Shellen Lubin and Catherine Porter, co-presidents of the League of Professional Theatre Women (LPTW), have announced an initiative to support their members in the wake of COVID-19 and the resulting Broadway shutdown. The org, a not-for-profit advocating for gender equality in professional theater, is giving full members, in good standing and residing in the U.S., access to the Waldman Emergency Loan Fund.

Longtime LPTW member Honey Waldman set up the fund in memory of her father several years ago. “The loan is intended for true emergencies (for e.g., a plane ticket to see a dying relative, a rent payment when eviction is threatened, etc.), rather than helping pay off credit card bills and the like,” LPTW specifies on its website. “Historically, the maximum loan approved has been $500 per request, although we may have to adjust that, unfortunately, if we get a lot of requests. Loans are to be repaid plus an administrative fee of 10% (with a cap of $25) in timely increments or in one total sum. A confidential committee will review requests for loans which will be evaluated on an individual basis. All requests are confidential and all loans are discreet. ”

To apply for the Waldman Emergency Loan Fund, eligible full LPTW members should email Co-Presidents@TheatreWomen.org.

Gatherings of 500 people or more are banned in New York State through at least April 12 — this includes Broadway productions. “LPTW recognizes that our beloved theatre community will be hit hard by this in so many ways,” the press release notes, “and we urge you to care for yourselves and each other during this difficult time, and to tap into the open, creative, artistic, generous spirit which has always defined our community.”

Go to LPTW’s website for information about the emergency fund and the org’s current event schedule.