Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS’ traditional in-theater red bucket appeals will be on hiatus until spring 2022 as shows diligently work to return to their theatrical homes and welcome back audiences in New York City and across the country. The appeals typically take place twice a year – in the spring and fall – during six enthusiastic and competitive weeks of fundraising by Broadway, Off-Broadway and national touring productions.

With the in-theater appeals on hold until spring, there will not be a Red Bucket Follies presentation this year. Red Bucket Follies is a two-day celebratory variety show that marks the end of the fall audience appeal season and takes the stage in early December.

“The priority for the theater community this fall is to carefully and safely resume its eight-shows-a-week schedule in front of enthusiastic, vaxxed and masked audiences with all the appropriate backstage protocols,” Broadway Cares Executive Director Tom Viola said. “We hope to resume our in-theater audience appeals with our iconic red buckets next spring, celebrating the return of our philanthropic seasons with the Easter Bonnet Competition on Monday, April 25, and Tuesday, April 26, 2022.”

Viola added: “If productions are interested in ad hoc fundraising efforts for Broadway Cares this fall during the six-week window permitted by theater owners and producers, we stand ready to help facilitate those initiatives, knowing that the safety and viability of the shows are of paramount importance.”

Despite the temporary in-theater fundraising hiatus, Broadway Cares’ grant-making will continue in earnest. 

In fiscal year 2021, which ended September 30, Broadway Cares provided The Actors Fund $7,777,500 in support for its COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund, Every Artist Insured, the HIV/AIDS Initiative, The Friedman Health Center for the Performing Arts and other essential social service programs. Broadway Cares continues to be the single largest financial supporter of The Actors Fund.

In October 2021, Broadway Cares awarded $3 million to The Actors Fund, the first payment of a minimum $5.45 million commitment for fiscal year 2022. 

Since the earliest days of the COVID-19 pandemic and industry shutdown in March 2021, Broadway Cares has awarded a record $18.95 million to The Actors Fund.