Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility
ACT has gathered resources from across disciplines to help our members and our theatre community to find best practices for framing their ongoing work through a diversity, equity and inclusion lens.
Theatre Resources
We See You, White American Theatre
Diversity Toolkit: A Guide to Discussing Identity, Power and Privilege
USC’s online Master of Social Work program
Anti-Racist Theatre from HowlRound Theatre Commons
Actor’s Equity Diversity Report 2021 (covering 2016-2019 data)
artEquity Resources
Including How to Launch an EDI Initiative, resources for BIPOC artists in primarily white institutions, reading lists, and more.
Equity, Diversity & Inclusion: American Theatre
LORT Resources for Racial Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
An EDI resource list curated by LORT theatres.
Cultural Equity Resources – Americans for the Arts
WATCH: Racism & Racial Equity in the Entertainment Industry
A panel from Educational Theatre Association during the 2020 Virtual International Thespian Festival
ADDITIONAL READING
Four Black Artists on How Racism Corrodes the Theater World– New York Times
Building Trust After Inclusivity Failed: Lessons for the Theater– Vulture
K-12 Teaching Resources
Educational Theatre Association DEI Resources
Southern Poverty Law Center’s Learning for Justice
Momentum Stage: Equitable Performing Arts Resources for Drama and Dance Teachers
BIPOC Classroom Resources: TheatreFolk
FREE PLAY: Open Source Scripts Toward an Antiracist Tomorrow
Common Sense Media’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity Resources for Classrooms
ADDITIONAL READING
One Way to Stop Whitewashing: It’s Got to Be Taught (American Theatre)
Conversations From The Classroom: Teaching Theatre Students About Access, Equity, And Inclusion (Centre Theatre Group)
Casting Resources
Best Practices for Inclusive Casting
A comprehensive article with recommendations for inclusive casting practices.
Community Engagement Resources
TCG’s Audience (R)Evolution Research & Resources Hub
Community Engagement from HowlRound Theatre Commons
Audience Engagement from HowlRound Theatre Commons
REPORT The Paradigm Shifting Power of Audience Building/Community Engagement (The Doris Duke Foundation)
Training Resources
LinkedIn Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging for All training series
UCLA Equity, Diversity & Inclusion bias video series
Stanford University VMware Women’s Leadership Innovation Lab See Bias | Block Bias toolkit
Black Theatre Resources
Accessibility: Publications, Checklists, & Resources
The Future of Theatre is Accessible: Howlround Theatre Commons
All the World’s a State: Accessibility and Theatrical Spaces: RightsViews
A Nearly Comprehensive Guide to Creating an Accessible Theatre
Design for Accessibility: A Cultural Administrator’s Handbook
Accessibility Planning and Resource Guide for Cultural Administrators
Section 504 Self-Evaluation Workbook
Federal Communications Commission Section 504 Programs & Activities Accessibility Handbook
Tip Sheet on the 2010 Revised Regulations of the Americans with Disabilities Act
John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Accessibility Program Resources
The Kennedy Center’s Leadership Exchange in Arts and Disability offers a large selection of publications, guides, and other resources dealing with a wide variety of subject matter in arts, education, and disabilities.
Web Accessibility Resources
World Wide Web Consortium (W3C)
The Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) develops strategies, guidelines, and resources to help make the Web accessible to people with disabilities.
Webaim WAVE Accessibility Tool
Assess your website with the WAVE Accessibility Tool
Playwright – Festivals and Resources
Appalachian Festival of Plays and Playwrights – Barter Theatre
Southern Writers Festival of New Plays – Alabama Shakespeare Festival
Playwright Fe4stival of original works by Black and Indigenous People of Color – Matthews Playhouse and African American Playwrights Group
Top BIOPOC Plays You Can’t Miss: Dramatics
Alternative Canon | Non-Western plays, plays by people of color, by women and by queer writers from before 1945.
#BIPOCSwap | A growing list of plays, musicals, and acting method readings by BIPOC, the American theatre canon; based on similar themes and/or adaptations. A resource for theatre educators.
Mixed Blood Theatre’s Disability Visibility Project: Howlround Theatre Commons
List of PIPOC Plays & Creatives: Loyola Marymount University