Theatre practitioners across the nation are set to participate in the fifth annual Collaborator Party on June 9, sponsored by USITT.
The Collaborator Party’s inaugural event came after the Tony Awards eliminated the awards dedicated to sound design in 2014. Following the 2017 reinstatement of the sound design category, the event has blossomed into a party for all who work, contribute to, and collaborate in a theatrical setting.
The main event will be hosted at Houston Hall in New York City with satellite soirees at Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago and a variety of other venues. All parties are free but require advanced sign up.
If you’re not local to any existing party, sound designer and Collaborator Party co-founder Lindsay Jones encourages you to throw your own Collaborator Party and connect with other industry professionals on social media using #collaboratorparty on Facebook and Instagram and #collaboratorp on Twitter and Snapchat.
“Honestly, the only thing you really need to do is have a place where people can meet, enjoy each other’s company, and watch the Tony Awards,” Jones said. “It’s really about the idea that we’re all this community of people who really care about making great theatre and working together.”
Industry professionals not traditionally recognized in award shows have been invited to co-host this year’s event after a wide-range of co-hosts stepped up last year. Professions such as props, projection designer, wig and hair, general and stage management, music direction, and production management are expected to be represented.
“If you don’t feel you’re being specifically represented in an award show somewhere, all the more reason for you to come because we really want you to be there,” Jones said. “It’s a chance for everybody who works in theatre to come together and celebrate one another and the great work they do to make theatre special.”
At USITT18 in Ft. Lauderdale, the Institute presented Jones and Collaborator Party co-founder John Gromada with a Special Citation recognizing their work in creating the event.
“We are so pleased to once again be a sponsor of the Collaborator Party,” said USITT Executive Director David Grindle. “Collaboration makes all theatre and entertainment production possible and those efforts deserve to be celebrated. I hope that all of our members will join us in celebrating our collaboration on Tony night.”
NYC Party
Houston Hall: 222 W Houston St. New York, NY 10018 (near the corner of Houston and Varick) (212) 675 9323
Featured photo by Andy Leviss.
