# Arts in the Armed Forces

Arts in the Armed Forces, Inc. (AITAF) was a non-profit based in Brooklyn, New York that brings arts programming to active-duty service members, veterans, military support staff of the United States and their families around the world free of charge.
The organization was founded by actors Adam Driver and Joanne Tucker in 2006. The non-profit became an official incorporation in 2008.
AITAF served all branches of the military at US installations domestically and abroad. They chose content that features diverse themes, ages, ethnicities and experiences. Following each of AITAF’s events, the artists would interact with the audience through a question and answer session.
AITAF’s mission was to "honor and enrich the lives of the US military community by offering powerful shared experiences in theater and film. Featuring professional artists and contemporary American content, creating space for meaningful dialogue, igniting connection and deepening our capacity for understanding around our common humanity."

## The Bridge Awards

In 2018, The Bridge Award for Playwriting was established in honor of AITAF's tenth anniversary with the purpose of recognizing an emerging playwright of exceptional talent within the United States military. The biennial (as of 2020) award consists of a $10,000 prize, and an AITAF produced reading of the winning work.
In addition to bringing world-class theater to the military, AITAF is committed to supporting and sharing the talents of those who serve. This Award offers a deserving current military service member or veteran artist important connections with the theater community and access to developmental resources, helping to facilitate a deeper understanding and more active dialogue between military and civilian communities.
The Bridge Award for Playwriting winner is chosen by a selection committee, judged each year by a notable playwright. Past judges include Pulitzer Prize winners Suzan-Lori Parks and Tony Kushner.
2018 Bridge Award Winner: WAR STORIES by Vinnie Lyman (U.S. Army Veteran)
2019 Bridge Award Winner: TAMPONS, DEAD DOGS, AND OTHER DISPOSABLE THINGS by Shairi Engle (U.S. Air Force Veteran)
2020 Bridge Award Winner: LOCAL GODS by Anton Sattler (U.S. Marine Corps Veteran)
The Bridge Award for Screenwriting was established in 2020. This biennial Award is open to all persons who are currently serving or have served in the United States military, regardless of age, experience, or background. This Award seeks to identify and encourage talented screenwriters/filmmakers from the military community. First time screenwriters are encouraged to apply, and the Award is particularly interested in elevating and celebrating underrepresented voices and stories. The Award gives aspiring filmmakers with a military background the resources and mentorship to advance their visions and refine their work. It encourages members of the military community to conceive of themselves as artists and to tell their important and powerful stories.
This Award was created as a cinematic corollary to AITAF’s successful Bridge Award for Playwriting.

## In Media

AITAF was the subject of a short documentary produced by Vice News in 2015. The documentary chronicles the organization's first trip to perform in the Middle East at Camp Arifjan, a United States Army installation in Kuwait.
In 2016, Driver gave a TED Talk that discussed the non-profit at length and which ended with an AITAF reading.
Following the release of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, fans of the franchise donated over $90,000 to the charity. Driver released a video thanking fans for their donations.

## Programming

Full List of AITAF's Programming :
| Event | Event Location | Event Year | Artists Involved |
| Contemporary American Monologues | Camp Pendleton (Oceanside, CA) | 2008 | Jon Batiste, David Denman, Adam Driver, Gabriel Ebert, Laura Linney, Tracie Thoms, David Robaire, Joe Saylor |
| Contemporary American Monologues | Playwrights Horizons (New York, NY) | 2009 | Michael Sexton (Director); Lauren Ambrose, Francois Battiste, Eric Bogosian, Michael Chernus, Saidah Ekulona, Gibson Frazier, Ron Cephas Jones, Phil Kuehn, Tim Blake Nelson, Jesse J. Perez, Jay O. Sanders, Lili Taylor, Joanne Tucker, Debra Winger, Glenn Zaleski |
| Contemporary American Monologues | American Airlines Theatre (New York, NY) | 2010 | David Cromer (Director); Lauren Ambrose, Jon Batiste, Francois Battiste, Eric Bogosian, Louis Cancelmi, Reg. E Cathey, Amari Cheatom, Nick Choksi, Adam Driver, Saidah Ekulona, Gibson Frazier, Phil Kuehn, Darren Pettie, Jay O. Sanders, Susan Sarandon, Joanne Tucker, Dianne Wiest, Joe Saylor, John Patrick Shanley |
| Contemporary American Monologues | American Airlines Theatre (New York, NY) | 2011 | Michael Greif (Director); Jon Batiste, Francois Battiste, Vivenne Benesch, Marylouise Burke, Christopher Donahue, Adam Driver, Saidah Ekulona, John Glover, Renee Goldsberry, Zach Grenier, Ron Cephas Jones, Phil Kuehn, Jesse J. Perez, Joe Saylor, David Schwimmer, Peter Scolari, John Patrick Shanley, Tracie Thoms, Joanne Tucker, Harris Yulin |
| Contemporary American Monologues | Lucille Lortel Theatre (New York, NY) | 2012 | F. Murray Abraham, Francois Battiste, Marylouise Burke, Michael Daves, Eisa Davis, Adam Driver, Zach Grenier, Jake Gyllenhaal, William Jackson Harper, Frances McDormand, Michael Shannon, David Strathairn, Tracie Thoms, Joanne Tucker |
| Contemporary American Monologues | American Airlines Theatre (New York, NY) | 2013 | Francois Battiste, Eric Bogosian, Marylouise Burke, Michael Daves, Eisa Davis, Adam Driver, Natasha Lyonne, Jesse J. Perez, Reg Rogers, Amy Ryan, David Schwimmer, Michael Shannon, Joanne Tucker, Samira Wiley |
| Contemporary American Monologues | Ramstein Air Base (Germany) | 2013 | Reed Birney, Desmin Borges, Michael Chernus, Gary Cole, Adam Driver, Josh Hamilton, Elizabeth Rodriguez, Raven Symoné, Tracie Thoms, Joanne Tucker, Sheldon Woodley |
| Contemporary American Monologues | Walter Reed Memorial Center (Washington, D.C) | 2013 | Marylouise Burke, Reg E. Cathey, Michael Chernus, Gary Cole, Erin Cummings, Adam Driver, Donetta Lavinia Grays, Natalie Knepp, Reg Rogers, Paul Sparks, Tracie Thoms, Joanne Tucker |
| Veterans Day Celebration - OUR LADY OF 121st STREET by Stephen Adly Guirgis | Studio 54 (New York, NY) | 2014 | Sam Gold (Director); Francois Battiste, Desmin Borges, Guy Boyd, Phillip James Brannon, Salvatore Inzerillo, Justin Long, Adrian Martinez, Amy Ryan, Armando Riesco, Elizabeth Rodriguez, Joanne Tucker, Samira Wiley |
| Contemporary American Monologues | Camp Arifjan (Kuwait) | 2015 | Adam Driver, Saidah Ekulona, Gibson Frazier, Natasha Lyonne, Kristine Nielsen, Armando Riesco, Jay. O Sanders, Joanne Tucker |
| Veterans Day Celebration - LOBBY HERO by Kenneth Lonergan | Studio 54 (New York, NY) | 2015 | Mark Brokaw (Director); Francois Battiste, Rachel Brosnahan, Adam Driver, Corey Stoll |
| TAPE by Stephen Belber | Fort Hood (Killeen, TX) | 2016 | Stephen Belber (Director); Jessica Collins, Justin Long, Pablo Schreiber |
| LOBBY HERO by Kenneth Lonergan | Osan Air Base (Pyeongtaek, South Korea) | 2016 | Stephen Belber (Director); Adam Driver, Francois Battiste, Dominic Fumusa, Rachel Brosnahan |
| Contemporary American Monologues | United States Military Academy (West Point, NY) | 2016 | Lila Neugebauer (Director); Marylouise Burke, Anna Chlumsky, Chris Henry Coffey, Jackie Cruz, Saidah Ekulona, Bill Heck, William Jackson Harper, Shane McRae, Tony Patano, Reg Rogers |
| Veterans Day Celebration - TAPE by Stephen Belber | Studio 54 (New York, NY) | 2016 | Stephen Belber (Director); Adam Driver, Keri Russell, Pablo Schreiber |
| JESUS HOPPED THE A TRAIN by Stephen Adly Guirgis | Yokota Air Force Base (Japan) | 2017 | Leah Gardiner (Director); Christopher Abbott, Victor Almanzar, Anthony Ramos, Andre Royo, Samantha Soule |
| Contemporary American Monologues | U.S. Naval Academy (Annapolis, Maryland) | 2017 | Patricia McGregor (Director); Maechi Aharanwa, Frankie Alvarez, Kelly AuCoin, Marylouise Burke, Jack DiFalco, Brandon Dirden, Justin Long, Marisol Miranda, Tonya Pinkins, Peter Scolari, Kristen Sieh |
| JESUS HOPPED THE A TRAIN by Stephen Adly Guirgis | Industry City (Brooklyn, NY) | 2017 | Lucie Tiberghien (Director); Michael Chernus, Kathryn Erbe, Lawrence Gilliard, Bobby Moreno, Matt Servitto |
| TAPE by Stephen Belber | MCB Quantico (Virginia) | 2017 | Carolyn Cantor (Director); Kieran Culkin, Ryan Eggold, Mamie Gummer |
| LOBBY HERO by Kenneth Lonergan | Fort Hamilton (Brooklyn, NY) | 2017 | Lila Neugebauer (Director); Gabriel Ebert, William Jackson Harper, Michael Stahl-David, Grace Van Patten |
| LOBBY HERO by Kenneth Lonergan | KMC Onstage (Kaiserslautern, Germany) | 2017 | Moritz von Stuelpnagel (Director); Rachel Brosnahan, Gideon Glick, Darren Goldstein, Korey Jackson |
| Veterans Day Celebration - JESUS HOPPED THE A TRAIN by Stephen Adly Guirgis | American Airlines Theatre (New York, NY) | 2017 | Daniel Sullivan (Director); Laurence Fishburne, Anthony Ramos, Mark Ruffalo, Joanne Tucker, David Zayas |
| TRUE WEST by Sam Shepard | Bellows Air Force Station (Waimanalo, Hawaii) | 2018 | Stephen Belber (Director); Frances Conroy, Taye Diggs, David Harbour, Jimmi Simpson |
| TRUE WEST by Sam Shepard | Marine Corps Base Hawaii (Kaneohe Bay, HI) | 2018 | Stephen Belber (Director); Frances Conroy, Taye Diggs, David Harbour, Jimmi Simpson |
| TRUE WEST by Sam Shepard | Schofield Barracks (Honolulu, HI) | 2018 | Stephen Belber (Director); Frances Conroy, Taye Diggs, David Harbour, Jimmi Simpson |
| Film Screening: LOGAN LUCKY | NB Coronado (San Diego, CA) | 2018 | Adam Driver |
| FENCES by August Wilson | Air Force Academy (Colorado Springs, CO) | 2018 | Lileana Blain-Cruz (Director); Mamoudou Athie, Charlie Barnett, Leon Addison Brown, Tsebiyah Derry, Ray Anthony Thomas, Tracie Thoms, Mykelti Williamson |
| TOPDOG/UNDERDOG by Susan-Lori Parks | Joint Base Charleston (Charleston, SC) | 2018 | Kip Fagan (Director); Corey Hawkins, Korey Jackson |
| Film Screening: JAWS | Metrograph (New York, NY) | 2018 | Adam Driver, Steven Soderbergh |
| TRUE WEST by Sam Shepard | Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst (New Jersey) | 2018 | Trip Cullman (Director); Annie Golden, Keegan-Michael Key, Christian Slater, Paul Sparks |
| Contemporary American Monologues | Rikers Island Veteran Housing Unit (Rikers Island, NY) | 2018 | Evan Cabnet (Director); Maechi Aharanwa, Trazana Beverly, Marylouise Burke, Michael Chernus, Gibson Frazier, Bobby Moreno, Peter Scolari, Roslyn Ruff, Joanne Tucker |
| 1st Annual Bridge Award Reading: WAR STORIES by Vinnie Lyman | The Shiva at The Public Theater (New York, NY) | 2018 | Kip Fagan (Director); Steven Boyer, Alex Flores, Motell Foster, Jake Hart, Alex Hurt, Brian Quijada, Joe Tippett |
| 1st Annual Student Veteran Film Screening: The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974) | Crosby Street Hotel (New York, NY) | 2018 | Adam Driver, Ben Stiller |
| Veterans Day Celebration - TRUE WEST by Sam Shepard | American Airlines Theatre (New York, NY) | 2018 | Sam Gold (Director); Marylouise Burke, Adam Driver, Peter Friedman, Michael Shannon |
| TRUE WEST by Sam Shepard | USS Carl Vinson (San Diego, CA) | 2018 | Kip Fagan (Director); Betsy Aidem, Scott Cohen, Patch Darragh, Dominic Fumusa |
| TRUE WEST by Sam Shepard | Fort Bliss (El Paso, TX) | 2019 | Amanda Charlton (Director); Patrick Fabian, Luke Kirby, Cameron Scoggins, Deborah Rush |
| FENCES by August Wilson | United States Military Academy (West Point, NY) | 2019 | Patricia McGregor (Director); Jerome Preston Bates, Chris Chalk, Clark Johnson, Jasminn Johnson, Ezra Knight, Reynaldo Piniella, Sharon Washington |
| Contemporary American Monologues | United States Disciplinary Barracks and Joint Regional Correctional Facility (Fort Leavenworth, KS) | 2019 | Joanne Tucker (Director); Carlo Albán, Charlie Barnett, Edmund Donovan, Robby Sella, Constance Shulman, Tracie Thoms, Joanne Tucker |
| TRUE WEST by Sam Shepard | Fort George G. Meade (Anne Arundel County, MD) | 2019 | Oliver Butler (Director); Noah Bean, Reed Birney, Jeremy Bobb, Annie Golden |
| TRUE WEST by Sam Shepard | Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center (Bridgeport, CA) | 2019 | Kip Fagan (Director); Alex Breaux, Darren Pettie, Rob Riggle, Dale Soules |
| TRUE WEST by Sam Shepard | Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Endeavors (San Antonio, TX) | 2019 | Oliver Butler (Director); L. Scott Caldwell, Chad L. Coleman, Chris Lowell, Michael James Shaw |
| LOBBY HERO by Kenneth Lonergan | Joint Base Lewis-McChord (Tacoma, WA) | 2019 | Francois Battiste, Jeremy Bobb, Tracee Chimo, James Scully |
| Contemporary American Monologues | Saint Albans VA Hospital | 2019 | Joanne Tucker (Director); Jack DiFalco, Korey Jackson, Jasminn Johnson, Robby Sella, Constance Shulman, Leah Walsh |
| 2nd Annual Student Veteran Film Screening: The Report | Alfred Lerner Hall, Columbia University (New York, NY) | 2019 | Eddy Moretti, Daniel J. Jones, Erica Newhouse, Brian Lepak (AITAF Intern) |
| 2nd Annual Bridge Award Reading: TAMPONS, DEAD DOGS, AND OTHER DISPOSABLE THINGS by Shairi Engle | The Shiva at The Public Theater (New York, NY) | 2019 | Lucie Tiberghien (Director); Jennifer Mudge, Darren Pettie |
| Veterans Day Celebration - A RAISIN IN THE SUN by Lorraine Hansberry | American Airlines Theatre (New York, NY) | 2019 | Patricia McGregor (Director), Mamoudou Athie, Dylan Baker, Asante Blackk, Colman Domingo, Ezra Knight, Nyambi Nyambi, Karen Pittman, Pauletta Washington, DeWanda Wise |
| LOBBY HERO by Kenneth Lonergan | Camp Lemonnier (Djibouti, Africa) | 2019 | Joanne Tucker (Director), Kerry Bishé, Norbert Leo Butz, Chris Lowell, Michael James Shaw |
| Contemporary American Monologues | United States Disciplinary Barracks and Joint Regional Correctional Facility (Fort Leavenworth, KS) | 2020 | Betsy Aidem (Director), Maechi Aharanwa, Scott Cohen, Michael Daves, Motell Foster, Dion Mucciacito, Erica Newhouse, Frank Pando |
| Virtual Film Screening: The Hustler | Online | 2020 | Laurence Fishburne, Cole Smith (AITAF Intern) |
| Virtual Film Screening: True Romance | Online | 2020 | Rob Riggle, Cole Smith (AITAF Intern) |
| Virtual Film Screening: It's a Wonderful Life | Online | 2020 | Nnamdi Asomugha, Christopher Wolfe |
| Virtual Film Screening: Slap Shot | Online | 2020 | Laura Linney, Joanne Tucker |
| Virtual Film Screening: The King of Comedy | Online | 2020 | Michael Shannon, Cole Smith (AITAF Intern) |
| Virtual Film Screening: Paper Moon | Online | 2020 | Tim Blake Nelson, Cole Smith (AITAF Intern) |
| Virtual Film Screening: Malcolm X | Online | 2020 | William Jackson Harper, Larry Lennox-Choate |
| Virtual Film Screening: Pelle the Conqueror | Online | 2020 | Danny Glover, Malia Du Mont |
| Veterans Day Celebration - Virtual Film Screening: 2001: A Space Odyssey | Online | 2020 | Tom Hanks, Charles Bolden, Seth Meyers, Adam Driver |
| Virtual Film Screening: Rocky | Online | 2021 | Edi Gathegi |
| Virtual Film Screening: Amadeus | Online | 2021 | Annette Bening, Tom Hulce |
| Virtual Film Screening: Richard Pryor: Live in Concert | Online | 2021 | Judd Apatow, Phil Klay |
| Virtual Film Screening: I Love You, Man | Online | 2021 | Jon Huertas |
| Virtual Film Screening: Bicycle Thieves | Online | 2021 | Charles Burnett |
| Film Screening: Summer of Sam | Queens Drive-In at The New York Hall of Science (Queens, NY) | 2021 | Michael Imperioli |
| Contemporary American Monologues | United States Disciplinary Barracks and Joint Regional Correctional Facility (Fort Leavenworth, KS) | 2022 | Patricia McGregor (Director); Maechi Aharanwa, Josiah Bania, Francois Battiste, Bill Heck, Jennifer Mudge |
| Contemporary American Monologues | The Post Theater (Fort Leavenworth, KS) | 2022 | Patricia McGregor (Director); Maechi Aharanwa, Josiah Bania, Francois Battiste, Bill Heck, Jennifer Mudge |
| TRUE WEST by Sam Shepard | NAS Pensacola at National Naval Aviation Museum (Pensacola, FL) | 2022 | Kip Fagan (Director); Daniel Breaker, Adam Driver, Paul Sparks, Joanne Tucker |
| TRUE WEST by Sam Shepard | Fort Wadsworth (Staten Island, NY) | 2022 | Patricia McGregor (Director); Jason Butler Harner, Bill Heck, Reg Rogers, Constance Shulman |
| TRUE WEST by Sam Shepard | MK Air Base (Romania) | 2022 | Kip Fagan (Director); Adam Driver, Annie Golden, Reg Rogers, Liev Schreiber |
| Bridge Award Playwrights Retreat | Autocamp (Cape Cod, MA) | 2022 | Paula Vogel |
| LOBBY HERO by Kenneth Lonergan | Schofield Barracks (Honolulu, HI) | 2022 | Kip Fagan (Director); Scott Cohen, Dane DeHaan, Nyambi Nyambi, Victoria Pedretti |
| LOBBY HERO by Kenneth Lonergan | Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam (Honolulu, HI) | 2022 | Kip Fagan (Director); Scott Cohen, Dane DeHaan, Nyambi Nyambi, Victoria Pedretti |
| 3rd Annual Bridge Award Ceremony Reading: MAN ON THE GROUND by Timothy J. Bellow Sr. | The Shiva at The Public Theater (New York, NY) | 2022 | Patricia McGregor (Director); Brittany Bellizeare, Sherry Boone, Ezra Knight, Lizan Mitchell, Reynaldo Piniella, Calvin Leon Smith |
| Veterans Day Celebration - FAT HAM by James Ijames | American Airlines Theatre (New York, NY) | 2022 | Sideeq Heard (Director); J. Bernard Calloway, Nikki Crawford, Chris Herbie Holland, Alexandria Lewis, Adrianna Mitchell, Calvin Leon Smith, Marcel Spears, Benja Kay Thomas |

## List of previously involved artists

| A-D | E-P | Q-Z |
| Christopher Abbott F. Murray Abraham Maechi Aharanwa Betsy Aidem Carlo Albán Victor Almanzar Frankie Alvarez Lauren Ambrose Nnamdi Asomugha Mamoudou Athie Kelly AuCoin Dylan Baker Josiah Bania Charlie Barnett Jerome Preston Bates Jonathan Batiste Francois Battiste Noah Bean Robert Beitzel Stephen Belber Brittany Bellizeare Vivienne Benesch Trazana Beverley Reed Birney Kerry Bishé Asante Blackk Lileana Blain-Cruz Jeremy Bobb Eric Bogosian Charles Bolden Sherry Boone Desmin Borges Guy Boyd Steven Boyer Daniel Breaker Phillip James Brannon Alex Breaux Mark Brokaw Rachel Brosnahan Leon Addison Brown Marylouise Burke Jason Butler Harner Norbert Leo Butz Evan Cabnet L. Scott Caldwell J. Bernard Calloway Louis Cancelmi Carolyn Cantor Reg E. Cathey Chris Chalk Amanda Charlton Amari Cheatom Michael Chernus Tracee Chimo Anna Chlumsky Nick Choksi Chris Henry Coffey Scott Cohen Gary Cole Chad L. Coleman Jessica Collins Frances Conroy Nikki Crawford David Cromer Jackie Cruz Kieran Culkin Trip Cullman Erin Cummings Patch Darragh Michael Daves Eisa Davis Tsebiyah Derry Jack DiFalco Taye Diggs Brandon Dirden Dane DeHaan David Denman Colman Domingo Christopher Donahue Edmund Donovan Adam Driver | Ryan Eggold Gabriel Ebert Kathryn Erbe Saidah Ekulona Patrick Fabian Kip Fagan Laurence Fishburne Alex Flores Motell Foster Gibson Frazier Peter Friedman Dominic Fumusa Edi Gathegi Leah Gardiner Lawrence Gilliard Gideon Glick John Glover Sam Gold Annie Golden Renée Goldsberry Darren Goldstein Donetta Lavinia Grays Michael Greif Zach Grenier Jake Gyllenhaal Mamie Gummer Josh Hamilton Tom Hanks David Harbour William Jackson Harper Jake Hart Corey Hawkins Sideeq Heard Bill Heck Chris Herbie Holland Alex Hurt Salvatore Inzerillo Korey Jackson Clark Johnson Jasminn Johnson Daniel J. Jones Ron Cephas Jones Keegan-Michael Key Luke Kirby Natalie Knepp Ezra Knight Phil Kuehn Tyler La Marr Alexandria Lewis Laura Linney Justin Long Chris Lowell Natasha Lyonne Adrian Martinez Adrianna Mitchell Lizan Mitchell Frances McDormand Patricia McGregor Shane McRae Seth Meyers Marisol Miranda Bobby Moreno Eddy Moretti Dion Mucciacito Jennifer Mudge Tim Blake Nelson Lila Neugebauer Erica Newhouse Kristine Nielsen Nyambi Nyambi Frank Pando Annie Parisse Tonye Patano Victoria Pedretti Jesse J. Perez Darren Pettie Tonya Pinkins Reynaldo Piniella Karen Pittman | Brian Quijada Anthony Ramos Armando Riesco Rob Riggle David Robaire Elizabeth Rodriguez Reg Rogers Andre Royo Roslyn Ruff Mark Ruffalo Deborah Rush Keri Russell Amy Ryan Jay O. Sanders Susan Sarandon Joe Saylor Shane Schnetzler Liev Schreiber Pablo Schreiber David Schwimmer Cameron Scoggins Peter Scolari James Scully Robby Sella Matt Servitto Michael Sexton John Patrick Shanley Michael Shannon Michael James Shaw Constance Shulman Kristen Sieh Raven Symoné Jimmi Simpson Christian Slater Samantha Soule Dale Soules Steven Soderbergh Calvin Leon Smith Paul Sparks Marcel Spears Michael Stahl-David Ben Stiller Corey Stoll David Strathairn Daniel Sullivan Lili Taylor Ray Anthony Thomas Benja Kay Thomas Tracie Thoms Lucie Tiberghien Joe Tippett Joanne Tucker Grace Van Patten Vladimir Versailles Moritz Von Stuelpnagel Pauletta Washington Sharon Washington Leah Walsh Dianne Wiest Samira Wiley Mykelti Williamson Debra Winger DeWanda Wise Christopher Wolfe Sheldon Woodley Harris Yulin Glenn Zaleski Sasheer Zamata David Zayas |