Inclusion Matters.

We recognize the racist framework that America, and thus its theater industry, is built upon. The system has continuously worked to uphold white privilege, and suppress individuals and movements that threaten that standard. We have been listening and learning. We have grieved with the Black community over the murders of George Floyd, Ma’Khia Bryant, Daunte Wright, Adam Toledo, Ahmaud Arbery, and countless others, and with the AAPI community at the alarming rise of Anti-Asian hate crimes.

BIPOC individuals have been constantly exploited for their work, had their emotions invalidated, been told to change or hide parts of themselves to fit into an industry where whiteness is still the standard, and denied opportunities simply based on the color of their skin.

It is not enough to simply denounce racism or advocate for equity … we must be actively anti-racist in our work, and be a part of the solution for racial equity in our organization and in our industry from the ground up. We must, and we will, uplift and celebrate Black and AAPI voices and not impede upon their agency over their own stories. We will confront and challenge our own implicit biases. We will reflect on our shortcomings in the past.

Art is for everyone and no one should ever feel unwelcome or unsafe in our theater community.  And we vow to use our resources to help make that a community a community for all.

You can learn more about the Black Lives Matter movement here, and Stop AAPI Hate here. 

We also recommend you support the following organizations: