Theatre Arts

“Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.”
― James Baldwin

The Theatre Arts Department at CSULB stands in solidarity with Black communities in Long Beach and across the country in speaking out against America’s legacy of police brutality, anti-Blackness and racism. We are united with all of those calling for justice and equity in this time of profound pain and deep anger. It is also, hopefully, a time of radical transformation, a pivotal point in America, and we collectively demand change now.

We acknowledge that as a department we have a lot to learn and many ways in which we can and must grow and evolve. This is a time for critical self-reflection as a department: we need to rethink our own practices, reexamine our curriculum and the canon of plays we present, and commit to change within. 

Change begins by not only speaking out, but also by listening. To that end we will be hosting a CSULB Theatre Arts Town Hall for all of our students: to come together, be in solidarity, hear their thoughts/concerns and commit to change together. We hear you, we see you and we stand with you. We will send an update on social media and through emails about when that will happen.

• Theatre is about transformation: We will draw upon our imagination and creativity to help radically transform our society and culture through our art. 
   
• Theatre is about action: We will work together to take action, mobilize, join the fight against racism and be allies to BIPOC communities.
   
• Theatre (from the Greek word theatron) is the “seeing place”: We will use this moment to not only see the deep roots of racism in America, but also reexamine our role in combatting this. 
   
• Theatre is about inclusion and representation: We will continue our efforts to tell stories written by and about POC, Black and LGBTQ+ artists and community; we will prioritize our efforts to hire artists of color and LGBTQ+ artists to work with our students.
   
• Theatre is about collaboration: We are committed to collaborating and working with all of you – our students – to listen, take action and amplify the voices that need to be heard at this important and urgent moment. 

In solidarity,

The Theatre Arts Department @ CSULB
and Cal Rep (California Repertory Company)