Dover’s Post

How has your background in the performing arts impacted your professional skills and career path? Tell us in the comments.

The responses to this are alarming but not surprising. Read the article.

Recently, Kit Harrison. a White British actor appearing in Jeremy O Harris' play 'Slave Play' spoke out in support of Black Out nights in which audiences are reserved for Black and Brown people. Black Out nights are ostensibly designed to make theatres, which are historically very White spaces, more inclusive. They also serve a deeper and somewhat more profound function, given the subject matter of the plays that have offered these nights. Whether it be Slave Play by Jeremy O Harris, Tambo and Bones by Dave Harris, or Daddy by Jeremy O Harris, the content deals with the particular historic and present-day experiences of social, cultural, and institutional racism experiences by Black and Brown people. As such, the experience of witnessing and engaging with these plays must be profoundly different for Black and Brown people than for White people. To us, they are stories, sometimes shocking, but always stories, and ones we cannot fully comprehend. For Black and Brown people they likely convey a generational lived experience that transcends 'story' to become a visceral experience of history, both in the past and in the making. To witness and experience such a play in an audience surrounded by White people must be difficult, to say the least - as a White man, I cannot begin to imagine how difficult. However, India Craig-Galvan, a Black woman playwright writing in the LA Times, described Slave Play as 'challenging to watch' but went on to say 'To experience the work sitting in a sea of whiteness is even more of a challenge' and in relation to Black Out nights said '...to remove the white gaze eliminates at least one hurdle in examining and experiencing the work.' To have a space in which to see these plays and then discuss in whatever way works the subject matter and the experience with other people with similar experiences can, as India Craig-Galvan indicates, provide a space for healing and a release from the ongoing experience of Whiteness. This is, surely, a lesson that can be learned from and transported into the workplace. To provide spaces and regular opportunities for Black and Brown staff to meet and talk about their experiences of the workplace without any White people present not only speaks to a concern for staff well-being but also speaks to an awareness of and the taking responsibility for how White majority workplaces can be oppressive spaces from which Black and Brown people require some form of respite, albeit temporary and short-lived. #inclusion #inclusiveleadership #DEI #EDI #Whiteness #racism #psychologicalsafety #staffwellbeing

Marian Lee Per the Culture memo, Netflix prioritizes strong internal culture, which is admirable; but as you are demonstrating with the “Netflix House” experiential strategy, Culture isn’t only relevant internally. Here’s a thought piece I authored on how Netflix can strengthen audience engagement beyond content consumption, leveraging Netflix’s cultural influence and integrating a Social-oriented strategy. https://lnkd.in/e68TwhxR Spencer Neumann Marc Randolph Reed Hastings Greg Peters Ted Sarandos

The Tony Awards? Progress towards diversity in Broadway is happening at a snail's pace, both on stage and behind the scenes. The hope is for the Great White Way to eventually be known as the Great All Way, but despite some victories for people of color, it still falls short of true representation. This is not to say that talent is lacking among diverse individuals. The real issue seems to lie with the gatekeepers who are intent on maintaining an exclusive club, which is truly disheartening. The barriers and obstacles that individuals of color face in the industry, whether trying to write, design, act, dance, or invest, are numerous and almost insurmountable. When will there be equal opportunities for everyone in Broadway, television, and film? It is now 2024, and we are still celebrating "first black" achievements. While these milestones are important, it is disheartening that in this day and age, we are still highlighting them. America, and Broadway in particular, should be beyond this by now. We must strive to do and be better. Shame on you, Broadway. Shame on you.

Cheers to embracing 2024 with optimism for Broadway's future! Our latest article from Situation President and Founder Damian Bazadona explores the path ahead in 2024, addressing 6 key questions about success and challenges. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/dU7ezk7f

In a crowded marketplace, brands can learn valuable lessons from Broadway. By using clever storytelling and a touch of mystery, they can generate excitement and engage audiences effectively. Want to see how these theatrical techniques can elevate your marketing? Read our full article with Blooloop below! #MarketingStrategy #BrandEngagement

Entertainment Brands don't have to be the only Entertaining Brands. Check out the article below to learn what brands can learn from Broadway.

What an incredible way to kick off the academic year! From day one, our learners are being challenged to step outside their comfort zones and collaborate on producing a live performance to showcase by the end of their first week at college. With full support from our dedicated Bristol Institute of Performing Arts staff, learners are encouraged to take risks, not focus solely on perfection, but to embrace the process of growth and development. This approach nurtures essential skills such as building relationships, communication, coordination, teamwork, leadership, and confidence—qualities that are invaluable in the workplace. There’s no better way to highlight starting points than this. By the end of the year, learners will have the chance to reflect on their journey, comparing this initial performance with their final major project, and truly appreciate the skills, knowledge, and behaviours they’ve developed along the way. #LearningJourney #PerformingArtsEducation #CreativeLearning #SkillDevelopment #Teamwork #ConfidenceBuilding #LeadershipSkills #VocationalEducation #PerformingArts #GrowthMindset⬤

Excited to share one of my favorite pastimes: watching commencement speeches! 🎓 They’re like a dose of inspiration that transcends any academic milestone. Can't contain my anticipation for Angela Bassett's upcoming commencement speech! 🌟 As a dedicated enthusiast of commencement addresses, I'm eagerly awaiting the wisdom and inspiration she's sure to deliver. #CommencementSpeech #AngelaBassett #ExcitementBuilding #Inspiration"