The Stage

Broadway launches green theatre initiative

Published Wednesday 10 December 2008 at 17:15 by Judd Hollander

The New York theatre community has announced the launch of Broadway Goes Green - an industry-wide initiative with the goal of reducing Broadway’s carbon footprint by adopting environmentally sustainable practices and by promoting environmental awareness in the creation and presentation of theatre shows.

In collaboration with the Natural Resources Defense Council, and with the support of New York Mayor Michael R Bloomberg, an early goal of the initiative is to assess current Broadway practices and disseminate information to various segments of the theatre industry, including producers, theatre owners, designers, managers and design shops.

To that end, the industry has formed specific groups to focus on three primary phases of the Broadway process - theatre venue operations, the day to day running of theatre productions and the creation process of shows from concept to stage.

Dr Allen Hershkowitz, senior scientist at the NRDC said: “As Broadway shifts its theatre productions toward environmentally preferable operations, its influence and leadership will reverberate throughout the entertainment world. Broadway’s unique global visibility and unparalleled cultural influence offers a rare opportunity to move the marketplace towards environmentally intelligent products and, at the same time, help theatres save money and inspire their patrons. Bravo to Broadway for its leadership on this critical issue.”

Some of the initiatives already in place include:

• Out of 39 Broadway theatres, ten have already replaced their marquee lights with more efficient lighting, and an additional 14 conversions are underway. To date, more than 10,000 exterior and interior bulbs have been changed.
• Production shops are offering environmentally preferable materials and are developing plans to recycle or reuse scenery.
• Costumes are being washed in cold water whenever feasible.
• Rechargeable batteries are used in sound equipment whenever possible.
• Many touring shows are offsetting the carbon emissions from transporting their equipment through investments in renewable energy and have purchased nearly 1,900 tons of offsets through the Touring Green program.
• Playbill, the official program of Broadway, is working with the NRDC to enhance their environmental practices, and will be supporting the initiative by periodically reporting on the Broadway Goes Green efforts and regularly printing theatre-related eco-tips in Playbill magazines throughout the year.

Charlotte St Martin, executive director of The Broadway League, the national trade organization of Broadway, noted: “This initiative and this commitment brings together the entire Broadway community. We’ve established three committees and they have begun practice and the adoption of better practices as the first step of an ongoing process in making Broadway greener. More task forces will be developed as more people get involved.”