EDIA COMMITMENT
CSC IS COMMITTED TO BEING AN ANTI-RACIST ORGANIZATION
CSC is committed to being an anti-racist organization, and to inclusivity, equity, and diversity in all areas of the company, onstage and off. CSC recognizes the responsibility we bear to make our theater a place where all artists, audiences, and staff feel supported and at home. Integral to our commitment to EDIA values and an anti-racist culture, we acknowledge that CSC has historically been a predominantly white organization and that we have made missteps. We hold ourselves accountable for any harm we may have caused.
Social media posts and statements of solidarity are simply not enough, and we believe the problem of inherent racism in American arts organizations will not be solved by sharing a checklist of promises. Our future actions will demonstrate this commitment to change, and CSC will incorporate this work as a permanent part of our practice.
We see the theater as a place where traditions can be challenged, conversations can be pushed forward, minds can be changed, and most importantly, as a place where everyone is accepted.
CORE VALUES
These values represent the core of who CSC is today and the qualities we strive to embody as we continue to evolve as an organization.
Passion & Presence. We deeply believe in the importance of live theater, the necessity of creative expression, and the making of high-quality work through a non-profit model that can benefit our community and spark conversation.
Adaptability. Doing work that reimagines the classics, we reject the notion that either the theatrical canon or our theater is stuck in the past. We value the flexibility to respond to the moment and try new things. We challenge ourselves to be fearless and to act from an ethos of leading rather than following.
Collaboration & Communication. We are at our best when working in deep partnership with all of our constituencies, from staff to board to artists to audiences and beyond. We believe listening is essential. We endeavor to operate with transparency and expect that our community will hold us accountable for our actions both on and off stage.
Openness. All are welcome here. We value mutual respect and operate with a constant curiosity that pushes us to think innovatively. We aspire to take risks and uphold CSC as a place where all can feel heard, supported, and inspired.
LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Classic Stage Company acknowledges that our theater is located on the island of Manhattan (originally known as Mannahatta), which is situated on Lenapehoking, the homeland of the Munsee Lenape.
In addition to the Munsee Lenape, we pay respect to all Indigenous Peoples and communities who stewarded this land for generations prior to its occupation. To find out more about Native Land across the world, you can visit Native Land Digital at: native-land.ca.
OUR WORK IN PROCESS
CSC’s Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Access Committee is made up of an equal group of Governing Board, Associate Board, and staff members. The committee evaluates every level of CSC (policies, procedures, programs, hiring, Board recruitment, casting, productions, etc.) to foster an equitable, inclusive, accessible, and diverse environment as a core value of the company.
As part of this work, CSC commissioned an EDIA Assessment with an outside consultancy, in which staff, Board, and artists were surveyed, and individuals representing different constituencies were interviewed. The EDIA Committee reviewed the key findings, and recommendations were put in place. CSC staff, Board, and Associate Board have participated in anti-racism trainings and will continue to have in-person and online trainings on at least an annual basis.
Additionally, CSC has shifted curtain times so that audiences, company, and staff members can travel home safely and earlier in the evening. Evening performances are slated to begin no later than 7pm.
CSC is continually looking to expand its outreach and make deeper connections with people and organizations within the greater NYC community. If you have ideas on how to further this engagement or would like to partner with CSC, please email our Managing Director, Amanda Feldman, at [email protected].