Theater for the New City

THEATER FOR THE NEW CITY RECEIVES $24,999 QUALITY OF LIFE GRANT FROM THE CHRISTOPHER & DANA REEVE FOUNDATION FOR RENOVATION OF ITS FRONT DOORS

NEW YORK, NY – FEBRUARY 22, 2024 – THEATER FOR THE NEW CITY is proud to announce that it has been awarded $24,999 as part of the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation National Paralysis Resource Center (NPRC) 2023 Direct Effect 2^nd Cycle Quality of Life grants. Fifty-nine grants totaling $1,271,125 were awarded. The Quality of Life Grants Program supports nonprofit organizations that empower individuals living with paralysis. Since the Quality of Life Grants Program’s inception, more than 3,770 grants totaling $43 million have been awarded. Funding for this program was made possible through a cooperative agreement with the Administration for Community Living (ACL grant #90PRRC0006-03-01).

The Reeve Foundation’s National Paralysis Resource Center has several grants under the Quality of Life program awarding grants in different category areas, varying in different amounts.

The Direct Effect grants program funds organizations to support a wide range of projects and activities that will impact individuals living with paralysis and their families.

“These awards are about restoring independence to our constituents,” said Dan McNeal, Director of, the Quality of Life Grants Program, Reeve Foundation. “Our work and number one goal are to enhance the quality of life of people living with paralysis. It is our honor to continue to collaborate with so many dedicated organizations, which have selflessly given their time and efforts to ensure that accessibility and inclusivity remain embedded in the fabric of their programs.”

Theater for the New City will use the grant for the renovation of the front doors to its space, including making them more accessible to theatergoers with paralysis and those in wheelchairs.

Crystal Field, Executive Artistic Director of Theater for the New City, says: “It is both an honor and a moral support to receive a grant towards the funding of our accessible front doors, to the Theater for the new city. This project, which is funded, initially, by the Reeve Foundation, is an inspiration for further funding to complete its operation. The Reeve Foundation’s stamp of approval, augments the funding of all other grants received by Theater for the New City to complete the renovation of the front of TNC’s theater, with doors that make accessible, the charming, delightful and truly relevant theater projects taking place inside our theater. Theater for the New City, which has always welcomed wheelchair accessibility, will now be able to actually provide it. In this way, it will enlarge our audience and contribute to the ease and comfort of our Patrons.”

About the Reeve Foundation:

The Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation is dedicated to curing spinal cord injury by funding innovative research and improving the quality of life for individuals and families impacted by paralysis. By uniting the brightest minds in the field, we are working tirelessly to accelerate scientific discoveries across the field of spinal cord research by investing in labs across the globe. Additionally, through a cooperative agreement with the Administration for Community Living, the Reeve Foundation’s National Paralysis Resource Center (NPRC) promotes the health, well-being, and independence of people living with paralysis, providing comprehensive information, resources, and referral services assisting over 100,000 individuals and families since its launch in 2002. The Reeve Foundation is committed to elevating our community’s voices and needs to achieve greater representation and independence. We meet all 20 of the Better Business Bureau’s standards for charity accountability and hold the BBB’s Charity Seal.  For more information, please visit our website at www.ChristopherReeve.org or call 800-225-0292.

About Theater for the New City:

Theater for the New City was founded in 1970 by Crystal Field, George Bartenieff, Larry Kornfeld and Theo Barnes.Now in its 54^th year, Theater for The New City is dedicated to producing established and emerging playwrights and to presenting the work of small developmental theater companies, all of whom experiment with new forms; and to expand theater accessibility and enhance the cultural dialogue though our Community Programs. Our core values guide us to:

• Embody the vision of a center for innovative theater arts that is truly accessible to the community and its artists.
• Discover relevant new writing and to nurture new playwrights.
• Facilitate a bridge between playwright, experimental theater artist, and community.
• Create spaces where new vision can breathe and be nourished by a working process not subject to commercial constraints.
• Design systems which bring theater into the community and bring the community into the theater.
• Engage underserved youth in theater arts in order to focus their energies on creativity and empowerment.

http://theaterforthenewcity.net

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Contact
Theater for the New City
Jonathan Weber
212-254-1109
jon@theaterforthenewcity.net
 
Reeve Foundation
Julia Leonard
973-933-7222 
media@reeve.org

“Vinie Burrows was a Stalwart and Staunch Supporter of Theater for the New City. A wonderful and very active Board member, Vinie was also, a renowned actress and a member of the United Nations as an NGO advocate for Women’s Rights. She performed many times at, and for, Theater for the New City, and is well remembered, not only for her Artistic excellence but also as a teacher and inspiration for the young writers whose future has always been in the hands of Theater for the New City. Her philosophy of inclusion included her instrumental backing of low ticket prices and TNC’s free ticket program, our After School cultural arts program-Free to neighborhood children, and the 4 major community events that TNC presents every year. The 5 borough Street theater tour of a new musical, The village Halloween Costume ball, loaded with New Theater works, the wonderful annual Love n Courage Gala and the LES-Lower East Side festival of the Arts, a 3 day event packed with theater, music, dance and film. She was a beautiful woman both inside and out. And remarkably, kept that beauty through her 99th year. Her legacy is strong and lives on. As she, herself will continue to live in our Hearts”

-Crystal Field

“Joseph Vernon Banks or as we knew him, “Joe” Composer, Teacher, Conductor and Great Friend to Theater for the New City, passed away this November. His Music for TNC’s annual Street theater 5-borough tour, lent grace and joy to a new Musical with book and lyrics by Crystal Field. His generosity of spirit pervaded the theater during the rehearsals and performances of each new work. In his last years, he mentored and Supported Peter Dizzoza as an up and coming composer for the Street theater. Although, sorely missed, his influence on Peter’s music will last long into the Future, and his philosophy showed itself in his Music and Greatly influenced Crystal Fields Direction in her writing. His legacy, therefore, is strong, vibrant and will continue in the years to come. His memory will remain  in the hearts of the many street theater performers that graced and will grace the outside stage of each new Operetta for the Street”

-Crystal Field