Like so many industries, the pandemic ravaged the performing arts. According to research by The Brooking Institution, performing and fine arts suffered an epic blow with losses of nearly 1.4 million jobs and $42.5 billion in sales.
Yet New York producer Holly-Anne Devlin is devoted to keeping the arts alive. Even now this producing powerhouse is creating and investing in new projects.
“Art is essential,” says Devlin who has worked on the creative teams of ten Broadway shows in various capacities starting as a production assistant, working her way up to being a resident director. “Art crosses all divides. It breeds hope and optimism. It bridges the gap between all human beings regardless of politics, religion, race and sexual preference. It unites humanity, which is something that we always need, but so desperately this year.”
Throughout her career as a director, writer and producer Devlin has sought innovative ways to create theater. Fifteen years ago, while she was working on Broadway shows, she produced and directed an interactive wine tasting Off Broadway musical comedy, Wine Lovers: The Musical. Throughout the show the audience drank six glasses of wine. "I turned an initial $25,000 investment into a multi-million dollar enterprise,” says Devlin. The show has been seen by over two million people on six continents on land and sea.
From there, Devlin continued to work on Broadway and all over the world with productions like Jersey Boys, Bring It On The Musical, Walking With Dinosaurs, and many more. This was all while she was also operating her own theater companies.
Her company, Kaleidoscope Entertainment, oversees a dozen immersive theater productions which have been entirely created in house. Devlin’s newest production was one creative concoction. She partnered with Bar Lab Cocktails and Absolute Elyx to create Speakeasy on Demand. This virtual variety show combines burlesque, dance, cocktails, acrobatics and mixology.
Not only could viewers access the show on any computer, smart tv, tablet, or phone, they were shipped a cooler filled with ingredients for ten bespoke cocktails. “It’s a mash up of many forms told through a high end film medium. People can celebrate all the good that remains in the world and step outside of themselves for a bit,” says Devlin of Speakeasy On Demand. “I wanted to create a space at home for people to feel free to laugh, connect with friends via Zoom, let loose and feel totally uninhibited. But with complete safely.”
Devlin produced Speakeasy entirely on her own scraping together savings and taking out a non-forgivable loan. “I held it all together with dreams and scotch tape,” she shares. “It has definitely been a journey. And it’s a celebration of voices that is so desperately needed right now.” And she is partnering with Broadway On Demand, Fever, Broadway Booking Office and other platforms who are all desperately trying to save the arts one performance at a time.
In what should have taken two weeks the shoot was crammed into four days. “I paid everyone at least three times over SAG scale because that was the right thing to do,” says Devlin who had the challenge of making the movie during the pandemic. “Every other minute of the filming we would be on the verge of tears because we were so grateful and humbled to be doing what we love. To have the opportunity to fuel someone’s inner spirit and passion is a gift and I wouldn’t give that up for anything,” she says.
However she discovered that catering lunch alone was full-time job. Everything had to be individually wrapped and sanitized. “Even just preparing dressing rooms and bathrooms is a feat unto itself,” explains Devlin. “But I committed to this project and fought tooth and nail to make it happen. And I’m proud to say that not a single member of our production member in any city was diagnosed with Covid-19 during filming.”
If all this wasn’t enough, last June, as soon as it seemed safer to be outside, Devlin also created the Hell’s Kitchen Happiness Krewe. To help rebuild communities her company Kaleidoscope has hosted musical pop up shows in all five boroughs. The acts ranged from Fogo Azul, the Brazilian marching drum line to the Street Beat Brass Band.
The concerts are free and are are strategically positioned in front of small businesses that desperately need help. “People see our performances, feel a spark of joy and perhaps get a little rumble in their tummy and patronize the bakery that we’re standing in front of,” says Devlin. “Or, if it’s a gorgeous night, maybe they’ll have dinner at this lovely restaurant outside?”
The Hell’s Kitchen Happiness Krewe has performed in more than 80 events and utilized artists from all five boroughs to help revive the city. Kaleidoscope has collaborated with the Mayor’s Office, The Manhattan Borough President’s Office, The City Council, Times Square Alliance, The Urban League, Broadway Inspirational Voices and many more organizations. “What started as a few friends on a street corner, trying to save our local restaurant has turned into a massive movement,” says Devlin. “If you bring arts back into the community you fuel commerce, create desperately needed jobs for arts workers, help support the hospitality industry, break down the barriers of civil unrest, and revitalize spaces that have sat empty for many months.”