TDF Stages

Why our Veterans Theatregoing Program Coordinator is so passionate about helping the community

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"It took me a very long time to identify as a veteran—that's a problem for many of us," acknowledges Vicki Bello, a Navy vet who manages TDF's Veterans Theatregoing Program. "War, trauma, there're a lot of reasons. You leave the service and go on with your life." That changed when she went into the reserves and met her future husband, Joe. "He was very active as an advocate," she recalls. "He was actually the one who pushed me to identify as a veteran and to get involved with the community. We came into second service by helping our fellow veterans."

Now the spouses are set to make history as the first married couple to ever be inducted into the Veterans Hall of Fame in Albany, New York. Her husband was admitted in 2019 and Bello's ceremony takes place next Tuesday, May 27. But first, she will have a busy Memorial Day weekend hosting active duty military at seven different Broadway shows in honor of Fleet Week: Hell's Kitchen, MJ the Musical, Aladdin, The Lion King, Hamilton, Death Becomes Her and The Book of Mormon. It's an exciting ending to a theatre season during which TDF welcomed hundreds of New York City veterans to more than a dozen shows at no cost to them.

None of that would be possible without Bello and her dedication to her fellow veterans.

TDF's Veterans Theatregoing Program was launched in December 2017 in partnership with former New York City Councilman Eric Ulrich, then Chair of the Committee on Veterans. The idea was to give veterans living in the five boroughs a chance to experience the transformative power of the performing arts with their loved ones for free. With continued support from the New York City Council and in association with almost 40 local organizations that serve members of our nation's armed forces, thousands of veterans have attended dozens of productions over the past eight years.

Bello has been with the program since its launch. She had recently wrapped up her tenure at LaGuardia Community College as the Director of the Veterans Upward Bound Program when her husband, Joe, got a call from Ulrich about TDF's new initiative and the organization's need for a Coordinator. As a longtime theatre lover and veterans advocate—she was a board member for the Borden Avenue Veterans Residence and organized Thanksgiving turkey drives, Christmas toy giveaways and an annual women's Veterans Day luncheon as part of the Bronx Borough President's Veterans Advisory Council—Bello was a natural fit for the position.

"When I came on board, I brought my long list of NYC veteran organizations plus individual veterans that I knew would enjoy the program," Bello says, noting that her network has grown exponentially since then. Typically, participants receive two tickets, but the program allows up to four tickets for family shows such as Aladdin and The Lion King. Veterans also receive complimentary one-year TDF Memberships so they can continue their theatregoing adventures independently.

Bello says that the impact of the Veterans Theatregoing Program was evident from the start. "Many veterans don't have the money to attend theatre, and lots of them are lonely," she explains. "They definitely love the camaraderie because it's like this big reunion every time we go to a show."

That social component is invaluable and why Bello is working on ways to enhance that aspect of the program. "I want to expand to include recreational therapy programs at the VA hospitals," she says. "I would also like a discussion-based type program [like TDF’s Wendy Wasserstein Project for students] because a lot of times vets will see a show and want to discuss it and how it made them feel." She believes continuing the conversation and the connection will ultimately improve vets' mental health and overall well-being.

Even without those extras, Bello knows for a fact that the Veterans Theatregoing Program inspires joy and changes lives. She has myriad powerful stories but one vet's tale in particular sticks out. "His name is Joe, and he actually wrote a beautiful letter to TDF a few years back," she says. "We invited the vets to see Come From Away" about human connection in the wake of the September 11 attacks. Joe experienced the tragedy firsthand as a rescue worker and "became a recluse for a very long time. He could not talk about 9/11 at all," Bello explains. "It was a big stretch for him to go to Come From Away, but he was determined. When he saw the show, he had this epiphany: 9/11, though horrible, also brought people together. That's what he got from the show. At his next therapy session, he was finally able to talk about 9/11 and his experience. It is such a beautiful story that has always stayed with me. We're not just giving away Broadway tickets, we're impacting veterans' lives."

If you'd like to support the TDF Veterans Theatregoing Program, consider making a tax-deductible donation.