We made these videos to honor the legacy of those who came before, who started these theatres to:
•Create opportunities lacking for artists of color
•Challenge appropriation and misrepresentation through staging the full richness and complexity of racial, ethnic and cultural identities
•Gain political power and creative autonomy.
•Contribute their unique aesthetic and social perspectives to the American theatre and wider culture.
The LLCVP was envisioned as one of the key elements of TCG's Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Initiative’s “Establishing a Baseline” programming, which also includes REPRESENT, a demographic survey that thinks outside the checkbox, and The Well, a hub of EDI-related resources. “Establishing a Baseline” was initially supported by a National Projects grant from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.
The filming process of the Legacy Leaders of Color Video Project (LLCVP) was produced by former TCG Director of Communications & Conferences Dafina McMillan over a two-year period in collaboration with producer and director Anna Sang Park of Moped Productions; and with the support of TCG staff, including associate producers Ty Defoe, former Equity, Diversity & Inclusion fellow, and Emilya Cachapero, Director of Artistic & International programs.
Help us honor the lives and extraordinary work of these leaders!
Teach Them In Your Classes
These videos are a powerful educational tool that present the stories of these leaders in their broader cultural contexts, with civil rights and social justice at the very center of their missions.
Host a Screening
Community is at the heart of these leaders' visions, so what better way to experience them then through your own community event? TCG can provide event templates and communication support.
Learn More About Theatres Of Color
Use research tools like Umbra Search, developed by the Givens Collection of African American Literature at the University of Minnesota Libraries' Archives and Special Collections, with Penumbra Theatre Company
Support Your Local Theatres Of Color
While the LLCVP helps tell the stories of these nine leaders, there are so many more Theatres of Color worthy of support and celebration.
Contact Elena Chang at echang@tcg.org for more information