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Thursday, April 01, 2021
American Theatre Wing announces $1 million donation to Andrew Lloyd Webber Initiative
Broadway News: The American Theatre Wing has received a $1 million donation and matching challenge for its national initiative to support and diversify the next generation of theater industry professionals.
It's really great to see more initiatives that bring the arts to kids lacking access to them. I was lucky enough to go to a school district that funneled a lot of money into its performing arts departments and always made an effort to provide us with some if not satisfactory instruction and exposure. Since coming to CMU, I've met many people that had to go far outside of their schools to find some of the same opportunities that we were just handed. Starting off theatrical education at a young age can be so advantageous as it provides you not only with skills but an appreciation for the industry and an understanding of the work that goes into it. It's widely understood that theatre has tended to cater to and support white, well to do individuals and accessibility has been something it's been getting better about in the last few decades. It's always nice to see another group trying to broaden the audience and participants in the field.
I appreciated how both the article and The American Theatre Wing indicated that they are trying to promote more diversities within the theatrical performances, not only for the people who actually stand on the stage and get exposed to the public, but also for the people that might be working behind the sets. The target recipients being the BIPOC people and moreover the crew part of the production is really great to hear. Though it has been more than a decade since I first learned the name Andrew Lloyd Webber, I think the name still drags some type of admiration from my mind. Although I think that people cannot help performers getting more attention for certain occasions, because the area of interest or the purpose of the occupation are all different, I hope this kind of donations and supports could encourage more people to get involve with more productions with their own creativities.
I have always and will always be in support of giving as many people as possible access to the arts and education of the arts as well. It’s so great that the Andrew Lloyd Webber Initiative does just that. Elementary, middle, and high school students are among the next generation of theatre workers. It’s even better to see that the goal of the American Theatre Wing is to “support and diversify the next generation of theater industry professionals.” To put it bluntly, there have been too many straight white men running the industry, and a little more “flavor” could do everyone some good. Black or Latin neighborhoods are usually unfairly under-resourced. Their schools don’t have the resources needed in order to support students that may have a passion for the theatre arts, only leading to more straight white men running the theatre industry. By giving BIPOC students an equal chance, we will hopefully see more diversity in the theatre world.
This sounds great! I am always and forever in favor of an accessible arts education for all. I was very lucky to have a very advanced and reasonably well-funded theatre program and I had a great time. I wish more people were able to experience what I did, especially students of color, who, most likely, disproportionately do not get to have this type of experience. I am very pleased to hear that there are attempts and intentions to diversify theatre backstage by offering more opportunities to BIPOC theatre workers. I have met my fair share of straight, white, cis men who dominate the theatre scene, and while some have been very kind mentors to me, I am still wary of most and the role they play in the power structure of this industry. Hopefully, this will quickly lead to more diversity in theatre, onstage, backstage, and everywhere.
What an amazing initiative by the American theater wing and Andrew Lloyd Webber initiative to diversify all aspects of our theater entertainment. As Jysn said, which struck me the most about this donation and proposal is that not only do they want to promote more diversity with the people who are on stage, but efforts are happening to make sure that there are bipod theater workers backstage in all disciplines. As a BIPOC scenic Designer, It is important to see people who look like me in my place of work and to be able to express those ideas with all different sorts of people. Theater unfortunately has been a white male dominated industry for hundreds of years now. We must work actively to change this narrative, to diversified theater backstage and by offering more opportunities to BIPOC workers backstage. I think especially after the past year where we talked about how white American theater has been silently dominating our lives, it is nice to see a shift in perspective especially from the larger institutions that are part of our industry.
5 comments:
It's really great to see more initiatives that bring the arts to kids lacking access to them. I was lucky enough to go to a school district that funneled a lot of money into its performing arts departments and always made an effort to provide us with some if not satisfactory instruction and exposure. Since coming to CMU, I've met many people that had to go far outside of their schools to find some of the same opportunities that we were just handed. Starting off theatrical education at a young age can be so advantageous as it provides you not only with skills but an appreciation for the industry and an understanding of the work that goes into it. It's widely understood that theatre has tended to cater to and support white, well to do individuals and accessibility has been something it's been getting better about in the last few decades. It's always nice to see another group trying to broaden the audience and participants in the field.
I appreciated how both the article and The American Theatre Wing indicated that they are trying to promote more diversities within the theatrical performances, not only for the people who actually stand on the stage and get exposed to the public, but also for the people that might be working behind the sets. The target recipients being the BIPOC people and moreover the crew part of the production is really great to hear. Though it has been more than a decade since I first learned the name Andrew Lloyd Webber, I think the name still drags some type of admiration from my mind. Although I think that people cannot help performers getting more attention for certain occasions, because the area of interest or the purpose of the occupation are all different, I hope this kind of donations and supports could encourage more people to get involve with more productions with their own creativities.
I have always and will always be in support of giving as many people as possible access to the arts and education of the arts as well. It’s so great that the Andrew Lloyd Webber Initiative does just that. Elementary, middle, and high school students are among the next generation of theatre workers. It’s even better to see that the goal of the American Theatre Wing is to “support and diversify the next generation of theater industry professionals.” To put it bluntly, there have been too many straight white men running the industry, and a little more “flavor” could do everyone some good. Black or Latin neighborhoods are usually unfairly under-resourced. Their schools don’t have the resources needed in order to support students that may have a passion for the theatre arts, only leading to more straight white men running the theatre industry. By giving BIPOC students an equal chance, we will hopefully see more diversity in the theatre world.
This sounds great! I am always and forever in favor of an accessible arts education for all. I was very lucky to have a very advanced and reasonably well-funded theatre program and I had a great time. I wish more people were able to experience what I did, especially students of color, who, most likely, disproportionately do not get to have this type of experience. I am very pleased to hear that there are attempts and intentions to diversify theatre backstage by offering more opportunities to BIPOC theatre workers. I have met my fair share of straight, white, cis men who dominate the theatre scene, and while some have been very kind mentors to me, I am still wary of most and the role they play in the power structure of this industry. Hopefully, this will quickly lead to more diversity in theatre, onstage, backstage, and everywhere.
What an amazing initiative by the American theater wing and Andrew Lloyd Webber initiative to diversify all aspects of our theater entertainment. As Jysn said, which struck me the most about this donation and proposal is that not only do they want to promote more diversity with the people who are on stage, but efforts are happening to make sure that there are bipod theater workers backstage in all disciplines. As a BIPOC scenic Designer, It is important to see people who look like me in my place of work and to be able to express those ideas with all different sorts of people. Theater unfortunately has been a white male dominated industry for hundreds of years now. We must work actively to change this narrative, to diversified theater backstage and by offering more opportunities to BIPOC workers backstage. I think especially after the past year where we talked about how white American theater has been silently dominating our lives, it is nice to see a shift in perspective especially from the larger institutions that are part of our industry.
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