Chautauqua Theater Company, through its offerings, invites our community to attend plays that widen the scope and depth of conversations that matter to our society. Our hope is that all who participate in our season may gain a deeper understanding of the lived experiences of marginalized populations, both historically and currently, and both on- and off-grounds. In order to bring that vision to life, CTC invites increasingly diverse guest artists to Chautauqua and expands the conversations and stories we are intentionally programming on the stage of Bratton Theater. Our efforts to do this work require our community members to open their hearts and minds to understand the impact that words and actions can have upon these amazing, talented individuals and, ultimately, to create less othering and more inclusionary communities.
We are writing specifically to address an incident that recently occurred on the grounds, involving members of CTC. Four Black company members, esteemed professionals, experienced a troubling interaction while boarding the North Bus Wednesday evening. As these actors were stepping aboard, a passenger remarked, “Oh, I’m sorry, before you get on the bus you have to do a little dance!” Furthermore, the other passengers who were present laughed openly at this comment.
This comment carries historical connotations that are extremely hurtful and exclusionary, because Black performers were historically expected to exist in predominantly white spaces to entertain white audiences — specifically, to sing and dance for them. While we might not fully understand the intent of that comment, the impact was harmful. This situation serves as a reminder of the responsibility we all share in creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for everyone who comes to the grounds, be they patrons, guest artists, staff or students.
Chautauqua Institution is renowned for its commitment to dialogue. As a community, it is vital that we reflect on the impact of our words and actions. Even casual remarks can be harmful, particularly for those from marginalized communities. It is particularly disheartening for this to occur as we are in the midst of rehearsing for our upcoming production of Lynn Nottage’s Fabulation, a satirical play that uses humor and stereotypes to look deeply at the price one must pay for abandoning one’s history in order to be accepted into white spaces.
Let us use this incident as an opportunity for growth and reflection. By listening with an open mind and educating ourselves about the diverse backgrounds and experiences within our community, we can ensure that Chautauqua moves further toward a place of respect and inclusion.
We call upon all Chautauquans to consider both their words and their words’ impact upon the diverse groups of artists we bring to the grounds each summer, and upon the increasingly diverse patron base we are hoping to serve. If we cannot create a place of belonging that welcomes all humans with respect and dignity, we will lose out on top-tier talents and fail to diversify our community beyond a predominantly white audience.
To be clear, this is a call for reflection as opposed to a call to a specific action. It is not a request for anyone to ask our company members of color if they have been affected by or involved in this or similar incidents. While it might seem to be an empathetic gesture, engagement of this nature with our Black artists would only create additional exclusion and othering, not inclusion. However, this letter is an invitation to consider the ways in which we can support diverse artists as full members of our community. Both artists and patrons mutually carry a shared love for the different art forms at Chautauqua. Rather than having conversations or interactions that focus on our differences, let us focus our conversations on that commonality.
Only together can we cultivate a space where everyone feels, and actually is, valued and included. As a company, we will continue to tell stories that help us understand each other, come together, and move forward. We hope that you will choose to partake in this journey with us.
Jade King Carroll
Producing Artistic Director,
Chautauqua Theater Company
Emily Glinick
General Manager,
Chautauqua Theater Company
