Planet Connections Theater Festivity

I was brought on board to help this wonderful theater festival try to be green.  The first question I asked myself is...how can a festival that doesn't own the space it is using, go green?  And, with so many different festival participants?  I came up with quite a few brainstorms to come up with a Plan Of Action to figure out solutions.  And I should also say, I am continuously coming up with brainstorms about tacking these issues.  

First, I thought about the areas that can be most affected:  Lighting, Paper Output (tickets, playbills, promotional material), Concessions, Cleaning Products, Recycling.  I think these areas are all doable even if the space is only rented.  I ultimately believe it is the small impacts we make that demonstrate to others the possibilities they too can make in their own daily lives.  

Here are some current ideas (which are always being updated and rethought) for each area mentioned:

Lighting - Choosing energy efficient bulbs

Paper Output - This is challenging because there are so many shows to keep track of.  But, I do think a simple announcement before each show that we are trying to conserve paper and if our patrons do not want to take the playbill home to please keep it in great condition and return it to the designated are to be reused.  Simple and easy.  I also think there is an opportunity to come up with a new design to cut down on paper usage in addition to using recycled products.  I even heard of a theater company telling their patrons to visit their website for the playbill so no paper would be wasted at all.  Plus, think of the savings!  In addition, the facility they have hosts two theaters only for general seating which leads them to not need printed tickets.  Instead they will print and laminate numbered tickets so they can still keep track of ticket holders. The Paper Mill Store or The Greenfield Paper Co or The Green Office

Concessions - Trying to use post consumer materials to sell your liquor or food items. Try Bambu or Greenware or Repurpose

Cleaning Products and Bathroom Products - Making the cleaning products (from hand wash to toilet bowl cleaners to recycled toilet paper) visible is key in addition to making sure there is an explanation and information about where to purchase.  Companies that are amazing and surprisingly affordable are Method or Seventh Generation or Shaklee

Recycle - Having visible and clearly marked recycling bins.

Broadway Gets Its First Green Theater

Broadway has done it.  According to today's NY Times, the brand new Henry Miller Theater has supplied the Great White Way with its first "green" theater.  This looks to be the first step for a very exciting and new New York.  If Broadway does it, it means the little theaters are soon to do it too.  It seems some of the ways they are going green include using mostly recycled material to create the walls and baseboard.  As well as low flush bathrooms...even going as far as no water in men's urinals.  I can't wait to see what else they do to continue this exciting new venture.  Maybe they will have more energy efficient lighting.  Or perhaps recycling trash cans on the premises or perhaps they will recycle sets for the upcoming, The Roundabout Theater company's Bye Bye Birdie which stands to be the inaugural show.  Whatever lies ahead it will be exciting.  

Related article Playbill.com

It's The Small Things

I think there is sometimes a misunderstanding that goes along with becoming green.  Often times the examples we have to follow use big grand gestures like installing solar power.  Of course solar panels are wonderful and I wish everyone was able to use them but they can be expensive and a large undertaking for the small theaters.   I believe it is the small gestures that can be just as powerful and over time can be built upon.  It is the extra second taken when decisions are  being made to look at things a little differently.  And then to advertise them so your theater patrons and your colleagues become aware of the decisions being made so they can then apply them to their own lives and work.  Start by thinking of the 3 R's Reuse, Reduce, Recycle and I would even argue there is a 4th...Rethink.  Let's start this conversation together.