LIN-MANUEL MIRANDA AND EISA DAVIS TO HEADLINE INAUGURAL RISE THEATRE SUMMIT FOCUSING ON INCLUSION

New York, NY (September 10, 2024) – RISE Theatre (Representation, Inclusion, & Support for Employment), a program of Maestra Music co-founded by the Miranda Family Fund and Lin-Manuel Miranda, presents the first-ever RISE Summit, an event for theatre changemakers. Miranda is set to make the opening remarks, and Eisa Davis will serve as the keynote speaker. The event will take place on Tuesday, September 24, at the New York Library for the Performing Arts starting at 9:30 am, connecting a diverse group of artists, industry leaders, and advocates committed to creating a more equitable and inclusive theatre community. 

Limited tickets with a suggested donation of $20 are available in advance at https://secure.qgiv.com/for/risesummit/event/risetheatresummitrsvp/.

By bringing together a network of partner organizations focused on underrepresented artists – including people of color, women, trans and nonbinary individuals, and deaf and disabled theatre professionals – RISE aims to centralize DEIA resources, build community, and drive meaningful change in the industry. The RISE Summit will host, in addition to the speakers, panels, and networking opportunities designed to equip attendees with the tools and connections they need to further their careers.

“In my check-ins with each Network Partner, the same question is always presented: Can we all meet and build together?” RISE Program Manager Victoria Detres says. “This is where the idea of the Summit took form. RISE Theatre was designed to act as a conduit of connection, and this is just one example of how we are designing programming based on the feedback we receive.”

The RISE Summit, sponsored in part by Disney Theatricals and AKA, will feature panels led by RISE Network Partners, including the Asian American Performers Action Coalition, the Dramatists Guild Foundation, Design Action, and the Theatre Advocacy Project. The panels will focus on this year’s theme of Belonging: Past and Present and discuss questions such as: What past systems should we dismantle in our workspaces and what new systems must be created for belonging? How can we cultivate community where we come from and where we are today? What do we envision for our future? 

Event Details:

For sponsorship inquiries, please contact:
​Victoria Detres
​Program Manager, RISE Theatre
​victoria@risetheatre.org

ABOUT RISE THEATRE ​
​RISE (Representation, Inclusion, & Support for Employment) seeks to build a more equitable and inclusive theatre industry by centralizing DEIA tools and resources through a network of partners and a national personnel directory, serving all theatre professionals but intentionally designed to amplify folks from underrepresented backgrounds, including but not limited to people of color, women, trans, nonbinary, deaf, and disabled theatre professionals. RISE Theatre is a program of Maestra Music. For more information about RISE Theatre, visit risetheatre.org. IG: @risetheatreorg Facebook: /RiseTheatreOrg

ABOUT MAESTRA
​Maestra Music, Inc. was founded by composer/lyricist and music director Georgia Stitt to provide support, visibility, and community to the women and nonbinary people who make music in the musical theater industry. Maestra envisions a world in which women and nonbinary people have equitable access, visibility, and creative impact in the musical theater industry. In this future, at least half of all music-related theater jobs and leadership roles are filled by qualified women and nonbinary musicians, decidedly inclusive of people of color. These musicians are historically and consistently under-represented in musical theatre. By delivering on our mission, we will be a catalyst and driving force to help achieve gender equity in our business. Maestra Music Inc. is a 501(c)3 organization based in New York. www.maestramusic.org IG: @maestramusicorg Facebook: /MaestraMusicOrg

ABOUT MIRANDA FAMILY FUND
​For over 40 years, the Miranda Family has championed community activism. They have created and supported institutions that have served both underserved populations in Upper Manhattan and communities throughout New York City, across the country, and in Puerto Rico. Luis A. Miranda, Jr. and Dr. Luz Towns-Miranda are proud parents to Luz Miranda-Crespo, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Miguel Towns. Now as adults, Luz and Lin-Manuel are married to Luis Crespo and Vanessa Nadal, respectively, with children of their own. They continue to foster the family’s commitment to advocacy for education, the arts, and social justice - along with a sustained focus on relief and rebuilding efforts in Puerto Rico post-Hurricane Maria.

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