Banned in Boston Back in 2025!

Every year, we look forward to connecting with our community and sharing our vision of empowered youth building diverse and inclusive communities. The Rehearsal for Life board of directors convened this fall and decided to take a year off from hosting Banned in Boston, as we collectively focus on strategically planning for the future. We are planning to bring Banned in Boston back in 2025! 

The decision was also made in consideration of developing a new organizational strategic plan, and the evolving philanthropic landscape in Boston as the nonprofit sector continues to emerge from the echo of the pandemic.  

We’re planning other ways for our community to get together through a combination of smaller, locally-hosted events and hosting virtual visits to our programs. Please consider supporting RFL and our programs this year by helping us to spread the word about our life-changing programs, hosting an event, joining us in the strategic planning process, visiting a classroom or attending a performance, or by making a donation.

In the meantime, thank you once again for your ongoing support of Rehearsal for Life – and we look forward to seeing you back at Banned in Boston in 2025.

YOU DID IT!

More than 400 guests and a cast of 50+ local luminaries and chefs came together to bring Banned in Boston back to the stage at Roadrunner on April 27th, 2023!
Banned in Boston’s Funderdome was a creative tour de force. Our unrehearsed, high-wire act of original music and comedy—an improv extravaganza—raised $425,336 in support of RFL’s one-of-a-kind social-emotional learning programming that annually serves more than 1,400 youth in Boston and beyond.

For more Banned in Boston photos, videos and highlights, follow us on Instagram, Twitter, Youtube and Facebook.

2023 Chefs

Dan Bazzinotti
Pescador/Blue Ribbon Restaurants

Brad Brown 
Blue Frog Bakery

Carl Dooley
Mooncusser

Lambert Givens
Hunter’s

Andrew Marconi 
The Catered Affair

Steven Peljovich
Michael’s Deli

Cory Seeker
Lolita/COJE Group

Arlin Smith
  Eventide

Stephen Sherman
Scarlet Oak Tavern/Webber Group

JC Tetreault
Trillium Brewing

Will & Dave Willis
Bully Boy Distillers

Chris & Pam Willis  
Pammy’s

Jen & Josh Ziskin
La Morra, Heritage & Punch Bowl

2023 Event Committee

Fiona & James Benenson

Ellen Epstein & Ian Brownell

Robin & Ted Clark

Francie & Jon Karlen

Kristina & Patrick Lyons

Farrell & Tom O’Rourke

Faith Soloway

Julie & Jeff Stuecken

Lisa Pierpont & Brant Binder

2023 Cast

Rob Blake
Brand Ambassador, Trillium Brewing

Michael Bobbitt
Executive Director, Massachusetts Cultural Council 

Ernie Boch, Jr.
Philanthropist

Jared Bowen
Arts Editor & Host, WGBH’s Open Studio

Jim Braude
Co-host, WGBH Boston Public Radio

Yolanda Coentro
President & CEO, Institute for Nonprofit Practice

Carolyn Cole
Program Officer, Massachusetts Cultural Council

Tackey Chan
MA State Representative

Joanne Chang
Owner, Flour, Myers & Chang

Cheryl Cronin
CEO, Boston Public Market

Diana DiZoglio
MA State Auditor

Margery Eagan
Co-host, WGBH Boston Public Radio

Tiffani Faison
Chef, Restaurateur, rising star on Food Network

Maura Healey
Massachusetts Governor

Brian Houlihan
Chef, Owner, The Tinker’s Son

Jenny Johnson
Host and Producer, NESN’s Dining Playbook

Shirley Leung
Columnist & Associate Editor, The Boston Globe

Makeeba McCreary, Ed.D.
President, The New Commonwealth for Racial Equity & Social Justice Fund

Ben Mezrich
New York Times Bestselling Author

Myechia Minter-Jordan, MD, MBA
President & CEO, Carequest Institute for Oral Health 

JC Monahan
News Anchor, NBC Boston

M. Lee Pelton
President & CEO, The Boston Foundation

Ken Reid
Comedian, TV Guidance Counselor podcast

Shayna Seymour
Anchor,  WCVB’s Chronicle

Martha Sheridan
President & CEO, Meet Boston

Kristina Smarz
Actor & Comedian

Jonathan Soroff
Columnist 

Ramiro Torres
Radio Host, 96.9

Bethany Van Delft
Comedian, Storyteller

This year’s press:

The Boston Calendar: Rehearsal For Life Announces “Banned In Boston: Futuredome,” March 2, 2023.
BOSToday: Banned in Boston Funderdome, April 2, 2023.
Jamaica Plain News: JP’s Rehearsal for Life Musical, April 24, 2023.

Thank you to our sponsors & supporters!


ARCHANGEL
Fiona & James Benenson


STAR
Lisa Schmid Alvord & Joel Alvord
Alexi & Steve Conine
Ann & John Hall
Carl J. Martignetti

ANGEL
Anonymous
Brookline Bank
Levin Campbell, Jr.
Lisa & Jeff Case
Robin & Ted Clark
Julie & Ron Druker/Druker Companies Ltd.
Eastern Bank Charitable Foundation
Frances & Jon Karlen
Persis & David Levy
Carol Taylor & John Deknatel

PRODUCER
Mimi & George Bennett
Jen Berylson Block & Jonathan Block
Susan & Paisley Boney
Oliver & Chandler Evans
Fourbridge Partners
Tamar & Ken Frieze
Tom & Terry Hamilton
Jodi & Michael Masdea
Farrell & Tom O’Rourke
The Red Sox Foundation
Lisa & Patrick Taffe

DIRECTOR
Anonymous (2)
Cat & John Brownstein
CareQuest Institute for Oral Health
Sara & Peter Fleiss
Penny & Bruns Grayson
Heidi Hughey
Needham Bank
Northeastern University
Krista & Roger Scoville
Kate & Ben Taylor
David V.N. Taylor

FEATURED
Judge Levin Campbell, Sr.
Cheryl Cronin
Mr. & Mrs. Dozier Gardner
Kristen & Ryan Hamilton
Vanessa Kerry & Brian Nahed
Lisa Lewis & Bart Dunbar
Sarah Maynard
Jan Saragoni
Wendy Shattuck & Samuel Plimpton
Mr. & Mrs. Ross Sherbrooke
Julie & Jeff Stuecken
Candy & Jay Walton

SUPPORTERS
Mary Ames
Connie Barbour & Hank Werlin
Margaret & Patrick Carolan
Martha Gray & Jerel Cathey
Mr. & Mrs. Richard C.B. Clark
Benjamin Dewey
Eleanor Duckworth
Emily & David Geller
Bonnie Hersh & Michael Rabin
Patricia Keenan
Jamie McCleary
Lisa McColgan & Kevin Coombs
Shelly & Charles Nolfi
Jennifer & Michael Shea
Kristen & Stephen Sherman
Joey Soloway

Thank You Institutional Supporters!
Massachusetts Cultural Council
Cummings Foundation
Liberty Mutual Foundation
Parker Clare Family Fund
Edwin S. Webster Foundation
Foley Hoag
Nellie Mae Education Foundation
Boston Cultural Council

Media Sponsor: 92.5 The River
Venue Partner: Roadrunner, The Bowery Presents
Hospitality Partners: EFK Events
Publicity: Klünder Communications
Design: Crackerjack Communications