The Pfaelzer Fund
In celebration of Johanna Pfaelzer’s tenure as Artistic Director, New York Stage and Film is delighted to launch The Pfaelzer Fund.
The Fund will support two initiatives that are important parts of Johanna’s enduring legacy and central to the organization’s mission: Powerhouse Mainstage Productions and Interns and Early-Career Staff.
Powerhouse Mainstage Productions
These productions are part of what makes our vital service to artists and the field unique. They are a developmental tool, designed to let writers refine their plays in the all-important context of a production, while bringing audiences face to face with groundbreaking work at low ticket prices. Like all our work, our Mainstages aren’t open to critics. During Johanna’s time, countless celebrated productions have started as Powerhouse Mainstages, including The Waves, The Wolves, Transfers, The Babylon Line, and The Burnt Part Boys.
NYSAF makes a significant financial commitment to the Mainstages ($150,000+ per production). The Pfaelzer Fund’s support will allow us to make adventurous and ambitious programming choices that continue to shape the theatrical landscape, while keeping tickets low-cost and accessible to all.
Early-Career Staff and Interns
During Johanna’s tenure, NYSAF has been a leader in cultivating the next generation of artists. Through the support of this Pfaelzer Fund initiative, we will make a similar commitment to fostering early-career producers, administrators, and technicians. Starting in 2019, we will expand our seasonal staff and increase their pay, and strengthen our internship program. We will significantly increase intern stipends, so more qualified applicants can benefit from an internship without financial burden; and we will deepen participants’ pre-professional training with additional master classes, networking opportunities, and tailored educational support.
Through these changes, we aim to lower the systemic barriers to entry in the theater field, foster a work and learning environment that is rewarding and productive, and help address the field-wide challenges of developing a skilled, diverse workforce.
To support the Pfaelzer Fund, give online, mail a check, or give us a call.