← All Of It with Alison Stewart
All Of It with Alison Stewart
Outgoing Director Tom Viola Says Goodbye to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS
00:31:42
Tom Viola joins for an exit interview ahead of his retirement as executive director of Broadway Cares.
Loading summary
Transcript78 lines
- [00:04]
WNYC Studios
Listener support, WNYC Studios.
- [00:16]
Alison Stewart
This is all of it on wnyc. I'm Alison Stewart. As we wrap up the year, stay with us over the next few days for some conversations about how to make the most of this time of year. Tomorrow, we'll talk about some events going on this winter. We want to hear what you're planning on doing. Plus, comedian and writer Josh Gondelman will be here for another one of his incredibly popular pep talk segments. On Monday, we'll talk holiday etiquette with Nick Layton. And we'll also have a conversation with the director of New York Cares about how to find the right volunteer opportunity. And then on Tuesday, we have a holiday gathering extravaganza. We'll talk with the team from Food and Wine magazine about wine, cocktails and appetizers. Plus, we'll end the show with some in store studio Christmas caroling that is in the future. Now let's get this hour started. At the end of this month, Broadway Care's Equity Fights AIDS is saying goodbye to a Tony Award winning champion. Longtime executive director Tom Viola will be retiring after almost 40 years with the organization. Under Viola's leadership, Broadway Cares has provided more than $300 million in aid with support going to the entertainment and to local organizations around the country through its national grant program. You may have seen those red buckets when your favorite theater star asked you for a donation. It makes a difference. Tom has also been with Broadway Cares through two major health crises that impacted the theater community, the AIDS epidemic and the COVID epidemic. So here now for an exit interview and to reflect on his career on fundraising and in theater is Tom Violo. Welcome and congratulations, Tom.
- [02:00]
Tom Viola
Hi, Alison. It's great to hear you.
- [02:03]
Alison Stewart
When you were with Broadway Cares, it was formed in 1988. That was the year I got to New York City. How and when did you get involved?
- [02:12]
Tom Viola
Well, you know, I'd come to town literally right out of college like so many thousands do, to be an actor and did that, you know, for a couple years mostly out of town, some regional theater, some dinner theater. And then I sort of transitioned through a temporary job I had working as a literary agent's assistant to basically doing a lot of freelance writing. And the quality of break I got as a freelance writer was much better than I was getting as an actor. So I sort of fell into that. And in between all of that, you have to understand I was doing a lot of cater waitering.
- [02:43]
Alison Stewart
We heard you're really good at it too, by the way.
- [02:45]
Tom Viola
Yeah, I was a good cater waiter. I'm good in the kitchen, at any rate, cleaning up. But at any rate, in about 1987, I was hired for a right, a pen for hire job at Actors Equity Association. And that eight week gig, they thought turned into basically a year where they kept giving me things to do. And to make a long story short, I ended up being the assistant to Colleen Dewhurst who was the president of Equity at that time. An extraordinary actress, certainly from Moon for the Misbegotten. Folks may know her from being Murphy Brown's mom, but she was amazing. And while I was working for her with her, the Equity Fights AIDS committee was created and it was assigned to me, as these committees are, to staff. And Colleen was so determined that Equity Fights AIDS and another organization from that time, Broadway Cares, find its place in the community that she really sort of handed me this ball and said, run with it. And that's what happened. Broadway Cares and Equity Fights AIDS merged in 1992, and here we are, however many years, 32 years later, we made.
- [04:01]
Alison Stewart
Our listeners in on this conversation. Have you supported Broadway Cares, Equity Fight aids? Have you donated to one of the red buckets after seeing a show? What made you want to Support the cause? 212-433-WNYC 212-433-9692. Or maybe you've worked with the organization or you want to give Tom your well wishes, give us a call. 212-433-9692. If you've been on Broadway and you've benefited from the support of Broadway Cares, we your story as well. Our number is 212-433-969-2212, WNYC. Okay, tell us about the buckets that we see during holiday season.
- [04:40]
Tom Viola
Sure. Literally, they are the lifeblood of what we do. They are the heart, soul and muscle. Literally. They began, they began at an off Broadway show, I want to say in 1990, steel magnolias, because they were working off Broadway and they weren't for encumbered, if you will, you know, with all of the unions that make Broadway happen, a wonderful actress named Rosemary Prince and her company decided they would make a pitch from the stage. They just sort of came up with this idea and they would run around in the lobby at the Lucille Lortel Theater, then the Theater de Lys, and make a pitch. And it was so successful that it got the attention of shows up here in town. And literally, where I understand it be sort of accidentally, if you will. Let's put it this way, accidentally. Meeting without permission was through Keith Carrity at the Will Rogers Follies. If you saw the show, Keith, as Will Rogers, spent a lot of time talking to the audience, breaking the fourth wall. So they determined that at the curtain call, they would just make a pitch. And that was the beginning of us getting official permission from theater owners and producers to do this. And it has raised literally tens and tens of millions of dollars. Our fall fundraising campaign that we just completed on December 8th raised $5.3 million from 53 national tours, Broadway and off Broadway shows, all involved in making these appeals. And the thing about these appeals, they look very simple and they're wonderful. I mean, when we give folks a sample speech, a sample appeal to use, we really tell them, just ask the audience. However, this isn't about. This isn't a public service announcement. Really, just ask them to join you in doing something good and use as much of that pitch as you like. So there's a wide variety of how, you know, how they are. And I've heard some extraordinary, I mean, gracious, moving, hilarious pitches from the stage.
- [06:45]
Alison Stewart
Over the years, and the actors sort of take it upon themselves to.
- [06:49]
Tom Viola
They do, they do. But I have to say, I mean, the actors always get all the credit. And, you know, as wonderful as they are, from Hugh Jackman to everyone, it is really the folks backstage and particularly the stage managers who make this happen. Because you have to consider every Broadway show is bound by about 16 union contracts, and from front of house, back of house, crew, musicians, I mean, everybody, wardrobe folks. And to make those appeals, that entire cast of personnel has to basically take a breath, add five minutes to their day, sometimes more, to make this all possible for the actor or the company that's making this appeal, to make it look as simple as it does tell.
- [07:34]
Alison Stewart
Us what the money is used for.
- [07:37]
Tom Viola
Well, the money essentially goes two directions that Broadway Cares raises. Half goes to what's called the entertainment Community fund, which is the social. It's the safety net of social services for everyone in the performing arts and entertainment community. When we began doing this, literally in 1988, and then with the merger in 92, we were just funding the HIV AIDS initiative. That was horrific. Time you remember those years. I mean, it was terrible. That began to expand our support at the entertainment community fund in 1996 with the Phyllis Newman women's health initiative. The fact of the matter is, the women in the community had stood by us so extraordinarily when many people, even though it was incorrect, were telling them that this was not their issue, that when the actors fund created The Women's Health Initiative. We really felt it was our moral imperative to now stand with them. And that began the expansion that literally we fund the entire safety net of social services that the Entertainment Community Fund provides for everyone in the industry. We've awarded the Entertainment community fund since 1988, $146 million. The second direction our money goes is through our national grants program, and that's to social service organizations all across the country. Food banks, health clinics, harm reduction programs, emergency financial assistance, meal delivery programs. Many of them like our beginnings, starting just with folks living with aids, but now expanded to include literally what are hundreds and hundreds of thousands of folks across the country. Last year, that was about $8.7 million, and since 1988, literally another 162 million bucks.
- [09:23]
Alison Stewart
My guest is Tom Violi. He's the outgoing executive director of Broadway Cares Equity Fights aids. He is our guest. He's stepping down at the end of this year. We're doing a little bit of an exit interview with. We'd also like your input. Have you worked for Broadway Care's Equity Fight aids, or have you worked with an organization? You want to wish Tom well, or are you in the theater and you've benefited from this group? Our number is 2124-3396-9221-2433. WNYZ. We've got Zoe on line one from Long Island City. Hi, Zoe.
- [09:56]
Zoe Morissette
Hi. And hi, Tom. It's Zoe Morissette.
- [09:59]
Tom Viola
Hi, Zoe. How are you?
- [10:00]
Zoe Morissette
Good afternoon, Tom. I'm good, thank you. I love this organization because for all of the above, my best friend from college who I danced and acted with, died of aids. And he was a longtime survivor, very active in ACT up. So in honor of him, I worked on the teddy bear auction that the organization sponsored. And I did 11 bears costumed in Broadway outfits, you know, and it was so much fun, and I just love doing stuff for them. And then I actually had cancer unexpectedly, and the Phyllis Newman Women's Health Initiative actually helped me get through a couple months of chemo. Because I'm freelance, I always had to have my own insurance, and I couldn't work for a couple of months. So they helped me with my rent and my health insurance, which completely saved me. I think I would have gone, you know, bust otherwise. So I just love the organization. We all love Tom, and I know he'll go created.
- [11:05]
Tom Viola
Zoe, the bears you created, that's B, E A R, S. Yes. So gorgeous.
- [11:13]
Zoe Morissette
Thank you.
- [11:14]
Alison Stewart
Thank you so much for calling in. Zoe, let's talk to Bridget from eastern Connecticut. Hi, Bridget. Thank you so much for calling all of it.
- [11:21]
Bridget
Hi. Thank you. I just want to say that this organization was one of the few or the buckets people reacted to so joyfully in the theater, because we knew that we were, in a way, helping the people who were giving us such joy on stage. And at a time which many listeners, I think, of an age can't remember, people were, as, you know, dying every day. They were sick on the stage, and they just kept on, and the show kept going on. And it was a. It was just such a way to give back. People would. I just saw them open their wallets. People would throw everything they had into it, and we're all crying all the time. So bravo to you, sir, for leading the way.
- [12:05]
Tom Viola
Thank you very much. Thank you.
- [12:07]
Alison Stewart
You know, as we're discussing history, not too recent, but history, and we're talking about the AIDS epidemic, what are your biggest takeaways when you're reflecting on that crisis and the way you provided aid during that crisis?
- [12:23]
Tom Viola
Well, you know, I have so many feelings about it, but it certainly was an extraordinary example of realizing that we had to take care of ourselves. It wasn't going to be done at that time by government or church or by many communities. And, in fact, there was such a stigma attached to this that people were actually using it, I will say, to kick people when they were down. And in doing that, we created a system of social services. Was created that literally now extends far beyond just hiv, aids. The meal delivery programs that sprung up like God's Love, we deliver here in New York. I mean, they deliver tens of thousands of meals a week, and that began literally with a couple dozen meals that were being delivered from, you know, a hostel up on the Upper west side. These organizations have created a network of care for everybody, for folks living not just with hiv, but living with all sorts of debilitating illnesses, who are underserved, who don't have access to the resources and power that we do, that literally is its legacy. And I will tell you, too, I truly believe that while I hate to say there was a silver lining to this, certainly marriage equality and how the LGBT community is now sort of integrated and accepted in many ways by folks who couldn't have imagined that in the early 90s was done because AIDS made people aware of the fact that they had family members, friends, co workers, loved ones who were indeed gay, but had kept them a secret, kept it a secret from them.
- [14:05]
Alison Stewart
Let's talk to Robert from Bridgeport, Connecticut. Hi, Robert. Thank you for calling all of it.
- [14:10]
WNYC Studios
Hi. Thanks for taking my call. I just wanted to say that my wife and I recently saw Hills of California by Jez Butterworth, and there was an appeal made at the curtain, and it was a wonderful play and a wonderful production. But also I was moved to donate because I used to be an actor in England and I knew at least one person, a fine actor, who died of aids. So I wanted to contribute for all those reasons.
- [14:38]
Tom Viola
Thank you very much. You may have actually made that donation. You know, we send volunteers to all the theaters. I mean, literally scores of volunteers. And I was holding a bucket at Hills of California a number of times. And that was a very, very generous audience. So thank you very much, sir.
- [14:55]
Alison Stewart
My guest is Tom Viola. He's the outgoing executive director of Broadway Cares Equity Fights aids. Have you ever supported Broadway Cares Equity Fights aids or worked in an organization that you want to wish Tom well, or you worked in theater and have benefited from the support of this organization? 2124-3396-9221-2433. WNYC. We'll have more after a quick break. This is all of it.
- [15:20]
Erin Moriarty
WNYC Studios is supported by GiveWell. When you make a big purchase, say a car or a new mattress, how do you make sure that you're making the right choice? GiveWell provides an independent resource for a different kind of purchase, a donation. Over 100,000 donors have used GiveWell to donate. First time using GiveWell. When you go to givewell.org and pick podcast and enter WNYC at checkout, you can have your donation matched up to $100 before the end of the year or as long as matching funds last.
- [15:53]
Alison Stewart
I'm erin Moriarty of 48 Hours, and of all the cases I've covered, this is the one that troubles me most. A bizarre and maddening tale involving an eyewitness account that doesn't quite make sense. A sister testifying against a brother, a lack of physical evidence. Crosley Greene has lived more than half his life behind bars for a crime he says he didn't commit. Listen to Murder in the Orange Grove, the Troubled Case Against Crosley Green. Wherever you get your podcasts, you are listening to all of it on wnyc. I'm Alison Stewart. My guest is Tom Viola. He's the outgoing executive director of Broadway Cares Equity fights AIDS. After 36 years, Tom is stepping down. At the end of this year, he's here for an exit interview and tell us what he's learned on the job. We're also taking your calls The COVID pandemic.
- [16:53]
Tom Viola
Wow.
- [16:54]
Alison Stewart
The shutting of theaters.
- [16:56]
Tom Viola
Oh, yes, I remember. I literally remember the day extraordinarily well. It was a Thursday, March 12th, I do believe. And it shut down like a trap. We were open on Wednesday. I think I even had gone to the theater that night. I went to see west side Story and was very aware of any cough or sneeze across the theaters. I'm sure many were. And literally the next day it was announced. The theaters, we moved very, very quickly. I remember meeting with. We closed the Office the following week, but I remember meeting with the senior staff. And we created immediately the COVID Emergency Assistance Fund. Because literally everything that we do is done with some kind of personal engagement, whether that's a company or a cast or an actor or an audience member. And we literally were just done. I mean, sh. Shut down. And over the next 16 months, we literally raised about $20 million by creating new online initiatives, by doing cyber events, by doing zoom events, by doing zoom auctions. We had some extraordinarily good luck. Also, we had a gentleman who left us a $7 million estate that he told us he just wanted to use to take care of people in need. So we were able to put that to our national gr, which kept that alive. There was a special event on NBC. There was something called Quarantunes. We worked remotely, like fools. I mean, we were on remote constantly. I was over at my apartment right over on 46th and 9th, and then working from upstate as well. And it was an extraordinary time. It was both triage and like being in the middle of a war, actually.
- [18:52]
Alison Stewart
Did you learn anything from the AIDS epidemic that you were able to put to use during COVID You know, what.
- [19:01]
Tom Viola
I think we learned was how to move quickly, move quickly and flexibly, and listening to what people needed. I mean, because literally we were reinventing all of our fundraising. We were looking at old archival videos of previous events that we would then put on a Zoom that people could watch and make donations, and we'd bring back some of the, you know, the stars to actually be interviewed through there. So it was literally just figuring out what the next best thing that we could do and making sure that we could do it. Because to make any kind of long term plans, nobody really knew how it was going to go down. I mean, I remember when things first shut down in March, no, we literally thought it was going to be for two weeks, and then maybe through June, and then maybe to September. And then by that time it was like, no, this is just going on for who knows how long. And, you know, things didn't reopen up until September of 21, and it took us about two years to refigure out. How to get back on our feet.
- [20:02]
Alison Stewart
Let's talk to Al from Long Island. Hi, Al. Thank you so much for calling all of it.
- [20:07]
Al
Hi, my name is Al. I'm from Huntington, New York. My brother Paul was an actor and a director and a teacher at nyu, and he really got help from Broadway Fights AIDS back in the. In the. From 88 to 93. And he. I remember him teaching at NYU with an IV pole, you know, because he didn't want to give up teaching when he was really sick. So I. You know, I. When. When he died, my brother and I set up a permanent scholarship at nyu, the Paul Walker Memorial Scholarship. But I just want to thank Mr. Viola for the. I mean, for the help that they. He got, you know.
- [20:55]
Tom Viola
You're most welcome. I knew your brother, Paul Walker. I was. I. That's so kind. Thank you for mentioning that. Very, very much appreciated, and I'm glad that we were able to offer some comfort and assistance to Paul.
- [21:11]
Alison Stewart
Let's talk to Ralph calling in from Philadelphia. Hi, Ralph.
- [21:15]
WNYC Studios
Hi, Allison. Hi, Tom. This is Ralph Brandi calling. I'm in Philadelphia now. Good, good. I'm so happy to hear you on the radio. I'm originally from New York City, and I did help out with Equity, Broadway Cares, Equity flight, gate fights AIDS. I think I met Tom in 1989, and we were sort of brought together by Tom's dear friend, Scott Barnes, and his partner at the time, Dave Friedman. And I just wanted to say that what incredible leadership over the years Tom has brought to the Broadway community, to the LGBTQ community. And by leadership, I just mean not only just the organizational part of it and the energy, but just the kindness and welcoming aspect of it. I've always felt appreciated and accepted and welcomed by Tom. Every time I've seen him, even passing on the street, he always smiles and says hello, even though we didn't know each other that well for that long. But to me, this is real leadership, and I think 40 years of it. We're all so grateful for you, Tom, and we wish you all just all good things for your next adventure in life.
- [22:39]
Tom Viola
Thanks, Ralph. Thanks so much. I remember your involvement with the Cabaret series up there at Steve McGraw's in our very early years. Those were important events.
- [22:47]
Alison Stewart
Tom, when did you get interested in theater?
- [22:50]
Tom Viola
You know, I guess as a teenager, really, you know, in high school, I sort of, you know, drifted into the you know, in addition to working on the yearbook and doing student government, you know, I was hanging out down in the theater, theater department and having a good time, and I ended up sort of, you know, going to ccm. I was a musical theater major at the College Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati for four years, which was really just a great replacement to sort of grow up and figure out who you are a little bit before you dash off to New York City.
- [23:23]
Alison Stewart
All right, I'm going to get you to put on your, your hat, your. Your hat on for giving money. You've awarded over $300 million in grants during your tenure. I'm sure you make the pitch all the time.
- [23:33]
Tom Viola
Sure.
- [23:33]
Alison Stewart
Why do you think it's important for people to support the arts with their hard earned dollars?
- [23:38]
Tom Viola
You know what? I think it's a way. It's a way to say thank you. It's a way to share your blessings with someone, whether that's reaching forward or reaching back. And, you know, that energy comes back to you. I've been a client at the actress at the Entertainment Community Fund. I know many folks who have helped us raise funds in the theater community, both on stage and behind the scenes, who have then been caught, if you will, by the safety net. And really, as we talk to the cast, it's just a way to share some of your good fortune and do something good very simply.
- [24:11]
Alison Stewart
Throughout your tenure, Broadway Cares has donated $160 million to local organizations nationwide through its national grant program. How the national grant program come about.
- [24:22]
Tom Viola
You know then that when we, when we, before we merged, Equity Fights aids, where I was up at Actors Equity association, was funding just the HIV AIDS initiative of the Entertainment Community Fund. Broadway Cares, at the same time, even when we were working together, had the fledgling national Grants program. And they made mainly, maybe had 50 organizations that they were funding sending $2,500, $5,000 to, you know, in both in New York City and across the country. So when we merged, we took both missions, both, both activities on, and the national Grants program just grew exponentially. There's now about 570 organizations that we fund all across the country. And as I like to say, they're as large as, as I mentioned before, God's love, we deliver here in New York City to the food bank at St Clement's Church, which is literally just around my corner.
- [25:15]
Alison Stewart
I've got some long texts. You make people want to write a lot. Let me get this one going. This says I've been involved with BCEFA since 1991. When a major source of funding there were actors in shows, doing cabaret acts on Monday nights and charging $10 a head. Since those days, Tom has grown this organization into one of the most important and generous grassroots charities in and national history. Tom and this organization have changed the lives of uncountable thousands of people in need and as importantly, their families and loved ones. He will be missed, but he leaves a legacy beyond words.
- [25:52]
Tom Viola
Wow, that's very sweet.
- [25:55]
Alison Stewart
One of the people who used to work with you who was on your trustee was actor Gavin Creel.
- [26:00]
Tom Viola
Yes. Gavin was a dear, sweet friend. We miss him terribly.
- [26:05]
Alison Stewart
Such a good man. He passed away at age 48. We had him on the show. He was delightful. How do you hope he is remembered as an actor?
- [26:14]
Tom Viola
Well, Gavin was a brilliant actor. He was a fabulous, delightful, unexpected actor. Meaning that you never knew what sort of delights he was gonna hit you with. You know, whether that was. I remember first seeing him in Thoroughly Modern Millie, you know, and then seeing him in Book of Mormon and she Loves Me at Hair. He was so fabulous and hair. But he also appeared in countless events for us. He was the ideal host because he was so exuberant. He hosted our event, hats off to you, last year, which was a big event we put together for our major donors in the spring. I mean, literally, Gavin was one, and there are many like this who. I could make a call to Gavin, or text him and say, can you? And then fill in the blank. And it was invariably, pretty much always, yes, he was a good soul.
- [27:07]
Alison Stewart
Let's talk to Barry on line one. Hi, Barry.
- [27:10]
Barry McNabb
Hi, Tom. It's Barry McNabb. How are you?
- [27:14]
Tom Viola
Hi, Barry. How are you?
- [27:16]
Barry McNabb
I'm good. I just wanted to say congratulations. I remember being back there, back in the day when we were first started, we were raising money. It was actually for amfar, before we even had Broadway Equity, Fight Day. Broadway cares. And, you know, we lost Sandy this year, who had written that song that we used and all that stuff. But I just want to say congratulations and thank you for your leadership over the years. It's been kind of, you know, very.
- [27:42]
Tom Viola
Thank you very much. I appreciate it.
- [27:45]
Barry McNabb
Absolutely. Absolutely. My pleasure.
- [27:48]
Alison Stewart
Another text. Many of our family members are AEA members. We lost so many friends to AIDS at the end of the century. We're grateful to B, C, E, F, A to have a way to do something to help.
- [27:59]
Erin Moriarty
We're all.
- [28:00]
Alison Stewart
We all proudly were red ribbons. And we're happy to share information about the value of the organization. Yes, we were seriously affected by the COVID Shutdown. Thank you, Tom Viola. This one says Tom and BCFA have been long. Have long been so wonderful. They were always a great support to us at the Gay and Lesbian Anti Violence Project when I was there.
- [28:21]
Tom Viola
Great. Yeah. They were one of our longtime grantees.
- [28:25]
Alison Stewart
As you close out your tenure. Tenure, what's an important lesson you learned about nonprofit fundraising and leading that you would like to share?
- [28:37]
Tom Viola
Well, you know what? As a leader, as the executive director, I did learn one thing, a couple things. But in terms of how you make sure you see people, make sure you hear what folks are being moved by, and then make sure that you share the credit. And if there's a problem, take the blame. My job as executive director, I think any executive director is to have people's backs. I think sometimes there's a mistaken feeling that they should have yours. And while that's important, the fact of the matter is, if I can surround myself by people who are doing their job well, this job gets done in a good fashion. And also something I learned from Colleen Dewhurst years ago when I was working as her assistant. Colleen was a brilliant actress and a fabulous, fabulous personality and woman, but she was sometimes a bit scattered. But I learned from Colleen, watching all the good she did, that you don't have to be perfect to make a difference. You know, you don't have to feel like you have to do something exactly right to take a step to do something well. And that has served me very well.
- [29:52]
Alison Stewart
Your placement is going to be Danny Whitman, your current director of development. A piece of advice for Danny.
- [30:00]
Tom Viola
You know what piece of advice? Take it a day at a time, Danny. Do the next best thing, the next right thing. And you have a terrific staff behind you here in a community that is engaged in ways we could never have imagined. Danny's going to do a terrific job. I've worked with Danny for 15 years, and he understands how this happens. I would not be able to step away like this with the confidence I have if Danny wasn't coming aboard as the new executive director, I have two.
- [30:28]
Alison Stewart
More questions for you.
- [30:29]
Tom Viola
Sure.
- [30:30]
Alison Stewart
We're about to start a new year. You have any plans, any goals, or are you just gonna relax?
- [30:35]
Tom Viola
No, you know what I mean. I'm going down to Puerto Vallarta, all right, on January 10th. And normally when I go there for seven or eight days, I'm actually going to be hanging out in Mexico. Mexico, throughout the 29th. And then I'm going to come back and just see what this space that I've made fills up with, you know, I mean, I'd be open to all sorts of things. I have a house upstate. I'm going to go up there for, for more time and adopt another dog, you know, so I, you know, I watched my dad retire at age 62, and he had been very, I learned how to work like I do, I think, observing him as a kid. And I watched him over the next 20 years fill that time with all sorts of things that he loved as much as what he'd done before. And I hope to do the same thing.
- [31:22]
Alison Stewart
All right, we have to ask you, do you have a favorite Broadway moment in history?
- [31:29]
Tom Viola
Oh, yes. What's popped into mind? First, it was an event we did for many, many, many years called the Easter Bonnet Competition. And when the Disney Theatrical reopened the New Amsterdam Theater, which is just the most extraordinarily gorgeous theater, when we did the opening number for that first Easter Bonnet Competition that we did there, we met five former Ziegfeld girls who at this point were literally, they had been in the show like when they were 17, 19, 21. They were now in their 90s. And we worked them into the opening number. You saw their photographs come across the stage. And as the oversized photographs and as the photographs slid by, then there they were, real as life, ready to dance. And they literally, we joined, we had them joined by these very handsome tuxedoed guys. And they joined in the opening number and literally we about blew the roof off the place. And that was choreographed by a gentleman named Christopher Catelli, who is now the director of Death Becomes her, this smash hit Broadway musical.
- [32:38]
Alison Stewart
Tom Viola is the outgoing executive director of Broadway Care's Equity Fights Age. Tom, thank you for all the work you've done and congratulations on your new life.
- [32:48]
Tom Viola
Thank you, Alison. I've really enjoyed this. It's nice to talk with you. I appreciate it.
- [32:55]
Erin Moriarty
NYC now delivers breaking news, top headlines and in depth coverage from WNYC and Gothamist every morning, midday and evening. By sponsoring our programming, you'll reach a community of passionate listeners in an uncluttered audio experience. Visit sponsorship wnyc.org to learn more.