Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americas has advocated for dramaturgy in theatre and the performing arts for more than 30 years. Through programs, awards, international conferences, networking and much more, LMDA establishes best practices in our field, affirms the role of the dramaturg in theatrical creation, and serves a global community of collaborative innovators devoted to dramaturgical inquiry and leadership.
LMDA’s Board of Directors is committed to supporting and sustaining the organization’s invaluable contribution to the theatrical landscape. With that goal in mind, we have created The Lessing Circle (TLC).
The Lessing Circle has two goals within its mission to support LMDA's legacy:
- to establish a cash reserve that will enhance financial stability from year to year;
- to spend $5,000 annually on an initiative of significance outside of our normal operating and programming budgets, that that impacts the field and elicits prominent exposure for the organization.
We acknowledge and thank the generous inaugural patrons whose generous contributions have launched The Lessing Circle in 2017:
Beth Blickers (2017, member since 2007)
Mark Bly (2017, member since 1985)
Ken Cerniglia (2017, member since 1999)
Lue Douthit (2018, member since 1991)
Liz Engelman (2017, member since 1992)
Martine Kei Green-Rogers (2017, member since 2011)
Nichole Gantshar (2017, member since 1991)
Jayme Koszyn (2017, member since 1988)
DD Kugler (2018, member since 1989)
John Lutterbie (2018, member since 1991)
Shelley Orr (2017, member since 2002)
Geoff Proehl (2017, member since 1990)
Carrie Ryan (2018, member since 1998)
Brian Quirt (2017, member since 1993)
Cindy M. SoRelle (2017, member since 1997)
Sarah Garton Stanley (2017, member since 2006)
Ariane van Buren (2018, member since 2014)
Paul Walsh (2017, member since 1990)
We celebrate their time, energy and financial support to this organization. Together we can ensure that LMDA will continue to enrich the performing arts for decades to come.
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The Lessing Circle is designed to:
- establish a corps of individuals to invest in LMDA’s legacy;
- enhance LMDA’s capacity to advocate for the practice of dramaturgy;
- generate funds to sponsor prominent and progressive programming of impact; and
- ensure that LMDA will continue to expand the vision of what dramaturgy is and can be.
To that end, The Lessing Circle has invested in: an ArtEquity pre-conference Inclusion Workshop in 2017, which launched a series of organization-wide initiatives to improve and enhance accessibility, inclusion and equity. In 2018, we supported a critical upgrade to LMDA’s website server and online capacity, which will extend our accessibility initiatives to all of our membership. This will include Spanish translation of key components of our website, as we look forward to our 2020 Conference in Mexico City.
LMDA is committed to making our organization more inclusive and accessible to members outside of Canada and the U.S. In 2019, LMDA will apply the Lessing Circle funds to outreach efforts to Mexican and Latinx artists with the purpose of supporting the 2020 conference, as well as the establishment of LMDA Mexico. This outreach will bring Mexican theatre artists to our Chicago conference, and begin to build connections with our theatrical colleagues across the border in order to truly represent the breadth of dramaturgical practice in North America.
We invite you to consider supporting the long-term health of LMDA by becoming a patron of The Lessing Circle through a one-time donation of $2,500 – or by pledging $500 per year (or $40 per month) over five years. TLC members will be fully acknowledged on LMDA’s website and at LCP events and activities.
If you’re interested in accepting this invitation to join The Lessing Circle, please contact Lindsey Barr, LMDA Administrative Director to make arrangements. Thank you!
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