Jonathan Groff, Equity’s Brooke Shields, Black Theatre Coalition’s T. Oliver Reid, Broadway League’s Jason Laks Among New Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids Trustees

The Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS Board of Trustees has added eight new board members including actor Jonathan Groff, newly elected Actors’ Equity Association president Brooke Shields, Broadway League interim president Jason Laks, and Black Theatre Coalition co-founder T. Oliver Reid.

The newcomers fill seats made vacant by the departures of, among others, former Equity president Kate Shindle and former League president Charlotte St. Martin, both of whom retired from their positions this year. Also stepping off the board after years of service are publicist Chris Boneau, Linda Duncombe, Adam Krauthamer and Stephen Lewin.

Two seats were left vacant by the deaths of Broadway performers Chita Rivera and Gavin Creel.

Other newcomers to the board are: Kristin Caskey, executive vice president, content and creative at Ambassador Theatre Group; production stage manager Julie DeVore; production stage manager Johnny Milani; and Erik Piecuch, senior vice president, entertainment banking at City National Bank.

On the new board members, Robert E. Wankel, president of the Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS Board of Trustees and chairman and CEO of The Shubert Organization, said, “These eight luminaries are essential voices across our industry. Their expertise and unique perspectives will play a critical role in ensuring the continued success and future growth of Broadway Cares’ fundraising and grant-making. The Broadway Cares board is excited and proud to continually bring new, fresh voices to the table.”

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS is one of the nation’s leading industry-based, nonprofit AIDS fundraising and grant-making organizations, and the major supporter of the social service programs at the Entertainment Community Fund (formerly The Actors Fund).