Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Summer 2021 Update:

In May 2021, the Theatre Program held a week-long retreat with guest artists and all full- and part-time faculty members.  A major topic was our commitment to inclusivity.  Each person shared takeaways from the various diversity/ equity /inclusion trainings we have attended in this past season.  We then brainstormed ways we can become more inclusive. 

Here are the main changes:

1. We examined Theatre Fairfield processes and agreed on revisions to our standard practices that will make our production process more equitable.  We now have new processes in place for:

• play selection
• choice of guest artists
• student outreach for productions
• audition process
• first crew meetings
• first rehearsals
• rehearsal process
• construction process
• performances
• strike

2. We have entered into a partnership with the office of Student Diversity & Multicultural Affairs.  Theatre Fairfield will host all their performances in the Wien Black Box Theatre, providing the venue, technical expertise, as well as front-of-house services.  We will collaborate on season planning, meshing the TF calendar with performances offered by the office of Student Diversity & Multicultural Affairs.  The first event will be a performance and presentation by Redhawk Native American Dancers, Monday, November 1, 2021.

3. We collaborated on writing our Theatre Program Commitment to Inclusivity statement, which  will be included in all Theatre course syllabi.  The bullet points are posted in our classrooms, rehearsal spaces, and shops.

"Theatre transports us into an infinite variety of lives and experiences, where we can deepen our understanding of what it means to be human.  Theatre artists and scholars build empathy, celebrate diversity, examine our beliefs and practices, encourage global citizenship, and empower all people.

Therefore, in our classes, rehearsals, and labs we are mindful of the diversity of backgrounds and perspectives that are represented.  We--as a group--shall foster a learning environment free from discrimination of any kind, including: gender and gender identity, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, military or veteran status.

Conversation and conduct will always reflect respect for self and others.  To do this, we will:

• Be kind (to your peers, your professors and yourself)
• Allow everyone a chance to speak
• Listen respectfully and actively
• Criticize ideas, not individuals
• Commit to learning, not debating
• Avoid blame, speculation, inflammatory language
• Avoid assumptions about others

Any actions disregarding these policies and procedures, particularly those resulting in discrimination, harassment, or bigoted acts, will be immediately and collectively challenged."

The great work continues,

Lynne, Marti, Anne, Julie

Summer 2020 Update:

While we, the Theatre Program faculty members, are continually working to improve our curriculum and production practices, we recognize that this historic moment demands we take bigger steps towards active anti-racism.

We as a faculty will continue to embrace diversity in all areas of our teaching and production work.  This includes our pledge to make racially responsible and sensitive casting choices, and to further enrich our TF community by seeking out a diverse pool of actors and guest artists, and to continue to incorporate plays that lift up all voices in our courses and our TF seasons.

As this is an important inflection point, we also want to address this matter more formally. To help us do this work, we are founding a Theatre Program Anti-Racism Taskforce. 

The Taskforce will be a group of faculty, staff, current students and alumni who:

• seek guidance and anti-racism training from experts, both on and off campus
• engage with alumni, current students, and faculty from other departments to build community
• engage in anti-racism training
• meet regularly to develop an action plan in service of adjusting both curriculum and production practices to meet this moment of cultural change
• develop and implement both short-term and long-term anti-racism best practices
• acknowledge and apologize for past practices that fell short of anti-racism goals
• share our plans, and other anti-racism resources here on the TF website

We are still working out our first steps of this task force.  When we have finalized the details, we will share them here.  We value our alumni as theatre artists, and allies in anti-racism efforts, and hope they will partner with us in these efforts. 

The great work continues,

Lynne, Marti, Anne, Julie