​On the afternoon of October 31st, it was a real horror show in the lower lounge at the Jacobs Theatre as the staff gathered to celebrate Halloween prior to that evening’s performance of “The Outsiders”. All departments in the theatre (from company management to stagehands, wardrobe to actors, porters to box office, and of course the front of house staff!) participated in Halloween Bingo and an Eyeball Relay Race.  The highlight of the afternoon was the Halloween Costume Competition.
 
Creativity was the true winner of the day.  Costumes from the Trolls Movie, Goofy Movie, Monster Inc, The Ring and Despicable Me made appearances. Billie Eilish, Winnie-the-Pooh, a Native New Yorker, Power Rangers, Barnacle Boy, iPad Baby, Wonderwall Chad, Beanie Baby Unicorn, Cat in the Hat and a “cereal killer” were there to make everyone scream…with laughter. A Von Trapp Family Singer (Box Office Treasurer Nicky Giovanni) even got the crowd to join in on a rousing rendition of “Edelweiss.”
 
Judges Mark Schweppe (Theatre Operations), Pat Roehrich (retired/sub Theatre Manager), and Michael Coco (Theatre Operations) had the difficult task of selecting the winning costumes in four different categories, but everyone who joined in the fun got a participation medal.
 
Best Overall:  Paul Brown-Lombardi (Usher) as Cherry Carrie, the superfan who loves getting hit with “The Outsiders” stage blood
 
Scariest:  Dennis Granda (Porter) as Mike Myers
 
Funniest:  Kein Csolak (Actor) as Tulsa’s New Sheriff
 
Most Creative:  Brie Leftwich (Wardrobe) as the frosting that Ponyboy forgot to buy

Broadway isn’t the only place debuting exciting new features. We’re pleased to share that our latest “opening” in Shubert Alley has been a major success. If you’ve walked through the (often very breezy) Alley recently, you may have noticed a significant improvement: the installation of our new ADA-compliant restroom facilities.

This upgrade brings two fully accessible, single-occupant unisex restrooms, along with a new custodial closet. Most importantly, patrons who require an accessible restroom no longer need to make the trip to Sardi’s—convenience and accessibility are now right next door.

To ensure comfort in every season, an entry vestibule was added to maintain consistent heating and cooling while also preserving privacy. Access to the restroom remains exclusive to Shubert Theatre patrons; FOH staff will escort users and operate the automatic door opener as needed.

Though the space itself is modest, the effort behind it was anything but. This project brought together seven engineering and architectural design disciplines and ten construction trades. To make room for full-height ceilings—and to improve the Booth Theatre star dressing rooms above—steam radiators and outdated air conditioners were removed from three dressing rooms and replaced with modern fan coil heating and cooling units.

A huge thank you to Emily Qiu, Facilities Project Manager, for overseeing this complex project and guiding it to a successful (and nearly on-time!) completion.

I’m not sure about anyone else, but it’s been months since I’ve watched the news. My Instagram algorithm is enough to spike my blood pressure, why add to it by watching the news. (Side note, on my algorithm, I also have recipes I save but will never actually try.) We all know that constantly exposing ourselves to stress isn’t healthy, but do we know what exactly is happening to us?

Physically, chronic stress can:

• Weaken our immune system
• Cause digestive issues
• Disrupt hormonal balance, which can lead to weight gain and metabolic disorders

The impact is not only physical but can also manifest itself mentally.

• Trigger or worsen mental health conditions
• Impair cognitive function
• Disrupt your normal sleep patterns

​Self-care can feel a bit selfish.  How can I make a mani/pedi appointment when people are suffering?




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​But repeat after me, self-care is not selfish. As the saying goes, “you can’t pour from an empty cup”.  It’s very important that you are aware of how your body is reacting to what you are seeing, and hearing, and start implementing coping strategies to keep yourself psychologically safe. 

• Setting limits on news or social media consumption.
• Mindfulness or deep-breathing exercises to reset the nervous system.
• Intentional exposure to positive or hopeful content (e.g., community stories, local volunteer work).

Doing this can feel as if you are ignoring the bigger picture, but you’re not. You are just becoming more mindful about how you choose to engage with it.
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RESOURCES

• 10% Happier Podcast
• The Calmer You Podcast
• Stop Overthinking – Nick Trenton
• Managing Stress in Highly Political Times – Michael Murphy

​While final totals are still being confirmed, I am thrilled to share that we shattered last year’s record at the Shubert table. At the 39th Annual Flea Market & Grand Auction, Shubert raised over $43,000 in support of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. These funds provide lifesaving meals, medications, and healthcare in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and Washington, D.C.
 
This achievement was only possible thanks to your generosity, dedication, and enthusiasm. Whether you donated memorabilia, sorted thousands of Playbills, or hauled marquee signs across Times Square, your efforts made all the difference.
 
We were thrilled to welcome passionate Broadway fans, many of whom lined up early Sunday morning. The auction featured a VIP experience — complete with tickets, drinks with Mr. Wankel at Sardi’s, and a private tour of the Shubert Archive. And in true theatrical fashion, we had a viral moment on Instagram with our sale of the rain from The Notebook!
 
A heartfelt thank you to our incredible Flea Market team for their time, energy, and hard work in preparing and staffing our table: Taryn Alianello, Kimberly Dyckman, EB Fehlner, Heather Fuentes, Sue Kisenwether, Austin Kunis, Krista Langan, Diana Lounsbury, Klancy Maples, and Kayla Mitchell.
 
Thank you again for helping to make this year’s event such a resounding success.

We're thrilled to share that Allison French has been elected to the Board of Directors of SYTA (Student & Youth Travel Association), representing Associate Membership companies, those offering activities, tours, attractions and theatres.

SYTA is the premier professional trade association promoting student and youth travel worldwide, driven by its vision to help students and youth gain a greater understanding of the world through the experience of travel, and powered by its mission to enable life-enhancing travel for young people through advocacy, education, training, networking, and quality and safety standards. 

This election follows Allison's exceptional tenure as Chair and Trustee of the SYTA Youth Foundation, where she helped drive philanthropic efforts to bring transformative travel experiences to underserved youth.

Her election not only speaks volumes about her leadership, strategic insight, and commitment- but also elevates Broadway's Inbound's visibility and influence in the student and youth travel space.  With student groups making up a significant part of our group business, Allison's elevated national profile enhances our credibility and aligns so well with our mission. 

Please join us in congratulating Allison on this well-deserved honor-her impact continues to ripple across the SYTA, Broadway Inbound, and the student travel community.