Tonight's Tony Awards...going green (aren't we all?)

In my long, checkered past there is quite a bit of of the starving artist theatre person. I never got to attend the Tony Awards in person, but I try to watch them religiously every year. I used to have the time, inclination, and close family relative in NYC that justified a substantial trip to NYC every year, so most years, long after I moved back to California from NYC, I had seen many of the nominated shows. I, on occasion, even personally knew some of the nominees. I knew them back when, of course, when we were all younger and more struggly.

Over the course of time my trips to NYC have become quick 2-3 day jaunts leaving little time for theatre-going. Even a 6-day trip last week was so packed with business and work functions that I couldn't carve out the time.

Sadly I haven't seen a single nominated show or performer this year. But I'm watching anyway.

Which is why I was glad to get a note from the National Resources Defense Council about them. Seems the NRDC has been trying to help Broadway theatres in general get in on the sustainability act, and this year the Tony Awards got some attention. Being someone who puts on events, I know exactly how challenging it can be, so what does that mean exactly?

Well, here's what the NRDC told me:

First of all, there's a Broadway Green Alliance. The BGA is an "industry-wide initiative to educate, motivate and inspire the theater community and its patrons to adopt environmentally friendlier practices and reduce our carbon footprint."

The Broadway Green site is actually quite detailed, starting with the area where various departments involved in producing a Broadway show are given a list of "better practices" to try to follow. Advice for everyone form the Production Team to the Scenic, Costume, Lighting & Sound folks is simple and includes both baby steps and big ideas.

So, continuing that work and applying it directly to the 2009 Tony Awards seems like a no-brainer, and it gives them a chance to bring their activities to a larger audience. 

According to the BGA and NRDC, the Tony Awards's first-ever greening effort incorporates the use of renewable certificated to offset the electricity of radio City Music Hall, enhanced recycling efforts and wider use of environmentally-friendly materials. Results include (and not how they got corporate sponsorship to help them achieve their goals...it's the modern way to get anything done...appeal to a company Corporate Social Responsibility mission!):

• GDF SUEZ Energy Resources donated Green-e certified wind power Renewable Energy Certificates to support the generation of renewable energy during the week preceding the Tony Awards and for the telecast itself
• Lipton Tea made it possible for the 2009 Tony Awards edition of Playbill to be printed on paper with 30% post-consumer recycled content
• Applica Consumer Products, Inc. donated 500 Clear₂Go reusable water bottles with replaceable filters for event guests
• Goodmart donated 2,200 energy-efficient cold cathode light bulbs for the event gift bags. As part of the BGA’s greening effort, this bulb type is now typical of those being used to light Broadway theatre roof signs and marquees
• Hybrid vehicles are being provided for presenter and performer transportation
• Recycling bins are being provided at Radio City concession stands for plastic bottles and in production offices for plastics and paper waste.
• Radio City Music Hall has taken a number of steps towards reducing environmental impacts at their venue, including: a comprehensive energy analysis of the facility performed by Energy Analytics, resulting in an enhanced energy efficiency plan; recent installation of efficient lighting; and restrooms have been retrofitted with low-flow toilets and faucets and feature post-consumer recycled content tissue products
• The Red Carpet is made from 100% recycled material with 49% post consumer content
• The production/management company for the Tony Awards is using paper with 60% post-consumer recycled content
• The public relations office has posted all press materials online and, when needed, will print out all press materials on 100% recycled content paper
• Banners for the show were printed on non-PVC plastics and will be reused or recycled after event.

I love that they're reporting the post-consumer recycled content % of the red carpet itself!

Broadway is an institution, and one that dates back a century. The buildings in which Broadway plays are mostly old buildings, the traditions are long-time traditions. If Broadway, as an "industry", can step up and go green...what excuse do any of us have?

Tonight I'll be settling down to watch actors I've never seen collect awards for shows I didn't get to attend...and checking out how the new-fangled red carpet looks :)