Theatre Communications Group (TCG) is a non-profit service organization headquartered in

New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...

that promotes professional non-profit

theatre Theatre or theater is a collaborative form of performing art that uses live performers, usually actors or actresses, to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place, often a stage. The perform ...

in the United States. The organization also publishes ''American Theatre'' magazine and ''ARTSEARCH'', a theatrical employment bulletin, as well as

trade edition A paperback (softcover, softback) book is one with a thick paper or paperboard cover, and often held together with glue rather than stitches or staples. In contrast, hardcover (hardback) books are bound with cardboard covered with cloth, ...

s of theatrical scripts.

History

Theatre Communications Group was established in 1961 with a grant from the Ford Foundation in response to their then arts and humanities director

W. McNeil Lowry Wilson McNeil Lowry (February 17, 1913 – June 6, 1993) was an American businessman. He served as the vice president of the Ford Foundation. Lowry was honored the Special Tony Award at the 17th Tony Awards. He died in June 1993 of esophageal c ...

's desire to foster communication and cooperation among the growing community of regional theatres throughout the country.Schanke p. 188 Though initially run as a Ford Foundation administered program, TCG independently incorporated in 1964. The organization began with a membership of 15 regional and community theatres, and nine university drama departments under the leadership of Pat Brown. In its first decade of operation, other leaders included Michael Mabry, Joseph Zeigler and Hartney Arthur. In 1972, Peter Zeisler was named Executive Director, a position he would hold for 23 years. Under Zeisler’s leadership, TCG created many of its longest-running programs, including annual National Conference, ''American Theatre'' magazine and TCG Books. After Zeisler retired in 1995, the organization was led by John Sullivan, (1993–1997)King p. 186 Ben Cameron (1996–2006), and Joan Channick (1999–2006). TCG was named the United States Center for the International Theater Institute in 1999 and

Tony Honors for Excellence in Theatre The Tony Honors for Excellence in Theatre is a non-competitive award created by the American Theatre Wing in 1990. They are presented to institutions, individuals and/or organizations that have demonstrated extraordinary achievement in theatre, but ...

in 2005.Volz p. 200 , TCG has over 700 member theatres located in 47 states; 12,000 individual members; and 150 University, Trustee and other business affiliates.Volz p. 199-200 Teresa Eyring was appointed Executive Director in 2007.

TCG Books

Founded in 1984, TCG Books is considered the largest independent publisher of dramatic literature in North America. As of 2014, it has published the work of 235 playwrights and theatre professionals in over 1,600 titles, including 16 winners of the

Pulitzer Prize for Drama The Pulitzer Prize for Drama is one of the seven American Pulitzer Prizes that are annually awarded for Letters, Drama, and Music. It is one of the original Pulitzers, for the program was inaugurated in 1917 with seven prizes, four of which were a ...

, one winner of the

Nobel Prize for Literature ) , image = Nobel Prize.png , caption = , awarded_for = Outstanding contributions in literature , presenter = Swedish Academy , holder = Annie Ernaux (2022) , location = Stockholm, Sweden , year = 1901 , ...

, as well as numerous

Tony Award The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Broadway Theatre, more commonly known as the Tony Award, recognizes excellence in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual cer ...

Drama Desk The Drama Desk Award is an annual prize recognizing excellence in New York theatre. First bestowed in 1955 as the Vernon Rice Award, the prize initially honored Off-Broadway productions, as well as Off-off-Broadway, and those in the vicinity. Fo ...

, and

Obie Award The Obie Awards or Off-Broadway Theater Awards are annual awards originally given by ''The Village Voice'' newspaper to theatre artists and groups in New York City. In September 2014, the awards were jointly presented and administered with the A ...

winners.

Periodicals

Theatre Communications Group publishes ''American Theatre'' magazine, a periodical focused on the non-profit professional theatre, and ARTSEARCH, a career and job search resource for performing arts professionals. ''American Theatre'' is published 10 times a year and distributed to TCG members free of charge. ARTSEARCH is published digitally and released on a quarterly basis.

Notes

References

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External links