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Parenting and Caregiving

How can our industry better support parents and caregivers? For a long time, the needs of these groups weren’t openly spoken about in the theatre, but in recent years individuals and groups have begun advocating for them, pointing out that increasing access for caregivers will make our field more equitable for all. Dive into this conversation with the Parent-Artist Advocacy series, watch the archive of the 2019 Parent-Artist Advocacy League Summit, or read personal reflections on the challenges of being a parent in the theatre from playwrights Rachel Bonds and Mike Lew and Rehana Lew Mirza.

The Latest

Who Designs and Directs in LORT Theatres by Pronoun, 2012-2020
Essay
Who Designs and Directs in LORT Theatres by Pronoun, 2012-2020
by Porsche McGovern
6 November 2023
Staging Black Intimacies
Podcast
Staging Black Intimacies
by Jordan Ealey, Leticia Ridley, KAJA DUNN
4 October 2023
Playwright Caregivers
Essay
Playwright Caregivers
by Carlyle Brown, Catherine Filloux, Elaine Romero
6 July 2023
Re-Defining Motherhood and Advocating for Parent Artists
Essay

Re-Defining Motherhood and Advocating for Parent Artists

10 December 2017

Rachel Spencer Hewitt, PAAL founder, kicks off the parent advocacy in the arts series with an overview of the history of PAAL and a rationale for family-friendly practices in the theatre.

Playwright-Parents, Part One
Essay

Playwright-Parents, Part One

9 August 2017

Rehana Lew Mirza and Mike Lew document their first year as parents and Playwrights-in-Residence at Ma-Yi. 

Parenting and Playwriting
Essay

Parenting and Playwriting

Boundaries, Please

25 February 2017

Catherine Trieschmann sets rules to govern her daily news consumption. 

Parenting and Playwriting
Essay

Parenting and Playwriting

The Lady Doth Protest (but not enough)

25 January 2017

Catherine Trieschmann attends a political rally, but has trouble not criticizing it through a theatrical lens.

Parenting and Playwriting
Essay

Parenting and Playwriting

Killer Clowns, Donald Trump, and Other Ghouls

30 October 2016

Catherine Trieschmann on her children’s fears and the importance of Halloween.

Parenting and Playwriting
Essay

Parenting and Playwriting

No Talent, No Show

15 September 2016

Catherine Trieschmann coaches her daughter through the heartbreak of rejection from the school talent show.

Parenting and Playwriting
Essay

Parenting and Playwriting

Excuses

10 December 2014

In her latest installment, Catherine Trieschmann explores turning forty, leaky roofs, advice for parents on how to save money on childcare, and what to do when you’re working from home with your child.

Parenting and Playwriting
Essay

Parenting and Playwriting

Gotta Dance

31 July 2014

Nothing stirs my blood quite like the soft knock of toe shoes on a wood floor during a piqué. And so I admit, I may have exhibited a little too much enthusiasm when Laura, four, expressed a passing interest in taking a ballet class this summer.

Parenting and Playwriting
Essay

Parenting and Playwriting

Worksong

28 June 2014

My feelings are more complicated than merely wishing my children would share my love of theater, however, because what I really want is for my children to love the theater, to appreciate all their access, but have absolutely no desire to pursue it as a career.

Parenting and Playwriting
Essay

Parenting and Playwriting

In the Back Row

29 April 2014

A couple of months ago, HowlRound hosted a discussion about parenting and theater on Twitter hashtag #newplay, and perhaps the most interesting question to emerge from the discussion was simply: "Should I bring my kid to rehearsal?"

2014 Spelled out in lights.
Playwriting and Parenting
Essay

Playwriting and Parenting

New Year, New Me

29 January 2014

Maybe it stems from the being a creative personality or being behind in writing projects, Catherine Trieschmann questions whether a renewal of occupation will uplift her creative stagnation.

Parenting & Playwriting
Essay

Parenting & Playwriting

While I was Gone

8 November 2013

On this week's edition of Parenting & Playwriting with Catherine Treischmann: going away to work on your art.

Multiple actors clutch a brightly lit woman onstage.
Parenting and Playwriting
Essay

Parenting and Playwriting

18 September 2011

For Catherine Trieschmann, parenthood interrupted her playwriting process by taking up time that used to be spent daydreaming.

four strollers
Parent-Artist Advocacy
Series

Parent-Artist Advocacy

This series covers challenges faced by parent artists and builds on the work of the Parent Artist Advocacy League for the Performing Arts (PAAL), a national resource hub and all-parent, all-discipline league advocating for a national standard of best practices for parents in the performing arts.

Parenting & Playwriting
Series

Parenting & Playwriting

A series on balancing responsibilities as a working playwright and as a parent.