Brownout Discussion

Provocative title isn't it? Brownout was a panel discussion about casting, training and presenting actors and works of diversity, produced by the Alliance for Inclusion in the Arts.

Great title, but like most panels, they covered too much and the moderator was more a spectator than someone steering the conversation (who could blame her, it was a great discussion). That aside, I was grateful to be a part of it. The artistic community needs more discussions about this. Here are two questions, to think about.

• How is diversity represented in the performing arts? This includes film, tv, and theatre?

• Does this representation validate you and your experience? if it does, how does it? If it doesn't, what would you like changed?

There are lots of expressions and we have the room for more of them. When I was young, I remember watching the Keaton's on Family Ties, but when I saw the Cosby Show it spoke to me on a deeper level. Seeing people that looked like me and being portrayed in a positive light was very affirming of what I looked like and to my experiences. Hopefully, members of the dominate culture can comprehend and appreciate that.

Communities need to rediscover how powerful the theatre can be. That responsibility can't be left to "someone". Those of us looking to change the landscape and the industry need to cultivate new audiences and get honest feedback from the communities that these regional and community theaters represent. Do audiences really want to see another production of My Fair Lady? The danger is if we don't bring new audiences into theatre, we'll be working in a medium that will eventually die off with the 50 and 60 year olds it caters to now. That's one reason that I love Spring Awakening. It speaks to a group of people and topics that theatre normally avoids, with music they can rock out to!

And that's just part of the discussion we had...more later.