Berkeley Rep and Cal Shakes to Host BREAKING THE BINARY Symposium

Berkeley Rep and California Shakespeare Theater (Cal Shakes) announced today they will co-present a free half-day symposium called Breaking the Binary: Building a Trans/Gender-Non-Conforming/Non-Binary Inclusive Theatre. The event will include, connect, and present views and resources from a cross-section of theatre artists on the subject of T/GNC/NB inclusion. The event is organized by trans-identified theatre professionals Lisa Evans and SK Kerastas, and will showcase work from trans theatre artists and provide holistic support to theatre organizations and artists making this type of work.

"The symposium is a direct response to a need for education around this identity issue in the theatre field on national and local levels," says Lisa Evans, associate director of artistic engagement for Cal Shakes. "Part of this conversation about inclusivity involves acknowledging our local arts ecosystem here in the Bay Area where there's a vibrant queer and trans arts community that has been largely separate from the regional theatre. As much as this is an opportunity for theatre organizations to gain skills and have conversations about practices to be more inclusive, it's also an opportunity to highlight the work of local trans artists. And to learn from some of the practices that are happening in these Bay Area communities."

"This work around trans inclusivity - the conversations, the support, the elevating of artists - sits within a larger context of equity work happening nationally in our field," says SK Kersastas, visting artistic associate for Berkeley Rep. "We are particularly excited about the livestream because of the open access it creates for this conversation and this information. We hope folks in other cities will be inspired by this work, take action, and build on this momentum."

Breaking the Binary will be held on Monday, May 16 from 3:00pm-7:30pm at Berkeley Rep's administrative offices at 999 Harrison Street. The event includes panel discussions,breakout sessions, and a showcase of scenes from works by trans playwrights Nick Hadikwa Mwaluko, Ariel Zetina, and Ty Defoe.

The event will be livestreamed through HowlRound.com, a place for artists to provide feedback, learning, expertise, frustration, and vision - in an effort to enliven the fields of theatre and performance to the aspiring and established artist alike. Future viewings will be made available on its site. For more information and to register, click here. Seating is limited.

ABOUT BERKELEY REP

Berkeley Repertory Theatre has grown from a storefront stage to an international leader in innovative theatre. Known for its core values of imagination and excellence, as well as its educated and adventurous audience, the nonprofit has provided a welcoming home for emerging and established artists since 1968. In four decades, four million people have enjoyed nearly 400 shows at Berkeley Rep. These shows have gone on to win five Tony Awards, seven Obie Awards, nine Drama Desk Awards, one Grammy Award, and many other honors. In recognition of its place on the national stage, Berkeley Rep received the Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre in 1997. Its bustling facilities - which include the 400-seat Peet's Theatre, the 600-seat Roda Theatre, the Berkeley Rep School of Theatre, the Osher Studio, and a spacious new campus in West Berkeley - are helping revitalize a renowned city. Learn more at berkeleyrep.org

ABOUT CAL SHAKES

California Shakespeare Theater (Cal Shakes), under the leadership of Artistic Director Eric Ting and Managing Director Susie Falk, is now in its 42nd season as a nationally-recognized leader in drawing on the power of authentic, inclusive storytelling to create more vibrant communities. Serving more than 43,000 people annually, Cal Shakes invites people from all walks of life to make deeply-felt connections with our shared humanity through its work onstage, in schools, and with people in non-traditional settings throughout the Bay Area who have little or no access to theater. In 2016 Cal Shakes will celebrate the 25th anniversary of its artistic home, the magnificent Bruns Amphitheater, named "one of the most beautiful outdoor performing spaces in America" by the Wall Street Journal. For more information, visit calshakes.org.

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