"Oppenheimer" Dominates the BAFTA and SAG Ceremonies; "All of Us Strangers" Wins Big at Dorian Awards

Over the last two weeks, the awards season reached a boiling point with several major ceremonies held around the world.

First came the 77th annual British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Film Awards held in London on February 18 and hosted by "Doctor Who" star David Tennant. The night's big winner was Christopher Nolan's "Oppenheimer," which won seven awards including Best Film, Director, Actor for Cillian Murphy, and Supporting Actor for Robert Downey Jr.

"Poor Things" took home five BAFTA Film Awards, including Best Actress for Emma Stone. "The Holdovers" continues to garner acclaim for its cast, with the film winning Best Casting and Da'Vine Joy Randolph earning another award for her supporting role as a bereaved mother.

See the full list of BAFTA Film Awards winners.

The 30th annual Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards, held in Los Angeles on February 24, brought a few surprises and added a mix of uncertainty to the upcoming Academy Awards. Lead actresses Stone and Lily Gladstone ("Killers of the Flower Moon") have both performed well this awards season, but many experts were predicting that Stone would edge out Gladstone for the Oscar. Gladstone triumphed at the SAG Awards, giving her momentum and shifting the odds two weeks before the awards season's main event. Murphy, Downey, and Randolph cemented their positions as frontrunners, taking home awards in their respective categories. "Oppenheimer" additionally took home the night's top film prize, Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture.

SAG also recognized the season's top performances in television, with "Succession" and "The Bear" earning the top prizes for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series and Comedy Series, respectively. "Succession" did not fare as well in the individual Drama Series categories, as Pedro Pascal of "The Last of Us" beat three of its stars (Brian Cox and recent Golden Globe winners Kieran Culkin and Matthew Macfadyen) in the Male Actor category, and Golden Globe winner Elizabeth Debicki of "The Crown" won another trophy, beating out Sarah Snook for Female Actor. "The Bear" stars Jeremy Allen White and Ayo Edebiri continued their sweeps of the awards season in the Comedy Series individual categories, and Steven Yeun and Ali Wong picked up more trophies for their performances in Netflix's limited series "Beef."

Another highlight of the evening was Jennifer Aniston and Bradley Cooper presenting screen legend Barbra Streisand with SAG's Life Achievement Award.

See the full list of SAG Awards winners.

Lastly, the 15th annual Dorian Awards were presented by GALECA: The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics on February 26. Andrew Haigh's supernatural drama "All of Us Strangers," starring Andrew Scott and Paul Mescal, won three awards including Film of the Year and LGBTQ Film of the Year.

While "Barbie" ruled the box office in 2023, it has failed to win many major industry awards. The blockbuster took home two awards, including Director of the Year for Greta Gerwig, who did not earn an Oscar nomination. "May December" also won a pair of awards – Screenplay of the Year and Supporting Film Performance of the Year for Charles Melton. Additionally, the film's director Todd Haynes won the Wilde Artist Award, which goes to an individual the organization considers a "truly groundbreaking force in entertainment." Gladstone won the other individual acting honor, Film Performance of the Year.

"Rustin" star Colman Domingo won the LGBTQIA+ Film Trailblazer Award "for creating art that inspires empathy, truth, and equity," while Edebiri of "The Bear" took home the "We're Wilde About You!" Rising Star Award.

The organization also recognized two-time Oscar winner Jodie Foster with its Timeless Star Award "honoring an exemplary career marked by character, wisdom, and wit."

See the full list of Dorian Awards winners.

The next major red carpet event will be the big one – the Academy Awards, which will be held on Sunday, March 10, at 7 p.m. ET and televised live on ABC. Jimmy Kimmel will once again host. See the full list of nominees here. Congrats to all of this season's winners!

Writers Guild of America (WGA) Reveals Strike-Delayed Award Nominations

Most years, all major film industry award winners are revealed before the season's main event – the Academy Awards. But 2023 was not like most years, as the 148-day strike by the 11,500 screenwriters who make up the Writers Guild of America (WGA) caused massive disruptions and delays across the industry. The guild has finally revealed its nominations for the 76th annual Writers Guild Awards, which will take place on April 14 – five weeks after the Oscars.

Many Oscar frontrunners were not eligible for consideration due to the guild's requirement that scripts be written under the WGA minimum basic agreement or under a bona fide collective bargaining agreement of affiliated guilds in other countries. Due to this rule, Best Picture nominees "Anatomy of a Fall," "Poor Things," and "The Zone of Interest" were ruled ineligible. The WGA also determined that "Barbie" would compete as an original screenplay, despite the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences nominating it as an adapted screenplay because it is based on existing characters and intellectual property.

"Barbie" will compete with "Air," "The Holdovers," "May December," and "Past Lives" for Best Original Screenplay. For Best Adapted Screenplay, WGA members will award either "American Fiction," "Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret," "Killers of the Flower Moon," "Nyad," or "Oppenheimer."

The WGA also recognizes television writers, and we are excited that Peacock's "Poker Face" is up for two awards. While the first season of the murder mystery series does not include scenes filmed at our facilities, we are proud to be working with the production team on the upcoming second season. "Poker Face" will compete for Best Episodic Comedy for the episode "Escape From Shit Mountain." The show also earned a nomination for Best New Series, as did "The Diplomat," "Jury Duty," "The Last of Us," and "Shrinking."

In other Broadway Stages news, we are thrilled that MGM+ series "The Godfather of Harlem" earned a nomination for Best Episodic Drama for its heartbreaking season three finale titled "Our Black Shining Prince."

Other major television awards include Best Drama Series, which will come down to either "The Crown," "The Curse," "The Diplomat," "The Last of Us," or "Succession," which dominated the Emmys in its final season. Competing for Best Comedy Series are "Abbott Elementary," "Barry," "The Bear" (the favorite among Emmy voters), "Jury Duty," and "Only Murders in the Building." Best Limited Series will pit awards darling "Beef" against "A Murder at the End of the World," "Daisy Jones & The Six," "Fargo," and "Lessons in Chemistry."

Congratulations to all nominees! See a full list of nominees here.

Meet the Multi-Talented Okema T. Moore

The theme of Black History Month this year is African Americans and the Arts. As a member of the arts community, Broadway Stages is thrilled to recognize the accomplished work of Okema T. Moore. 

Okema T. Moore is an actress, producer, writer, director, and entrepreneur. She is a first-generation American born in Brooklyn, New York. Her father was born in Guyana, and her mother was born in Barbados. She was lucky enough to spend her early childhood between Guyana (South Ruimveldt, Georgetown) and Brooklyn and traveling the Caribbean. 

Growing up, her mother enrolled her in acting, dance, and music to keep her preoccupied on weekends. And her mother’s efforts paid off. In 1985, she landed a role on a season of the popular children’s program “Sesame Street.” After that she joined an all-girl group in Brooklyn called Cuties in Affect (C.I.A.). With this group, she was able to perform with artists such as SWV, Biggie, and Tupac.

As an adult, she has performed on Broadway in Dreamgirls, won several awards for her one-act plays, and co-produced a project nominated for a Single Spot Emmy in 2013. In 2019, she premiered at Tribeca N.O.W. and won Best Web Series for Little Apple at the American Black Film Festival as a co-producer. 

It is an altruistic spirit that drives her achievements. She said, “I create to represent voices, perspectives, and stories that deserve the shine,” and “The ability to bring BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color) creatives to the table makes me so happy, as lifting while I climb is essential.”

And she has empowered herself to make that happen with her business MOOREthanEnuff Media & Consulting. About the name, she said, “As an actor, if you don’t bring your confidence to the table…it shows...That is why I named my company MOOREthanEnuff Media & Consulting. Not just because my last name is Moore, but to remind myself as well.”

Okema brings solid business experience to running her own company. She holds a BS in finance and business from Brooklyn College (she is a proud member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority) and has worked in the finance industry. In addition, she has a Producing Certification from NYU. This certification has been put to use with her work for Netflix, Spotify, Nickelodeon, Dreamworks FOX, OWN, and the Food Network, with a documentary series for PBS and American Masters.

Moore is committed to continuing to lift while she climbs, building up women, queer, Indigenous, POC, and Black creatives as she simultaneously strives for continued success in her own creative career. She noted, “As a creator, I am able to create opportunities for others. By writing, I’ve now created a need for talent to bring that writing to life. As a producer, I’m hiring a crew that can be ethnically and gender diverse.” She also brings that advocacy to her role as a board member of NYWIFT and the Black TV & Film Collective.

As you can see, Moore has many irons in the fire. Broadway Stages knows that with her combination of drive and talent, the sky is the limit. To stay abreast of the latest, you can follow her on Instagram and Facebook. We look forward to seeing what story she brings to life next!

Spotlight | De L’or Cakery

Welcome to Broadway Stages’ Spotlight, where we feature local shops, restaurants, organizations, individuals, and venues. We encourage our readers to join us in supporting these establishments and advancing local economic growth. In celebration of Black History Month, we are shining the spotlight on a few of the Black-owned businesses in the neighborhoods where we work. This week, we are sharing the sugar artistry of De L’or Cakery!

Kayisha Thompson grew up enjoying the beach life of Far Rockaway, Queens. But when she opened De L’or Cakery, her treats were infused with love and flavor from the beaches of her parents’ homes. She noted, “I grew up in a household where I was enmeshed in the culture, specifically the Jamaican culture.” 

Today, she is the “Cake Executive Officer” of a 5 Star Artisan Cake catering company offering cupcakes like Salty Caramel Bae, Pineapple Coconut Rum, and Wicked Dark Chocolate. One customer raved, “This past Sunday, I hosted a Women’s Business Brunch. The guests absolutely LOVED the cupcakes and cake pops! Moist and delicious. They were gone in a blink of an eye!” If you are one to feast with your eyes, check out her creations on her Instagram page.

But De L’or Cakery is not just a catering company. You can order exotic flavored cake jars and internationally inspired cookie mixes delivered anywhere in the United States. These ready-to-make products reflect the flavors and spices of the Afro-Caribbean diaspora, sourcing the highest quality ingredients.  

Thompson said, ““My life experience and having severe food allergies has pushed me to explore sourcing top-notch ingredients.” She also noted, “Your health is more valuable than gold. All our products are made with clean, sustainable, organic, and premium ingredients.” To learn more about the items that are offered, you can check out the menu here. 

Earlier in her life, Thompson earned her master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling and worked as a social work supervisor with a Brooklyn-based nonprofit. This time left her with a mission to provide each child in New York with a safe, loving family and the tools they need to thrive in school and life. To this end, she often mentors young women and offers free baking and cooking classes. But baking advice is not limited to just those young women. You can also find baking tutorials and recipes on her YouTube channel.

De L’or’s reputation is growing with each bite. One customer said, “I ordered a Coconut Pineapple Rum Cake for my wedding from De L’or Cakery. It was delicious, and Kayisha was very helpful. The owner came early and set up the 3-tier cake before the wedding started. All my guests loved it!” and another offered, “De Lor Cakery is amazing. The love and attention to detail are breathtaking. Definitely ask for the liquor-infused cupcakes. They’ll spark joy in your life!”

Broadway Stage is happy to share the success stories of black entrepreneurs like Kayisha Thompson. It makes us proud to know that NYC is fostering their progress. But we know that new small businesses need your support most of all. So, treat yourself and order something sweet from De L’or Cakery today! And when you do, tell her Broadway Stages sent you!

Join the 2nd Annual NYC Winter Walk for Homelessness

Are you ready to make a difference in the lives of those experiencing homelessness in New York City? Mark your calendars for this Sunday, February 25, as Winter Walk returns for its 2nd annual event at Chelsea Piers, Pier 62.

What is Winter Walk?

Winter Walk is more than just an event; it's a movement dedicated to raising awareness, breaking down stigmas, and creating systemic change to end homelessness. By bringing together participants from all walks of life, both housed and homeless, Winter Walk aims to foster unity and support for our homeless community.

Event Details

Date: Sunday, February 25, 2024
Time: Registration opens at 10:00 a.m., with a short presentation followed by the Walk at 10:30 a.m.
Location: Chelsea Piers, Pier 62 (12th Ave & 21st street), New York City
Who: Winter Walk is presented in collaboration with Covenant House, WiN NYC, Coalition for the Homeless, New Destiny Housing, The Bowery Mission, and New Alternatives, with stories shared from individuals with lived experience of homelessness.
Special Guests: We are honored to have Paul English, founder of Winter Walk and co-founder of Kayak, joining us along with Ben Lawson, Australian actor, and Violett Gaida, international model and philanthropist based in NYC.

How to Join

Registration for the Winter Walk is now open! You can register HERE and donate HERE. Can't make it to the event? You can still show your support by donating online at the Winter Walk NYC 2024 Donation Page or by visiting winterwalk.org.

About Winter Walk

Winter Walk believes that ending homelessness is within our reach. Our mission is to raise awareness and funds towards that goal, supporting organizations that work on prevention, support, and care for our homeless community.

Join us as we take steps towards a brighter future for those experiencing homelessness in New York City. Together, we can make a difference.

For more information, visit winterwalk.org.

Search Broadway Stages News | Delivered to Your In-box

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What’s Happening at NYC Audubon?

John James Audubon made several important contributions to the early conservation movement. He advocated for creating the country’s first natural history museum and establishing bird sanctuaries to provide safe spaces for birds to breed and thrive. Moreover, his work inspired the founders of the early groups that took his name.

But in 2020, John James Audubon’s past became part of public discourse with spreading awareness of Audubon’s ownership, purchase, and sale of enslaved people and his defense of the practice as an anti-abolitionist. With this knowledge, the New York City Audubon, a chapter of the National Audubon Society, began considering what the “Audubon” name means to their strategic work and mission.

After many months of thorough exploration and discussions, NYC Audubon’s board of directors voted in March 2023 to change its name. Their work and their commitment to birds and their conservation are unchanged.

Throughout 2023, hundreds of name suggestions were collected. The Name Change Task Force has narrowed down the choices to these top five names:

• Birds Connect NYC

• Birds for All NYC (or NYC Birds for All)

• Birds NYC (or NYC Birds)

• NYC Bird Alliance

• NYC Bird Conservancy

If you want to know more about the process and share your input, click here.

While the name may be changing, the mission remains constant. And to fulfill their mission, they need good, motivated people to help them. One exciting opportunity to contribute is serving as a 2024 Artist in Residence. This unique and innovative residency offers two local artists space and resources to investigate birds and wildlife conservation in the context of urban natural space and public engagement. Applications are due by March 1, 11:59 p.m. EST; click here today if you are interested.

But the opportunities to help don’t end there. Both paid and volunteer positions are available. Seasonal part-time and full-time positions are available. Join the NYC Audubon team as seasonal staff, engaging Governors Island visitors or conducting cutting-edge science research across the City. Find out more about these positions here.

You can also consider serving as a volunteer. Last year, nearly 1,000 volunteers led after-school bird outings in the Bronx, transported injured birds to rehabs across the City, and engaged New Yorkers at borough festivals. You can join their ranks by clicking here.

For those of you looking to join other birders to explore and appreciate the fowls of NYC, there are plenty of events in the near future. On February 24 at Floyd Bennett Field, Queens, you can choose from shovelers, scoters, and mergansers, which have the most unique bills.

Or, if you are new to birding, Tod Winston can guide you in getting started. His Intro to Birding Webinar is back on March 13. Get ready for spring migration with this free educational session on birding basics, how to pick binoculars, and the best resources for learning more.

For a complete listing of upcoming events, click here. We hope to see you out there!

Inside Broadway Stages | What's Filming

We are thrilled that the New York film and television industry is ramping up following labor strikes. Many of our shows have returned, and we are so happy to welcome cast and crew members back to our sound stages. Here are updates on a few of the shows that call Broadway Stages home.

Sam Waterston Leaving "Law & Order"

District Attorney Jack McCoy will be retiring, as 83-year-old Sam Waterston stars in his last episode of the long-running series on Thursday, February 22. Waterston joined "Law & Order" 30 years ago during its fifth season and went on to appear in more than 400 episodes. His final episode, the fifth of the current 23rd season, will appropriately be called "Last Dance."

Tony Goldwyn ("Scandal") will fill his shoes as the new district attorney. Goldwyn previously played Det. Robert Goren's (Vincent D'Onofrio) brother Frank in seasons six and seven of "Law & Order: Criminal Intent." He also directed the "Law & Order" season 16 episode "Thinking Makes It So," which aired in 2006. Goldwyn will make his debut in the sixth episode of the season, "On the Ledge," expected to air on February 29.

In additional casting news, Jeffrey Donovan, who played Det. Frank Cosgrove in seasons 21 and 22, did not return for the new season, as Reid Scott joined the cast in his place as Det. Vincent Riley.

This season's 12th episode, which will air in the spring, will be the 500th overall of the series. "Law & Order" debuted in September of 1990 and ran for 20 seasons, ending in 2010. After a decade-long hiatus, the show returned with its 21st season in February of 2022.

We are so sad to see Waterston go, as he has been the heart and soul of the series for decades, but we are also excited for him to begin a new chapter in his career.

"The Good Wife" Spin-off "Elsbeth" Premiering on CBS on Thursday, February 29

Broadway Stages was home to both "The Good Wife" and its spin-off "The Good Fight" for a combined 13 seasons. We are so excited that series creators Michelle and Robert King stuck with us for "Elsbeth," the latest addition to the franchise. The series centers on Carrie Preston's quirky attorney Elsbeth Tascioni who appeared on both "The Good Wife" and "The Good Fight."

CBS describes Elsbeth as "an astute but unconventional attorney who uses her singular point of view to make unique observations and corner brilliant criminals alongside the NYPD." After leaving her legal career for a new investigative role, Elsbeth finds herself jockeying with NYPD Captain C.W. Wagner (Wendell Pierce) and working alongside Officer Kaya Blanke (Carra Patterson).

In additional casting news, Gloria Reuben ("The Equalizer") will play Wagner's wife in a recurring role. Guest stars will include Jane Krakowski ("30 Rock") as an influential Manhattan real estate broker; Linda Lavin ("Alice") as an unpopular co-op board president; Retta ("Parks and Recreation") as a high-profile New York City matchmaker; and Blair Underwood ("L.A. Law") as the father and coach of an aspiring tennis star.

"Evil" Wraps Filming for Final Season

Speaking of Michelle and Robert King productions, we are thrilled to provide facilities for the couple's supernatural drama "Evil," which has aired for three seasons on Paramount+. Filming of the fourth and final season was nearly complete when the SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes began, and lead actress Katja Herbers recently took to Instagram to share the news that filming finally concluded. She also shared behind-the-scenes footage and photos of her co-stars Mike Colter and Aasif Mandvi.

In the series, Herbers plays a forensic psychologist who partners with a technical contractor (Mandvi) and Catholic priest-in-training (Colter) to investigate supernatural events. Michael Emerson (who is married to "Elsbeth" star Preston) portrays the series' primary antagonist, Leland Townsend.

The shocking season three finale aired in August of 2022, so fans have been patiently waiting to learn the full extent of RMS Fertility's hold on the "Evil" universe. Hopefully questions will be answered when the series returns in May for its final season. While we are sad that the show is ending, we are also very excited for what is sure to be a wild finish.

"The Gilded Age" Renewed for a Third Season

HBO is bringing the van Rhijns, Brooks, Russells, and Scotts back for another season. The lavish period drama "The Gilded Age" recently earned its first major awards nomination – Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series at the SAG Awards. It will compete against heavyweights like "Succession" and "The Crown" at the ceremony on February 24.

In season two, Bertha Russell (Carrie Coon) led the charge for establishing a state-of-the-art music hall (the Metropolitan Opera House) for the nouveau riche. Meanwhile, her husband George (Morgan Spector) dealt with labor issues as steelworkers in Pittsburgh unionized. Marian Brook (Louisa Jacobson) began to secretly teach at a girls school, upsetting her aunt Agnes van Rhijn (Christine Baranski). Oscar van Rhijn (Blake Ritson) and Ada Forte (Cynthia Nixon) each suffered tragedies that in the end offset one another but will surely change the power dynamics of the household in the upcoming season.

We are so proud of this series and particularly its role in sharing stories from a unique time in New York City's history. In the first season, viewers learned how the city funded the pedestal for the Statue of Liberty when Marian and Peggy viewed the arm and torch on display in Madison Square. Last season, viewers learned about the building of the Brooklyn Bridge when Larry Russell visited the home of Emily Warren Roebling, the wife of chief engineer Washington Roebling. When her husband became too ill to continue to oversee the bridge's construction, Mrs. Roebling supervised the project to its completion. We can't wait to see what historical topics they will cover next.

"Godfather of Harlem" Renewed for a Fourth Season

MGM+ will bring "Godfather of Harlem" back for a fourth season, which will consist of 10 episodes. Season four will be dedicated to co-creator Paul Eckstein, who passed away unexpectedly last year.

The series will continue to follow Bumpy Johnson (Forest Whitaker) as he takes on New York's Mafia families and tries to regain control of Harlem. This historical epic tells the true stories of some of the city's most infamous politicians, influential civil rights activists, and notorious mobsters.

In the emotional season three finale "Our Black Shining Prince," which aired in March of 2023, viewers experienced the inevitable end of the line for Malcolm X (Jason Alan Carvell). The civil rights icon was assassinated in New York City on February 21, 1965 at the age of 39.

In the new season, Bumpy will reportedly face a new rival in Frank Lucas, the drug kingpin whose story was told in the 2007 film "American Gangster" starring Denzel Washington. Bumpy's daughter Elise (Antoinette Crowe-Legacy) is expected to further her involvement with the Black Panthers in season four.

Ilfenesh Hadera ("Billions") will return as Bumpy's wife Mayme Johnson, and other returning castmembers include Lucy Fry as Stella Gigante, daughter of Vincent "Chin" Gigante, and Erik LaRay Harvey as Bumpy's trusted enforcer Del Chance. We don't have a return date yet, but we will be sure to report more details as they come to light.

Be sure to check out all of the productions above, and follow our blog and sign up for our newsletter to stay informed of updates on all of our productions.

Spotlight | Grace Kelli Cupcakes

Welcome to Broadway Stages’ Spotlight, where we feature local shops, restaurants, organizations, individuals, and venues. We encourage our readers to join us in supporting these establishments and advancing local economic growth. In celebration of Black History Month, we are shining the spotlight on a few of the Black-owned businesses in the neighborhoods where we work. This week, we take a trip to East Harlem to visit the mother-daughter business Grace Kelli Cupcakes! 

The name is Grace Kelli Cupcakes, but this business is that and more! Co-owner Sandra Mathis, who has been cooking since she was seven, brings five generations of Southern soul food recipes to the desserts and catering company. 

Grace Kelli Cupcakes is a mother-daughter company in East Harlem, a few blocks from Central Park. But at its start in 2017, they worked out of a shared kitchen in Harlem at Hot Bread Kitchen. This nonprofit creates economic opportunity through careers in food.

Sandra has always loved to bake. Growing up in Waycross, North Carolina, she shadowed her grandmother in the kitchen and learned how to put a Southern spin on various recipes. Years later, after becoming a mother, she moved to Staten Island with a dream of turning her passion for baking into her very own family business. 

Before starting her catering and dessert business, Sandra worked as a dental assistant and volunteered at her daughter’s school. It was volunteering that inspired her to go into business. She was selling her daughter’s favorite treats at a school fundraiser and received rave reviews. She named it after her daughter (and co-owner), her biggest inspiration and motivation. 

Sandra said, “It makes my daughter proud knowing she has a business that her mom started for her. She tells all her friends about her business...As a mom, it makes me proud to have a business and have it named after my child, just to have something that she can be proud of as well.”

You can come by the shop Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and choose from a variety of Sweet Treats made daily. They also offer catering with traditional North Carolina foods like collard greens, black-eyed peas, and her grandmother’s baked banana pudding on the menu. 

Moreover, the shop offers vegan soul food platters featuring dishes such as Vegan Macaroni and Cheese Empanadas and Vegan Spicy Chicken and Waffles. The vegan fare is so well-liked, Sandra also runs Black Eyed Peas and Collard Greens, a vegan soul food pop-up. Customers of the pop-up rave about the moxtail (vegan ox tail) and the vegan fried chicken. Since it is a pop-up, you should keep an eye on their Facebook page for locations and more details. In fact, it would be a good idea to add the Grace Kelli Facebook and Instagram pages to your favorites, too!

But we cannot forget the cupcakes. One Bronx customer raved, “You got to try them! You can taste the love she puts in her cupcakes!” And a customer from Edison, New Jersey, said, “Oh my goodness - the team cannot stop talking about these cupcakes!! They were so beautiful and delicious!” 

Broadway Stages loves cupcakes! But more than that, we love an inspired small businessperson. The cupcakes just make it better. We encourage you to support Sandra and Grace. And when you do, be sure to tell them that Broadway Stages sent you!

Industrial Business Zones | Where We Are Today - Part 3

In 2006, New York City created 21 Industrial Business Zones (IBZs) to support manufacturing and the important living-wage jobs that they offer. These 21 “safe havens” provide a relocation tax credit of $1,000 per employee and up to $100,000 to industrial and manufacturing firms choosing to move into IBZs.

As we have explored in parts one and two of this series, the jobs and tax revenue generated by manufacturing are incredibly valuable to the communities where they are  located. 

According to the City, in the second quarter of 2023 alone, manufacturing accounted for 2.1 billion dollars in taxable sales. And, as we noted in part one of this series, the average entry-level annual salary for manufacturing jobs in New York City is $62,851, according to Zip Recruiter. Moreover, these jobs provide generous healthcare benefits, have union protections, and are open to workers without college degrees.

New York City manufacturing jobs numbered just under 56,800 in December 2023, down from roughly 172,000 in 2000. At the peak in 1947, more than a million New Yorkers worked in factories.

We all know space is limited and at a premium in New York City. “I think that the real estate costs certainly do contribute to the challenges for manufacturing,” said Jonathan Bowles, executive director of the Center for an Urban Future. This group studies pathways to middle-income jobs.

Manufacturing is still mainly happening at the same locations as a half-century ago after the 1961 Zoning Resolution designated a series of manufacturing districts to locate industrial work. According to the City, a series of rezonings of manufacturing space for commercial, residential, and mixed uses in the early 2000s and 2010s reduced manufacturing districts by just over 5%.

“There are all these kinds of cracks in the protective walls around manufacturing,” said Brian Coleman, CEO of the Greenpoint Manufacturing and Design Center, a nonprofit industrial developer.

James Parrott, director of economic and fiscal policies at the Center for New York City Affairs at The New School, said the City has long been driven by a principle of “highest and best use” for real estate based on what will fetch the highest price. He said, “To me, highest and best use ignores the kind of economic activity that’s needed to have more equitable – economically and racially equitable – economic growth in New York City.”

The communities where Broadway Stages operate all host IBZs, and we have seen firsthand the value that IBZs bring to the local community. Together with our clients, Broadway Stages has generated employment for thousands and created innumerable jobs. Moreover, we support local manufacturers by working primarily with local businesses and in-house teams for our production needs, and our clients do the same when practical. 

The IBZs provide equitable, accessible jobs and support the companies that create them. In turn, many of those people live and shop in those same communities. Ultimately, everyone benefits from the City’s investment in the Industrial Business Zones and manufacturing in general.

It is critical that the IBZs are protected and that industrial preservation policies are adopted to preserve industrial uses in urban centers. The various companies that have invested in the IBZs have been responsible for helping to create desirable neighborhoods.

In our next blog in this series we will look at those investments and how they have changed the face of communities across the City.

Learn About a Few Up-and-Coming Black Filmmakers

In celebration of Black History Month, we are shining a light on up-and-coming Black filmmakers. We are especially excited to highlight the work of an independent filmmaker who shot a short film at our Arthur Kill campus facility on Staten Island.

Born and raised in Harlem, Lynn Dow directed the 2020 short film "Compassionate Release," which highlights the prison program that enables elderly and terminally ill inmates to obtain parole. Dow's uncle spent time at Arthur Kill, and she used to visit him there with her grandmother when she was younger. He was released early as part of the compassionate release program, a key event in her life that inspired her to make the film. We were happy to provide a filming location that held such personal meaning to her and her project. Dow recently completed her first feature film called "Bull Street," which premiered last week at the Pan African Film Festival in Los Angeles.

Many Black filmmakers are finding success this awards season, and Cord Jefferson is having a particularly remarkable run on the red carpet. Jefferson directed, wrote, and co-produced the satirical drama "American Fiction," which is nominated for five Oscars including Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay. Quite the feat for a first-time filmmaker! "American Fiction" won the Toronto International Film Festival People's Choice Award in the fall and made many critics associations year-end top 10 lists. We can't wait to see what he does next.

Another director finding recognition for their directorial feature film debut is A.V. Rockwell, born and raised in Queens. Her film "A Thousand and One," which she also wrote, won the prestigious Grand Jury Prize at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. Set in Harlem in the 1990s and 2000s, the film follows a single mother who kidnaps her son out of the foster care system to raise him herself. Rockwell recently won the Breakthrough Director Award at this year's Gotham Awards, and we expect to see her back on the awards circuit soon.

Rapper, record producer, and filmmaker Blitz Bazawule (also known as Blitz the Ambassador) is also having a very good year. The Ghanaian artist directed the recent musical adaptation of "The Color Purple," which has received critical acclaim and several major award nominations. The musical drama is his second feature film following 2018's well-received "The Burial of Kojo." He also co-directed the musical film "Black Is King" with Beyoncé and several other filmmakers. "Black Is King" is available to stream on Disney+.

Juel Taylor had a breakthrough year with his feature film directorial debut "They Cloned Tyrone," released on Netflix last summer. The sci-fi comedy was a hit for the streaming service and its most popular film for a period in late July and early August. In the film, John Boyega, Jamie Foxx, and Teyonah Parris play three friends who uncover a secret government conspiracy following a series of strange events. The film, which Taylor co-wrote with Tony Rettenmaier, was also a hit with critics. Before directing "They Cloned Tyrone," Taylor was known for penning several screenplays, including "Creed II" co-written with Sylvester Stallone and "Space Jam: A New Legacy" co-written with a team of writers.

We hope you enjoy the work of these artists. Follow our blog to learn more about how Broadway Stages is celebrating Black History Month.

Discover Local Black History | Weeksville Heritage Center

After visiting Weeksville Heritage Center, Stefani Zinerman said, “There is no other place in Brooklyn that speaks to the hopes, aspirations, and dreams realized of African descendant people like Weeksville Heritage Center.” Located in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, this multi-dimensional museum celebrates the history of Weeksville, one of the country’s first free African American communities, established in 1838.

The mission of Weeksville Heritage Center is to document, preserve, and interpret the history of free African, Caribbean, and African American communities in Weeksville, Brooklyn, and beyond. By doing this, they hope to create and inspire innovative, contemporary uses of history through research, education, the arts, and civic engagement. Or, as one visitor put it, “The Weeksville Heritage Center binds the local community together today and serves as a source of pride and cohesiveness. This is what history is all about.”

In 1838, 11 years after the final abolition of slavery in New York State, James Weeks, an African American, bought a plot of land from Henry C. Thompson, another free African American. This site was called Weeksville after him.

Weeksville would become home to ministers, teachers, and other professionals, including the first female African American physician in New York State and the first African American police officer in New York City. The black community in Weeksville developed its own churches, a school, an orphanage, a cemetery, a retirement home, an African American benevolent society, and one of the first African American newspapers, the Freedman’s Torchlight. During the violent New York Draft Riots of 1863, during the Civil War, the community served as a refuge for many African Americans who fled from Manhattan; many resettled in Brooklyn.

Over time, the community grew and blended with the surrounding neighborhood. Almost a century later, the community had virtually become a legend. In the late 1960s, a teacher and two students from Pratt Neighborhood College led a mission to find and celebrate the historic community. In 1970, they founded the Society for the Preservation of Weeksville and Bedford Stuyvesant in 1970. This led to the establishment of the Weeksville Heritage Center.

Today, the Center is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Walk-in tours of the Hunterfly Road historic houses are available Tuesday through Friday at 3 p.m. In addition, there are special events throughout the year, such as the Garden Party Concert Series, Brilliant Corners Jazz Concert, Farmers Market, Emancipation Day Celebrations, Vaudeville Family Day, ongoing oral history projects, and so much more. Information about events can be found on their Instagram and Facebook pages. You can also take virtual tours and watch archived live streams and lectures on their YouTube channel.

Broadway Stages is thrilled to have such a treasure in our own backyard. There is so much to be learned and celebrated by a visit to Weeksville Heritage Center. We encourage you to support their mission and plan a visit today! And when you get there, tell them Broadway Stages sent you!