Broadway Actors Try To Help Montclair Nonprofit Survive COVID-19

Eric Kiefer
·3 min read

MONTCLAIR, NJ — Theater lovers and several Broadway actors in Essex County are rallying to help a “safe space in the theater community” survive the coronavirus pandemic.

The future looked bright for the Vanguard Theater Company earlier this year. After all, the nonprofit had just signed a three-year lease for a theater space at 180 Bloomfield Avenue in Montclair. It was poised to launch a new wave of its successful Broadway Buddy mentorship program, was busy organizing classes and workshops to promote diversity in the arts, and was on the brink of announcing its upcoming season.

Then the virus hit New Jersey.

The blossoming theater company was forced to put the brakes on its renovation plans, leaving the space empty for months. All the while, income stalled and the bills kept piling up.

As the coronavirus shutdown continues to wreak havoc on the arts community in New Jersey, many groups like the Vanguard have been forced to completely revamp the way they operate. One of the most urgent challenges has been finding the cash to survive the crisis.

A special benefit concert on Friday night is expected to help, the theater company recently announced.

On Nov. 27, an event to benefit the Vanguard will take place online from 7 to 9 p.m. It’s free, but donations are welcome. Learn more and reserve tickets here.

Here’s how the Vanguard Theater Company describes the show:

“Alex Dreier, three-time Broadway Buddy for Vanguard Theater Company and alumni of Broadway’s ‘Finding Neverland’ and ‘Billy Elliot,’ as well as off-Broadway and film work, reached out to some friends for a Thanksgiving weekend concert to benefit the Vanguard Theater Company. After telling his friends about his experiences with Vanguard, ‘Finding Neverland’ stars Matthew Morrison, Carolee Carmello, Laura Michelle Kelly, and good friends Lilla Crawford and Jackson Demott Hill said yes! This Friday night at 7 p.m., these luminaries join George Washington and Tamar Greene of ‘Hamilton’, Jewelle Blackman and Kimberly Marable of ‘Hadestown,’ and Lindsay Roberts from ‘Carmen Jones’ in concert. Running about two hours, the concert will stream live on YouTube and is free. Here’s the link to reserve your seat for the YouTube livestream: https://gratefulvtc.funraise.org.”

Dreier is co-hosting and producing the concert with Victoria Ludwig, who recently performed in the Vanguard Theater Company’s production of “Spring Awakening” in January.

“The Vanguard welcomed me into their diverse community three-and-a-half years ago, and I’ve seen firsthand how their work reaches beyond their own youth and teen theater programs, working to shape theater as a whole – and theater shapes our perceptions of the world,” Dreier said.

Ludwig, who performed opposite Dreier in several Glen Ridge High School shows, also praised the Vanguard for its contributions to the arts community in Essex County.

“Though ‘Spring Awakening’ was my first show with Vanguard, I learned values that have left a lasting impact on me,” Ludwig said. “Through the cast I learned passion, activism, and pure love for our craft.”

It was incredible to see so many people of so many backgrounds come together and create powerful art, Ludwig added.

“Vanguard has harnessed a safe space in the theater community and that is so important for young performers,” Ludwig said. “I couldn’t be more excited to have the opportunity to work with them again.”

This story is part of Patch's Headlining Hope series, which profiles local nonprofits and charitable organizations in need of volunteers and resources. If you know about a local organization that should be profiled, contact eric.kiefer@patch.com.


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This article originally appeared on the Montclair Patch