Robert DuSold

The demands are in.

While I’m looking around at the bodies piling up during a global pandemic, I thought I’d take a break and digest this list of demands. But I have some questions. And I want to do the right thing.

The first thing anybody who is successful in theater asks is this: who’s your audience? Who am I playing to? So my first question when I read this manifesto is: who is White American Theater? Who is this being addressed to? In order to get your demands met, the only way to get what you want is to send them to the right person. Persons? Group? People? It looks like they’ve cast a pretty wide net. Is it Tom Hanks maybe? Or could it be Laurie Metcalf? Seriously, who is it? Is it me? Am I White American Theater? Ok, it’s me. It must be me. I have been outed lurking around as a gay white man in theater. I’ve been seen.

When you go all in with demands, you’re not having a discussion. OK, so it’s not a discussion. It seems more of a hostage thing. To get what you want, you hold something of value and don’t return it until your demands are met. The only thing I can guess is the thing of value being withheld is work. Or talent.

That’s worth exactly nothing right now in American theater. Zip. There is no theater. No one is working, therefore, we ..them.. I apologize in advance for including myself…are all worth nothing right now. Other than maybe likes on Facebook for singing stuff in our living rooms.

So, now is the time to seize the moment.? Or hijack it. Or jump on it’s back and hop on for a ride.

The demands. I would sum them up as the world is more than half BIPOC..something I wasn’t aware of .. so every single aspect of theater from theater education to every show(Broadway or no matter where) to producers to box office to concessions to critics to well, everybody, must be half of this group. No debate or discussion about that. Investors don’t have to be BIPOC, but they must disclose all of their financials for review from….. is there a BIPOC board or something that handles this? Is it to make sure, well, a show doesn’t gross like a billion dollars worldwide? I think that just recently happened. Is it to make sure only the right people are making money.. and if so, how much can they make? Are their families allowed to make money from royalties? Or should that all go to the cast?

Talkbacks after shows are now forbidden, well, maybe they’re allowed if you get paid. How much? How much should you be paid to talk to a group of kids who just saw your show and dream of being in theater? Fifty dollars maybe? Maybe the kids could give you their allowance. How about an opening night party when you talk to fans or producers or something? A hundred bucks?

Speaking of shows, since value is no longer assigned by ticket sales.. what if your show sucks? What if the ticket sales are really bad and there’s no money coming in? Does the producer just keep paying you until you decide they should stop?

So now, onto unions. Is it just BIPOC people who don’t have to earn work week requirements to get health insurance? Have unions tried to provide health coverage without work weeks? I guess not. I’m sure they haven’t tried..it seems like they have no idea that it’s pretty easy. Could anyone who’s a member of this group who has millions of dollars possibly put in maybe 20 million(for the first 6 months) so that could happen? I mean in case that demand can’t be met. I’ll look at the list…..

Without 50% BIPOC membership in the existing unions, evidently an exclusive BIPOC union must be formed. How do we get Actors Equity or the other unions up to that number so you don’t have to do that? Ask people if they want to join? For fun? Should they be able to sing and act and dance? Or just show up? How well will they do performing the Jellicle Ball in front of an audience? Fingers crossed.

Speaking of showing up, it seems the audience must be half BIPOC too. Is there a way to demand that? How do you get them to show up? What if your show is sorta crappy? Is White American Theater the audience too? If they are, does the same code of conduct apply to them? Are there also rules for audiences that are non negotiable?

I suppose the aim of this 👁screed is to get people talking..you know…Provoke!! Wake up! That sorta thing. Like a tactical, purposeful way to start a conversation. Maybe that’s giving the people who dreamt this up too much credit… I’m really not sure. But I do know this is not a conversation. There’s some very smart talented people who’ve signed off on this, but if they were aiming for Larry Kramer..on second thought he was a gay white man so no… they’ve arrived at navel gazing given the unbearable times we’re all trying to survive.

I know I’ve skimmed the surface of the gobbledygook demands…I’ll blame my ethnicity and set aside my career in theater if that helps anyone. Much of this makes no sense to me, and negates federal laws, morality and rational thought…but what resonates even more than that is this is not helpful. Or joyful. Or useful. There quite possibly is some good stuff in there. But this is tone deaf in context, and self important. It’s cloaked in it’s own ego. Instead of change, it will perpetuate a cycle of resentment.

It’s clear that this isn’t a circle your wagons moment, it seems more of a burn it down thing….although it comes off as a let’s be naughty co-conspirators sorta hop on the bus event. But, if this is helpful, I would say just click those ruby slippers together… theater!…because I just don’t see anyone stopping the people I see seeing me. While we’re in the last throes of freedom I say go for it. Start your own union now. Why not? There’s a lot of money that I see in this list of luminaries that could go a long way in getting these demands met. Please don’t wait for me. You also have the power to walk away if your vision of equity and justice doesn’t come to pass.

The one thing I do know is that theater was never mine. I have never taken ownership of anything in theater, as it’s not only a fleeting moment, but it’s a collaborative effort. As sure as theater isn’t mine, it’s not yours either.

It’s ours.

We’re staring at each other. Let’s turn around and face the front row.