06/10/2020
An Open Letter to the (White) Tulsa Theatre Community:
(Why an open letter? We have proven that when left to our own devices, we can not be counted on to create an equitable and safe place for BIPOC theatremakers, so I am using a public platform to hold us accountable. Screenshot this post! Tag theatremakers! Contribute ideas!)
I have been ruminating on the events taking place across the country, specifically the Black Lives Matter movement and the global response to the horrific violence against Black people in America.
This week, I was made aware of a national campaign called We See You, White American Theatremakers written by The Ground We Stand On, a community of over 300 and counting BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) theatremakers demanding “a more equitable and safe space for BIPOC communities in our nation and inside of the American Theatre.” Their full statement and more information can be found here.
I have been greatly inspired by the vital and overdue changes taking place across the country, but I know that I am complicit in the need for such changes. As a white person, I have benefitted immeasurably from the color of my skin, and have not been an effective ally in creating a space that is equitable and safe for BIPOCs. We as white theatremakers have failed our BIPOC peers, through our actions and through our inactions. Exclusion is an act of violence. Failure to make space for BIPOC is an act of violence. Silencing BIPOC theatremakers is an act of violence.
It is not enough to recognize our privilege as white people; we must use it to bring about effective change and empower BIPOC artists. We must be anti-racist. I have a proposal for a few actionable things we can do to support, uplift, and give space to BIPOC theatremakers. I think this will serve as a great start to racial equity in Tulsa theatre.
As the President of Heller Theatre Company, I vow to use my position and invest my creativity, time, energy, and passion to build an equitable and safe space for BIPOC communities in Heller. We have taken steps in the past to work with and tell stories by and for BIPOC, but it is not enough, and we have not been as diligent or consistent as we must be. This changes now, starting with me. After a unanimous vote from our Board of Directors, Heller Theatre Company is making the following commitments, effective immediately. Personally, I vow to only work with companies that make the following commitments and I challenge other white allies to do the same.
1. WE MUST STOP CASTING WHITE ACTORS AS PEOPLE OF COLOR!
I vow to only work with companies that commit to never casting white actors as people of color again.
We must all commit to stop the racist practice of casting white actors to portray people of color onstage. Not only is this blatantly racist, it denies opportunities to BIPOC actors. Just one example: Heller Theatre Company and Theatre Tulsa both cast white actors to portray Native people this past season, with the latter darkening her skin with makeup. I am absolutely ashamed I allowed whitewashing to take place in a production I produced; my silence acted as another act of violence. I am deeply sorry and I will not make this mistake again.
I challenge every theatre company in town to make the commitment: We will not cast white actors to play people of color ever. And I challenge white allies to commit to only working with companies that can make that commitment.
Further, I challenge theatre companies to embrace "color-conscious casting," which does not seek to ignore race (as in "colorblind casting"), but acknowledges the ways in which race changes and deepens theatre.
(Further Reading: https://www.onstageblog.com/columns/whitewashing-in-theatre-will-always-be-a-method-of-racial-exclusion; https://howlround.com/color-conscious-casting; https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/la-ca-cm-authenticity-in-casting-20170713-htmlstory.html)
2. WE MUST COMMIT TO DIVERSE LEADERSHIP!
I vow to only work with companies whose leadership reflects the diversity of Tulsa, and the world by committing to have at least 33% of the leadership roles (executive and artistic boards) filled by BIPOC by the start of the 2021-22 Season.
We must continue to diversify the leadership of our companies. If the people who are making the decisions in our companies are all in the same demographic, we can only effectively serve that demographic. In order to effectively serve BIPOC theatremakers, we need BIPOC engaged in the conversation and given an active part in the decision-making process. We must continue this now, but I understand it takes time to build relationships and recruit new leadership members; I think the 2021-22 Season (just over a year away) is a great goal to have 33% of leadership positions filled by BIPOC.
I challenge every theatre company in town to make the commitment: We will diversify our leadership to reflect the diversity of Tulsa, and the world and commit to having 33% of our leadership positions filled by BIPOC by the start of the 2021-22 Season. And I challenge white allies to commit to only working with companies who make that commitment.
(Further reading: http://www.tcg.org/Default.aspx?TabID=1544;https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/race-matters/201006/diversity-in-leadership)
3. WE MUST HIRE BIPOC!
I vow to only work with companies that commit to hiring BIPOC theatremakers in all disciplines.
We must hire BIPOC to work in all disciplines of theatre: directing, writing, acting, lighting design, sound design, set design, stage management, choreography, music director, etc. The voices, talents, and passions of BIPOC theatremakers are invaluable, and we must make equitable and safe space in our companies.
I challenge every theatre company in town to make the commitment: We will commit to hire BIPOC theatremakers in all disciplines. And I challenge white allies to commit to only working with companies who make that commitment.
4. WE MUST FUND CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR BIPOC THEATREMAKERS!
I vow to only work with companies that commit to continuing education for and by BIPOC theatremakers for free as part of an inter-theatre collective.
We owe it to our BIPOC theatremaking peers to provide resources and funds to offer ongoing educational and training classes for BIPOC theatremakers of all skill levels at no cost to the students. It is vital these classes are taught by BIPOC theatremakers. As Tara Moses (director, playwright, Artistic Director of telatúlsa, citizen of the Seminole Nation) put it: “White instructors teach Euro-centric theatre and ideologies - even if they have anti-bias training - and that then affects BIPOC artists. Being told what ‘professionalism’ means by a white person is rooted in white supremacy.”
I believe that if every theatre company in town works together, we can easily afford to fund continuing education for BIPOC theatremakers. We may also be able to apply for grants for this purpose. To that end, I have a proposal that benefits emerging and existing BIPOC theatremakers, established BIPOC theatremakers, every theatre company in town, and the audiences enriched by exposure to a diverse collection of stories. Here is the general vision and I look forward to the myriad ways we can work together to improve it:
A. In order to create a theatrical landscape that reflects the diversity of Tulsa and the world, I propose all of the Tulsa theatre companies pool our resources in an inter-theatre collective to offer FREE classes to BIPOC in a variety of theatrical disciplines: acting, writing, directing, lighting design/operations, set design, stage management, sound design/operations.
B. At least one class in each discipline will be offered for both Emerging and Existing BIPOC artists during both the 2020-2021 Season and 2021-22 Season (two each year). Additional classes will be offered throughout the year as needed to meet demand for each discipline. After the initial two years, we will readdress the needs and schedule classes to meet the demand.
C. Classes would be limited to small groups (size determined by instructor), and can be conducted online where possible. When it is not possible (hands-on experience is invaluable), all classes will adhere to strict sanitation guidelines to ensure the health and safety of everyone.
D. The instructors would be local, national, and global BIPOC professionals with experience in the field. Instructors will be fairly compensated for their time and work, paid collectively by the various theatre companies. Since theatre is in a flux due to COVID-19, it should be fairly easy to bring in people from outside Tulsa.
E. We will pay for PAC Certification tests for BIPOC theatremakers who wish to become certified, either with their existing skillset or after taking a class. (Stage Management, Light Design/Ops, Sound Design/Ops are the only ones, I believe.)
I challenge every theatre company in town to make the commitment: We will commit to funding free continuing education for BIPOC theatremakers as part of an inter-theatre collective. And I challenge white allies to commit to only working with companies who make that commitment.
I am committed to working together to create a safe and welcoming environment for BIPOC theatremakers in Tulsa and I challenge you to do the same.
Nick Lutke
President, Heller Theatre Company
