Dramatic Changes
A Toolkit for Producing Stage Works on College Campuses in Turbulent Times
It has long been assumed that theatre functions differently in the culture than other elements of the entertainment industrial complex, that theatre at its best could, and even should, make people uncomfortable, if only briefly, before they return to their comfort zones and usual routines. That assumption may be in danger of becoming obsolete for educational institutions today.
What does the notion of a safe space mean and whom does it serve?
How can you resolve potential conflicts between safe spaces and creative/academic freedom?
How do stakeholders on college campuses resolve the tensions that have arisen between the values of free expression and the overdue imperative to advance values of diversity, equity, inclusion, and access?
These are the questions that this document attempts to explore, while providing practical guidance and observations about the challenging process of presenting theatrical productions on college campuses today.
The DLDF hopes that this toolkit can help students, faculty, and administrators alike to create opportunities for healthy discussion and disagreement, bound by mutual respect, and unified by a common understanding of the unique and vital role that theatre can play in their lives.