Forward Flux Wraps 2016 Season and Sets 2017 Team

Forward Flux Productions has wrapped their 2016 season presenting 37 events or performances reaching over 2,000 audience members. Forward Flux is committed to transparency, and the company believes actions speak louder than words. As such, they are releasing season data publicly on who they hired, both on and off the stage, with special attention paid to equitable opportunities for women and artists of color. The company is also pleased to announce their 2017 team of producers based in Seattle.

2016 marked Forward Flux's second full season of programming in Seattle after relocating from NYC in 2014. The company cultivates new artistic voices and new audiences to create an accessible, sustainable, relevant future for the live arts. They place an emphasis on presenting new work from women and artists of color, including their double feature productions of The Wedding Gift by Chisa Hutchinson and The Summer House by Sarah Bernstein.

2016 Season Data:

• Forward Flux worked with 106 artists in 2016. This includes behind the scenes technical roles, acting, playwriting and directing positions.
  • 100% of these artists were paid a competitive stipend for their time and talents
  • 57% identify as female
  • 42% identify as a person of color
• In addition, Forward Flux produced the free event AFTER ORLANDO, a benefit performance for victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting. Fifty artists worked on this event, including 18 in the Diverse Harmony Gay/Straight Alliance Chorus.
  • 100% of these artists donated their time and talents to the production, allowing all money raised to be sent to Pulse of Orlando, benefitting the victims and their families
  • Not including Diverse Harmony, 41% of these artists identify as female
  • Not including Diverse Harmony, 38% of these artists identify as a person of color
• Forward Flux presented new work from 7 playwrights in 2016.
  • None of these plays were written by a white male
  • 5 playwrights identify as female
  • 4 playwrights identify as a person of color
• Forward Flux had 36 on-stage roles for actors in their 2016 season, across The Flux Salon reading series and main stage productions.
  • 58% were played by actors identifying as female
  • 58% were played by actors who identify as a person of color
• 6 out of 7 plays in Forward Flux's 2016 season featured at least one actor of color in a leading role, including roles that are not race specific.

"We are thrilled with the organizational progress we saw in 2016, and I'm excited to work with our returning and new team members to bring another stellar line up of the best new plays from emerging playwrights around the country to Seattle in 2017," said Producing Artistic Director Wesley Frugé. "I'm especially looking forward to creating an even more equitable space for artists and audiences of all backgrounds. As we look to the election results and unrest across the nation, we are currently planning a season that will both inspire and challenge our deeply progressive city."

2017 Season planning is underway, with a full announcement planned for early February. The 2017 Forward Flux team includes returning members: Wesley Frugé (Founder + Producing Artistic Director), Andy Buffelen (Managing Director), Kiki Abba (expanding her role in the company to Producer), Rachel Delmar (Producer - Engagement), Pilar O'Connell (Producer - Casting), J Reese (Marketing Director) and Catherine Roach (Art Director). Also returning for 2017 is Benjamin Benne (Producer - Literary & Content) who will be working remotely from Minneapolis as he continues his current residency at The Playwrights' Center as a Many Voices Fellow.

New team members for 2017 include Emily Penick, joining the team as Creative Director. Emily is currently the Literary & Artistic Manager at ACT Theatre. She is joined by Haley Butler Bates, Corinne Magin and Charhys Bailey, all joining Forward Flux at the Associate level.

The Forward Flux 2017 season will kick off on February 20th with their annual Skate Yo Face Off roller-skate party. Keep your eye on www.forwardflux.com for more details coming soon or to learn more.

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