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Fighting for Social Justice in Theatre Practice

This collection of articles explores the economy of the performing arts sector and its impact on theatremakers and their art. 

actors onstage
Economic Precarity and Resiliency in Theatre
Essay

Economic Precarity and Resiliency in Theatre

an American Psalm

29 August 2018

Playwright Caridad Svich reflects on the economic reality of working in theatre.

How Can You Turn Awareness into Action?
Essay

How Can You Turn Awareness into Action?

A Roadmap Toward Economic Justice for Theatre Folk

29 June 2017

Matthew Clinton Sekellick discusses moving beyond awareness with action, advocating for theatre artists and administrators to join forces with existing social justice movements.

Where Are The Women?
Essay

Where Are The Women?

6 May 2014

The New York Times posed this question on April 29 when the Tony nominations were announced. It’s a problem that’s getting long in the tooth: for years we’ve known that over 60 percent of the ticket buyers and “butts in seats” are women, and yet less than 20 percent of the stories staged are written, directed or designed by them. Hmm.

Against Entrepreneurship
Essay

Against Entrepreneurship

9 December 2016

Matthew Sekellick argues that identifying as entrepreneurs is not merely a survival strategy, but a false consciousness that alienates us further from our fellow artists and artisans. As theater artists, what we have to do is … imagine a world outside the confines of the present: a world beyond the horizon of entrepreneurship.

Becoming a White Man in the Theatre
Essay

Becoming a White Man in the Theatre

11 July 2017

After a comment storm on a recent HowlRound post about bias in criticism in the American Theatre, P. Carl addresses how the democratization of the arts is a form of inclusion.

Acting in Solidarity
Essay

Acting in Solidarity

Working for a Living Wage

16 October 2015

Matthew Sekellick explores what New York’s proposed minimum wage increase would mean for theatre artists.

What Do We Really Want? Creating a Union for Actors in Romania
Essay

What Do We Really Want? Creating a Union for Actors in Romania

20 March 2017

In this installment of a new series leading up to the IETM Plenary Meeting in Bucharest, Theodor-Cristian Popescu writes about being an actor in Romania.