
Anti-Racist Work
Constellation’s core artistic value, “Treat all participants with dignity, kindness and respect,” lives at the center of our company culture. We strive to practice a commitment to radical collaboration and encourage every person in our company of artists, audience, board of directors, and staff to express their ideas and concerns, knowing that they will be heard and recognized. We believe that the communal experience of live theatre promotes compassion, understanding, healing and connection – and that we need it now more than ever.
Constellation pledges to work toward the following Inclusion Diversity Equity Access (IDEA) goals:
Environment: Cultivate a diverse, inclusive, and equitable company culture.
Process: Provide a safe, kind, and respectful process within which to create exceptional art.
Programming: Showcase diverse stories that reflect the vast range of human experience.
Training: Establish required training sessions for board, staff, artists on topics and practices including bystander intervention, de-escalation, implicit bias, anti-oppression, and conflict resolution.
Policies: Create anti-racist and anti-oppressive policies and statements, including a non-retaliation assurance. Implement procedures for enforcing them.
Community: Serve the entire community with our art and strive to maximize access.
Financial: Implement a transparent hiring and compensation process.
As a predominantly white institution (PWI), Constellation is undergoing rigorous self-assessment to identify anti-racist and anti-oppression best practices. We are currently engaged in the following efforts:
Both/And
We’ve hired consulting firm Both/And to develop a comprehensive, actionable plan to create an inclusive, equitable and harm-free environment for our artists, staff and board. Both/And will provide training sessions to educate each group about bystander intervention, de-escalation, implicit bias, and conflict resolution. Through this plan we will also adopt a non-retaliation policy, formalized rehearsal room protocols, and procedures to guide planning, decision-making, recruitment, hiring, compensation and evaluation.
Abolishing Racism & Oppression in the Workplace (AROW)
Our leadership has joined the Abolishing Racism & Oppression in the Workplace (AROW) Community of Practice initiative in partnership with theatreWashington and 37 other local theatre companies. This program will provide insight and support, as well as promote industry-wide change and greater accountability.
We recognize that these engagements are only the beginning of our journey toward becoming a fully inclusive, anti-racist multicultural organization. We condemn white supremacy in all its forms, and we pledge to continually address racism and oppression within our own institution and our community.
October 13, 2022
Constellation Theatre Company recognizes the cultural significance of Once on this Island and its all-Black cast. We wish to share this experience with as much of D.C.'s Black community as possible. Therefore, on Sunday, October 23rd at 7:30pm, we will be hosting a BLACK OUT performance of Once on this Island.
"A BLACK OUT is the purposeful creation of an environment in which an all-Black-identifying audience can experience and discuss an event in the performing arts, film, athletic, and cultural spaces – free from the white gaze." (blackoutnite.com).
Admission to the BLACK OUT performance is completely free! Please email boxoffice@constellationtheatre.org with the code "BLACK OUT" if you would like to attend. You can reference our seating chart here to indicate your preference of seats. As long as seating is available, no one will be denied access to this performance, but we ask that non-Black allies consider purchasing a ticket on a different night to prioritize the creation of a space for Black-identifying audience members.
March 19, 2021
To our family, friends, colleagues, and audience members in the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) community - Constellation stands in solidarity with you. #StopAsianHate
Racism against Asian people in this country is anything but new. This week’s deadly shooting in Atlanta is unfortunately only the latest tragedy in a long history of violence, discrimination and xenophobia against the AAPI community. In the last year alone, anti-Asian hate crimes have increased by nearly 150%.
We condemn white supremacy in all its forms, and we pledge to do our part to combat racism and oppression within our institution and in our society.
#BlackLivesMatter
June 12, 2020
Constellation Theatre Company believes, unequivocally, that Black Lives Matter.
We demand justice in the wake of the killings and abuse of Black men and women across our country. We recognize the pervasiveness of racism in every facet of our society. We vow to listen, learn, and make changes to our organization to better realize our belief that every person deserves dignity, kindness and respect.
Constellation joined forces with CulturalDC and fellow resident companies Washington Improv Theater and The In Series to open the Source lobby to those participating in the Black Lives Matter protests. Many thanks to our staff and volunteers who made this effort possible!
Learn more about DC's #OpenYourLobby efforts in The Washington City Paper.
Take action with us now! Here are three ways to learn and get involved today.
GET INVOLVED.
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Black Lives Matter DC - Get updates about actions, trainings, and events in the DC area.
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Campaign Zero - Join a working group to advocate for legislation to end police brutality. Access the sign-up directly here.
LISTEN & LEARN.
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#DoTheWork - Participate in a free, 30-day anti-racism course led by activist and lecturer Rachel Cargle.
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1619 - Subscribe to this New York Times podcast about the long shadow of American slavery in our society.
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31 children's books to support conversations on race, racism, and resistance - Empower the young people in your life to participate in the ongoing movement for racial justice.