Local Theatres Partner to Present Workshop on Sexual Harassment and Abuse Prevention to the Orlando Arts Community
By: Julie Musbach Feb. 19, 2018
Orlando Shakespeare Theater in Partnership with UCF, TheatreUCF, Mad Cow Theatre, and Orlando Repertory Theatre (Theatres) will present two sessions of a workshop with Ms. Laura T. Fisher, a founder of the Chicago Theatre Standards (CTS). Workshops will be held at Loch Haven Park on Friday, March 2, 2018 and at the University of Central Florida campus on Saturday, March 3, 2018.
In January 2015, a Chicago actor, after hearing an account of repeated incidents of sexual harassment at a theatre company, made a Facebook post that decried such acts with the rallying cry, "NOT IN OUR HOUSE." Hundreds of responses revealed that the problem was well-known, but no one felt safe enough to speak out. By March 2015, a code of conduct was underway. Co-ordinated by Chicago actor Laura T. Fisher, a small group of theatre companies and artists created the CTS.
In an effort to find solutions and guidelines for prevention, the Theatres invited Ms. Fisher to present a workshop on the CTS, which have been adopted by numerous theaters across the nation, and to address potential issues in the theatre community.
All members of the Central Florida arts community are invited to attend either of the free sessions. Ms. Fisher will go through the document contents, take questions and offer feedback, all with an eye toward uniting rather than dividing productions, theatres, and communities. The presentation is designed to speak to members of the theatre community including union and non-union actors, designers, directors, theatre teachers and professors, students, technicians, staff, administrators, board members, and anyone connected to the theatre community. However, the Standards are adaptable for similar disciplines including dance, music, opera, and film.
In presenting the work of #NotInOurHouse and the resultant CTS, Fisher conveys the priorities of the document: to provide communication pathways to prevent and respond to unsafe practices and inappropriate behavior, to produce a win-win strategy for producers, performers, board members, and audience, to enter into self-regulation in a spirit of mentoring rather than "outing," to "call in" rather than "call out," and to strengthen environments where employees are not discarded for mistakes or misunderstandings, nor do they fear reprisal for reporting harassment or abuse.
"Like the rest of the nation, Central Florida's theatre community has been grappling with the truth that people of all genders have experienced trauma and pain from sexual harassment, abuse, and intimidation," states UCF's Cynthia White, director of Boy Gets Girl.
"While this is not solely a women's issue, women have been disproportionately hurt physically, emotionally, and financially." Mitzi Maxwell, executive director of Mad Cow Theater, adds. "Everyone is asking how to change our culture, and everyday there is a new story. We can start with our own houses, in our community, and these workshop sessions are a beginning. We encourage artists and administrators to join the conversation. All are welcome."
WORKSHOP SESSIONS
Friday, March 2, 2018 at 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM presented by Orlando Shakespeare Theater at the Lowndes Shakespeare Center.*
Saturday, March 3, 2018 at 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM at Theatre UCF** (a performance of Boy Gets Girl is Saturday evening at 7:30 PM)
*Those interested in attending at the Lowndes Shakespeare Center can register online at: https://goo.gl/AABv6w
**Please visit Theatre UCF online (http://theatre.cah.ucf.edu/) to reserve your free ticket for the Theatre UCF presentation. Exact location for the presentation will be announced at a later date.
ABOUT #NOTINOURHOUSE
#NOTINOURHOUSE / Chicago Theatre Standards aims to prevent future abuses of power in the theatre community and provide a source of support for people who have been abused. We can work together for change and positive action so that artists can embrace the freedom of creativity safely, respectfully and with open arms. We are working to build a support network, change existing language concerning discrimination, violence, intimidation and sexual harassment, ensure accessibility to proper complaint paths, and create the Chicago Theatre Standards that we as the Chicago Theatre Community will be proud to call our own.
ABOUT ORLANDO SHAKESPEARE THEATER
Founded in 1989, Orlando Shakespeare Theater in Partnership with UCF produces classic, contemporary, and children's plays. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Jim Helsinger and Managing Director PJ Albert, Orlando Shakes has grown into one of the region's most acclaimed professional AEA theaters, garnering national recognition from The Wall Street Journal's Terry Teachout. "Hence the high quality of Orlando Shakespeare, a company that deserves to be far more widely known outside Florida." With ambitious, high-caliber productions like 2016's West Side Story, Love's Labour's Lost and 2014's Les Miserables and Henry V, the Theater continues to provide an innovative world-class theatrical experience to its guests, while showcasing William Shakespeare's legacy as the cornerstone of the company. Orlando Shakes also offers immersive educational programming that serves Central Florida schools and the local community at large. For more information visit www.orlandoshakes.org.
ABOUT THEATRE UCF
Theatre UCF seeks to develop theatre artists of the highest quality, providing students with the training, education, and experiences necessary for the successful pursuit of professional theatre careers. Theatre UCF's goal is to develop and graduate student artists who are sensitive, aware, and total human beings by providing our students with conservatory training within the context of a Liberal Arts education. A well-rounded education involves an understanding of our place in the universe, and insights into the human condition, without which it is impossible for artists to interpret dramatic works accurately, sensitively, and with true artistry. www.theatreucf.org
ABOUT ORLANDO REPERTORY THEATRE
Orlando REP is a professional theatre with a mission to create experiences that enlighten, entertain, and enrich families and young audiences. In addition to productions, Orlando REP conducts community engagement initiatives. The award-winning REP Youth Academy provides classes and workshops for children, along with professional development opportunities for classroom teachers. Housed in a three theatre complex in Orlando's Loch Haven Park, Orlando REP is also home to the University of Central Florida's MFA in Theatre for young Audiences graduate program. www.orlandorep.com
ABOUT MAD COW THEATRE
Mad Cow Theatre is celebrating its 21th season in the heart of downtown, committed to presenting compelling works of theatre for a wide range of audiences, with a passion for both classic and contemporary plays representing the best of American and world literature. A mainstay of the company is its dedication to the process of creating theatre, incorporating in-depth rehearsal and research periods along with a nurturing collaborative process. www.madcowtheatre.com
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