DEIA Statement for Short North Stage

The beauty of live theater is in bringing people together. Our goal at Short North Stage is to do that in a meaningful way. Whether you are in the audience, a cast member, on the creative team, in the band, working backstage, or on our staff; it is extremely important to us that we are creating a space for all people to feel included, safe, heard, engaged, supported, valued, and affirmed. We are committed to putting diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility at the center of everything we do from casting to programming to the expansion of physical accessibility for our audience. Listening, learning, and taking action are important to us as we work together with our community to grow into a stronger theater company that reflects the rich fabric of Columbus. At Short North Stage we are committed to this intentional work and have begun initiatives to enhance our knowledge, address and unlearn personal biases, practice inclusive behaviors, and create positive experiences for everyone who enters our space. Thank you for your support and patience as we continue this perpetual work.

DEIA INITIATIVES

The work will be continuous. Here is what we are doing now:

• Staff trainings throughout the season.

• Cast, crew, creative team workshops for each show focused on Adaptive Strategies, Implicit Bias, and more.

• Resident Culture and Diversity Management Consultant on staff from The Ohio REST Collective.

• Engaging in continuous conversations with the community.