oral surgeons - The Actors Fund

There is a long tradition among Broadway theatres of maintaining a select list of doctors
who can be called when cast members, crew and staff need medical care. In 2005,
The Actors Fund began working with the Broadway Stage Managers in the creation
of a single reliable directory of primary care doctors, specialists and other health care
providers that can be used by Broadway and Off-Broadway theatres and other live
performance venues.
With funding from Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, the different lists used by Stage
Managers of every Broadway house were collected. Each health care provider was then
contacted, invited to participate in the project, and asked to provide the information
contained in this directory, including office location, hours, fees, participation in health
insurance plans, availability for emergency situations and/or backstage visits, and
willingness to offer performers and theatre personnel fast appointments and expedited
follow-up.
This directory exists in two forms: this hardcopy bound second edition, sent to each
Broadway and Off-Broadway theatre; and a web-based version, located on both The
Actors Fund website at www.actorsfund.org and our Health Insurance Resource
Center website at www.ahirc.org. The web directory is updated as changes occur
and the experiences of those who use the directory and its health care providers’ will
be reflected in the updates.
This project was inspired by Broadway stage manager Peter Wolf, who co-chaired the
project with veteran stage manager Sherry Cohen. Together, they encouraged their
colleagues to participate in this effort and coordinated the submission of the health
providers’ names. In our first online survey of stage managers a year and a half after
the initial distribution, we found that 95% of those surveyed have used the handbook
and 52% use it weekly or monthly. 100% found it useful and over 95% said they were
satisfied or very satisfied in terms of helpfulness, accuracy, and comprehensiveness.
As he has so often in the past, Tom Viola of BC/EFA stepped in to offer support and
his invaluable advice on content and format.
The Actors Fund’s Brigid Sweeney and Elizabeth Tripp did an expert job in reaching out
to the doctors and health professionals and managing the project from beginning to end.
The second Edition had a great deal of help from volunteers Haviland Morris, Howard
Levitsky, Cam Monge, Quincella Swyningan, Barbara Haas and Donna LaStella.
This directory only exists because the Broadway stage managers shared the personal lists
of providers assembled over the years for the health of everyone in their companies.
Joseph Benincasa
Executive Director
The Actors Fund
The New York Stage Managers’ Unofficial Health Directory iii