The Green Theater Initiative Launches

Believing that both theaters and their audiences share a concern for the sustainability of their communities, the Green Theater Initiative launched its fully-featured website today at the address below. The Initiative aims to encourage theaters to reduce their environmental footprints by going green, not only to protect the planet's future, but because doing so will help ensure their own futures in tough economic times. With audience bases declining, going green will establish theaters as inspirational leaders in their communities. Moreover, it will save money on energy costs, invigorate staffs, promote the long-term health of employees and audience members, and attract foundational and municipal funds.

The Green Theater Initiative joins and augment a rising chorus of theater artists taking environmental considerations into account. A recently town hall meeting on Broadway brought together a wide range of theater professionals -- among them members of the Broadway League and the producers of Wicked and other shows -- concerned about environmental issues. The London Mayor's Office recently released "Green Theatres", a comprehensive plan of action for that city's theater community. A number of major theater companies, such as Oregon's Portland Center Stage, Atlanta's Theatrical Outfit, Chicago's American Theatre Company, and New York's Roundabout Theatre Company, have built or begun to build new "green buildings" that use less energy, materials, and toxic chemicals. And a number of smaller theaters have begun to take action as well, by establishing recycling programs, reusing set pieces, and seeking out less harmful solvents and paints.

GTI will serve as a news center for highlighting these endeavors as well as a centralized resource for other theater professionals seeking to take action. It will distribute a monthly newsletter via e-mail to those who sign up at the GTI website.

The Initiative is the brainchild of Gideon Banner, an actor who has performed with Blue Man Group, at Lincoln Center, and several regional theaters. He was instrumental in the founding of Blue Man Group's Environmental Committee, and GTI was the result of his search for a way to inspire other performing arts organizations to follow its example.