WSYWAT ACCOUNTABILITY REPORT by wsywat

WE SEE YOU WHITE AMERICAN THEATRE accountability report

THIS IS A 7 - MONTH ACCOUNTABILITY REPORT. On June 8, 2020 We see you white american theatre released our letter to The entire theatre industry from over 300 black, indigenous and people of color signatories. On July 8, 2020 WSYWAT released The Bipoc demands for white american theatre — a living document created by hundreds of BIPOC theatre workers through 25 committees. our change .org petition for a more equitable american theatre has over 104,500 signatures of support for the movement. IN THE 7 months since the release of our demands, there have been considerable ACTIONS in the industry toward equity, ANTI-RACISM and the DISMANTLING OF WHITE SUPREMACY in the american theatre.

What follows is a list of PREDOMINANTLY WHITE institutions across the country, in varying sizes — theatres, training programs, talent organizations, pr offices,UNION LOCALS, etc. THEY are responding to our Demands, communicating with us and/or publicly acknowledging the labor by wsywat and as a result are in various stages of their anti-racism journey. It is important to note that this list is not exhaustive as we are unable to fully canvass the Whole industry. If YOU ARE AWARE OF AN institution Who May have taken actions and are not on this list — please let us know at info@weseeyouwat.com. We are attaching a link to each institution’s statement, plan or pledge. read them in their entirety on their websites. If THESE INSTITUTIONS are in your region, keep yourself updated and KEEP them accountable. THESE ARE THEIR WORDS— HOLD THEM TO IT.

This is your movement. And your movement is working.

16TH STREET THEATER “My goal is to implement “We See You White American Theatre” policies https://www.weseeyouwat.com/ that are applicable to our theatre’s contract. Until then I will continue to self-educate and reflect on ways I can strengthen the trust between myself and the community at large. I am sorry. Please address feedback, concerns and comments to…” Read nore: https://16thstreettheater.org/about/ ann-filmer-statement/

A NOISE WITHIN “In particular, we would like to express our appreciation for the time and care that went into “We See You, White American Theatre,“ a wide-ranging vision for a more equitable industry, imagined by a collective of multigenerational, Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) theatremakers. The foundation they laid forth has sparked a national conversation and motivated deep changes throughout the industry, and we are beyond grateful for their leadership. We take their demands seriously – recognizing our own history as a predominantly white institution – and are actively exploring the actions we can take to create a more equitable and safe space for BIPOC communities. Among other things, we are revisiting our strategic plan to center our organizational progress more squarely around anti-racism; our staff, board, and artists are meeting regularly to discuss the “We See You, White American Theatre” documents and the changes we’d like to see implemented throughout every level of our theatre; and our Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Task Force has been formalized as a permanent EDI Committee, to help us better identify, prioritize, and address these issues at ANW (including representation, access, and education). This is an opportunity for us to build a theatre that better represents our entire community, and we thank you for holding us accountable as we strive to make A Noise Within the best it can be.” Read more: https://www.anoisewithin.org/equity-diversity-inclusionat-anw/

ALABAMA SHAKES “ We have been following your work closely since the formation of WSYWAT. We believe in the movement towards "a just and equitable American Theater!" Our senior team is well informed and discussing ideas regularly. Also, we have shared the information with Board leadership and anticipate fuller Board discussions in the near future. Currently we are in the midst of vast furloughs and lay-offs (90% of the organization has been affected). We are strong and will come back after this virus. We plan to share our initial goals and commitments in the next 30 days. Thank you for your advocacy and commitment to these principles. We will be an ally and partner in this movement!” Read more: https://asf.net/anti-racism/

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ALLEY THEATRE “We have been listening and learning from the We See You WAT list of demands, our affinity group of Alley staff of color, and our work with anti-racism consultants Tiffany Rachelle Stewart, Tyler Rivenbark, Alison Park, The Center for the Healing of Racism in Houston, as well as our own EDI strategic planning led by Alley Director of Human Resources, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, Sajal Javid. This document is about how we are working to make an Alley Theatre where all are welcome, cared for, and included.”

Read more: https://www.alleytheatre.org/ ActionsSpeakLouderThanWords

ALLIANCE THEATRE “OUR COMMITMENT FROM THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR The Alliance Theatre acknowledges and supports the list of demands made by We See You White American Theatre, and we are grateful for the time and care that went into the creation of this Living Document. We believe in the wide-ranging vision for a more equitable industry, imagined by a collective of multi-generational, black, indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) theatremakers. We continue to reference this powerful document and look to it for guidance as we move forward. We agree to be transparent in our responses, and about our action and growth towards being the Alliance that Atlanta truly deserves..”

Read more: https://alliancetheatre.org/content/ equity-diversity-and-inclusion

AMERICAN CONSERVATORY THEATRE “Our EDI Strategic Plan, created in early 2020, is a framework for this work. We focus upon Cultural Competency, Investing in our People, Employee Led Groups, Artistic Programs & Our Community, and Intentionality and Accountability. We recently expanded our plans and commitments with input from We See You White American Theater and the Bay Area BIPOC Equity Action Plan. We are grateful for the work and labor that has gone into developing these plans and hear the feedback from BIPOC colleagues. Members of our staff, students, faculty and board have reviewed and provided input. Our EDI plan is a living and working document for A.C.T. and is not intended to be a checklist as the work is never done. Past actions are noted so that we and future generations of A.C.T. stakeholders can see what has been implemented or attempted and continue to build upon these intentional efforts.Please click on the following to learn more: EDI Plan “

Reead more: https://www.act-sf.org/home/about/ mission_values_edi.highResolutionDisplay.html

AMERICAN PLAYERS THEATRE “APT acknowledges the demands made by We See You White American Theatre and the BIPOC Living Doc Equity Action Plan. We are grateful for the labor these documents represent. We are reviewing the demands in full, and in this living document will be transparent about our responses.”

Read more: https://americanplayers.org/about/antiracism

AMERICAN REPERTORY THEATRE “Following our Initial Commitments and Actions published on September 2, the A.R.T. is releasing today the first of our ongoing quarterly reports to update our audiences, artists, and community on action steps to build anti-racist and antioppressive practices into our structure, culture and governance. The A.R.T. BIPOC Affinity Group and the We See You White American Theater collective have set A.R.T. on a new path with their clear demands that envision a way of making theater and performance that is anti-racist and equitable for all.”

Read more: https://americanrepertorytheater.org/about-us/ anti-racism-accountability/

ARVADA CENTER “In the past, we have made progress on our journey towards inclusion - community members and organizational leaders have committed time and resources to this effort and the groundwork has been laid. This past work is important for providing a launching point, but we have yet to see the type of meaningful change that will allow every visitor, every staff member, and every volunteer to feel welcomed and accepted as they are. We have heard the ringing voices of the Black Lives Matter movement and the We See You, White American Theatre collective and now, we are elevating this work in order to move us closer to becoming a more inclusive place. The journey will be long and certainly not instantaneous, there will be bumps along the way and we are prepared to undertake this imperative work. The actionable steps to be taken by the Arvada Center fall into a variety of areas - areas that will be examined through a formal process that includes the Employee IDEA Task Force and the IDEA Committee of the Board of Directors. These areas include…” Read more: https://arvadacenter.org/about-us/idea

ARS NOVA “On July 8, a collective of multi-generational, Black, Indigenous and People of Color theatermakers released a “comprehensive but by no means exhaustive” list of demands for the White American Theater. This powerful document can be used as a guidebook for both becoming an anti-racist organization, and for communally co-creating an anti-racist theatrical landscape. Ars Nova both honors and is grateful to the collective for their labor creating and sharing this document, and acknowledges that their demands stem from the years of exclusion, exploitation, and erasure of their Black and brown bodies and stories by predominantly white arts and culture institutions. We recognize that we are one of these predominantly white organizations, and that we have been both complicit in and the beneficiaries of the same culture of white supremacy and anti-Blackness that has caused them harm. Read more: https://arsnovanyc.com/accountability

ARTISTS REP “October 2020, management staff from ART and The Actors Conservatory began working through the We See You White American Theatre document’s demands for Academic and Professional Training Programs….” Read more: https://artistsrep.org/about/anti-raciststatement/

BALTIMORE CENTER STAGE “To the We See You White American Theatre Organizers and the BIPOC theater community: We hear you. We hear that you have experienced erasure, harm, silencing, and exclusion by the predominantly white institutions that control much of the American theater, and we understand Baltimore Center Stage has been complicit in, and the beneficiary of, this culture of white supremacy. We know this reckoning is long overdue. We know. We acknowledge that the #WeSeeYouWAT demands outlined by BIPOC artists from across the country are born of decades steeped in centuries of racism, white supremacy, and antiBlackness. Eradicating these ills may seem impossible, but we will not let a failure of imagination keep us from doing our part in fulfilling our highest ideals. To that end, today we share not our first steps, and not our last steps, but our next steps toward what the We See You WAT organizers call “a truly sustainable, antiracist theatrical ecosystem.”

Read more: https://www.centerstage.org/about/socialaccountability/

BARRINGTON STAGE COMPANY “Barrington Stage Company is grateful to the creators of the We See You White American Theatre document for producing a clear call to action for our theatre and industry. We understand and acknowledge that this list of demands stems from the harm caused to BIPOC artists and theatre professionals over generations of racist policies.”

Read more: https://barringtonstageco.org/accountability/

BIKE CITY THEATRE COMPANY “We’ve been reading and internalizing the actions outlined in “BIPOC Demands for White American Theater” from We See You White American Theatre and the “BIPOC Equity Action Plan” from the Bay Area Living Document. Based on our company’s extant goals, our resources as a small, non-profit organization, what we’ve begun to learn from our internal audits, and with specific attention to intersectionality, we commit to the following:” Read more:

https://bikecitytheatre.org/ diversityequity-statement

BROKEN NOSE THEATRE “December 8th marks six months to the day that demands from the We See You, White American Theatre movement were released. On September 24th, we announced that our staff would be combing through the document and reexamining our policies as a means of ensuring that we continue to grow as an anti-racist organization. In acknowledgement of tomorrow's six-month milestone, we wanted to share with you the following steps we have taken thus far:”

Read more: https://brokennosetheatre.com/

CAL SHAKES Cal Shakes Artistic Director Eric Ting said the choice to open the venue came after a company-wide period of reflection following the death of George Floyd and the publication of “The Living Document of BIPOC Experiences in Bay Area Theater” and the “We See You, White American Theater” document. “We have spent all of this time thinking that the art was the way to effect change,” he told The Chronicle. “What if the art itself is no longer enough? What if what we really need to be thinking about is how we as an organization exist in relationship with our community?”

He added, “If we were to be able to open the Bruns again in summer 2021, we wanted to make sure we weren’t the only ones returning.”

Read more: https://calshakes.org/lets-get-on-the-samepage/

CENTER THEATRE GROUP “In June, we as a community shifted our focus to the long-standing systemic inequities that have continued to plague our society as much as any pandemic. While Center Theatre Group’s Leadership issued our own Commitments to Change, we also received letters from individuals and groups urging us to do better and go further. These letters included communications from an organized group of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) staff within Center Theatre Group and the writings of our colleagues making up We See You White American Theatre. We are very grateful for the courage and strength these individuals and groups showed in sharing their demands and reflections and we wish to lift up and share our appreciation for the incredible labor that has gone into their work. We hope to honor this vital work in our actions and transformations. We fully recognize that Center Theatre Group has been complicit in the culture of white supremacy and anti-Blackness that dominates our field and society. We are committed to ease and heal the hurt and anger people have experienced and to become the anti-racist organization our entire community needs. We are committed to using this space on our website to report on our actions and to remain accountable for our own Commitments to Change and to the demands of our colleagues.” Read more: https://www.centertheatregroup.org/about/socialaccountability/

CENTRAL WORKS “Central Works recognizes the demands made by We See You White American Theatre and the BIPOC Living Doc Equity Action Plan. We are aware of, and are grateful for, the extensive amount of labor that went into these documents. We are meeting this effort with labor of our own. Our Artistic Leadership, our Board, our Policy Committee, and our Planning Committee are meeting often to evaluate where we stand on the demands before us, and to initiate transparent, speedy action, with timelines.”

Read more: http://centralworks.org/racial-justice-actionplan/

CHAUTAUQUA THEATRE COMPANY To We See You White American Theater and the Theater Community at large, Chautauqua Institution is dedicated to the exploration of the best in human values and the enrichment of life through a program that explores the important religious, social, and political issues of our times; stimulates provocative, thoughtful involvement in creative response to such issues; and promotes excellence and creativity in the appreciation, performance, and teaching of the arts. Chautauqua Theater Company (CTC) is the theatrical arm of the Chautauqua Institution and as such, we are an extension of the Institution’s mission to create work and conversations through the Arts with and for the Chautauqua community. The Institution has historically attracted white patrons and we recognize our complacency in not combatting a system of white supremacy. The Institution continues to open doors, open thought, and provide space for non-white and Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) to feel welcome in our physical spaces and to participate equitably in our programming. We acknowledge that in many ways our reality does not match our ideal of being a welcoming and accessible community. Simply put, we recognize and are motivated by a central question: “How can we engage in the important conversations of the day, if not everyone is equitably part of the conversation?” In order to help our community answer that question, the Institution is actively searching for an inaugural Chief Diversity Officer to steward this work throughout the organization, anticipating a start prior to next summer’s season.

http://chq.org/about-ctc/inclusion-diversity-equity-

CHICAGO SHAKESPEARE “evolving into an actively anti-racist and antioppressive organization now becomes an ongoing priority and practice. We fully commit our time, attention, and resources to this important work. We will be open and honest with ourselves and our community as we address our progress as well as our challenges and shortcomings. Over July and August, we have taken the following steps: • Led by Chicago Shakespeare Theater’s Director of HR, Diversity and Inclusion Ty Woodfolk, we are building an Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion plan that focuses on eight foundational aspects of our work: Inclusive Artmaking; Diversity in Casting; Recruitment and Hiring; Diverse and Equitable Leadership; Diverse Board Representation; Culture, Retention, and Professional Development; Communication (internal and external); and Education and Community Engagement.

• Our industry continues examining theater’s embedded structural inequities and shining light on ways in which we can address them (including We See You WAT… Read more: https://www.chicagoshakes.com/about_us/ ourcommitment

Cincinnati Playhouse

“WESEEYOUWAT, We appreciate your communications and are committed to making an American Theater that is just and equitable for all.” “I am pleased to confirm that we have distributed and discussed the demands with our leadership team, staff, and with the executive committee of our Board. We are in the midst of healthy and necessary conversations right now. I am confident that these discussions will indeed lead to concrete actions in the near future. ” “We will continue to share updated goals, action steps, and progress with you -- in solidarity.”

Read more: https://cincyplay.com/about/DEIA-Commitment

CITY THEATRE COMPANY

“On July 8, 2020, a coalition of hundreds of Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) theatermakers from across the country released a comprehensive set of demands for moving toward a just and equitable American Theater. The We See You White American Theater (WSYWAT) organizers invited City Theatre to make a public response about which Demands we would address first.We have welcomed the opportunity to interrogate our organizational culture and practices. Over the last five months, City Theatre staff and board have crafted the following response. We remain immensely grateful to the WSYWAT organizers for their critical contribution to the field. We are confident the demands will prove a catalyst for transformational change for City Theatre and our peers around the country.” Read more: https://citytheatrecompany.org/edia/

CLOUDGATE THEATRE “We recognize that the American theatre has long upheld white supremacist cultural values that exclude, exploit, and misrepresent BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) individuals, communities, and cultures. The staff and board of Cloudgate Theatre are working through the We See You White American Theatre list of demands and developing plans to address them. We look forward to sharing those plans with our community soon.” Read more: https://www.cloudgatetheatre.com

COLT COEUR “SOCIAL JUSTICE STANCE AND COCO To ensure that we are a community that commits itself to the We See You White American Theater document, social equity and anti-racist practices, we heavily consider who we work with and make a promise to prioritize BIPOC collaborators and works that reflect our core values and our mission. We are grateful for the generosity of the WSYWAT creators and acknowledge the deficiency in the make-up of our programming and collaborators historically. We commit to amplifying and nurturing the work of Black, Indigenous and POC artists and recognize the tremendous value these artists add to our company and our world.”

Read more: https://www.cloudgatetheatre.com

CROWDED FIRE THEATRE In response to the powerful and necessary We See You White American Theatre and Regional Living Document demands, the humans who make up Crowded Fire want to let the wider community know where we stand and what we are working on together. Crowded Fire became the organization it is today thanks to the Bay Area’s BIPOC theater community. This company’s work, culture, and organization could not have emerged without these artists — we artists — and we marvel every day at the support, trust, and power that we have cocreated together. Artists of every background have found real opportunities for growth here and agency in their work. Read more: http://www.crowdedfire.org/on-equity-andjustice/

DELAWARE SHAKESPEARE “In the long-term, Delaware Shakespeare has established a board-level working group tasked with developing anti-racism policies within six months (by the end of January 2021). This process shall include, but not be limited to: 8. Examining the #WeSeeYou White American Theatre BIPOC Demands; assessing how Delaware Shakespeare has fallen short in creating the supportive work environment detailed in the document; including policies to address shortcomings in overall anti-racism policies

READ MORE: https://delshakes.org/2020/08/anti-racismnext-steps/

DENVER CENTER “The unprecedented challenges of 2020—the closing of our stages due to a health pandemic that has disproportionately harmed Black, Indigenous, and Latinx communities; a renewed cry for racial justice around the globe; the collective soul-searching of a nation shaping its identity and future path— has given us a renewed energy to do the critical work of reimagining our organization while vholding firm to our most cherished values: integrity, respect, excellence, innovation, equity, diversity, and inclusion. The reflection spurred in the local, regional, and national theatre field by the interconnected struggles of the Black Lives Matter movement and the collective voices of We See You, White American Theatre has provided us a new opportunity to restate our unequivocal commitment to building a more inclusive organization, where every team member, artist, student, audience member, and community member feels welcomed, respected, and affirmed. A place where we all belong.”

Read more: https://www.denvercenter.org/news-center/ our-commitments-to-you/

DETROIT PUBLIC THEATER “In June, in direct response to the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery and in alignment with the #BLACKLIVESMATTER movement, Detroit Public Theatre made a public statement of solidarity with BIPOC members of our community, pledged action, and committed to deepening the use of our work in service of justice and equity. Shortly after, We See You White American Theatre published a public letter which for Detroit Public Theatre served as a call to action for justice and equity—not only in our society but also specifically in our industry and within our company. Detroit Public Theatre is grateful for this call to action and for the leadership and emotional and intellectual labor that the We See You White American Theatre coalition has devoted to creating a movement for essential change in the field. The initial letter and the list of demands released by the coalition in August have been a crucial guide to the board of directors, the leadership, and the staff of Detroit Public Theatre. These demands have become one of our most important tools to ensure DPT is a just and equitable theatre that lives up to our founding vision—we believe they are a foundation on which we can build a just and equitable American Theatre. The demands have also caused us to look deeply at harmful practices of our industry and to examine and reckon with harm we have caused Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) members of our community, our own complicity in systems of white supremacy, and the ways in which we benefit from those systems. Thank you for this guidance.” Read more: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/558ccb03e4b0750606e2a303/ t/5f7f595c9c3b73368ac8a7e5/1602181470697/ WSYWAT+DPT+Letter+Final.pdf

DIVERSIONARY THEATER “Diversionary Theatre announces their AntiRacism Action plan as a response to the We See You White American Theatre and the Black Lives Matter movements. Regarding their new plan, Executive Artistic Director, Matt M. Morrow says, “I think the action plan speaks for itself. We are incredibly grateful to WSYWAT and the clarity of its authors around what needs to happen to cure racism and eradicate injustice in our industry. Working on this has been invigorating for all of Diversionary as an institution and we look forward to integrating this work into our everyday life at our company.” Read more: https://www.diversionary.org/press-releasediversionary-theatre-announces-their-anitracism-action-plan/

ENSEMBLE STUDIO THEATRE “all of us at Ensemble Studio Theatre were immediately aware of the We See You document and list of demands when they came out and we are very much in support of this movement. We have shared and discussed the comprehensive list with the full staff, our Board and our Members Council that represents our large ensemble of artists. The staff has begun a series of meetings where we are going through the document item by item to understand what applies and make recommendations about the actions we can take. “

Read more: https:// www.ensemblestudiotheatre.org/ black-lives-matter

EVERYMAN THEATRE

“To the We See You White American Theatre Organizers, our staff, our artists, and the wider Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) theatre community: Everyman Theatre acknowledges that allyship is an action, not a title we give ourselves. This Statement of Solidarity and accompanying list of commitments represent where we have begun and will continue to implement the advocacy we promise. This list will evolve as we implement each change and prioritize new action items.” Read more: https://everymantheatre.org/everymantheatre-stands-solidarity

FORWARD THEATER CO “Since FTC’s founding, we have been deeply invested in being an equitable, diverse and inclusive company. We are expanding that work to become actively Anti-Racist – inspired by a national moment of reckoning in our industry and the efforts of Black, Indigenous and other People of Color in the professional theater world who have shared their vision for a better future in multiple forums (most notably the We See You White American Theatre demands document).”

http://forwardtheater.com/about/our-edianti-racism-work

GOODMAN THEATRE “We express our appreciation for the diligence of our industry peers, whose work has helped to raise collective consciousness. In particular, We See You, White American Theater (a collective of BIPOC theater makers); …..” “Creating a culture of opportunity for all—on stage and off—at Goodman Theatre Draft as of January 31, 2021 Hate has no home at Goodman Theatre. As we approach our Centennial Anniversary (2025), the course we chart prioritizes how we will use our art, assets and resources to contribute to a more just, equitable, anti-racist society. In looking ahead, we uplift the efforts and individuals that established the Goodman's decades-long commitment to three core values—Quality, Diversity and Community—that have paved the way to this moment. Today, we build upon that foundation by sharing this living document—our Action Plan for Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Anti-Racism and Access (IDEAA) at Goodman Theatre—established by the Goodman Equity Leadership Group. A collaborative effort involving participation at every level of the organization, the following plan has been approved by the Goodman Board IDEAA Committee the full plan has been submitted for the Board's review and approval.” Read more: https://www.goodmantheatre.org/About/ Accountability/

GRITTY CITY REPERTORY THEATRE “Reflecting on the powerful and necessary demands in We See You White American Theatre and the BIPOC Living Doc Equity Action Plan, the people who make up GCRep's staff and board recognize the need for immediate action. We will update this webpage throughout the upcoming season with our progress and actions as our plan develops and unfolds.”

Read more: https://www.grittycityrep.org/antiracist-action-plan

GUTHRIE THEATER “Thank you for your patience as we have been combining the valuable thinking of groups in the national community (such as We See You White American Theatre and Black Theatre United) as well as that of members of our Twin Cities Black theater artist community, our board and staff, and our regional, national and international BIPOC colleagues. Last week we updated our website to reflect our current actions and commitments to anti-racism workhttps://www.guthrietheater.org/anti-racismwork-and-commitments/. We are continuing to examine pathways to greater equity at the Guthrie and in the field and as stated on our website we will make updates to these actions and commitments as they happen or are identified.

Read more: https://www.guthrietheater.org/anti-racism-workand-commitments/

HANGAR THEATRE COMPANY “This process will not be short, nor will it be easy. We are here to listen, to learn, and to change. We acknowledge that these commitments do not absolve the Hangar of any past participation in systems of oppression, and that the work to become an actively anti-racist organization cannot be done in isolation. These action items have been inspired by the Hangar EDI committee and a variety of organizations, including Black Femmes United of Ithaca College and the We See You White American Theatre movement. As this document and this institution evolve to better serve the BIPOC communities that call the Ithaca area home, please let us know how we can do better. info@hangartheatre.org"

https://hangartheatre.org/about/edi/

HARTFORD STAGE “Thank you for sending this living document. We are engaging in this work in tandem with local community partners and leaders of color in Hartford and Greater Hartford. Some of it is public facing and some of it is internal. We have distributed your document to our current staff and dedicated a weekly senior team meeting to address white supremacy culture and inequity at the organization. We have encouraged all staff to create their own individual personal and professional EDI/anti-racism plans. Our Board began a six-month BEDI (Belonging, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion) Training series under the guidance of a local facilitator, whose goal is to develop an assessment and action plan specifically for the board. All of these tools, spaces and relationships help support a conscious co-creation of the ways Hartford Stage will implement change and transformation at our organization working towards a safer and more equitable space for BIPOC theatermakers, patrons, partners and students. We hear you and we see you.” REad THEIR STATEMENT: https://www.hartfordstage.org/

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HUDSON VALLEY SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL “We are grateful to the Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) members of our community who have generously provided us with resources and courageously shared their experiences. We’ve looked to these calls for change and equity from We See You White American Theatre and the Broadway Advocacy Coalition, among other sources, to guide us in this work. We know the eradication of these systems will not happen overnight, and we recognize that the actions we share today are only the first step in a comprehensive and ongoing process. We approach the work of shifting our practices and culture with humility, and we acknowledge that this evolution is long overdue.” Read miore:

https://hvshakespeare.org/novembercommitments/

IATSE LOCAL 887 Dear BIPOC Theatermakers, Thank you for your letter, BIPOC Demands for White American Theater. We are members of IATSE Theatrical Wardrobe Union Local 887, representing wardrobe technicians and costume shop personnel in the Seattle area. We provide the important technical and interpersonal relationship between performers and their costumes, before, during and after their time on stage. We wish to acknowledge the extensive collective effort expressed in your letter. We appreciate the attention you have drawn to the white-centric systems and standards that perpetuate racism in the theater industry. We have heard your words and your demands. Our response is meant to affirm our shared goals to uplift, center, and celebrate the contributions of artists of color, and to take responsibility for creating a more equitable and anti-racist work environment. We believe it is especially important to address these issues during this time of heightened racial injustice, the challenges of the pandemic, and the downturn in the economy. It has been difficult to accept that our work is not considered “essential.” However, we anticipate that the arts will be essential to achieving the entwined goals of social and economic healing by restoring our sense of purpose and community.” Read more: https://iatse887.org/index.cfm?zone=/unionactive/ view_page.cfm&page=Dear20BIPOC20TheaterMakersvv

KEEN COMPANY “Keen Company is acutely aware that we cannot fully live up to our mission of identification and connection until our organization and spaces are safe and welcoming for everyone - artists, audiences, staff, and especially the most vulnerable among us. On July 8, a multidisciplinary and multigenerational coalition of hundreds of Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) theatermakers from across the country released a comprehensive set of demands for moving toward a just and equitable American Theater. Keen Company is grateful for their work in naming the specific ways racism permeates predominantly white arts institutions, including ours. We also appreciate the meaningful education and advocacy offered by groups such as Broadway Action Network. Inspired by and in support of these efforts, the Keen Company staff has been meeting weekly to discuss the demands detailed in the We See You White American Theater document, in an effort to thoroughly examine our policies and practices. As a public commitment to become an anti-racist theater, below is an outline of our first steps towards addressing systemic racism at Keen Company. We hope the commitments below serve as a measure of accountability for the work ahead this season. This is a living document, which will evolve and grow along with our staff and organization..” Read more:

http://www.keencompany.org/keen-commitment

LA JOLLA PLAYHOUSE “With guidance from our BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) staff members, artists, and community members, rigorous and urgent anti-racism conversations are occurring within every department at La Jolla Playhouse. While in recent years we have aspired to and have taken steps to make our organization more inclusive, we have not always been consistent in our actions. As a result, we recognize we have created barriers that exclude BIPOC artists, staff and audiences from full participation in our organization. In order to become a theatre that is more representative of, and welcoming to, BIPOC voices, and honoring the calls for change from our BIPOC community and We See You White American Theatre, we are making these first steps public so that we may be held to account for our commitments: “

Read more: https://lajollaplayhouse.org/wp-content/ uploads/La-Jolla-Playhouse-Anti-Racism-ActionPlan-9-2.pdf

LONG WHARF THEATRE “On June 8 a collective of over 300 BIPOC theatre makers known as We See You White American Theatre issued a letter addressing systemic racism in our field. Then, a month later, on June 8, a call to action was issued. … We at Long Wharf are seen by this letter. We are part of the White American Theatre that has caused harm to the BIPOC community and we accept the call to transform. “ READ MORE: https://www.instagram.com/p/CEcLyeijCKB/? utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

MAGIC THEATRE “In response to the We See You, White American Theatre and The Living Document demands, we have developed a plan of action designed to establish and maintain equity in our company. We are grateful for the care and labor these documents represent. Some of these changes have been implemented. Others will take time to be mindfully implemented. Our plan, as it currently exists, is detailed below.”

REad more: http://magictheatre.org/inclusion-andanti-racism

MANHATTAN THEATRE CLUB In July, when we received the call to action from We See You, White American Theater, we were further emboldened and inspired to join in a necessary and important mission. Real change requires CONSCIOUSNESS first. In the last months, we have reviewed the initial document sent by We See You, White American Theater, discussed and reflected, listened and learned. We have expanded our awareness and opened our eyes to the realities, pain, and anger experienced by our colleagues. And we commit to addressing these inequities Read more: https://www.manhattantheatreclub.com/edi/

MARIN SHAKESPEARE COMPANY “On June 1, following the protests ignited by the murder of George Floyd, Marin Shakespeare Company put out a Statement of Solidarity. Since then, our staff and board have begun the ongoing work of examining every aspect of our operations to determine how we can become an anti-racist organization. We have studied the We See You White American Theatre and Bay Area Living Document work, and participated in many trainings and peer convenings. On August 31, we issued a Statement of Commitment"

Read more: https://www.marinshakespeare.org/ accountability/

MARIN THEATRE COMPANY “We have read and are engaging with the demands issued in the BIPOC Equity Action Plan, the "We See You White American Theatre" document, and the testimonies of racism experienced in our Bay Area Theatre community, as recounted in The Living Document. We hear you. We believe you. We join you in actively working to dismantle racism at every level of engagement at our theatre. We are committed to developing the tools to hold ourselves accountable. We will not place that burden on our BIPOC colleagues. This is our work.” READ MORE: https://www.marintheatre.org/about/ accountability

MATT ROSS PR “As a small, white-led and staffed office charged with representing a wide and diverse array of theatre and interests, it is not enough for us to work towards anti-racist practices without clear action steps and commitments. The work is ours to do. We also acknowledge that addressing the inequality in our field does not address our broader culture of racism, and the unimaginable violence and injustices that are committed against BIPOC on a daily basis, and that work to dismantle that racism must be done as individual citizens. But in our professional capacity, there are changes we can and must make. In response to the calls for equity from so many – including but not limited to We See You White American Theatre - we commit to the following: …”

Read more: https://sdrep.org/action

SAN FRANCISCO SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL “On May 31, 2020, after the murder of George Floyd, SF Shakes, like many other predominantly white organizations, published a statement in support of Black Lives Matter. Shortly thereafter, Black, Indiginous, and People of Color (BIPOC) theatre artists around the country created a statement in response, called “We See You, White American Theatre (WSYWAT)”. This was followed by a Living Document of Bay Area BIPOC artists (Living Doc) sharing their personal experiences of racism in our theatre community, and in legacy-white institutions like SF Shakes. Both groups then published action plans of demands for changes to our institutions. We see the work of the communities that created WSYWAT and the Living Doc as generous and the resulting documents incredibly helpful... On August 6, 2020, we published our commitment to continued action and accountability around the demands of both WSYWAT and the Living Doc. A list of our current actions and immediate next steps is below. Our next update will be made on 1/31/2021. We have also added a page to our web site as a repository for these updates.” Read more: http://www.sfshakes.org/about-us/anti-racismupdates/wsywatlivingdoc-sf-shakes-update

SANTA CRUZ SHAKESPEARE “We acknowledge and are grateful for the work done by Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color (BIPOC) both nationally and locally to document their experiences of oppression in the theatre. We are indebted to We See You White American Theatre, the BIPOC Equity Action Plan, and the Bay Area Living Document. These testaments have provided a road map for the critical work that must be done to ensure that our theatre spaces and communities become truly equitable and inclusive. We commit ourselves to this work.”

https://www.santacruzshakespeare.org/ solidarity-statement/

SARAH LAWRENCE COLLEGE “Sarah Lawrence College Theatre Program wants to thank the creators of the BIPOC Demands For White American Theatre for their labor in putting together their document of demands. We have shared it with our college administration and staff/ faculty in the Theatre Program and we are sharing our actions and plans today with our students, program, and publicly. We support the We See You White American Theatre movement and demand of ourselves these anti-racist actions and policies. We ask other colleges, universities, and professional programs to join in acknowledging and dismantling the oppressive curriculum, pedagogy, and systems in our training and work. Our students, staff, and faculty returned this month and we are continuing to organize as a community on anti-racist change and actions. We would like to share our working document of actions and plans in response to the BIPOC Demands For White American Theatre. We are working through these demands and taking action as a community, program, and college…” Read more:

https://www.slctheatre.com/post/bipoc-demandsfor-white-american-theatre

SEATTLE REP “To anyone who hasn't felt seen, heard, or included, or has experienced harm within Seattle Rep’s spaces, we are deeply sorry. We thank you for holding us accountable and calling us in to do our work in this space. We want to express our gratitude to We See You White American Theatre …” READ MORE : https://www.seattlerep.org/about-us/antiracism-and-accountability-update/

SHAKESPEARE THEATRE COMPANY “we thank you for sharing with us the important living document "BIPOC Demands for White American Theatre." We are encouraged by the progress we have made over the last several years, including the development of an active EDI committee as well as dedicated senior leadership representation for this work. We take further encouragement that many of the ideas in your Demands for White American Theatre document are ones that have surfaced in our own internal processes and are being worked into STC's Anti-Racist Action Plan.”

Read their statement: https://www.shakespearetheatre.org/about/ equity-diversity-inclusion/

SHAKING THE TREE THEATRE “Shaking the Tree is committed to the work of dismantling racism and anti-blackness Here is a living document of our growing and evolving list of commitments, many of which are inspired by We See You White American Theater's list of demands (weseeyouwat.com). Keep an eye on our progress, and let us know what you think about the work we're doing HERE. Shaking the Tree's Anti-Racist Ethos Shaking the Tree (StT) acknowledges the harm that has been done to members of the BIPOC community, and women (especially BIPOC women) through the oppressive practices of racism, white supremacy, and patriarchy, and we are committed to consciously countering this harm through ever evolving anti-racist practices that include harm reduction, harm prevention, and relationship repair. “

https://www.shaking-the-tree.com/about.html

SIGNATURE THEATER (NYC) “We thank We See You WAT for their labor in holding us accountable during this time of much needed reckoning. We have started to evaluate our various structures and are working with our board, staff, artists, and community on how to address and implement these necessary changes. “We at Signature Theatre acknowledge the receipt of the email from We See You, White American Theater. We have shared the demands with our senior team, who have been reviewing and discussing them, as well as with our resident playwrights, full-time staff, and board for discussion. We are building a timeline to implement the anti-racism goals outlined in our solidarity statement. As we undertake the essential work to build a more just, equitable and anti-racist company, we are considering a range of views and will engage with a variety of people to develop a plan tailored for Signature. We will report a fuller list of action steps publicly, after we have discussed, gauged what we can afford, and built accountability systems for ourselves. In the meantime, we’ve outlined below our initial action steps.” Read more: https://signaturetheatre.org/News/Equity-DiversityInclusion-Access.aspx#WSYWAT

SIMPATICO THEATRE Simpatico Theatre would like to acknowledge our part in perpetuating the systemic racism that is deeply embedded in the American Theatre industry. We recognize that throughout our sixteen years of operation we have upheld harmful systems of oppression, and benefited from white privilege in ways we are just beginning to fully understand. Moving forward we commit to centering the voices of the global majority on our stages, in our artistic, administrative and Board leadership, and in the stories we tell. Earlier in 2020 a community of BIPOC theatre makers came together to call in the White American Theatre (WAT) to action and change and we are indebted to their work. Over the past few months the staff and Board of Simpatico have been conducting a selfassessment based on the full list of demands released by We See You WAT. This month we will begin to pair that work with an intense and personally tailored anti-racism education and training program with Laura Hinds of Hindsight Consulting Group. The entirety of the white staff and Board of Directors of Simpatico Theatre will participate in this training and share our work and action plan with transparency in January 2021.

Read more: https://www.simpaticotheatre.org/arao

SINGLE CARROT THEATRE “As a white led organization, Single Carrot Theatre acknowledges the myriad ways it has historically and continues to uphold white supremacy, some of which we have learned and others that we do not yet see. We acknowledge how our organization fits within the non-profit and arts sectors that uphold white supremacy. We have committed long term to the work of transforming our organization to dismantle systems of oppression and all the ways they manifest within our organization. Single Carrot Theatre is working to dismantle white supremacy by following the demands of We See You White American Theatre, a collective of BIPOC artists calling out white supremacy in the theatre industry and demanding change. You can learn more about them www.weseeyouwat.com.” READ MORE: https://singlecarrot.com/

STEEP THEATRE “An essential part of our work, both now and in the future, is the process of eradicating white supremacy from our art and our organization. Guided and inspired by the work of the generous people who wrote and assembled the We See You White American Theatre Demands, Steep’s ensemble, board, and staff are working together to educate ourselves while we audit, interrogate, and revise Steep’s policies, processes, and distribution of responsibility. Minimizing harm and striving for equity touch every facet of our organization from where we order our printing to how decisionmaking authority is distributed, and we are grateful to have a designated budget line and the time we need to support these efforts.”

Read more: https://steeptheatre.com/antiracism

STUDIO THEATER In the theatre, those calls have taken specific form in a series of demands issued from the We See You, White American Theater collective (We See You, WAT). Many artists who have created theatre at Studio for years helped shape these demands, which are a critical and instructive contribution to the well-being of the field and of our company. Since our staff returned from furlough in July of 2020, a committee comprised of the entire senior staff and others throughout the organization has been meeting weekly. This group has been examining our systems, structures, practices, and behavior, using the We See You, WAT demands as our framework. A Board committee, working in parallel to the staff committee, is focusing on questions of governance, membership, and Trustee leadership. Read more: https://www.studiotheatre.org/about/values/ anti-racism-at-studio

SYRACUSE STAGE “ Syracuse Stage stands firmly against racism and discrimination. We pledge to stand with underrepresented and oppressed communities and to advance anti-racism in all aspects of our work, including the outward facing, public dimension of our creative endeavors and the less visible internal practices of the organization. Guided by the initiative of the We See You White American Theatre movement, Syracuse Stage undertook a full staff study of the WSYWAT document in June. An anti-racism staff workgroup met throughout the summer and made immediate and far reaching recommendations to staff leadership. This summer, Syracuse Stage convened an antiracism staff workgroup to identify opportunities to enhance inclusivity in all of its activities. Each department was then charged with identifying specific action steps that would move Syracuse Stage toward achieving many of the WSYWAT demands. “ Read More: https://www.syracusestage.org/antiracism.php

THE OLD GLOBE “We acknowledge the work we must do to address these inconsistencies and undo the structures and practices that result in inequities. Now, amid urgent calls for a real response to these issues in all sectors of society, and with powerful input from BIPOC community members, artists, staff, and others both in San Diego and nationally, including the We See You White American Theatre demands, the Globe has embarked on a series of reforms to intensify and accelerate necessary change at all levels of our institution.”

https://www.theoldglobe.org/the-oldglobe-social-justice-roadmap/?id=40036

THE PLAYWRIGHTS REALM “Inspired by the We See You White American Theatre movement and acknowledging the intentional and unintentional harm we have caused, we've conducted a full internal review of best practices and next steps in our ongoing commitment to being an antioppressive, anti-racist organization, with a public accountability document compiled in December 2020. For more information, visit our Mission and Values page!”

Read more: https://playwrightsrealm.org/missionvalues? _ga=2.196208869.878669732.1611964751-19 79483369.1611964751

THE VAULT THEATER “B&B was grateful to receive the BIPOC Demands for White American Theatre put out this summer by the We See You White American Theatre (WSYWAT) movement, created by members of the Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) theatre communities. As a predominantly white institution located in a state that has a history as a “white haven” founded on anti-Black and anti-Indigenous practices, our theatre company has traditionally been dominated by the white narrative privileging white bodies, voices, practices, policies, and experiences above all else - and we know we have much work to do. Over the past several years B&B has begun to address the systemic injustices present in our company – work that has been reenergized and catalyzed by (1) the pause in our operations imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has afforded us the time and space to do this work; (2) the murder of George Floyd and the subsequent social uprising, which has deepened our fervor; and (3) the gift of the Demands document, which has so thoughtfully provided an ongoing roadmap for continuous learning, rethinking, and rebuilding. This is a living document, providing a summary of our most immediate work and priorities in addressing the WSYWAT Demands; it will be updated every 6 months, shared throughout our company and our community, and posted on our website. This is crucial and challenging work, and we strive to stay accountable; to take tangible, meaningful steps towards repairing relationships with our BIPOC community; to re-educate our current audience base as we ourselves learn; and to improve our culture throughout every area of Bag&Baggage in a way that centers the BIPOC experience.”

Read more: https://bagnbaggage.org/wsywat-bnb-response/

THEATRE J “As our community and country grapple with the trauma of centuries of racial injustice, groups like We See You White American Theatre and our own community of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) artists have told us that our initial steps have not gone far enough and that we have caused and continue to cause harm and pain, which we acknowledge. With humility, Trinity Rep thanks them for their labor in documenting and communicating important demands for our industryand organization. Their voices have been guiding our conversations in truly meaningful ways in recent weeks.”

https://theaterj.org/values/

THEATRE HORIZON “in June, a collective of over 300 BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) theater makers known as "We See you White American Theater" issued a letter addressing the systemic racism in our field. In July, a list of demands was published for institutions across the theater world. At Theatre Horizon, we have heard the call. We recognize that we are part of White American Theatre that has caused harm to the BIPOC community and we accept the call to transform. The list of demands identified in "We See You W.A.T" is an opportunity for our industry that we hope leads to radical change to dismantle white supremacist systems. We want to be part of that change.

http://www.theatrehorizon.org/about/ antiracism.php

Theater Latté Da “We See You Progress Update draft 10/12/2020 “Our board and staff are in the process of an organization-wide assessment to rebuild and reimagine our processes, plans and purpose with an anti-racist lens. Since July of 2020 Theater Latte Da has employed the following actions towards that goal….” (The theatre sets thirteen bullet points) “This is a progress report that represents our resolve. We are committed to continuing this work, to change and grow and see our industry embrace anti-racism and move forward with equity.” “I also want to take this opportunity to thank you for holding us accountable, and for providing thoughtful demands to help guide us as we strive to do this work well. “ Read their statement: https://www.latteda.org/idea

THEATRE PROMETHEUS “TO THE WE SEE YOU WHITE AMERICAN THEATRE ORGANIZERS AND THE BLACK, INDIGENOUS, AND PEOPLE OF COLOR THEATRE COMMUNITY We at Theatre Prometheus thank you for the comprehensive statement you released in June calling out long-established injustices and inequities that exist within our industry. We recognize the tremendous work that was put into creating these demands and honor the long history of unpaid labor provided by BIPOC artists to advocate for these systemic changes. You have done the hard part; outlining a clear, detailed roadmap for how to eradicate racism, oppression, and inequality in American Theatre. Now it is our responsibility to act upon this roadmap.”

http://theatreprometheus.org/accountability

THEATREWORKS “We believe that Black Lives Matter and that we must as a nation work together to dismantle structural racism that dehumanizes and destroys the black body. We are committed to making theatre that celebrates the human spirit and builds bridges between communities and individuals from diverse backgrounds. We are grateful for the work of groups like We See You White American Theatre and our own community of BIPOC artists and are listening when they tell us that we have not gone far enough. We acknowledge that we have caused and continue to cause harm and pain as our community and country grapple with the trauma of centuries of racial injustice.” Read more: https://theatreworks.org/antiracism/

TRINITY REP “ As our community and country grapple with the trauma of centuries of racial injustice, groups like We See You White American Theatre and our own community of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) artists have told us that our initial steps have not gone far enough and that we have caused and continue to cause harm and pain, which we acknowledge. With humility, Trinity Rep thanks them for their labor in documenting and communicating important demands for our industryand organization. Their voices have been guiding our conversations in truly meaningful ways in recent weeks….” READ MORE: https://www.trinityrep.com/antiracism/

UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA GREENSBORO “We are intentionally and urgently reconsidering the guest artists we bring to campus, our hiring processes, the production season, and our curriculum in order to create a more equitable, diverse and inclusive learning environment rooted in anti-racist and anti-bias pedagogical practices…. By viewing contemporary stories through the lens of these writers, we hope to elevate their experiences and allow their voices to help guide the discussions that are taking place in the School of Theatre. This project gives our students important performance experience (in a safe way during the pandemic) and allows us to continue our focus on new works. If your commitment aligns with the over 85,000 people who have signed the We See You White American Theatre petition demanding change for BIPOC theatremakers…” Read more

https://vpa.uncg.edu/theatre/performances-andevents/theatre-angels/

VINEYARD THEATRE “In July, a group of more than 300 Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) theatre artists, as We See You White American Theatre, released a series of demands to create “a truly sustainable, anti-racist theatrical ecosystem.” We are grateful to them and other BIPOC leaders in our field for making explicit the ways inequity, bias and racism show up in the American theatre. Their calls to action amplified the urgency for true systemic change, and made it clear that we must take concrete action to be a fully antiracist organization.”

https://www.vineyardtheatre.org/accountability/

WAM THEATRE We are reflecting, both individually and as a team, on where we are now in our AntiRacism work and how we can be held accountable to those most impacted by manifestations of white supremacy going forward. We will share those accountability actions, and how those put us on the path towards reparations, in the coming months. We are working in service of the list of demands from We See You White American Theatre and in alignment with the cultural competency work WAM started with BRIDGE in 2016, and Kristen started with Nicole Brewer in 2019. Read more: https://www.wamtheatre.com/july-2020statement/

WE PLAYERS “The recounting and collection of stories from the BIPOC community about the unacceptable behavior they’ve endured from legacy white organizations and the leadership of those institutions is the foundation for The Living Document and We See You White American Theatre. These documents have made obvious the painful inequity and overt bias in our community. We extend our deep gratitude to all those who shared experiences, knowledge, and resources to both documents. We acknowledge the pain and cost of both time and emotional energy in the creation of these valuable guides to instruct and inform this necessary work. Thank you.” Read more: https://www.weplayers.org/antiracismmanual

WESTPORT COUNTRY PLAYHOUSE

“Separately, we meet weekly to review the BIPOC Demands for White American Theater. Item by item, we are examining what each demand asks of us, we are assessing our progress in achieving those demands, and we are acknowledging our responsibilities…” READ MORE: https://westportplayhouse.org/about-us/ equality-inclusion/

William Morris Endeavor To We See You WAT Our agency pledges to lead as an anti-racist organization through a range of measures spanning leadership, employee engagement & retention, recruitment and strategic partnerships, as well as through philanthropic and activist efforts. We hope our clients continue to view us as devout advocates for their professional endeavors and the communities they represent and seek to engage. The primary demand expressed to talent agencies in your documentation is page 15’s “We charge talent agencies to remember we exist.”

Read their statement: http://www.wmeagency.com/responsibility/

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WILLIAMSTOWN THEATRE FESTIVAL “As part of an extensive EDI initiative launched in 2019, this year the full-time, year-round staff of WTF participated in training led by artEquity and completed an analysis, through an anti-racism lens, of extant decades-old practices and customs at the Festival; further inspired by the demands of the We See You, White American Theatre, the staff reflected on the current culture of the Festival. Across departments, immediately and in a phased manner ahead, changes will be implemented to continue WTF’s commitment to being an inclusive, equitable, and anti-racist or..” Read more:

https://wtfestival.org/work-learn/

WILMA THEATER To the We See You White American Theatre Coalition and all BIPOC theatermakers “We, the Wilma Theater’s Cohort of Artistic Directors, Managing Director, and Board Chair and Vice Chair (the Wilma’s Leadership Team), wish to thank you for and respond to the demands made by your coalition on June 8, 2020. The tremendous work you have done to amplify the voices of BIPOC artists in our industry is immeasurable. As a predominantly white institution, we join you in your deep desire to eradicate racism, oppression, and inequity in American theatre and we owe a debt of gratitude to you all for creating a document that puts into detailed language the many ways this work can be accomplished. We wish to honor your effort with a thoughtful, action-oriented response, followed by our long-lasting commitment to change. The Wilma has taken the last few months to use the document to engage in an expansive self-assessment in order to recognize where our policies and practices align with the demands and where to seek better alignment. We chose to reflect on the ways in which the demands relate to the specifics of our organization, and respond with what we can commit to now, with an additional commitment to keep investigating and evolving. This is a first attempt at stating where we are and where we want to go. We expect our plans to evolve, especially as we begin a facilitated process. We are excited to share our observations and commitments as they stand, and look forward to sharing updates as we continue the work of becoming an anti-racist organization, furthering the good work begun by the We See You White American Theatre Coalition.” https://wilmatheater.org/blog/our-response-to-we-see-youwhite-american-theatre/

WOLLY MAMMOTH “To the We See You White American Theatre Organizers and the Black, Indigenous, and People of Color theatre community: In early June, we released a statement outlining Woolly Mammoth’s commitment to struggle against racism and antiBlackness in the American Theater, in alignment with the #BLACKLIVESMATTER responses to the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and far too many other Black individuals. Soon after, the We See You White American Theatre collective released its own statement regarding the harmful and exclusionary practices of our industry, and followed up with a list of demands calling for “long overdue change.” We at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company hear your demands. We understand that we have been put on notice. We want to first express our sincere gratitude for the tremendous labor that went into the creation of the list of demands, which serve as clear and present evidence of the harm Black, Indigenous, and People of Color theatre artists and administrators experience in our field. Woolly acknowledges its complicity in upholding and benefiting from the white supremacist structures that cause so much suffering. As we work to root out these oppressive practices, we cannot and will not erase the fact that they have happened, and are still happening. We must do better…”

Read more: https://www.woollymammoth.net/we-see-you-wat

Womens project theatre “we are so grateful for the labor and deep introspection that went into this list of demands. We grieve that the labor was necessary, but are grateful for the generosity in the creation and offering of these guideposts to a better, more equitable American theater. The entire WP staff is currently engaged in an ongoing, moderated conversation to reckon with the demands, and how best we can implement sweeping change in WP’s practices. We are engaged with an expert facilitator who will lead and shape the conversation, to allow for shared leadership and collective learning, and to break down power dynamics among us. It feels important to us to take the time to engage deeply and collectively with the demands, so that the change that takes place at WP is as authentic, deep and organic as possible. This conversation will take time and work, but our conversation is not meant as a substitute for action. We look forward to sharing outcomes throughout our process, and to the newer, better WP that will emerge as a result of engagement with WSYWAT’s demands. Thank you for helping us see ourselves, and thank you for the conversation and action you have spurred.” Read more: https://wptheater.org/commitments/

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YALE DRAMATIC ASSOCIATION “We deeply appreciate the labor that BIPOC artists and organizations have invested in theatre accessibility and accountability. Specifically, this document was written in response to the We See You White American Theatre campaign created by and on behalf of BIPOC theatremakers. The Dramat is deeply appreciative of the artists and administrators who created their e xtended demands document and other anti-racist theatre resources. We also recognize the work of the BIPOC members of the Dramat community, both past and present, who have committed disproportionate amounts of emotional and physical labor making the Dramat more equitable even as they continue to be mistreated. We will endeavor to make the Dramat a more caring, equitable, and just institution so that Dramat members and members of the Yale theatre community are not additionally harmed due to their race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, (dis)ability, or socioeconomic status..”

https://yaledramat.org/plan/

YALE REPERTORY THEATRE “In addition, since we last wrote on this subject, we have received the dauntless demands of the We See You White American Theatre collective which, we are proud to say, includes many alumni and current faculty members of the School of Drama as signatories. We regard these demands as a generous contribution to the future well-being of our field, and as a vital launching pad to initiate our own analysis with regard to planning a return to both production and in-person training when public health practices permit.”

https://yalerep.org/equity-diversity-inclusion/ourcommitments/

EDITED 3/8/2021 to add more institutions

MORE TO COME …

KEEP ASKING QUESTIONS. KEEP WHITE AMERICAN THEATRE ACCOUNTABLE.

IF your institution does not Have an anti-racism plan, Please send them the DEMANDS & the PRINCIPLES. THESE ARE LIVING DOCUMENTS CREATED ONLY BY BIPOC.

THIS MOVEMENT is By you and for you.

YOURS.