See the Broadway Community Reunite for a Moving Tribute to the Theatre | Playbill

Photo Features See the Broadway Community Reunite for a Moving Tribute to the Theatre The Ensemblist welcomed performers who populate the theatre industry to create a symbol of resilience in the heart of Times Square.
Members of the Broadway community in Times Square Michaelah Reynolds

Theatres may be dark but Broadway is still shining. With the pandemic, the theatre industry faced a sudden shutdown, halting the livelihoods of the professionals who bring it to life night after night. Five months into the crisis, the Ensemblist reunited the Broadway community in Times Square in a moving message of Broadway resilience and the needs of its artists.

“When I think about iconic moments in the Broadway community, the theatre’s September 11th tribute comes to mind. Originally taken after a national crisis, dozens of theatre actors gathered in the middle of Times Square to show the world that Broadway, and New York City in general, was standing strong. Now, 20 years later, our nation is facing a very different kind of crisis. This time, Broadway is nowhere near open for business but holding on,” the Ensemblist’s Mo Brady explained.

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Jerusha Cavazos Mati Ficara

“Along with photographers Michaelah Reynolds and Mati Ficara, nearly 70 theatre professionals gathered in Times Square to create a 2020 version of this iconic photograph. Wearing face masks and adhering to social distancing guidelines, the image paints a very different picture of how actors are able to respond to a crisis.

“New York theatre artists are in dire need of support. Our industry is both a calling card and a major revenue stream for 'the greatest city in the world.' But it is also an industry with almost 100 percent unemployment centered in one of the most expensive cities in the world. Without continued financial support for artists during this pandemic, our community will not survive. Theatre is, and always has been, a collaborative effort and right now, it needs your voice.

"What was remarkable about this photoshoot is how empowering it was for the performers. Even during a summer storm, dozens of performers donned face masks and braved the elements to travel to Times Square. At the time when we are not able to share our faces on stage, we can still come together to affect change for our community."

See the Broadway Community Reunite for a Moving Tribute to the Theatre

Featuring Tia Altinay, Darius Barnes, Ben Bogen, Charl Brown, Yeman Brown, Josh Burrage, David Bushman, Claire Camp, Jerusha Cavazos, Alicia Charles, Holli’ Conway, Ben Cook, Calvin Cooper, Spencer Dean, Alex DeLeo, Gaby Diaz, Hope Easterbrook, Michael Fatica, Cajal Fellows Johnson, Ian Gallagher Fitzgerald, Jen Foote, Jason Forbach, Anthony Gabriel, Gaby Gamache, Daniel Gaymon, Devon Hadsell, Marc Heitzman, Kendyl Ito, Taylor Symone Jackson, Aaron Kaburick, Justin Keats, Hannah Kohl, Michal Kolaczkowski, James T. Lane, Nina LaFarga, Colby Q. Lindeman, Jaygee Macapugay, Kimberly Marable, Brian Martin, Robin Masella, Elliott Mattox, Rob McClure, Ez Menas, Michelle Mercedes, Dimitri Moise, Doreen Montalvo, Preston Mui, Kimberlee Murray, Eliza Ohman, Bobby Pestka, Samantha Pollino, Ernie Pruneda, Dee Roscoli, Christine Shepard, Ryan Steele, Sam Sturm, John Tupy, Ricky Ubeda, Chris Vo, Robert Walters, Aléna Watters, Bridget Whitman, Jason Williams, Andrew Wilson, Jen Wolfe and Kelli Youngman.
 
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