He was the director of a festival in St. Louis then, where he garnered praise for taking Shakespeare out of the theater and onto the city’s public streets; casting neighborhood residents alongside professional actors.
In Dildine’s words, a theater’s programming “is its destiny.” To him, theater is local. It builds community. And the stories projected from its stage matter.
4 comments:
Reading this particle put a smile on face. I am glad to know that there is an effort being put in to show the diversity that is true to the community surrounding Alabama Shakespeare Festival. It is very interesting that one of the goals of this theater company is to build community but it has not done a good job of reflecting its community. It is also interesting that the idea of change might not be welcomed by people who think that theater should stick to its traditions. Theater inspires change and it needs to be an evolutionary space for it to remain relevant in today's society and community. I also appreciate the fact that there are efforts being made to make theater more accessible in terms of the price of tickets, it should not be a thing of luxury that only rich white people should enjoy. I appreciate the fact theater is beginning to recognize that diversity should not just be represented on stage only but also off stage behind the curtains.
It's really interesting that this is a new modern thing, and like so progressive to start reflecting theatrical practices with the community that it surrounds. The entire article takes this 'look at us' 'we're so progressive' attitude that you usually see at smaller Shakespeare festivals as if its such an amazing feat that people of color are suddenly being represented onstage. I think that Alabama Shakespeare festival needs to rethink the way that they decide to publicize their new found diversity without it being a revelation or some type of treat for the season. Honestly, the season should just speak for itself, especially when they're doing shows like Pipeline, this article makes it sound like every person of color and every show that is prominently black is being chosen as apart of a diversity initiative. Something that would be beneficial for this theatre festival to practice, is to celebrate the fact that the shows that are being chosen, are some of the best of the modern American theater cannon and thats why its being performed, not just so they can stop being looked at as racist.
When you have the statistics lined up, or just think about it in general, it is extremely sad and embarrassing how little involved people of color and women tend to be in theater in the past. I feel like it has only been more recently that people are advocating to bring equality in support of everyone within theater. For so long it has been old white men designing and directing theater. At the Tony awards it's only ever them winning awards. I hope this change is occurring quickly enough. Once more people learn that theater is meant to support communities and build and share relationships, then people will have to give others more and equal chances. I mentioned this in another blog post, but Ava DuVerney is doing this. She opened up a center for women and people of color to display their work. Hopefully more people like her and this man, Rick Dildine, can help change the world of theater and inclusivity in this community.
-Pablo Anton
I am amazed by how Dildine respond to the invitation from the theater. This is much easier saying than actually taking action to change the current state of the theater industry as a whole. The number it self is so staggering, 95% of the Broadway and 87% of all performances are written by certain group of people. Not only pointing out the fact straight forward, the director showed he's totally determined to commit to the true equal right standard of shaping a production. Further down the road, Dildine also focused on helping the local community forming a new identity, as inviting the playwrights that originated from the southern states. Personally I am deeply moved by such a deed, since I am trying to learn the language that my grandparents use back in 1950, I can totally understand how important it is to form and preserve the local history. I am so interested in how this will play out, and I will make sure I keep following this up.
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