Our network partners are hosting some great events this month. Check out what’s On the RISE in the RISE Theatre Network. If you want to stay in the know, check out risetheatre.org.
Happy Black History month! Through February and beyond we extend our gratitude and honor the black artists of the past, present, and future that have enriched the performing arts. Their contributions have and continue to be integral to the success of this industry.
Save the date for our annual fundraiser, AMPLIFY, hosted on April 6th 2026.
Join us for our next RISE event with Signature Theatre
When: Thursday, February 26th, 6pm
Where: Signature Theatre,
480 W 42nd Street
New York, NY 10036
In partnership with Signature Theatre, rub elbows with fellow BIPOC art administrators. Grab a drink and make new collaborators. The happy Hour RSVP link will be shared on our social media channel next week, follow @risetheatreorg to stay in the loop.
We are happy to also offer a special discount for RISE Theatre Directory members. Use the code RISE20 to get 20% off tickets for the evening performance on February 26th. Click the link below to purchase tickets.
Different Strokes! Performing Arts Collective presents INK of our KIN: A Series of Staged Readings Celebrating Ethnic & Cultural Diversity
Celebrate the richness of Black theatre history with Different Strokes and INK of Our KIN, an engaging new series of staged readings that highlights the ethnic and cultural diversity of American theatre. Created to amplify culturally rooted, ethnically grounded storytelling, INK of Our KIN offers audiences a focused encounter with plays that have shaped, and continue to shape, our theatrical landscape, even when they haven’t always received the visibility they deserve.
Black Theatre has long been a vital force in American culture, rooted in African traditions, strengthened through institutions like Howard University and the Harlem Renaissance, and carried forward by pioneers such as Paul Robeson, Lorraine Hansberry, and August Wilson, whose work continues to inspire communities from Asheville to Broadway. The legacy of Black theatre extends beyond the stage, shaping film, television, dance, and public discourse, and influencing how American culture understands race, identity, and justice. The inaugural season of INK of our KIN presents three landmark works that span generations and styles: The Piano Lesson by August Wilson, The Motherfu*ker with the Hat by Stephen Adly Giurgis, and A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry. Each reading is chosen to honor trailblazing playwrights who forged a powerful, often underproduced canon, and to spotlight contemporary voices who carry that legacy forward.
The Piano Lesson (February 6-7)
The Motherfu*ker with the Hat (February 13-14)
A Raisin in the Sun (February 20-21)
Tina McGuire Theatre
18 Biltmore Ave.Asheville, NC 28801
For more tickets and additional information about Different Strokes! Performing Arts Collective visit the link below.
Noor Theatre
Noor Theatre and Ma-Yi Theater Company are delighted to be coproducing a workshop of JERK OFF! by Nadia Manzoor, directed by Sarna Lapine.
Please join them for a public sharing of this new interdisciplinary solo play on Thursday, February 12 at 7PM or Friday, February 13 at 12PM. Use the RSVP form below to reserve free tickets.
JERK OFF! is a raw, darkly funny autobiographical solo play by Nadia P. Manzoor, blending visceral storytelling, movement, and ritual to interrogate how shame, desire, and control are inherited across immigrant families and intimate relationships. Set in the aftermath of her mother’s death, a rupture that quietly fractures her British-Pakistani family, the piece follows a woman navigating grief, sexuality, faith, and a romantic relationship that mirrors the very systems of power she’s trained to identify as a domestic violence professional. A daring, urgent sequel to the critically acclaimed solo show BURQ OFF!, JERK OFF! speaks directly to this cultural moment, where conversations around consent, patriarchy, and women’s autonomy are no longer theoretical but embodied and unresolved.
Dance Data Project®
What does data journalism look like for arts and culture reporting? On February 18, Dance Data Project® and the Medill School of Journalism are co-hosting a free, one-day virtual workshop for arts and entertainment journalists interested in using data to strengthen their storytelling. From spreadsheets and data cleaning to visualization, AI tools, and writing with context, this workshop is designed to help journalists go beyond reviews and come away with a stronger overall perspective of the arts sector.
Feb. 18 from 8am to 4pm | Free & virtual
Dance Data Project Publishes Newsletter Point By Pointe: Conductors and Composers
“Women deserve to write music, play music, and lead: in the pit, in the recording studio, and at the creative table. Highlighting groundbreaking leadership is part of our mission, and we [DDP] take it very seriously.
This is a difficult time. There is no doubt that the performing arts sector is once again in turmoil. What will keep us going are people like these women, who acknowledge the difficulties in the industry but, rather than bemoan them, take charge, work hard, and create the industry that they want to be a part of. These women are leaders and, honestly, beacons of light.”
Business of Broadway
Producing 101
February 2nd, 6:30-9:30pm ET
The goal of this course is to demystify the process of creating and producing a Broadway show, and to offer artists insight into the world of theatrical producing at large. We examine how a show is produced, exploring the timeline of a show's creative development from ideation to production as well as the underlying financial model that fuels that process. 2.5 hour lecture (including a break), followed by 30 minutes of Q&A.
Producing 202: UNIONS & GUILDS
February 24th, 6:30-9:00pm ET
Theatre unions and guilds: who are they, who do they represent, and what is their role? In this 2 hour course, we examine the function of labor unions in the theatrical ecosystem, discuss the complex and historic relationship between labor and management with a nod towards the current national context, and provide an overview of what to expect when negotiating a collective bargaining agreement.
All classes are taught virtually.
The 1/52 Project
The 1/52 Project is accepting grant applications from early career designers from February 1 until March 15, 2026.
The OBIE Award winning 1/52 Project provides grants of up to $17,500 to encourage early career designers from historically excluded groups with the aim of strengthening the theater community by diversifying the stories we tell. Applicants will be chosen based on talent, creativity, innovation, financial need, and potential for future excellence in the professional theatrical field.
R.Evolución Latina Beyond Workshop Series+
Beyond Workshop Series+ (BWS+) is an extension of R.Evolución Latina’s Beyond Workshop Series, offering year-round training for dedicated artists. It features ongoing classes in dance, acting, voice, and professional development led by Broadway and industry professionals.
BWS+ fosters growth, creativity, and connection in a supportive environment. Open to all performers, it encourages collaboration while upholding R.Evolución Latina’s mission to empower and give back through the arts. Whether you're a returning BWS alum or a new artist, BWS+ supports your journey of artistic discovery.
All workshops are priced at $9, made possible by the generous support for their community. To see all upcoming courses please visit the link below.
Feb 16 | BWS+ Vocal Salon with Andrew Sotomayor
Feb 28 | BWS+ Latin Fusion Dance Class with Shani Talmor
A.R.T./New York Shout-Out: Introducing NonProfit Help Desk
A.R.T./New York Shout-Out: Introducing NonProfit Help Desk
Thursday February 19, 2026 11:00am-12:00pm ET
Location: Zoom
Format: Info Session with Q&A Facilitated by Danielle King, Director of Program Services, A.R.T./New York
Featuring: Amy Fiore, Director of the NonProfit Help Desk
Join A.R.T./New York for a one-hour virtual conversation about the NonProfit HelpDesk, a free service to NYC nonprofit organizations providing workshops on a variety of relevant topics, an archive of previous sessions, an active LinkedIn community, and one-on-one expert support to pair organizations with individuals who can provide counsel on their most pressing challenges. Amy will share a bit about her background that began in arts administration, her segue into the greater nonprofit sector, and how theatermakers can utilize the resources NonProfit Help Desk offers.
NYTW 2050 Administrative Fellowships Now Open
This year, NYTW will accept up to four 2050 Administrative Fellows. These fellowships will entail a season-long commitment from September 2026 to June 2027, and payment is $20.00 an hour.
2050 Administrative Fellows:
- Commit to a yearlong paid part-time fellowship (28-30hrs/week, Monday-Friday) in one field of interest, including Artistic Workshop, Development, Education & Engagement, and Marketing.
- Work directly with the department head and their team in the respective area of focus.
- Attend a two-day intensive orientation seminar where they will be introduced to the fellowship program, meet NYTW staff, and begin to develop your fellowship goals and plans.
- Take on significant responsibilities in your department, including day-to-day tasks and long-term collaborative and individual projects.
- Participate in monthly seminar meetings to discuss their work, share ideas, meet other professionals in the field and receive specialized career-development training.
- Participate in brown bag lunches with members of the NYTW staff and invited guests and attend industry networking and social events.
