‘Uplifting, representing’: Local theaters attempt to diversify

BY AVHA MEISELS staff writer

“The why of it is really important, just as a baseline,” said Liz Lisle, managing director at Shotgun Players, a Berkeley community theater. “Acknowledging that there’s a legacy that we really have to undo, in order to support people of color around here and make the theater feel like a place where many people of color can feel like they belong.”

Berkeley community theaters like Shotgun Players and Berkeley Repertory Theatre have made recent efforts to uplift actors and stories of color in their performances. However, much of their audience lacks the same level of diversity.

Shotgun Players has a committee called Equity,

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Diversity, Inclusivity, and Belonging, which is made up of different members of the theater. The committee meets once a month to “further their commitment to antiracism and the rejection of white supremacy,” according to their website.

“The main philosophy is to recognize that theater has not historically been a safe or supportive place for people of color, and we are trying to change that,” Lisle said. “It’s not a project that we’re going to finish. It’s more an evolution of our work culture in our spaces.”

Similarly, Berkeley Repertory Theatre has also worked to diversify their theater community. According to the Berkeley Rep Antiracism Commitment, they have experienced “successes and failures this year” as they have PAGE 12

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