Arts in the Armed Forces
Arts in the Armed Forces, Inc. (AITAF) is a non-profit based in Brooklyn, New York that brings arts programming to active-duty service members, veterans, military support staff and their families around the world free of charge.
 | |
| Abbreviation | AITAF |
|---|---|
| Founder | Adam Driver |
| Headquarters | New York City, U.S. |
Artistic Director | Joanne Tucker |
Executive Director | Lindsay Miserandino |
Program Director | Erica Newhouse |
Program Coordinator | Brian Lepak |
Key people | MaryKathryn Kopp (Communications Associate) |
| Website | aitaf.org |
[1] The organization was founded by actors Adam Driver and Joanne Tucker in 2006.[2][3] The non-profit became an official incorporation in 2008.
AITAF serves all branches of the military at US installations domestically and abroad. They choose content that features diverse themes, ages, ethnicities and experiences.[1] Following each of AITAF’s events, the artists interact with the audience through a question and answer session.[1]
AITAF’s goal is "to use the powerfully emotional shared experience of the arts to start conversations capable of bridging the divides between military and civilian, service member and family member, the world of the arts and the world of practical action."[1]
The Bridge Award
In 2017, The Bridge Award was established in honor of AITAF's tenth anniversary with the purpose of recognizing an emerging playwright of exceptional talent within the United States military. The annual award consists of a $10,000 prize, and an AITAF produced reading of the winning work.
In addition to bringing world-class theater to the military, AITAF is committed to supporting and sharing the talents of those who serve. This Award will offer a deserving current military service member or veteran artist important connections with the theater community and access to developmental resources, helping to facilitate a deeper understanding and more active dialogue between military and civilian communities.
The Bridge Award winner is chosen by a selection committee, judged each year by a notable playwright. Past judges include Pulitzer Prize winners Suzan-Lori Parks and Tony Kushner.[5]
2018 Bridge Award Winner: WAR STORIES by Vinnie Lyman (Army Veteran)[6]
2019 Bridge Award Winner: TAMPONS, DEAD DOGS, AND OTHER DISPOSABLE THINGS by Shairi Engle (Air Force Veteran)[8]
2020 Bridge Award Winer: LOCAL GODS by Anton Sattler (Marine Corp Veteran)
Student Veteran Internship Program
In the summer of 2018, AITAF launched an internship program for student veterans. AITAF is committed to providing work and learning opportunities to veterans currently enrolled full-time in a college or university. By offering a summer housing stipend comparable to what a student might receive as part of the GI Bill, AITAF aims to create a rigorous, competitive program that offers a unique opportunity for a summer intern to relocate to New York City for the duration of the internship.
They hire a new student veteran every summer, spring, and fall.
2018 Summer Intern: Daní Rodriguez (Marine Corps Veteran)
2019 Spring Intern: Shyendra Chandrasena (Coast Guard Veteran)
2019 Summer Intern: Brian Lepak (Marine Corps Veteran)
2020 Spring Intern: Cole Smith (Air Force Veteran)
In the media
AITAF was the subject of a short documentary produced by Vice News in 2015. The documentary chronicles the organization's first trip to perform in the Middle East at Camp Arifjan, a United States Army installation in Kuwait.[9][10][11]
In 2016, Driver gave a TED Talk that discussed the non-profit at length and which ended with an AITAF reading.[12]
Following the release of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, fans of the franchise donated over $90,000 to the charity.[13] Driver released a video thanking fans for their donations.[14]
Programming
| Event | Event Location | Event Year | Artists Involved |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contemporary American Monologues | Camp Pendleton (Oceanside, CA) | 2008 | Jon Batiste, David Denman, Adam Driver, Gabriel Ebert, Laura Linney, Tracie Thoms, David Robaire, Joe Saylor |
| Contemporary American Monologues | Playwrights Horizons (New York, NY) | 2009 | Michael Sexton (Director); Lauren Ambrose, Francois Battiste, Eric Bogosian, Michael Chernus, Saidah Ekulona, Gibson Frazier, Ron Cephas Jones, Phil Kuehn, Tim Blake Nelson, Jesse J. Perez, Jay O. Sanders, Lili Taylor, Joanne Tucker, Debra Winger, Glenn Zaleski |
| Contemporary American Monologues | American Airlines Theatre (New York, NY) | 2010 | David Cromer (Director); Lauren Ambrose, Jon Batiste, Francois Battiste, Eric Bogosian, Louis Cancelmi, Reg. E Cathey, Amari Cheatom, Nick Choksi, Adam Driver, Saidah Ekulona, Gibson Frazier, Phil Kuehn, Darren Pettie, Jay O. Sanders, Susan Sarandon, Joanne Tucker, Dianne Wiest, Joe Saylor, John Patrick Shanley |
| Contemporary American Monologues | American Airlines Theatre (New York, NY) | 2011 | Michael Greif (Director); Jon Batiste, Francois Battiste, Vivenne Benesch, Marylouise Burke, Christopher Donahue, Adam Driver, Saidah Ekulona, John Glover, Renee Goldsberry, Zach Grenier, Ron Cephas Jones, Phil Kuehn, Jesse J. Perez, Joe Saylor, David Schwimmer, Peter Scolari, John Patrick Shanley, Tracie Thoms, Joanne Tucker, Harris Yulin |
| Contemporary American Monologues | Lucille Lortel Theatre (New York, NY) | 2012 | F. Murray Abraham, Francois Battiste, Marylouise Burke, Michael Daves, Eisa Davis, Adam Driver, Zach Grenier, Jake Gyllenhaal, William Jackson Harper, Frances McDormand, Michael Shannon, David Strathairn, Tracie Thoms, Joanne Tucker |
| Contemporary American Monologues | American Airlines Theatre (New York, NY) | 2013 | Francois Battiste, Eric Bogosian, Marylouise Burke, Michael Daves, Eisa Davis, Adam Driver, Natasha Lyonne, Jesse J. Perez, Reg Rogers, Amy Ryan, David Schwimmer, Michael Shannon, Joanne Tucker, Samira Wiley |
| Contemporary American Monologues | Ramstein Air Base (Germany) | 2013 | Reed Birney, Desmin Borges, Michael Chernus, Gary Cole, Adam Driver, Josh Hamilton, Elizabeth Rodriguez, Raven Symoné, Tracie Thoms, Joanne Tucker, Sheldon Woodley |
| Contemporary American Monologues | Walter Reed Memorial Center (Washington, D.C) | 2013 | Marylouise Burke, Reg E. Cathey, Michael Chernus, Gary Cole, Erin Cummings, Adam Driver, Donetta Lavinia Grays, Natalie Knepp, Reg Rogers, Paul Sparks, Tracie Thoms, Joanne Tucker |
| OUR LADY OF 121st STREET by Stephen Adly Guirgis | Studio 54 (New York, NY) | 2014 | Sam Gold (Director); Francois Battiste, Desmin Borges, Guy Boyd, Phillip James Brannon, Salvatore Inzerillo, Justin Long, Adrian Martinez, Amy Ryan, Armando Riesco, Elizabeth Rodriguez, Joanne Tucker, Samira Wiley |
| Contemporary American Monologues | Camp Arifjan (Kuwait) | 2015 | Adam Driver, Saidah Ekulona, Gibson Frazier, Natasha Lyonne, Kristine Nielsen, Armando Riesco, Jay. O Sanders, Joanne Tucker |
| LOBBY HERO by Kenneth Lonergan | Studio 54 (New York, NY) | 2015 | Mark Brokaw (Director); Francois Battiste, Rachel Brosnahan, Adam Driver, Corey Stoll |
| TAPE by Stephen Belber | Fort Hood (Killeen, TX) | 2016 | Stephen Belber (Director); Jessica Collins, Justin Long, Pablo Schreiber |
| LOBBY HERO by Kenneth Lonergan | Osan Air Base
(Pyeongtaek, South Korea) |
2016 | Stephen Belber (Director); Adam Driver, Francois Battiste, Dominic Fumusa, Rachel Brosnahan |
| Contemporary American Monologues | United States Military Academy (West Point, NY) | 2016 | Lila Neugebauer (Director); Marylouise Burke, Anna Chlumsky, Chris Henry Coffey, Jackie Cruz, Saidah Ekulona, Bill Heck, William Jackson Harper, Shane McRae, Tony Patano, Reg Rogers |
| TAPE by Stephen Belber | Studio 54 (New York, NY) | 2016 | Stephen Belber (Director); Adam Driver, Keri Russell, Pablo Schreiber |
| JESUS HOPPED THE A TRAIN by Stephen Adly Guirgis | Yokota Air Force Base (Japan) | 2017 | Leah Gardiner (Director); Christopher Abbott, Victor Almanzar, Anthony Ramos, Andre Royo, Samantha Soule |
| Contemporary American Monologues | U.S. Naval Academy (Annapolis, Maryland) | 2017 | Patricia McGregor (Director); Maechi Aharanwa, Frankie Alvarez, Kelly AuCoin, Marylouise Burke, Jack DiFalco, Brandon Dirden, Justin Long, Marisol Miranda, Tonya Pinkins, Peter Scolari, Kristen Sieh |
| JESUS HOPPED THE A TRAIN by Stephen Adly Guirgis | Industry City (Brooklyn, NY) | 2017 | Lucie Tiberghien (Director); Michael Chernus, Kathryn Erbe, Lawrence Gilliard, Bobby Moreno, Matt Servitto |
| TAPE by Stephen Belber | MCB Quantico (Virginia) | 2017 | Carolyn Cantor (Director); Kieran Culkin, Ryan Eggold, Mamie Gummer |
| LOBBY HERO by Kenneth Lonergan | Fort Hamilton (Brooklyn, NY) | 2017 | Lila Neugebauer (Director); Gabriel Ebert, William Jackson Harper, Michael Stahl-David, Grace Van Patten |
| LOBBY HERO by Kenneth Lonergan | KMC Onstage (Kaiserslautern, Germany) | 2017 | Moritz von Stuelpnagel (Director); Rachel Brosnahan, Gideon Glick, Darren Goldstein, Korey Jackson |
| JESUS HOPPED THE A TRAIN by Stephen Adly Guirgis | American Airlines Theatre (New York, NY) | 2017 | Daniel Sullivan (Director); Laurence Fishburne, Anthony Ramos, Mark Ruffalo, Joanne Tucker, David Zayas |
| TRUE WEST by Sam Shepard | Bellows Air Force Station (Waimanalo, Hawaii) | 2018 | Stephen Belber (Director); Frances Conroy, Taye Diggs, David Harbour, Jimmi Simpson |
| TRUE WEST by Sam Shepard | Marine Corps Base Hawaii (Kaneohe Bay, HI) | 2018 | Stephen Belber (Director); Frances Conroy, Taye Diggs, David Harbour, Jimmi Simpson |
| TRUE WEST by Sam Shepard | Schofield Barracks (Honolulu, HI) | 2018 | Stephen Belber (Director); Frances Conroy, Taye Diggs, David Harbour, Jimmi Simpson |
| Film Screening: LOGAN LUCKY | NB Coronado (San Diego, CA) | 2018 | Adam Driver |
| FENCES by August Wilson | Air Force Academy (Colorado Springs, CO) | 2018 | Lileana Blain-Cruz (Director); Mamoudou Athie, Charlie Barnett, Leon Addison Brown, Tsebiyah Derry, Ray Anthony Thomas, Tracie Thoms, Mykelti Williamson |
| TOPDOG/UNDERDOG by Susan-Lori Parks | Joint Base Charleston (Charleston, NC) | 2018 | Kip Fagan (Director); Corey Hawkins, Korey Jackson |
| Film Screening: JAWS | Metrograph (New York, NY) | 2018 | Adam Driver, Steven Soderbergh |
| TRUE WEST by Sam Shepard | Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst (New Jersey) | 2018 | Trip Cullman (Director); Annie Golden, Keegan-Michael Key, Christian Slater, Paul Sparks |
| Contemporary American Monologues | Rikers Island Veteran Housing Unit (Rikers Island, NY) | 2018 | Evan Cabnet (Director); Maechi Aharanwa, Trazana Beverly, Marylouise Burke, Michael Chernus, Gibson Frazier, Bobby Moreno, Peter Scolari, Roslyn Ruff, Joanne Tucker |
| 1st Annual Bridge Award Reading: WAR STORIES by Vinnie Lyman | The Shiva at The Public Theater (New York, NY) | 2018 | Kip Fagan (Director); Steven Boyer, Alex Flores, Motell Foster, Jake Hart, Alex Hurt, Brian Quijada, Joe Tippett |
| 1st Annual Student Veteran Film Screening: The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974) | Crosby Street Hotel (New York, NY) | 2018 | Adam Driver, Ben Stiller |
| TRUE WEST by Sam Shepard | American Airlines Theatre (New York, NY) | 2018 | Sam Gold (Director); Marylouise Burke, Adam Driver, Peter Friedman, Michael Shannon |
| TRUE WEST by Sam Shepard | USS Carl Vinson (San Diego, CA) | 2018 | Kip Fagan (Director); Betsy Aidem, Scott Cohen, Patch Darragh, Dominic Fumusa |
| TRUE WEST by Sam Shepard | Fort Bliss (El Paso, TX) | 2019 | Amanda Charlton (Director); Patrick Fabian, Luke Kirby, Cameron Scoggins, Deborah Rush |
| FENCES by August Wilson | United States Military Academy (West Point, NY) | 2019 | Patricia McGregor (Director); Jerome Preston Bates, Chris Chalk, Clark Johnson, Jasminn Johnson, Ezra Knight, Reynaldo Piniella, Sharon Washington |
| Contemporary American Monologues | United States Disciplinary Barracks and Joint Regional Correctional Facility (Fort Leavenworth, KS) | 2019 | Joanne Tucker (Director); Carlo Albán, Charlie Barnett, Edmund Donovan, Robby Sella, Constance Shulman, Tracie Thoms, Joanne Tucker |
| TRUE WEST by Sam Shepard | Fort George G. Meade (Anne Arundel County, MD) | 2019 | Oliver Butler (Director); Noah Bean, Reed Birney, Jeremy Bobb, Annie Golden |
| TRUE WEST by Sam Shepard | Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center (Bridgeport, CA) | 2019 | Kip Fagan (Director); Alex Breaux, Darren Pettie, Rob Riggle, Dale Soules |
| TRUE WEST by Sam Shepard | Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Endeavors | 2019 | Oliver Butler (Director); L. Scott Caldwell, Chad L. Coleman, Chris Lowell, Michael James Shaw |
| LOBBY HERO by Kenneth Lonergan | Joint Base Lewis-McChord (Tacoma, WA) | 2019 | Francois Battiste, Jeremy Bobb, Tracee Chimo, James Scully |
| Contemporary American Monologues | Saint Albans VA Hospital | 2019 | Joanne Tucker (Director); Jack DiFalco, Korey Jackson, Jasminn Johnson, Robby Sella, Constance Shulman, Leah Walsh |
| 2nd Annual Student Veteran Film Screening: The Report | Alfred Lerner Hall, Columbia University (New York, NY) | 2019 | Eddy Moretti, Daniel J. Jones, Erica Newhouse, Brian Lepak (AITAF Intern) |
| 2nd Annual Bridge Award Reading: TAMPONS, DEAD DOGS, AND OTHER DISPOSABLE THINGS by Shairi Engle | The Shiva at The Public Theater (New York, NY) | 2019 | Lucie Tiberghien (Director); Jennifer Mudge, Darren Pettie |
| A RAISIN IN THE SUN by Lorraine Hansberry | American Airlines Theatre (New York, NY) | 2019 | Patricia McGregor (Director), Mamoudou Athie, Dylan Baker, Asante Blackk, Colman Domingo, Ezra Knight, Nyambi Nyambi, Karen Pittman, Pauletta Washington, DeWanda Wise |
| LOBBY HERO by Kenneth Lonergan | Camp Lemonnier (Djibouti, Africa) | 2019 | Joanne Tucker (Director), Kerry Bishé, Norbert Leo Butz, Chris Lowell, Michael James Shaw |
| Contemporary American Monologues | United States Disciplinary Barracks and Joint Regional Correctional Facility (Fort Leavenworth, KS) | 2020 | Betsy Aidem (Director), Maechi Aharanwa, Scott Cohen, Michael Daves, Motell Foster, Dion Mucciacito, Erica Newhouse, Frank Pando |
| Virtual Film Screening: The Hustler | Online | 2020 | Laurence Fishburne, Cole Smith (AITAF Intern) |
| Virtual Film Screening: True Romance | Online | 2020 | Rob Riggle, Cole Smith (AITAF Intern) |
| Virtual Film Screening: It's a Wonderful Life | Online | 2020 | Nnamdi Asomugha, Christopher Wolfe |
List of previously artists involved
| A-D | E-P | Q-Z |
|---|---|---|
| Christopher Abbott
Maechi Aharanwa Carlo Albán Victor Almanzar Francois Battiste Robert Beitzel Vivienne Benesch Lileana Blain-Cruz Phillip James Brannon Alex Breaux Leon Addison Brown Evan Cabnet Louis Cancelmi Carolyn Cantor Amanda Charlton Nick Choksi Trip Cullman Patch Darragh Michael Daves Tsebiyah Derry Jack DiFalco Christopher Donahue Edmund Donovan |
Gabriel Ebert Saidah Ekulona Kip Fagan Alex Flores Motell Foster Gibson Frazier Leah Gardiner Darren Goldstein Donetta Lavinia Grays Jake Hart Alex Hurt Salvatore Inzerillo Korey Jackson Jasminn Johnson Natalie Knepp Ezra Knight Phil Kuehn Tyler La Marr Patricia McGregor Marisol Miranda Bobby Moreno Eddy Moretti Dion Mucciacito Erica Newhouse Jesse J. Perez Darren Pettie Reynaldo Piniella |
Brian Quijada
David Robaire Roslyn Ruff Shane Schnetzler Cameron Scoggins James Scully Robby Sella Michael Sexton Kristen Sieh Daniel Sullivan Ray Anthony Thomas Lucie Tiberghien Joanne Tucker Vladimir Versailles Moritz Von Stuelpnagel Pauletta Washington Sharon Washington Leah Walsh Christopher Wolfe Sheldon Woodley |
References
- "About". Arts in the Armed Forces | AITAF. Retrieved 2019-02-08.
- Robertson, Campbell. "Oo-rah! A Squad of Actors Takes Lanford Wilson to the Marines". nytimes.com. The New York Times. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
- "Actor's Calendar: 'Girls,' 'Star Wars,' Taking Theater To The Military". npr.org. National Public Radio. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
- "Bridge Award Reading". Arts in the Armed Forces | AITAF. Retrieved 2019-03-05.
- Ugwu, Reggie. "Adam Driver's Nonprofit Seeks Soldiers for the Stage". nytimes.com. The New York Times. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
- "Announcing the 2018 AITAF Playwriting Award Winner!". Arts in the Armed Forces | AITAF. 2018-05-01. Retrieved 2019-12-10.
- "2019 Bridge Award". Arts in the Armed Forces | AITAF. Retrieved 2020-02-04.
- "2019 Bridge Award Winner Announcement". Arts in the Armed Forces | AITAF. 2019-05-01. Retrieved 2019-12-10.
- "Adam Driver Brings Monologues to the Military: Arts in the Armed Forces". news.vice.com. Vice News. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
- "Adam Driver's Non-Profit Performs for the Troops (Excerpt from 'Arts in the Armed Forces')". news.vice.com. Vice News. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
- "Adam Driver Tries on a Bomb Suit in Kuwait (Extra Scene from 'Arts in the Armed Forces')". news.vice.com. Vice News. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
- Driver, Adam. "My journey from Marine to Actor". ted.com. TED Conferences, LLC. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
- Oller, Jacob (2020-01-08). "Star Wars fans raise over $60K for Adam Driver's Arts in the Armed Forces charity". SYFY WIRE. Retrieved 2020-03-25.
- Forces, Arts in the Armed (2020-01-07). "A message from AITAF Founder Adam Driverpic.twitter.com/EFbSSSn2q0". @AITAF. Retrieved 2020-03-25.
- "Past Events Archive". Arts in the Armed Forces | AITAF. Retrieved 2019-02-08.