Black Lives Matter.

 

Sideshow Theatre Company’s mission is to draw inspiration from the familiar stories, memories and images we all share to spark new conversation. It’s our duty as the artistic governing body of this organization to represent all perspectives including those coming from lived experiences different from our own, and not look away from people’s suffering.

 

The artistic value of our organization would be worthless if we commissioned and/or produced plays like Tilikum, HeLa, The Ridiculous Darkness, truth and reconciliation, and Christmas at Home, which at least in part examine Black trauma, but said nothing and did nothing when that very trauma is playing out in streets across the country.

 

Our organization is actively learning how we can use our resources to put actions to our words. As we put plans in place, we wish to acknowledge our solidarity in the following ways:

 

• This ensemble demands justice for George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery, along with countless others murdered by the State.
• This ensemble stands with the protesters in Minneapolis, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City, Atlanta, Denver, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Seattle, Cleveland, Boston, Columbus, Portland, Rochester, Miami, Salt Lake City, Louisville and every other city in the country where an individual is brave enough to demand their voice be heard.
• This ensemble acknowledges the hypocrisy of the media's portrayal of protesters in this country, which places blame for violence upon those who seek to challenge it. Irresponsible and one-sided coverage ignores the immediate harms perpetrated by the State. It ignores the full history of a nation founded on principles of white supremacy, built with the tools of genocide, violence and the free labor of enslaved people.

 

Sideshow Theatre Company strives to make space for artists of all backgrounds to explore and mine the collective unconscious of the world we live in with limitless curiosity. This mission is not solely relegated to rehearsal or production. Our ensemble opens itself up to anyone in our artistic community to provide a safe place to ask questions, brainstorm ways to provide support, and exist without the fear of judgment. Please contact us at sideshow@sideshowtheatre.org.

 

We have also compiled a growing list of actions and resources to support these efforts, which you can find here.

 

In solidarity,

 

Katy Carolina Collins, ensemble member

Matt Fletcher, ensemble member

Elly Green, ensemble member

Jonathan L. Green, artistic director, ensemble member

Walt McGough, ensemble member

Megan A. McGuane, ensemble member

Karie Miller, ensemble member

Justin J. Sacramone, associate artistic director, ensemble member

Regina Victor, ensemble member

Calamity West, ensemble member

Nate Whelden, ensemble member