Access Theater

06/19/2023

Happy Juneteenth and thank you to Jasmine Kouyate for creating this beautiful post!

06/19/2023

01/26/2022

We’ll be meeting from 10AM-4PM with a lunch break on Zoom.
The structure will be as follows:

10-10:45AM: Convene, introductions, set intentions for the retreat & short writing session

10:45AM-12:45PM: write individually while on Zoom

12:45-1:15PM: Break together for lunch

1:15-2:30PM: More individual writing/creating time

2:30-4PM: Artist’s Circle session - read & respond to work (2-5 minutes/pages depending on medium and how many people have pages)

This event is open to all members of the Access Theater community and friends are also welcome! I Please reach out with any accessibility questions, closed captioning will be provided through Zoom.

We encourage you to attend the entire event, but feel free to come and go as you please. Sign up link here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe3i-fFKEKQTnwd9TfXMCISnisIg_WTTjqkx1SnY02TG-3MaA/viewform?usp=sf_link

01/18/2022

Today we honor Dr. King's legacy, and the ongoing journey towards a more equitable and compassionate world.

11/30/2021

Happening at 7pm!
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/access-theater-speaker-series-q-a-with-jose-rivera-tickets-211176182647

Join us for a free, virtual Q & A with our special guest: José Rivera!

11/29/2021

We are overjoyed to announce the first installment of our Speaker Series; A Virtual Q&A with Oscar-nominated and Obie Award-winning writer José Rivera! José Rivera will be speaking to his experience in playwriting and screenwriting. This event is FREE and open to all, link in bio to sign up! November 30th 7-8pm on zoom, we can’t wait to see you ❤️

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/access-theater-speaker-series-q-a-with-jose-rivera-tickets-211176182647

Join us for a free, virtual Q & A with our special guest: José Rivera!

03/01/2021

Marking the end of February and Black History Month! We honor the pioneers that helped make our world a more equitable place, and we celebrate Black art and artists today and everyday. Here is a clip from the documentary, “Black Theater: The Making of a Movement”.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtnJQ6eV5rk

To watch the entire documentary, to read background information and to order DVDs, visit:http://newsreel.org/video/BLACK-THEATER"Black Theater: The Making of...

11/23/2020

Join us December 1st, at 7 pm as we continue our Speaker Series with the amazingly talented writer and performer, Aasif Mandvi!! All you have to do is reserve your FREE "zoom spot" using the eventbrite link below. We are so excited and can't wait to see you there! You won't want to miss this!

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/access-theater-speaker-series-aasif-mandvi-tickets-129804218913

11/07/2020

https://www.facebook.com/nytimes/photos/a.283559809998/10152505342289999/

The front page of The New York Times for Nov. 8, 2020.

11/03/2020

Election Day - thank you to all who have voted and those voting today!

A reminder, if you are turned away at the polls you can respond, “I’d like a provisional ballot with a receipt as required by law.”

10/29/2020

Join us tonight at 7 pm as we continue our Fall Speaker Series with the one and only, Anna Suzuki! Access Theater's new Artistic Director, Laura Lee and Executive Director/Founder, Jacqueline Christy will be leading a Q & A with Anna. We are so excited and can't wait to see you all there! Below are some stills of the wonderfully talented Anna playing the role of Beatrice in Magic Hour, directed by Jacqueline Christy and co-produced by Laura Lee!

Link to RSVP: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/access-theater-speaker-series-anna-suzuki-tickets-126014575989?fbclid=IwAR1j4r0lO9qEgCbhtv8JCI2VOn7y0-RlVlYN8SAm0vaRufi7bGUsdKASZ7M

10/23/2020

Join us in welcoming our next guest in the Fall Speaker Series: Anna Suzuki!! We are thrilled to hear from Anna about her experiences performing in live comedy, film/tv, and more. The event will be online and FREE, October 29 (Thursday) @ 7pm. We are so excited! See you there!
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/access-theater-speaker-series-anna-suzuki-tickets-126014575989

10/12/2020

Please join us in supporting Giving and Taking presented by Princeton Mutual Aid-an evening of storytelling for a great cause. Hosted by NPR's Deborah Amos, the event will feature two of Access Theater's Writers group members, Jim Christy & Aasif Mandvi !

To learn more about PMA, please visit www.princetonmutualaid.com

Register here:
rb.gy/p0mfuw

09/25/2020

Happy Autumn, everyone! We hope this post finds you well, safe, and healthy. If you are looking for inspiration and a sense of community, as a theater artist or arts enthusiast, we have just the event for you. Access Theater is thrilled to announce our Fall Speaker Series, which starts Tuesday September 29th @ 7-8pm. All on Zoom! Join us in welcoming our first guest: mega multi-talented playwright, tv writer, producer, and Access Theater Writer’s Group alum, J. Holtham! We will begin with a Q & A panel and then open up the floor to any questions. All of these events will be free, and anyone is more than welcome to attend. All you need to do is sign up on the Eventbrite link below...

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/access-theater-speaker-series-event-1-j-holtham-tickets-121992453713

We hope to see you there!

09/01/2020

Join the Access Theater team Laura Lee, Jaqueline Christy and Chris Phan in supporting the League of Independent Theaters and all small theaters and businesses affected by Covid 19 with the initiative! https://www.facebook.com/indietheaterleague/

08/13/2020

Access Theater is seeking remote Fall Interns! Send your resume and cover letters to [email protected]

06/16/2020

We are thrilled to welcome LAURA LEE, Access Theater's new Artistic Director!!

I have long been in awe of Access Theater’s rich history, and I feel so honored to be a part of such a wonderful family of theater artists, creators, doers, shakers, movers, and makers! We have always been an organization that has supported the voices of emerging talent, independent spirits, those questioning societal dogma, and thinkers exploring the world around us. My mission is to elevate the work of those historically underrepresented in theater spaces, as well as celebrate the necessity and joy of creating together. It’s more important than ever to make art and to create collectively, especially when we are isolated from one another. I’m so excited to get to work and continue to be amazed by the wonderful work that you, our community, shares with us.

Some initiatives we are currently developing:

-We are exploring how we can grow our leadership, programming, and community to reflect our diverse city and to amplify the voices of those who are systemically quieted. We have received a grant for professional inclusivity training, and we are very excited to listen, learn and infuse our programming with new ideas.

-We are creating a mentorship program to link theater and entertainment professionals with middle and high school students to help them explore storytelling, writing, and the power of their own voices. We will have more information about this program for those in our community who are interested in being involved.

-We will be hosting free monthly masterclasses for the public. Interested in scene design, stage fighting, directing, or acting? We will explore all elements of theater-making with visionary guests and in an open, online forum.

-Chinatown has been greatly affected by Covid, and some fear that the neighborhood won’t survive this dark era. We are exploring ways to collaborate with the Chinatown community and what art-making and performance can mean in a time of crisis.

-We are exploring multimedia productions in the coming months and experimenting with how we can use technology to find new ways to connect and create.

The space is lonely and misses you! We have overcome the struggles of 9/11, recessions, floods, and Tribeca real estate vultures. We will get through this pandemic!
Please be on the lookout for our emails announcing readings, performances, and other programming!
Coming to a screen near you!

-Laura Lee
Artistic Director, Access Theater

Please join me in welcoming our new Artistic Director, Laura Lee! Laura brings a lifelong dedication to the arts, terrific programming ideas, and a strong, supportive leadership style. A Jamaican American woman with a powerful vision, Laura is centering on inclusivity as she leads Access Theater into our next chapter. Laura is a “promotion from within.” She has worked closely for the past three years with Access Theater leadership developing and producing new work, founding a writers group, interviewing prospective staff and overseeing the Williams College internship program. Outside Access Theater, Laura is a writer, director and producer based in Brooklyn. She has produced the short film Whalebone, and co-produced the feature film Magic Hour. Laura excels at collaborating while fostering a warm, productive, and safe space that is inclusive and welcoming. Access Theater is thrilled to have her on board!

-Jacqueline Christy
Founding Executive Director, Access Theater

05/31/2020

Access Theater stands with our community of Black artists, patrons and audiences. The recent murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery are only a part of the terrible 400-year history of violence on Black bodies in this country. Access is committed to being an anti-racist organization and we will continue to stand in solidarity with the Black community.

BLACK LIVES MATTER. 🖤

Donate to any of the following organizations to make a difference:

Minnesota Freedom Fund: https://minnesotafreedomfund.org

Reclaim the Block: https://www.reclaimtheblock.org/home

The Bail Project: https://bailproject.org

Color of Change: https://colorofchange.org

Black Lives Matter: https://blacklivesmatter.com