RG Community Newsletter ~ March 2026 (Updated Info)

☘️🌸🌼🌹 HAPPY SPRING!!! 🌺🌻🌷☘️

This Women's History Month, we honor the incredible women who shape our lives and our industry - as protectors, leaders, healers, teachers, mentors, creators, partners, and our best problem-solvers. Women are our heroes, and their resilience and creativity continue to move the world forward every single day. To all the amazing women who inspire us - Thank you!!

March is Employee Appreciation Month, and at RG, our team is truly at the heart of everything we do! Their commitment to exceptional service and unwavering support of the NYC arts community are what drive our success and define who we are. They show up with creativity and professionalism every single day - and our community feels the difference.

Throughout the month, we’ll be highlighting members of our incredible staff, sharing their stories, achievements, and the passion they bring to their work to make RG such a special place.

Thanks for celebrating with us 🎭✨ See you at the studios.

Graham McCarty ~ RG Creative Director

"Broadway Begin's Here!" 🎭

Ripley-Grier Studios at BroadwayCon 2026

What a fun time we had! As always BroadwayCon was an electrifying weekend where theatre fans had the opportunity to connect with Broadway stars, creators, and arts organizations here in NYC. Our booth became a high-energy, performance-driven destination in the Marketplace, anchored by live piano sets from TikTok creator and performer Josh Turchin. His music created a constant buzz, drawing crowds, sparking social engagement, and setting a joyful, welcoming tone all weekend long. Broadway performers even stopped by to sing at our booth, turning spontaneous moments into unforgettable mini-performances that delighted fans and filled the space with true Broadway magic.

RG staff jumped right in - chatting up attendees, selling exclusive merch, belting out show tunes, and helping create an interactive hub that quickly became one of the most talked-about spots at the convention. We also hosted a free raffle, awarding valuable studio time to a few lucky winners.

It was a powerful reminder of why we do what we do: to champion creativity, build community, and create meaningful opportunities for artists to shine.

NO MORE STARVING ARTISTS

Episcopal Actors' Guild

For 100 years, the Episcopal Actors' Guild has been helping NYC's professional actors, singers, and dancers keep a roof over their head and put food on the table when times are tough. EAG's Emergency Aid & Relief Program can provide financial grants for rent, utilities, or medical bills. And their Actor's Pantry provides food assistance to performing artists experiencing hunger and food insecurity.

Are you in a position to aid in EAG's efforts?

Donate to the Actors' Pantry

Are you a performer in need of assistance?

Visit ActorsGuild.org for more information

Reserve Your Spot

Visit RipleyGrierCommunity.com for more info.

CELEBRATING 55 YEARS TEACHING FITNESS!

Email patripleyny@gmail.com for more information.

SUPPORT WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN

World Central Kitchen (WCK) is an International Nonprofit Organization founded by chef José Andrés that provides fresh, nourishing meals to people affected by crises around the world. Working with local cooks and communities, WCK responds rapidly to disasters and humanitarian emergencies while supporting local food systems and economies.

DONATE at any RG Location or click the link below.

Donate Here!

Visit WCK.org for more information

RG Black-Box Theatre @ RG 305 W. 38th St.

Perfect for your staged reading, recital, or small performance.

Retractable audience seating, professional lighting & sound available upon request.

(Comfortably seats 75)

Call (212)799-5433 for info.

JOIN OUR DIGITAL REWARDS PROGRAM

Collect 5 "stamps" and receive $5 OFF your next studio rental.

Get the "STAMP ME" APP today, and receive one FREE stamp. For more info, visit the front desk at any RG location.

Greetings all you winter warriors!

Welcome to this fantastic month: Daylight Savings on Sunday, March 8th (later sunsets), first day of Spring, March 20th, the “Ides of March”* on 3/15, St Patrick’s Day, March 17, Palm Sunday on 3/29, our grandson, Ethan Grier’s birthday on 3/12 and our founder, Butch Grier’s birthday is on 3/18. March 1st celebrates my 55th year teaching fitness. Tuesday March 3rd is Butch and my 43 year anniversary together.

In March we celebrate Ripley-Grier Studios’ employee appreciation month. (Feel free to let our employee(s) know how much you appreciate them). Yearly staff meetings are held in March with in depth discussions on improving customer service, upgrading locations, and work and HR benefits. As the world’s largest rehearsal studios complex we have a lot to cover. We have a talented, experienced group of executive staff ready to take responsibility to ensure that RG continues to lead the way. We’re ready to expand when needed and are confident in our future.

We’re launching a “Landmarks Location” promo to celebrate the renovation of our 939 8th Ave location at 55th & 8th Avenue, a designated landmark location which has quite a history including Joseph Pilates first studio.

Butch started a book and I plan to write as well. I want to take tech courses and pick up the guitar again. We both want to improve our health & fitness. I have worked for 57 years and want to” follow my dreams”. Butch feels the same way. Rebuilding after covid was a prime goal, we can now ease up so we are going to reduce our day to day studio commitments.

A brief comment about the “state of the union”. We bombed Iran and killed its religious leader(s)? causing chaos and political upheaval in that region. We now have military casualties and civilian casualties. It is reported that our strikes killed almost 200 young girls, teenagers and teachers in a girls school and nearby gymnasium. Attacking & bombing instead of persevering along the diplomatic path? Is this the way of the US now? “Regime change”, “restoring world order”, ”collateral damage” are phrases used to soften the reality: bombing and killing. Tell that to the mothers and fathers who have to pick up the bodies of their daughters in that school. Old statesmen shruggingly stating “well in war there are casualties, it’s expected”. All the countries who have relationships with us in that area are being targeted, and caught off guard. There will be many deaths and “sometimes that happens” was the response. “Sometimes”? No, all the “times”.

Take pause to remember you are in charge of your government so speak out and speak up.

“Give peace a chance” Patricia Ripley

Hi everyone!

This past month I went to Phoenix, AZ to attend a baseball themed music festival called Innings Festival, and see Twenty One Pilots perform again! I saw some friends there and people I’ve become familiar with from other Twenty One Pilots shows. We ended up getting pretty close to the stage. There were a lot of other bands there like Cage the Elephant, The Fray, Dashboard Confessional, Vertical Horizon, and more! Twenty One Pilots ended up debuting three songs they had never played before and gave it their all. I can’t wait to see them at a couple more festivals this year!

I had also gone to Phoenix to catch a spring training baseball game. Since I got stuck in Arizona because of the blizzard, I ended up going to another game the next day. The second time I went early to watch the players warm up and I got a few autographs! Both times I saw the Dodgers play. It was so cool to see all the players up close and add a couple more stadiums to my list!

See you in April - Jeannie Ripley-Grier

We are proud to support many wonderful organizations.

World Central Kitchen ~ Broadway Cares ~ Make-A-Wish

Plan USA ~ Timothy Hill Ranch ~ The Actor's Fund

Smile Train ~ Wounded Warrior ~ Episcopal Actors' Guild

North Shore Animal League ~ The Ali Forney Center

Join us in supporting these and other helpful organizations. Contact our PR/Marketing Dept. at (212)799-5433 Ex. 214 for info.

At Ripley-Grier, we’re more than studios - we’re a home for creativity! Our mission is to support artists at every stage of their journey, and now we’re taking it one step further. Discover new opportunities, unlock exclusive loyalty rewards, and connect with a community built to help you thrive.

RipleyGrierCommunity.com