How Black Creatives Are Working to Shake Up Broadway and Implement Lasting Change

  • 📰 Variety
  • ⏱ Reading Time:
  • 64 sec. here
  • 3 min. at publisher
  • 📊 Quality Score:
  • News: 29%
  • Publisher: 63%

United States Headlines News

United States Latest News,United States Headlines

When Stephen C. Byrd began producing on Broadway 16 years ago, he and his partner Alia Jones-Harvey were usually the only Black faces they saw in the business. “We would walk into marketing offices…

When Stephen C. Byrd began producing on Broadway 16 years ago, he and his partner Alia Jones-Harvey were usually the only Black faces they saw in the business. “We would walk into marketing offices, PR firms, general management offices, and there was no one that looked like us, ever,” Byrd recalls. “We would question it when we went in. ‘Why aren’t there people of color here?’ We felt strange sitting at the table.

The Great White Way has, since its inception, been exactly that — mostly white: There are few people of color, and the industry’s prime ticket-buying demographic remains predominantly white as well. The sweeping efforts underway aim to change the face of Broadway at last, from the stories told onstage to the decision-makers behind the curtain to the audiences who fill the seats.

“We knew we had a platform together, and there was some influence there that collectively we could wield,” says another BTU co-founder, Schele Williams, a director at work on a reimagined production of Disney’s “Aida” as well as a musical adaptation of “The Notebook.” “We needed to insist that our industry not only have the conversations but really have some structures and some accountability.”

Joint commitments across all groups include the abolishment of unpaid internships; support for an industrywide digital training program for equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging that theater owners will develop this fall; and the promise never to discriminate against anyone due to hair texture. Overall, the New Deal document encompasses more than 10 pages of specific commitments, with further summit meetings planned once every six months through 2024.

 

Thank you for your comment. Your comment will be published after being reviewed.
Please try again later.

Seems a little peculiar to include data from before the civil rights act of 1964.

Honestly, if you want more diversity in the audience- make Broadway less expensive and more accessible. Heck, revive and create Regional Theater. Why should NYC be the only place in the country with live theater? (Barring a few exceptions here & there?)

Diversity is mediocrity

ItsLaDarrion

We have summarized this news so that you can read it quickly. If you are interested in the news, you can read the full text here. Read more:

 /  🏆 108. in US

United States Latest News, United States Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

Column: Reintroducing the series 'Black L.A.: Looking at Diversity,' 39 years later'While Black people did indeed make great strides ... the media’s portrayal of us was still mostly 2-dimensional: the tragedy of rising crime & failing schools, or the glittery exploits of professional athletes and rich entertainers,' writes SandyBanksLA SandyBanksLA good luck SandyBanksLA Truth
Source: latimes - 🏆 11. / 82 Read more »

Amazon Is Releasing Epic Daily Deals This Month And It Feels Like Black Friday Came EarlyNew deals throughout the month on brands you love, and savings *right now* on AirPods, Kindles, Beats headphones, Le Creuset, and more.
Source: BuzzFeed - 🏆 730. / 51 Read more »

Bubba Wallace becomes 1st Black driver to win NASCAR Cup Series since 1963Bubba Wallace made history by becoming just the second Black driver to win NASCAR's Cup Series race, matching 1963 winner Wendell Scott's rare accomplishment blackexcellence Amazing! Let's keep driving forward for more representation on the track, and deeper and constructive dialogue for more opportunities for other off the track for future generations. BubbaWallace In peace. Rain delay…but still a win. Hope he doesn’t find any more “nooses” again…we know how that turned out last time
Source: cnnbrk - 🏆 393. / 55 Read more »

With “Yung Everything,” Deto Black Is Poised for World Domination'I just want girls to feel strong. I want people to start seeing their feminine side as powerful, strong, and free—nobody should ignore that side.' - DetoBlack
Source: InterviewMag - 🏆 484. / 51 Read more »

Bubba Wallace becomes first Black driver to win top NASCAR race since 1963Wallace became just the second Black driver to win at NASCAR's top Cup Series level when rain stopped Monday's playoff race at Talladega Superspeedway. Congratulations BubbaWallace So proud of your hard earned accomplishment.👏👏👏🤸‍♂️🤸‍♀️🤸 'Define woman. A woman is One with one hole too many.' 'All these ball-less creatures.!' -- Dennis The Menace, Dennis The Manasslubber, An Alien Who Fell From The Sky. You are way fucking late holy shit
Source: NBCNews - 🏆 10. / 86 Read more »

Bubba Wallace becomes 1st Black driver to win NASCAR Cup race since 1963“Stay strong. Stay humble. Stay hungry. Been plenty of times when I wanted to give up,' he said after the win. Congratulations 🌟💫✨ I always see how people keep talking about lisamiaBTC on Twitter so I decided to give it a try and it worked out perfectly for me also, she knows in and out of cryptocurrency....contact her for more details about Bitcoin investment, nobody handles business like she do. Congrats BubbaWallace 🎊🎉
Source: TODAYshow - 🏆 389. / 55 Read more »