By Moira Armstrong
Picture: playbill.com
As we create lists of resources for educating yourself on anti-racism, diversifying your social media feeds, and supporting Black organizations circulate, we wanted to compile a similar list focused around Broadway!
Thank you to @afterastorms and @taylorswit for the original posts that inspired this, and the news outlets and creators whose content is linked. This would not have been possible without you.
This is, of course, nowhere near complete; you can always reach out to us on Instagram, Twitter, or via email to suggest additions. We would love your input!
Additionally, anti-racism is not simply a problem in the professional theatre world. While these resources are (almost) exclusively about Broadway, we encourage our readers to seek out similar content regarding high school, university, and community theatre. If you are not Black, offer your support to peers and colleagues who are. And if you are Black, working in one of those spaces, and willing to speak out about your experiences, please contact us. We would be thrilled to use our platform to amplify your voice.
- READ
- Plays and musicals by Black playwrights: this list provides shows written by Black creators, such as Eclipsed by Danai Gurira and Ain’t Too Proud by Dominique Morisseau. Created by Dahlia Al-Habieli.
- “Broadway for Racial Justice Demands Collaborative Action to Protect Black, Indigenous, People of Color in Theatres Nationwide” by Ruthie Fierberg for Playbill: this article speaks to Brandon Michael Nase, founder of Broadway for Racial Justice, about his vision for the organization and its necessity.
- BOLD NYC’s At the Table Discussions: BOLD, an organization that works to empower Black women in the performing arts, interviews a Black woman each month about their experiences and archives each interview.
- Broadway!Black: this news site highlights the achievements of Black actors and theatremakers through articles, the #bwyblk hashtag, and the “Off Book” podcast.
- The Asian-American Performers Action Coalition’s 2016-2017 Report on Ethnic Representation on New York City Stages: this report reveals some sobering statistics about diversity, or lack thereof.
- “I’m Tired of Being the Token Black Friend” by Asmeret Ghebremichael: this opinion piece discusses and demands an end to being subjected to tokenism and racism in Broadway.
- “Queer Black Playwrights to Know and Support” by Felicia Fitzpatrick for Playbill: these playwrights all have powerful pieces about the Black queer experience, and this article outlines how to support their work even when most theatres remain shuttered.
- Playbill’s Black Lives Matter page: this page updates with every new article Playbill releases in relation to Black Lives Matter.
- White Theatrical Privilege: this list from a white person in the theatre industry outlines ways his white coworkers experience white privilege, asking them to hold themselves accountable. Go on Joe Hornberger III’s Instagram to read it @hornburgalar.
- “BWW Exclusive: Jenny Laroche Speaks Up About Racism on Broadway” by Jenny Laroche: this piece outlines some of the racist comments and behavior Laroche has experienced throughout her Broadway career and proposes potential solutions.
- “A Look at the Diversity of Creative Teams on Broadway” from @wssprotest on Instagram: using data provided by TheaterMania, this post analyzes the lack of representation of POC on Broadway during the 2019-2020 season, regardless of its early cutoff due to the Coronavirus.
- WATCH
- American Son: the Netflix adaptation of the Broadway play, starring Kerry Washington and directed by Kenny Leon, addresses topics such as police brutality and white privilege.
- “Broadway Is Racist”: this video from actor and playwright Griffin Mathews covers his experiences as a Black creator on Broadway, including so-called “diverse” shows and white allyship. @griffinsthread
- “Broadway’s Jelani Alladin explains why white silence is so painful”: this video brings to light the issues of anti-Black racism often ignored by those in power in the theatre industry. @jelanialladin
- “#StarsInTheHouse”: Schele Williams and Robin DeJesus discuss Broadway silence, equity, and appropriate etiquette for allyship; the episode also raised money for the NAACP Defense Fund.
- “Black Lives Matter: A Virtual Celebration of Black Theatre Artists”: this special centers around artists from shows like Six, Hamilton, and Tina, exploring their thoughts on racism and police brutality.
- Viral Monologues: a series of monologues, performed by Black actors, that describe the experiences of incarcerated or formerly incarcerated individuals and activists in the United States.
- “Is the Writing on the Wall?”: this piece was created by dancer Ray Mercer of The Lion King after the death of Eric Garner and presented at the 2014 Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS Red Bucket Follies Event.
- Colman Domingo On How Theaters Can Live Up to Their Black Lives Matter Statements: in this video interview with TheaterMania, Tony nominee Colman Domingo addresses how theaters can become better allies.
- FOLLOW
- Instagram
- Groups
- Actors
- Jelani Alladin – @jelanialladin
- Christiani Pitts – @christianiworld
- Ephraim Sykes – @ephsykes
- Billy Porter – @theebillyporter
- Antoine L Smith – @antionelsmith32
- Warren Egypt Franklin – @warrenegypt
- Ari Groover – @ari_grooves
- Angela Birchett – @angelabirchett
- Douglas Lyons – @chocolatehipster
- Kyle Taylor Parker – @ktpway
- DeMarius Copes – @demariusr_copes
- Asmeret Ghebremichael – @asmeretghebremichael
- Brittney Mack – @msbrittneymack
- Sasha Hutchings – @sashahutchings
- LaQuet Sharnell Pringle – @mrslaquet
- Destan Owens – @destanvocalstudio
- Joy Woods – @joynwoods
- Jenny Laroche – @jennylaroche
- Creators
- Jeremy O. Harris, playwright – @jeremyoharris
- Charly Evon Simpson, playwright – @charlyesimpson
- Loy A. Webb, playwright – @mslawebb
- Suzan-Lori Parks, playwright – @suzanloriparks365
- Dominique Morisseau, playwright – @domorisseau
- Mbongeni Ngema, playwright – @mbongeni_ngema
- Liesl Tommy, director – @liesltommy
- Kenny Leon, director – @iamkennyleon
- Paul G. Tazewell, costume designer – @paultazewell
- Toni-Leslie James, costume designer – @tonileslij
- Camille A. Brown, choreographer – @camilleabrown
- Savion Glover, choregrapher – @the_savionglover
- George Faison, choreographer – @therealgeorgefaison
- Bill T. Jones, choreographer – @bill_t.jones
- Lita Gaithers Owens, composer – @litagaithersowens
- Instagram
- Twitter
- Groups
- Actors
- Jelani Alladin – @JelaniAlldin
- Christiani Pitts – @ChristianiPitts
- Ephraim Sykes – @ephsykes
- Billy Porter – @theebillyporter
- Angela Birchett – @AngelaBirchett
- Douglas Lyons – @DouglasSings
- Kyle Taylor Parker – @KTPway
- DeMarius Copes – @DeMariusR_Copes
- Asmeret Ghebremichael – @asmeretyemane
- Sasha Hutchings – @SashaHutchings
- Destan Owens – @DestonOwens
- Jenny Laroche – @JennyLaroche
- Creators
- Jeremy O. Harris, playwright – @jeremyoharris
- Charly Evon Simpson, playwright – @CharlyESimpson
- Loy A. Webb, playwright – @mslawebb
- Dominique Morisseau, playwright – @domorisseau
- Liesl Tommy, director – @LieslTommy
- Kenny Leon, director – @iamKENNYLEON
- Paul G. Tazewell, costume designer – @paulgtazewell
- Camille A. Brown, choreographer – @CamilleABrown
- Savion Glover, choregrapher – @TheSavionGlover
- ACT
- Donate
- Organizations
- Black-Owned or Black-Focused Theatres
- Donate
- Sign
When Broadway opens again, support these theatres who provided sanctuary to protesters, marchers, and activists!
CURTAINCALL 