“Following Hairspray’s lead, it’s time for licensing companies to work with authors to implement casting requirements for roles of color. These roles were written for specific BIPOC’s and should be guaranteed to be portrayed that way.”

“Through theatre, I was given a map to navigate the overwhelming experience of childhood loss. I often wonder, almost ten years later, what route my grief would have taken if not for the positivity taught to me through theatre?”

So your friend has auditioned for your show.

Before casting them in the role that they have written down on the audition form, go through this checklist to make sure you’re not practicing nepotism, which in the workplace, is illegal!

“I grew up in a predominantly white suburb of Chicago and went to an almost all-white middle school. When I was in seventh grade, my teacher gave us two options and we had to vote on which one to do. After deciding we didn’t have enough boys to do “West Side Story,” the class chose “Hairspray.” And so the nightmare began.”

“With the new call to arms for high schools to increase black presence on their stages, I don’t feel it’s a progressive step to have those performers play roles that perpetuate stereotypes or serve only as window dressing. That’s not fulfilling any type of call to action. So there are two popularly produced plays that I feel should be avoided by high schools that truly want to embrace and welcome black students to get more involved in their theatre departments.”

“Last week, theatre director Eric Holsen was notified that his position will be recommended to be cut in next year’s school budget. If the school board agrees with that recommendation, South St. Paul, MN students will be without their theatre director for the first time in a decade. To make matters worse, the recommended alternative doesn’t make fiscal sense and hurts theatre students even more. “

“Thank you all for inspiring me and pointing me in the right direction. Perhaps now I too can do the same for the performers of tomorrow, which makes whatever the outcome, all seem worthwhile.”

“I’m proud that our program is free and inclusive for the students, but we also receive no funds from any other sources. So, I had to get creative and come up with ways to stretch my budget. Here’s what works for me.”

Georgia's "Shuler Awards" will still be held, despite several schools being disqualified because they closed due to the coronavirus before their performances were adjudicated.

“Last week a theatre teacher in Lincoln, NE was officially fired after admitting to using a racial slur in an exchange with a student during a rehearsal.”

“I have found if actors feel as though they have a friend in each castmate, it creates an environment where they feel trust and support.”

“Producing Neil LaBute’s work is oppressive to womxn, people of size, people of color, people with disabilities, and many other groups, while simultaneously putting money into the hands of someone known to be problematic and hurtful. Keep your theatre life safe and healthy, and truly consider your choice before producing, or working on, a Neil LaBute piece.”