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Ethics

Content in this section engages with questions and ideas around moral principles and standards of behavior when making theatre. Start with Adam R. Burnett’s essay “Before Resilience: The Ethics of Theatre Production” or the videos from the convening “Build from Here: The Future of Ensemble Theater with FoolsFURY Theater Company,” which includes conversations about labor ethics, project finance reform, and more.

The Latest

Finding the Individual in Your Digital Choreography Library
Podcast
Finding the Individual in Your Digital Choreography Library
by Tjaša Ferme, LaJune McMillian
15 February 2024
Using Technology to Heal Trauma
Podcast
Using Technology to Heal Trauma
by Tjaša Ferme, Heidi Boisvert
11 January 2024
Resisting “Yes, And” Culture and Learning to Say No
Essay
Resisting “Yes, And” Culture and Learning to Say No
by Sara Božin
8 January 2024
four people posing
The Responsibility of the Artist-Critic
Essay

The Responsibility of the Artist-Critic

1 August 2019

Kitty Drexel and Regina Victor, both artists and critics, talk about working through biases, accountability, transparency, and more.

politicians giving a press conference
The Necessity of a New Green Federal Theatre Project
Essay

The Necessity of a New Green Federal Theatre Project

30 July 2019

Karen Malpede argues that significant theatrical engagement with the climate crisis cannot occur in the United States without governmental intervention, and looks at the Federal Theatre Project as a model.

two doors and a wall with post-it notes and large paper notes
Drawing a Line
Essay

Drawing a Line

Addressing Sexual Harassment in our Theatre Communities

17 July 2019

Dawn M. Simmons, John Meredith, and Jen Lewis, from New England’s StageSource, discuss where progress needs to happen to address harassment in the theatre industry.

two acting books
#MeToo and the Method
Essay

#MeToo and the Method

13 June 2019

Holly L. Derr looks at the history of the Method, where it deviates from Stanislavsky’s System, and the connection between the Method and the behavior called out by #MeToo.

a group of people
How to Model a Healthier Professional Culture That Benefits Marginalized Artists and Administrators
Essay

How to Model a Healthier Professional Culture That Benefits Marginalized Artists and Administrators

1 May 2019

Carl(os) Roa offers thoughts on how organizations can create healthier workspaces, weaving in ideas from artists at Philadelphia Young Playwrights and Applied Mechanics.

It Doesn't Have to be #MeToo
Event

It Doesn't Have to be #MeToo

Progress of Education and Prevention in The Theatre

In recognition of National Sexual Assault Awareness Month, Yvette Heyliger of the League of Professional Theatre Women and HowlRound Theatre Commons facilitated a Twitter chat to discuss about preventing sexual harassment, misconduct, and assault in the creative workspace.

Thousands of airplane icons covering the continents and oceans on a 2-D map of the world.
What’s Your Vision for a Post-Carbon Arts Sector?
Essay

What’s Your Vision for a Post-Carbon Arts Sector?

17 April 2019

Within the context of the new emergency climate change deadline of 2030, Vijay Mathew encourages the nonprofit arts sector to completely divest from fossil fuels by no longer using air travel for conferences, shows, or any other programming while offering models and solutions to help our thinking about transitioning to a post-carbon arts future.

Can We Really Tell Whose Butts Are In Our Seats?
Essay

Can We Really Tell Whose Butts Are In Our Seats?

1 September 2017

Producer, dramaturg, and grant writer Heather A. Beasley writes about the challenges and ethics of collecting audience demographic data, and offers a radical proposition.

If You Don’t Have Anything Nice to Say, Say it Anyway
Essay

If You Don’t Have Anything Nice to Say, Say it Anyway

22 July 2017

Abbey Fenbert encourages people to speak out when they are in uncomfortable situations, even if it feels challenging. 

Still from a production of Night of the Living N-Word.
The N-Word on Stage
Essay

The N-Word on Stage

9 February 2017

In light of a recent controversy at a New Jersey high school, Jonathan Mandell talks to theatre artists about their views on using or not using the n-word in shows.

Guns Onstage are a Model for Guns Offstage
Essay

Guns Onstage are a Model for Guns Offstage

7 November 2016

Charlotte Canning discusses gun violence in theatre, and film, taking a close look at safety policies and regulations for firearms on set.

Six Hundred and Ninety-Two Million
Essay

Six Hundred and Ninety-Two Million

On Art, Ethics, and Activism

22 October 2016

Theatre practitioner Caridad Svich on art and activism and After Orlando.

How to Handle Microaggressions in Theatre
Essay

How to Handle Microaggressions in Theatre

2 July 2016

Actor Lashad Beck shares his tips for dealing with cultural microaggressions during a production.

Independent Contractors and the American Theatre
Essay

Independent Contractors and the American Theatre

10 November 2015

Daniel B. Thompson addresses the common practice of theatre companies misclassifying their workforce as independent contractors for tax purposes.

O Be Careful, Little Eyes, What You See
Essay

O Be Careful, Little Eyes, What You See

Combatting Censorship as a Christian Theatre Artist

9 November 2015

Playwright Joseph D’Ambrosi advocates the need for Christian theatre artists to reevaluate censoring plays for the sake of faith-based themes.

Theatre in a Fly-over State
Essay

Theatre in a Fly-over State

Seeking Consent in Theatrical Places

12 October 2015

In his third installment, Eli Keel discusses the ethics of seeking consent from actors in theatre settings.

On the Merits of Yellowface
Essay

On the Merits of Yellowface

Why Casting the “Best” Actor for the Role Is Actually Just a Selection of Bias in a Racist System

9 October 2015

Nelson T. Eusebio III addresses the argument that the “best” actor must always be cast in a role, regardless of race.

History Is Not Just For The British
Essay

History Is Not Just For The British

6 October 2015

Playwright Rehana Lew Mirza argues that those who defend producing The Mikado using yellowface on the basis of its “historical significance” are supporting centuries of imperialism and oppression.

Before Resilience
Essay

Before Resilience

The Ethics of Theatre Production

17 April 2015

Adam R. Burnett looks at resilience in theatre, how artists seem to forget where they’ve been, and the ethical responsibilities in the production of production.

A Conversation with Paula Vogel, Teo Castellanos, and Will Power
Essay

A Conversation with Paula Vogel, Teo Castellanos, and Will Power

8 September 2013

P. Carl talks to Paula Vogel, Teo Castellanos, and Will Power about politics, diplomacy as artists, and the lines they will or will not cross

The Twitter logo.
Weekly Howl on hashtag #newplay
Essay

Weekly Howl on hashtag #newplay

"Realism: Friend and Foe"

22 July 2013

The Weekly Howl is a peer-produced, open-access discussion about theater culture and contemporary performance that happens in real-time on Twitter using the hashtag #newplay.*

Join us Thursday, July 25 for the Weekly Howl on hashtag #newplay at 11am PDT – 12pm PDT (Los Angeles) / 1pm CDT – 2pm CDT (Austin) / 2pm EDT – 3pm EDT (New York) / 18:00 GMT – 19:00 GMT / 7pm BST - 8pm BST (London) / 8pm CEST - 9pm CEST (Berlin). Click here for an automatic conversion into your local time.

 

This week's topic: "Realism: Friend and Foe"

The Twitter logo.
Weekly Howl on hashtag #newplay
Essay

Weekly Howl on hashtag #newplay

How do current social and political events impact our role as artists?

15 July 2013

This week's topic is: How do current social and political events impact our role as artists? and will be moderated by Dominic D'Andrea @DominicDAndrea and Gus Schulenburg @GusSchulenburg.

Logo for Natasha Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812.
"Vulgarians," "Vigilantes," and the Great Cell Phone Smashing of 2013
Essay

"Vulgarians," "Vigilantes," and the Great Cell Phone Smashing of 2013

12 June 2013

After an upset theatregoer throws another audience members phone across the theatre, questions were raised about what behaviors are considered respectable in the theatre

Candid photo from President Obama's 2012 victory speech.
Does the American Theater Have the Same Problem as the GOP?
Essay

Does the American Theater Have the Same Problem as the GOP?

23 May 2013

By examining audience and leadership demographics, Rebecca Stevens draws a comparison between the GOP and American theatre.

Two performers in A Trip to Bountiful stand side by side while looking upward and smiling.
The Not-So-Bountiful Trip to Broadway
Essay

The Not-So-Bountiful Trip to Broadway

24 April 2013

Alisa Solomon shares the complex history of A Trip to Bountiful's journey to Broadway.