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BTC, formerly the Black Theatre Coalition, hosts its second annual Building the Change Gala March 3 at the Rainbow Room. 

The event celebrates inclusion in the arts with the presentation of several awards. Luis A. Miranda will receive the Poitier-Belafonte Award for Cultural Activism, with the Chadwick Boseman Change Maker Award going to Brooklyn-based non-profit Girl Be Heard, and the Lynn Nottage Bold Beacon Award to Phylicia Rashad. Newly being awarded this year is the Visionary Ally Award, which will be presented to The John Gore Organization.

鈥淥nce we identified just how vast the disparity is between the perceived inclusivity on stage and the utter dearth of Black professionals off stage, we began outlining ways in which we could address and ultimately eradicate this invisible disparity," BTC founders T. Oliver Reid, Warren Adams, and Reginald "Reggie" Van Lee said in an earlier joint statement. "This outline provided a clear path forward for our organization and our entire industry. It鈥檚 high time to end this 鈥榠llusion of inclusion鈥� by reshaping the theatrical ecosystem for those who have been marginalized by systematically biased power structures that have endured since the dawn of the American theatre.鈥�

This year's host committee comprises David Belafonte, George Faison, Irene Gandy, David Henry Hwang, Hugh Jackman, Alicia Keys, Sade Lythcott, Jonathan McCrory, Alex Newell, Gigi Pritzker, Clint Ramos, Lauren Reid, Cody Renard Richard, LaTanya Richardson Jackson, Rhonda Ross Kendrick, and Thomas Schumacher.

Since 2020, BTC has connected over 100 Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) fellows and apprentices with Broadway organizations and productions, including Disney Theatrical Group, The Nederlander Organization, John Gore Organization and current productions of Moulin Rouge!, Swept Away, and more; placed fellows in major production companies and marketing, media, and design firms; coordinated regional apprenticeships at Broadway Across America offices across the continental U.S., provided observation opportunities for 10 Historically Black College and University (HBCU) graduates on the Les Mise虂rables tour, and increased the percentage of Black general managers on Broadway by 1200%, with over $1.5 million paid to emerging professionals.

Looking ahead to 2030, BTC is committed to increasing the number of BIPOC theatre and arts professionals by 500% in every discipline. 

Visit for more information. 

See photos from last year's gala below:

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Photos: Black Theatre Coalition's Inaugural "Building the Change" Gala

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