One year ago, NYC theaters closed and immersive theater workers lost their entire livelihoods.
As expected, the arts sector is the last to rebound. The very nature of what makes immersive theater poignant—intimate performances in shared spaces—makes it particularly difficult to reopen immersive shows even as other art spaces slowly return.
What is a year without theater?
For arts lovers, it’s been nearly impossible to feel the thrill of live performing arts.
For arts workers, it’s been nearly impossible to pay the rent and keep the lights on.
It’s time, once again, for immersive theater fans to give back.
Last October, theater fans like you raised over $45,000 to help immersive arts workers through our epic fundraising production, The Lost Halloween. Together, we distributed emergency funds to 87 immersive professionals that collectively represent over two dozen immersive shows. Of those who requested funds, 42 are performers and 45 work in various roles including costume and makeup artists, lighting designers, music directors, stage managers, stewards, bartenders, front-of-house staff, carpenters, electricians, and more. The love and care of theater fans reached all corners of the immersive arts worker community.
The magnetic draw of immersive theater is surely in the person-to-person connection that transcends the fourth wall. The Lost Halloween proved beyond doubt that these connections are real and that fans will step up to give back—to help the immersive professionals who create the shows we love so much. We can’t attend full-scale live immersive events right now, but we can support the cast, crew, and staff of immersive shows who need our help.
Go to our GoFundMe page and give generously today.
If you’re receiving a tax refund or are fortunate enough to have extra income, please consider making a generous gift to arts workers who are struggling to make ends meet. We suggest adding up the money you would have spent on tickets, parties, and travel for immersive theater over the past year and giving that amount (or more) if you can. Of course, any amount truly helps. About half of our donations to The Lost Halloween fund were $50 or less, with the smallest donation coming in at $4.
Please give generously, whatever that means for you.
Thank you for being a part of a special, historic moment of true solidarity between the audience members and the makers of immersive works. The frost will be thawing soon and we look forward to meeting you in the garden.