this letter was released to the american theatre community on january 4th 2021
Dear Colleague:
We are Design Action and we are advocating for a radical shift in the landscape of American Theatre Design.
Collectively, we represent a group of Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian, Pacific Islander and White theatre designers, who came together this past summer with the purpose of creating a more equitable future for our emerging and early-career BIPOC colleagues. We have been working with over one hundred rising BIPOC designers to learn about their hurdles to success and the theatrical practices that are most harmful to them.
Designers are a vital, powerful part of the Theatre Community. But Designers don’t come to a production in a vacuum--we are brought together and supported by Producers, Directors, Artistic Directors, Unions, Shops, General Managers, and Agents. And so, we are reaching out to ALL of you to say that we will rely and depend on you to stand with us in this movement.
We will hold you accountable for change, as we hope you will hold us accountable.
We will continue to gather as a community of designers, doing the work we need to do amongst ourselves. And, we will be calling on you to help us expand and support the notion of what it means to work TOGETHER for a more equitable and sustainable American Theatre.
And, a better American Theatre. Our industry and the Art we make is starved without the voices of the Global Majority.
In the 2018/2019 theatrical season alone, 91% of Broadway design slots and 73% of Off-Broadway design slots were filled with white designers. Surveys are currently being done to study representation in LORT theatres.
But in spite of the numbers, we know there is a Renaissance flourishing all around us of rising BIPOC voices creating new aesthetic values no longer dictated by established structures; a true tapestry reflecting the many voices of our country--voices of social consciousness, voices of deep questioning, voices reclaiming their true identity. We are committing unequivocally to making sure they are heard, celebrated, and employed-- in an environment that amplifies rather than stifles their voices.
In the new year we will be establishing practices and guidelines for our Five Points of Advocacy:
- Equitable Representation
- Harm Reduction
- Anti-Racist Codes of Conduct
- Cultural Competency
- BIPOC Advocacy
2020 was a devastating year for our Industry--especially for freelance theater workers. Nowhere was its impact more deeply felt than among those in their early career--our most vital voices are the most vulnerable. With this in mind, we enter 2021 mindfully and inspired. We look to rebuild our industry together: one that derives its richness and strength by celebrating all of its extraordinary voices.
In Community,
Adam Honoré
Adam Rigg
Alan C. Edwards
Alex Basco Koch
Alejandro Fajardo
Alejo Vietti
Alexander V Nichols
Alexandra Vásquez Dheming
Amara McNeil
Amith Chandrashaker
Andromache Chalfant
Anita Yavich
Arnulfo Maldonado
Ásta Bennie Hostetter
Barbara Samuels
Ben Stanton
Bradley King
Brett Banakis
Caite Hevner
Cameron Anderson
Carolina Ortiz
Chen-Wei Liao
Christina Watanabe
Christopher Acebo
Christopher Akerlind
Clint Ramos
Daniel Kluger
David Weiner
David Zinn
Dede Ayite
Derek McLane
Diggle
Donyale Werle
Elisheba Ittoop
Elizabeth M. Stewart
Eric Southern
Erica Laura Mahomes
G Clausen
GW Skip Mercier
Heather Gilbert
Haydee Zelideth
Isabella Byrd
Itohan Edoloyi
Jacob A Climer
Jane Cox
Jane Shaw
Japhy Weideman
Jason Sherwood
Jeff Croiter
Jen Schriever
Jennifer Tipton
Jessica Pabst
Jiaying Zhang
Jiyoun Chang
Josephine Pu-Sheng Wang
Justin Townsend
Kate Freer
Kelley Shih
Kelly Lin Hayes
Kristen Robinson
Lap Chi Chu
Laura Jellinek
Lee Savage
Leon Rothenberg
Linda Cho
Lindsay Jones
Lucrecia Briceno
Lucy Mackinnon
Mark Barton
Mark Bennett
Marsha Ginsberg
Marie Laster
Megumi Katayama
Meredith Ries
Miguel Urbino
Mika Eubanks
Mikiko Suzuki MacAdams
Mimi Lien
Myung Hee Cho
Narelle Sissons
Natasha Katz
Nevin Steinberg
nicHi douglas
Omar Madkour
Oona Curley
Paloma Young
Palmer Hefferan
Paul James Prendergast
Paul Tazewell
Peter Nigrini
Rachael N. Blackwell
Rachel Hauck
Riccardo Hernández
Riw Rakkulchon
Robert Kaplowitz
Russell Champa
Sara Outing
Sarah Laux
Sasha Schwartz
Scott Pask
Sibyl Wickersheimer
Stacey Derosier
Stefania Bulbarella
Suttirat Larlarb
Takeshi Kata
Tal Yarden
Tanya Orellana
Thom Weaver
Toni-Leslie James
Twi McCallum
Tyler Micoleau
Valérie Thérèse Bart
Valerie Marcus Ramshur
Wendall Harrington
Wilson Chin
Yee Eun Nam
Yijun Yang
You-Shin Chen
Yvonne Johnson
Zakaria Al-Alami