Insider Tracks - Final Day!

I can’t believe four months has passed so quickly, from the launch date of “Insider Tracks” benefitting emergency writer grants from the Dramatists Guild Foundation during this pandemic.

This is the last day to download “secret” recordings from cool (mostly) musical theatre songwriters. All net proceeds go to fund this incredibly important grants. Super simple, fun - and helpful!

An enormous thank you to our roster of 52 writers who shared 33 recordings, and to the other creatives (singers, co-writers) who got on-board to say “yes.”

And tomorrow - the results of the campaign!

WRITERS – 52 total

 Adam Gwon

Amanda Yesnowitz

Andy Monroe

Anna K Jacobs

Beth Blatt

Benjamin Velez

Bill Nelson

Brandon James Gwinn

Clifford Lee Johnson III (with Rudy’s Jukebox)

Curtis Moore

Dan Acquisto

Dan Martin

David Kirshenbaum

David Zellnik

Deborah Zoe Laufer

Derek Gregor

Drew Young

EllaRose Chary

Fred Stark

Georgia Stitt

Grace McLean

Gretchen Cryer

Jack Lechner

Jaime Lozano

Jeff Hylton

Jeff Thomson

Jeremy Desmon

Joe Zellnik

John Mercurio

Jonathan Brielle
Kevin Velez

Marcy Heisler

Masi Asare

Maury Yeston

Michael Biello

Michael Friedman

Michael R Jackson

Michael Zam

Mindi Dickstein

Neena Beeber

Nolan Gasser

Rick Bassett

Rona Siddiqui

Sammy Buck

Stephen Lawrence

Steve Marzullo

Tajlei Levis

Timothy Huang

Tom Mizer

William Squier

Zina Goldrich

Zoe Sarnak

OTHER CREATIVES – 40 total

(Singers (in addition to writers who sang their own songs), musicians, bkwriters)

Adelaide Mestre

Anneliese van der Pol

Beth Callen

Beverly Ward

Brad Standley

Carmel Dean

Deven Colluri

Elizabeth Stanley

Emilie Mirvis

Eric Weinberger

Florencia Cuenca

Gretchen Wylder

Hannah Cruz

Hansel Tan

Jake McKenna

Javier Munoz

Jeffrey Lodin

Jerold Goldstein

Joe Joseph

Jonny Mantra

Keith Byron Kirk
Kirsten Guenther

Lauren Kennedy

Lauren Molina

Lynne Shankel

Michael Campayno

Michael McCorry Rose

Nancy Anderson

Nicholette Robinson Odom

Nick Cearley

Nick Blaemire

Mamie Parris

Sally Wilfert

Sam Heldt

Samia Mounts

Sarah Stiles

Sherz Aletaha

Tatiana Wechsler

Taylor Noble

Tom Hewitt

Insider Track - What Thailand Is Doing Right (is it cause they don't hug each other hi?)

My friend Missy Pemberton has retired to Phuket, Thailand, after years working in advertising in Asia.

Missy and her husband Roy Devlin

When I read this NY Times article about how well Thailand is handling the pandemic, I reached out to Missy to get her POV.

My big question: is it because they are more formal when they greet each other?

Yes - and no.

Photo: Kseniia Ilinykh

Here’s Missy’s lengthy and informative reply. The bolds are mine :)

Yes, the Thai ‘Wai’ greeting definitely helps paired with a cultural proclivity for wearing a face mask with the slightest sniffle. 

More important is the leadership at the top...the military general as PM and a revered King. Most Thais would not consider disobeying either leader’s directive. Additional successful deterrents for Thais and foreigners is the real threat of a 20000 baht fine/$630 USD (average 2 month salary) for not wearing a mask and during quarantine, 15 days in jail plus 15000 baht/$472 USD for breaking curfew. There is always the threat for foreigners of deportation if convicted of breaking the law.

All the SE Asia countries mentioned in the article have strong central gov’t with no strong opposition. No state can override the central government direction and generally deferred to the Prime Minister’s office.

Thailand has good hospitals and since 2002, universal health care for all Thai nationals. The government implemented mandatory health insurance for any foreigner on a work or retirement visa over a year ago due to the high traffic fatalities. But fortunately that meant almost everyone is covered so no reason not to go to the dr. And the virus was imported by foreigners in the early days and spread in the bars and entertainment areas..thus missing the Burmese work camps. The Burmese workers were most at risk due to crowding, poor conditions and poverty but missed them completely...thank goodness.

Also since 2018, Thailand has a special (very low cost) health insurance and migrant mobile clinics for migrant workers..the only country in the world. Now Thailand is requiring anyone entering the Kingdom must have a signed medical certificate less than 48 hours old and $100,000 USD Covid-19 medical policy. Our health insurance gave us a certificate to keep with our passports showing we are covered in our general policy for far more than $100k.

The lifestyle. It is rare to be inside as the weather is warm. Almost all activities are open air or have an outside option.

Thailand had the first case outside of China. They definitely did not report cases in the early days. The King came to his home in Phuket as no cases...to discover there were several just not reported. To both his and national leadership’s credit, they forced accurate accounting and testing, closed the airports and demoted the governor who was not decisive and likely influenced by local businesses to stay open. Those early actions have resulted in eradication which was their Goal....not just slowing or maintaining..a subtle but definite difference from other countries.

The challenge is reopening when 20% of the country’s GDP was due to tourism and prior to Covid-19, forecasted to be 30% by 2030. The country is trying to promote internal tourism but reality is Thais don't generally travel on holiday except to visit family.

Last week a big scare as an Egyptian military officer as part of a team transiting to Chengdu via UAE and Pakistan left quarantine to visit public locations and a shopping mall ...had to test over 1900 people from contact tracing  and closed 127 schools as he was positive. The next day a Sudanese diplomat’s daughter tested positive but thankfully only went from airport to condo so about 300 tested. People here went crazy as the country has been covid free for 55 days. The government immediately revoked the open access given to foreign military and diplomats as a result.

The above stories highlight the final but most critical piece: accurate contact tracing. Everyone has to sign in with telephone and address details or thru an app on our phones to enter any location. And again in every store within a shopping mall. Partner that with inexpensive labor, the govt has the manpower to trace 2000 people in a remote district quickly.

I have several friends who quarantined here in Phuket depart for their home countries in the last two weeks..to Hong Kong, Germany, Greece, Canada. All had no problem as Thailand is low risk. In fact, aside from relatively empty airports and masks, it was almost normal. Quarantine in HK and Greece but my friend is home in Germany as if nothing is wrong. Most flew thru Amsterdam. The challenge will be coming back. 

I know it goes against the free will of Americans but seriously do not understand how they can’t see where the virus has been eradicated and how.” 

Photo: MIke Swigunski

They are about to enter Phase 6, according to the online paper the Thaiger (how cute is that name?). I, for one, hope they weather it well!

Do What We Can

Everything we do has impact. Large and small. Seen and unseen. So, in my book, it all counts.

Linus Nyland @doto

Rather than beat ourselves up for all the things we don’t do, let’s share and affirm what we do do (oh yes we can-can). We can’t do it all. So let’s do what we can. Yeah, I’m writing that song.

Here’s a running list of things people in my circles are doing, arranged loosely in categories. If you have something to add, please share in the comments. Let’s inspire each other!

FOOD

-You stress-bakers:

“I’m baking every week for ICU and emergency room staff. Apparently, they love sweets to keep them going. (Holly)

Credit: Madison Kaminski

- Cook a meal for a shelter – and see where that leads.

“Months ago I started cooking a meal a week for the homeless shelter across the street and turned it into a neighborhood project of collecting interview clothes and children’s books etc.” (Lisa Greenwald)  

- Feed your family - well. With love. Keeps us healthy, inside and out.

“I guess you could say I’m sustaining the next generation as they cling to their jobs and survive in Zoomland” (Gray Horan)

- Turn supermarket waste into tasty meals like they’re doing in London (Maggie Gallagher).

- Send weekly donations to a local food bank (Elise Morris)

MUSIC

-Write a song for our times.

Wondering Where This Will End - Drew Young’s new single

- Write or consume a funny song. Laughter is always the best medicine. Ok, top three.

From A Social Distance (Lenore Skenazy)

- Create or attend a virtual concert for change.

Music To Life has a new Accelerating Change series. The 7/26 show is focused on Equity and Empowerment, including conversations with three women of color and their activism to heal their communities.   (Liz Sunde)

THEATRE

- Write or watch what gets you going.

“I'm working on a play about what makes me mad: voter rights .” (Gray Horan) If you are near Providence RI, go see it at the Wilbury Theatre.

- Make your own virtual “theatre.” Help produce Zoom plays - some of which you get to act in. Flo Ankah and some actor colleagues are putting out a call for 10-minute plays that “expand our perspective of the woman experience today.” Stay tuned for details.

BOOKS (finally write that great fill-in-the-blank you’ve been meaning to write all these years)

- “In lockdown here in Covent Garden (London), I’ve written a book about the Red Pear Theater (which I founded in Antibes, France). If it has any traction, I will sell it for an actors’ charity.” (Hilary Lemaire)

- Did you know there is a full-size replica of the Parthenon in Nashville? Tom Ewing does - and he’s determined to move from researching to writing that novel that was inspired by it. And joining a writers’ group that can help. Or making one. As “artists” know, finding support to keep us accountable can be key.

INFORM & INSPIRE

- Write or contribute to an article for your local “paper.”

- Inform people about important issues – keep our minds open. (Doreen Munsie)

- “I helped gather stories of Asian Americans for WNET website Asian Americans of NY and NJ.” (Donna Weng Friedman)

- Create a “broadcast” (or be part of one)

- Her/Music;Her/Story, a series on WQXR shining a light on women composers, past and present (co-created by Donna Weng Friedman and Alison Charney)

- Heritage and Harmony, a virtual concert video series in collaboration with WQXR to shine a light on leading classical musicians of Asian descent performing music by Asian composers (Donna Weng Friedman again).

- 100th anniversary of suffrage in August - Facebook concert on Aug. 18 - “Season of Hope” - to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the ratification of our 19th amendment (Donna Weng Friedman will only be featured this time ;)

WORK (yeah, a big one - keeping food on the table)

- Help families who are struggling (therapist Jennifer Altman)

- EVERYONE!!!

MENTOR/TEACH

- “I’m helping a young black guy who is starting up a solar energy charity in Africa. Know anyone he should talk to? (Hilary Lemaire)

- Create a pipeline for people of color in your industry by starting when they’re young. Some theatre writers (Tom Mizer and Beth Blatt) want to introduce high school kids to the idea of telling their stories as musicals and start mentoring them.

OUR PLANET

- Become a Climate Reality Leader and give workshops that help people discover & amplify their unique roles in the climate crisis, and then work on personal action plans to make a difference Drawdown Solutions: Getting Into Action Workshops (Elly Lessin)

- Get active on your local Environmental Committee.

DONATE

- Public radio

- Food banks/pantries

- Sorry to get political, just reporting what folks shared and happy to represent all sides: donating to Senate candidates who might be able to flip the Senate, to Stacey Abrams “Fair Fight” organization to fight off voter suppression, to democratic candidates up and down tickets all over the country (Elise Morris)

CARE FOR OTHERS

- I take care of my 96-year-old dad.

- I take care of my 76-year-old mom.

- I lead guided meditations on Monday nights through zoom (B.S.)

- Start a healing class. “If someone needs 1:1 support they can get my rate for members of the theater community.” (Flo Ankah) 

- Listen. Simple. Though maybe not easy.

- Send $ to a friend in need b/c of no work (Elise Morris)

 CARE FOR YOURSELF  (a/k/a your oxygen mask goes on first)

- I ponder in the gardens to refresh my spirits and delight in all the beauty (Elise Morris)

- On top of working hard, I write songs too, though for only the audience of my friends and family. (Jennifer Altman)

STAY HEALTHY (obvious but important so it counts!)

- Keep yourselves and family in quarantine (Elise)

- Don’t touch your face!

Change is hard. Me, I overcommit then slide off. This is what I do to combat that:

1. I attach it to something I already do.

2. I attach it to something that’s fun to do.

Don’t forget to share!

Action Steps: How Can White Writers Support Writers of Color?

I’ll be frank: I agonized about the title for this blog. Is it wrong to say “white writers,” for some reason? Is the verb “support” condescending?

I think a lot of people don’t know what to say these days. They’re afraid to say the wrong thing, so they say nothing.

That’s why I was nervous when I reached out to writer Cheryl Davis with my direct and perhaps blundering questions (below). I asked her to forgive me if I was being insensitive or offensive somehow. Her response? “It’s very hard to offend me.”

Maybe she just doesn’t have time. Cheryl is one busy woman. She pens musicals and plays, writes for Law & Order SVU, and wrote for As The World Turns. She is also an attorney whose “day career” is general counsel for the Authors Guild.

So I was super grateful she took time out from her packed schedule so I could ask her:

What can white theatre writers do to support and increase opportunity for writers of color? What are some actions – large or small, but concrete – we can take, today, and every day?

 Cheryl had a few great – and easy – suggestions. I was brave enough to add a couple.

 1. Get to know writers of color. Check out the Musical Theatre Factory’s People of Color Roundtable (they were supposed to have a show at Joe’s Pub in April). If you like their work, give them shout-outs. Collaborate when it makes sense.  

2. Go to NPX and read plays by people of color. Review them. Good reviews can result in productions. In fact, it’s one of the tactics adopted by Honor Roll!, the new advocacy and action group of women+ playwrights over forty and their allies.

3. Recommend writers of color. If you are approached for a gig and pass, offer an idea of someone else to consider – and hopefully that someone could be someone of color.

4. If you’re in a writers’ group, make sure writers of color are represented. Make it look like the world.

5. Mentor young theatre-lovers or writers of color near you. This was actually Tom Mizer’s idea, and I’m jumping on it. Can we help create a pipeline for young WOC? Non-white teens may write hip-hop or love Hamilton or have appeared in Oklahoma – but never considered writing plays or musicals. Show them that possibility. Help them tell their stories, their way. Reach out to me if you’re interested in doing this, too. We can make an informal network and share what we know/learn.

These ideas are but scratching the surface. Please share your thoughts and ideas - we need them!

And I realize this doesn’t get into the work itself and how theatre needs to become less white-centric. That’s for another time.

And if I have offended somehow (maybe with that last sentence??), please let me know.

Insider Track - from Maury Yeston, private demo of "Unusual Way"

This recording takes you back in time, to the hot moment right after Maury finished what was to become an iconic Broadway (and Hollywood) song and laid the track down - singing it himself. He would then send it out to producers. And the rest is history: his musical Nine, which went on to win Tony’s and become a big, beautiful Hollywood movie.

Maury Yeston is a legend to many who love musical theatre. Of the four shows he’s had on Broadway, two have won Tony awards - Nine and Titanic. He’s also been nominated for Oscars and Grammy’s.

Maury, pencil at the ready, to help BMI writers be better writers.

Maury believes in supporting writers. For years, he led the BMI Advanced Musical Theatre Workshop, where he trained many of today’s most successful musical theatre writers. The photo above shows him in action, lyric from one of us aspiring writers before him, kindly pencil at the ready.

His pithy aphorisms still ring in my mind. “Never underestimate the likability of actors.” “The groove is deceptively slow.” If you remember others, share in the Comments below :)

Maury remains a mentor, a mensch - and prolific writer. Stay tuned for his next musical (shhh, can’t say what it’s about). But we all know it will be a winner.

Titanic! This ship sailed Maury into Tony Harbor.

Launching Insider Tracks - Supporting Dramatists Guild Fund Emergency Artist Grants

In these days of COVID-19, most of us are feeling a desire to help others. Whether by wearing a mask, calling a local senior, or keeping our family well (and ourselves) with good hygiene and healthy meals - we feel better when we help. Somehow.

From the British Red Cross. campaignlive.com

Writers and other artists are particularly hard hit these days. Most don’t qualify for government assistance. Many have no income right now at all.

Enter the Dramatists Guild Fund. In good times, they help writers bring their stories to life on stage. Now, they are providing emergency financial assistance to individual playwrights, composers, lyricists, and librettists in dire need of funds due to severe hardship or unexpected illness.

And enter INSIDER TRACKS.

INSIDER TRACKS offer an easy and fun way for you to help writers and for writers to help writers - many of whom don’t have the financial resources for charitable giving.

INSIDER TRACKS are songs you wouldn’t normally have access to. They’re not on albums or iTunes. Maybe they’re “demos” - written during development of a musical, or for a cabaret show, or preparatory to an album. Either way, they are fantastic songs. That you now get to hear (you Insider, you). And, you get to meet talented writers you might not otherwise know. Another benefit: you’re helping their careers.

Most importantly, all proceeds go to the DGF emergency grants (minus processing fees).

Adam Gwon, man about town

Our first Insider Track is from Adam Gwon, “an emerging master of musical theatre” (Metroland). He is an incredible writer and a warm and generous human being. When Hope Sings founder Beth Blatt asked if she could offer a song they’d whipped off years ago, his immediate response was, “Share away!”

Download the single for $1.00 or make a larger donation here.

Stay tuned for more Insider Tracks!