Stage Directions: Hurricane Harvey has devistated many parts of southeast Texas and Lousiana and recognizing that many theater professionals are effected both IATSE and The Actors Fund have put out information to help our colleagues in the community find some of the emergency resources they will need to move forward through recovering from this storm.
3 comments:
I feel very much for the people affected by Hurricane Harvey and especially for those in the theatre community. I can't imagine what it must be like to have both home and business destroyed, and think that the theatre community as a whole needs to band together to help regardless of where our home base is. Disasters like this are all encompassing, and I can imagine for those involved it must be very difficult to think of anything else. I appreciate this article laying out some ways for those involved to get help and those simply reading about it to provide assistance. A few of these companies were going through fundraisers before the storm, and I doubt they will be able to turn those back on so easily and may need to now devote the money planned for an addition or expanse to simply rebuild. These theatres will also have a difficult time getting back on their feet due to their patrons having to rebuild and perhaps cut the fat of going to see a show or performance in lieu of spending money on repairs.
Hurricane Harvey has left a tremendous impact on those in Texas, and I can only imagine what it would be like to be in their shoes and have nearly everything of mine destroyed. The support from the theatre community and the ways it has pushed to help and support others in the theatre communities that have been effected in tremendous. It truly emphasizes the idea that we, as theatre artists, are always there to support each other in times of need. It is amazing to see organizations like the Actors Fund, Union Plus, and IATSE provide basic, essential support to the theatre communities in Louisiana and Texas, even though this is only the beginning. It will take time to rebuild and relocate (if necessary) and it will take continued support from outside sources to truly be able to reach a point where they will be able to flourish again.
In light of what I thought was a very successful dialogue and meeting put on by the diversity and inclusion committee this past friday, I think it would be a good thing to have more school wide discussions in the future about issues such as this. If we come together as a school and a theater community, we could establish school wide fundraising and relief efforts to address catastrophes such as Harvey and create a framework for civic action when future crises demand it.
Post a Comment