered a trip to see a Broadway or Off-Broadway production.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rabinowitz |first=Chloe |date=April 6, 2023 |title=TDF School Programs Serve 10,600 NYC Public School Students in 2022-23 School Year |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/TDF-School-Programs-Serve-10600-NYC-Public-School-Students-in-2022-23-School-Year-20230406 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230407074552/https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/TDF-School-Programs-Serve-10600-NYC-Public-School-Students-in-2022-23-School-Year-20230406 |archive-date=2023-04-07 |access-date=2024-06-19 |website=Broadway World |language=en}}</ref> In 1997, TDF introduced the Wendy Wasserstein/Open Doors program, which provides select students interested in theatre the chance to see a variety of plays over the course of a year with "accomplished theatre professionals" and discuss them afterwards.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Wasserstein |first=Wendy |date=1999-06-20 |title=A Place They'd Never Been: the Theater |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/06/20/theater/theater-a-place-they-d-never-been-the-theater.html |access-date=2024-06-19 |work=[[The New York Times]] |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Gans |first=Andrew |date=June 13, 2019 |title=Open Doors Program Renamed TDF Wendy Wasserstein Project |url=https://playbill.com/article/open-doors-program-renamed-tdf-wendy-wasserstein-project |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200812183129/https://playbill.com/article/open-doors-program-renamed-tdf-wendy-wasserstein-project |archive-date=2020-08-12 |access-date=June 19, 2024 |website=Playbill}}</ref>


==Educational Programs==
== Current Programs ==
[[File:TKTS 47 st jeh.JPG|thumb|TKTS Times Square]]The current programs of the fund thus include:<ref>See above references for source information on these programs.</ref>

===Young Playwrights (YP)===
'''Young Playwrights''' is a year-long collaboration between TDF and schools. Together we explore live performance as students craft original works that are shared as staged readings Off-Broadway. Young Playwrights currently serves 700 students in New York City high schools. This has spawned two other Young Playwright programs at TDF:

TDF Young Playwrights’ Group is a year-long after-school play writing workshop for high school students who have been a part of the residency or summer programs. The group meets weekly to write, see and experience play writing. Their work is showcased each June with professional actors in an Off Broadway theatre. Members of the group see a show every month, work with guest artists, and write original plays that are showcased throughout the year by professional actors.

TDF Young Playwrights’ Summer program is a two-week play writing intensive that is open to tri-state area high school students. We welcome those with a curiosity about play writing to apply.

===Introduction to Dance===
'''''Introduction to Dance''''' gives students the opportunity to see live dance and attend workshops led by teaching artists who are professional dancers and choreographers. Each school year the students see performances by Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Paul Taylor Dance Company, and American Ballet Theatre.

==Ticketing Programs==
TDF's discount ticket services make theatre, music and dance affordable and accessible to more than two million people each year.
[[File:TKTS 47 st jeh.JPG|thumb|TKTS Times Square]]

===TKTS Discount Booths===
'''[[TKTS]] Discount Booths''' offer tickets to Broadway and [[Off-Broadway]] musicals and plays at discounts up to 50% off full price tickets. Since the opening of the original Times Square TKTS Booth on June 25, 1973,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Paulson |first=Michael |date=June 28, 2023 |title=Victoria Bailey Wants Audiences to Get Bigger, and Broader |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/28/theater/victoria-bailey-tdf-tkts.html}}</ref> over 51 million tickets have been sold, representing $1.38 billion returned to thousands of theatre, dance and music productions. TDF opened its new TKTS booth in the revitalized [[Duffy Square]]. TDF operates a satellite TKTS booth at [[Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts]] in the David Rubenstein Atrium.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.playbill.com/article/lincoln-center-tkts-discount-booth-will-become-permanent|title=Lincoln Center TKTS Discount Booth Will Become Permanent|first=Robert|last=Viagas|date=January 26, 2017|website=Playbill}}</ref>

===TDF Membership Program===
Launched in 1971,<ref>{{Cite web |title=A Timeline of TDF Achievements and Milestones |url=https://www.tdf.org/about-us/history/ |website=TDF.org}}</ref> '''TDF Membership Program''' maintains a growing list of more than 80,000 qualified theatre lovers who enjoy discounts of up to 70% on admissions to hundreds of Broadway, Off-Broadway, music and dance productions each year. To qualify for TDF membership, members must belong to one of the following groups: full-time students, full-time teachers, union members, retirees, civil service employees, staff members of not-for-profit organizations, performing arts professionals, and members of the armed forces or clergy. In the 2007-2008 season, TDF membership performance admissions reached over 530,000 annually and returned over $13 million to New York City productions.

===Theatre and Dance Subsidy programs===
'''TDF Theatre and Dance Subsidy programs''' are central to TDF's mission, as they marry the goals of supporting productions of merit and bringing audiences to the theatre that might not otherwise be able to attend. The Theatre Subsidy program has subsidized over 900 productions since 1968, including 30 plays that went on to win the [[Pulitzer Prize]] for drama. Last season, admissions to subsidy productions reached 63,997 for theatre and 20,217 for dance. Over $2.5 million was returned to theatre productions and $663,000 to dance productions.

==Costume Collection==


* [[TKTS]] discount ticket booths on Broadway plays, which is apart of its broader program to subsidize Dance and Theatre<ref>{{Cite web |title=TDF Subsidy: Keeping shows running while word of mouth builds |url=https://www.tdf.org/for-the-makers/sell-tickets-through-tdf/tdf-subsidy/#:~:text=TDF%20adds%20$5%20to%20each,of%20the%20subsidy%20is%20repaid. |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240404203458/https://www.tdf.org/for-the-makers/sell-tickets-through-tdf/tdf-subsidy/ |archive-date=2024-04-04 |access-date=2024-06-21 |website=TDF |language=en}}</ref>
=== TDF Costume Collection ===
* Off-off-broadway vouchers
In 1974, the TDF Costume Collection opens, renting costumes to nonprofit and commercial productions.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hogan |first=Jane |date=March 1, 1999 |title=The TDF Costume Collection |url=https://www.livedesignonline.com/tdf-costume-collection-0 |website=LiveDesign}}</ref> TDF Costume Collection houses over 65,000 costumes and accessories providing professionally designed costumes to [[not-for-profit organizations]] at affordable prices. Their reasonable prices not only allow emerging companies to mount more professional-looking shows, they also help theatres to produce a greater number of new works by keeping production costs down. Last season, TDF's costume collection served 440 performing arts companies in 29 states—colleges and universities, middle and high schools, and community and charitable groups—who mounted 848 productions with low-cost costume rentals from the TDF Costume Collection.
* TDF Accessibility program
* Educational programs for high school students and aspiring playwrights
* Costume leasing
* Awards for costume design<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |author= |date=2018-03-05 |title=TDF Announces 2018 Irene Sharaff Awards for Costume Design |url=https://www.americantheatre.org/2018/03/05/tdf-announces-2018-irene-sharaff-awards-for-costume-design/ |access-date=2024-02-23 |website=American Theatre |language=en-US}}</ref>


== Criticism ==
===Irene Sharaff/Robert L.B. Tobin Awards===
In its early form, the organization received some criticism because it used federal funds to [[bailout]] the commerical theater industry, and that it undermined the nature of the competition in the market.<ref name=":6" />
'''TDF's Irene Sharaff/Robert L.B. Tobin Awards''' were founded in 1993 to pay tribute to the art of costume design.<ref>{{Cite web |author=American Theatre Editors |date=2018-03-05 |title=TDF Announces 2018 Irene Sharaff Awards for Costume Design |url=https://www.americantheatre.org/2018/03/05/tdf-announces-2018-irene-sharaff-awards-for-costume-design/ |access-date=2024-02-23 |website=AMERICAN THEATRE |language=en-US}}</ref> Since then, the annual award presentation has become an occasion for the costume design community to come together to honor its own. TDF's [[Irene Sharaff]]/[[Robert L.B. Tobin]] Awards honor excellence by presenting five awards: Lifetime Achievement Award, Artisan Award, Young Master Award, [[Posthumous Award]] and the Robert L.B. Tobin Award for Lifetime Achievement in Theatrical Design.


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 15:24, 21 June 2024

Theatre Development Fund
AbbreviationTDF
Formation1968
TypNonprofit
PurposePromotion of theatre/dance and its development, especially in New York City
Standort
  • New York City, United States
ServicesTicket subsidies, disability services, among others
MethodsUse of private and government funding
Websitetdf.org

The Theatre Development Fund (TDF) is a not-for-profit performing arts service organization in New York City. Created in 1968 to help an ailing New York theatre industry, TDF has grown into the nation's largest performing arts nonprofit, providing support to more than 900 plays and musicals and returning upwards of $1.5 billion in revenue to thousands of Broadway, Off-Broadway and Off-Off-Broadway music and dance productions.[1]

TDF accomplishes their mission through several programs. The TKTS Booth in Times Square is the most visible of all programs.[1] TDF has several programs that helps strengthen their mission including TDF Accessibility Program (TAP), Education Programs, Ticketing Programs and The Costume Collection.

As of August 2023, TDF is led by Executive Director Deeksha Gaur and Managing Director Michael Naumann.[2]

History

The TDF was founded in 1968 in order to originally provide assistance to Broadway productions that were viewed as not likely to survive without some financial assistance, but would likely have some significant cultural impact. This came in the wake of productions on Broadway seemingly becoming more and more formulaic. The original goal of the organization was thus to buy up tickets of those plays and give them away for free. The organization first bought 1,112 seats to The Great White Hope and gave them away to students for free using grant money from the Rockefeller Foundation.[3][4][5] After this first initiative was successful, the TDF set up the TKTS booth in Duffy Square in 1972 that sold tickets to shows at discounted prices, which turned out to be a more effective way of subsidizing the plays.[6][7] The TDF has continued to expand the network of TKTS discount ticket booths to other sites such a satellite booth at the Lincoln Center and another franchized booth in London.[8]

Starting in 1972, the TDF began subsidizing Off-off-Broadway productions by offering vouchers[9] to people that would be typically unlikely to see them, such as teachers and retired persons. At the time, the vouchers would cost 80 cents for the consumers and would entitle the playhouse to $2.50. In 1974, the fund sold over 40,000 vouchers and estimated that 300,000 people were supported by the program, which resulted in recoginition from industry groups of the program.[10] The TDF continues to offer Off-off-Broadway vouchers, but in a different format.[11]

In 1974, the TDF Costume Collection opened, renting costumes to nonprofit and commercial productions. TDF Costume Collection houses over 65,000 costumes and accessories providing professionally designed costumes to not-for-profit organizations at affordable prices.[12][13]

In 1979, the TDF created the TDF Accesibility Program (TAP), which offers services to theatergoers with disabilities.[9] The first service that was provided to deaf people was a live ASL translation of the performance of The Elephant Man in 1980.[14] Since the implementation of the Americans with Disabilites Act it has expanded its programs for the disabled by assisting theatres in their compliance of the law. This includes offering open captioning, discounted seats that are closer to the stage, as well as live description of the performance (introduced in 2008) to the deaf and blind respectively.[15][16][17] In 2011, the program also started providing services to adults and children on the autistic spectum by providing autism friendly sources.[18]

In 1995, the TDF began to offer theatrical educational programs and opportunities in the community.[9] They offer an introduction class for theatre called "Introduction to Theatre", which is offered to about 10,000 high school students in New York City. Students receive eight workshops provided by TDF and are offered a trip to see a Broadway or Off-Broadway production.[19] In 1997, TDF introduced the Wendy Wasserstein/Open Doors program, which provides select students interested in theatre the chance to see a variety of plays over the course of a year with "accomplished theatre professionals" and discuss them afterwards.[20][21]

Current Programs

TKTS Times Square

The current programs of the fund thus include:[22]

  • TKTS discount ticket booths on Broadway plays, which is apart of its broader program to subsidize Dance and Theatre[23]
  • Off-off-broadway vouchers
  • TDF Accessibility program
  • Educational programs for high school students and aspiring playwrights
  • Costume leasing
  • Awards for costume design[24]

Criticism

In its early form, the organization received some criticism because it used federal funds to bailout the commerical theater industry, and that it undermined the nature of the competition in the market.[7]

References

  1. ^ a b Hershberg, Marc. "TDF To Celebrate Five Decades of Building Broadway Audiences". Forbes. Retrieved 2018-04-03.
  2. ^ "TDF Staff". tdf.org. Retrieved 2023-08-12.
  3. ^ Fierberg, Ruthie (October 18, 2018). "Celebrating 50 Years of TDF". Playbill.com.
  4. ^ Beling, Sarah (2023-05-13). "TKTS Turns 50: "A Lot of People Said It Would Never Work"". W42ST. Retrieved 2024-06-18.
  5. ^ Taubman, Howard (1972-02-08). "Audience Growth Stimulated by Theater Fund". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-06-19.
  6. ^ "How Theater Development Fund [sic] develops theater". The New York Times. 1986-03-14. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-06-18.
  7. ^ a b Hershberg, Marc (April 2, 2018). "TDF To Celebrate Five Decades of Building Broadway Audiences". Forbes. Retrieved 2024-06-18.
  8. ^ Viagas, Robert (January 26, 2017). "Lincoln Center TKTS Discount Booth Will Become Permanent". Playbill.
  9. ^ a b c "History". Theatre Development Fund. Archived from the original on 2024-06-01. Retrieved 2024-06-18.
  10. ^ "Off Off Broadway Emerging From Wings". The New York Times. 1974-07-15. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-06-18.
  11. ^ "TDF [Theatre Development Fund]". Office of the Arts at Hunter College, City University of New York. 2017-07-03. Archived from the original on 2022-05-21. Retrieved 2024-06-18.
  12. ^ Hogan, Jane (March 1, 1999). "The TDF Costume Collection". LiveDesign.
  13. ^ McEvers, Kelly; Lewin, Naomi; Stephen (September 29, 2017). "The Theater Development Fund In New York Takes Playing Dress-Up To Another Level". NPR.
  14. ^ "'The Elephant Man' To Be Interpreted In Sign Language". The New York Times. November 20, 1980.
  15. ^ Tyler, Dana (2008). "Audio Described Performance of "Grease"". CBS News.
  16. ^ Piepenburg, Erik (2010-03-02). "Making Broadway Accessible for the Disabled". ArtsBeat, The New York Times. Retrieved 2024-06-19.
  17. ^ Lunden, Jeff (March 14, 2017). "A Blind Theatergoer's 'Hamilton' Lawsuit Aims Spotlight On Broadway Accessibility". NPR.
  18. ^ "Theatre Development Fund Pilots Autism Theatre Initiative at Disney's The Lion King Oct. 2". Playbill. 2011. Retrieved 2023-08-12.
  19. ^ Rabinowitz, Chloe (April 6, 2023). "TDF School Programs Serve 10,600 NYC Public School Students in 2022-23 School Year". Broadway World. Archived from the original on 2023-04-07. Retrieved 2024-06-19.
  20. ^ Wasserstein, Wendy (1999-06-20). "A Place They'd Never Been: the Theater". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-06-19.
  21. ^ Gans, Andrew (June 13, 2019). "Open Doors Program Renamed TDF Wendy Wasserstein Project". Playbill. Archived from the original on 2020-08-12. Retrieved June 19, 2024.
  22. ^ See above references for source information on these programs.
  23. ^ "TDF Subsidy: Keeping shows running while word of mouth builds". TDF. Archived from the original on 2024-04-04. Retrieved 2024-06-21.
  24. ^ "TDF Announces 2018 Irene Sharaff Awards for Costume Design". American Theatre. 2018-03-05. Retrieved 2024-02-23.
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