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Parks & Public Spaces
Theatre Communications Group application to hold a Festival Celebrating New York City Theatre in Union Square Park on Thursday, October 15th, 2009
WHEREAS, Community Board Five takes its role in the review of applications for Parks Special Events seriously and requests an opportunity to review the application before a permit is granted by the Parks Department Special Permit Office; and
WHEREAS, A proposal has been received from Theatre Communications Group (TCG) to hold a festival celebrating New York City Theatre on the south plaza of Union Square Park on Thursday, October 15, 2009 from 11:00 am to 7:30 pm (with setup commencing at 7:00 am and cleanup ending by 11:00 pm); and
WHEREAS, The event will include informational tables, theatrical performances, video slideshows and live music to promote New York's theatrical community and to launch and expand TCG's Free Night of Theater program by bringing a day of free theater to more people than can be reached with the free tickets offered by participating theatre companies; and
WHEREAS, The event will occupy the area of the south plaza between the two ramps with physical structures including tables and chairs covered by café umbrellas scattered throughout the area (in lieu of information booths), an approximately 10 ft. by 12 ft. by 2 ft (high) stage located near the George Washington Statue with an approximately 8 ft. by 8 ft. video screen behind, and two smaller LCD monitors on stands – as indicated on the draft conceptual design drawing presented by the applicant; and
WHERAS, TCG is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to nurturing and promoting professional not-for-profit American theater with more than 400 theatre members nationwide and is collaborating with many other arts organizations in the presentation of this event – including the National Alliance of Musical Theatre, the Theatre Development Fund, A.R.T./New York, the League of Off-Broadway Theatres and Producers, the Arts and Business Council of New York, and the New York State Council on the Arts – and is in discussions with the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA) and the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation about joining as partners in the event; and
WHEREAS, City officials, including the Mayor and the DCA Commissioner, will be invited to speak at the event; and
WHEREAS, No fees will be charged to participating theater companies and the event will be free to the public; and
WHEREAS, Signage will be limited to the names of participating theater organizations at the informational tables and the information to be broadcast on the video screen and LCD monitors, which will include names and images of theater organizations and their productions; and
WHEREAS, Primary funding for the event is being provided by DCA and the National Endowment for the Arts and there are no corporate sponsors of the event, although TCG hopes to secure in-kind donations from several businesses (in which case the donation would be discretely acknowledged on the item donated); and
WHEREAS, The fee to be paid by the applicant is not yet determined (if DCA partners in presenting the event, the applicant will not be required to pay a fee); and
WHEREAS, Amplified sound will be used during not more than four hours of the event, and no food or merchandise will be sold at the event; and
WHEREAS, Community Board Five has a strong commitment to supporting and promoting the vitality of the New York City theatre community; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That Community Board Five recommends approval of the application by Theatre Communications Group to hold festival celebrating New York City Theatre on the south plaza of Union Square Park on Thursday, October 15, 2009 from 11:00 am to 7:30 pm.
The above resolution passed by a vote of 31 in favor; 0 opposed; 1 abstaining.