Industry Members Invited to Take Part in New Survey of Labor Practices

A pair of theatre professionals are seeking industry input for their forthcoming book Equitable Labor Practices in Theatre Production. To this end, they are distributing a survey for designers, managers, and technical staff. As these issues are central to Lighting&Sound America's readership, you are invited to participate between now and July 31.

The survey, which takes between 15 and 25 minutes to complete, is to be completed by those who have worked in or currently work in design, stage or production management, and technical positions for professional theatre in the US.

The survey can be found at: lnkd.in/eJsYait2.

Survey responses will be analyzed to generate qualitative and quantitative data that will be used in the book. Gathering data will allow the researchers to more effectively understand the challenges workers are facing, identify examples of practices that are working well, and develop strategies that are targeted at the most important problems or causal factors.

This book will explore equitable labor practices in theatrical production. Examining both historical precedence and current circumstances, it will use case studies of current industry examples to document the progressive initiatives already underway in the field. The authors will investigate data collection, models for analysis, and examples from other fields which can be applied to production in American theatre, specifically around gender and race equity, support for caregivers, LGBTQIAA+ representation and safety. The book will provide a series of tools and strategies for performing arts leaders to foster accessibility, representation, inclusion, belonging, and sustainability.

All data will be used anonymously. Survey respondents can choose to be anonymous or to include their contact information for potential follow-up. If a respondent chooses to include their contact information, the authors may follow up to further discuss responses. The authors will contact any survey participant before using their name. No personally identifiable information will be collected. We will not share any individual person's data in a way that is identifiable beyond shared anecdotes or examples shared by you in the survey.

The book is expected to be published in early 2024 by Routledge, an imprint of Taylor & Francis Group.

The authors come to this project with varied career experiences. Brídín Cotton is an NYC-based producer and manager in the performing arts and a passionate advocate for the importance of arts education. Currently, Cotton is department administrator in NYU Tisch's undergraduate film and television department. Past productions include special assistant to the artistic director and executive director at American Repertory Theatre, four seasons with the New York Musical Festival (most recently as assistant general manager) and four seasons on the producing team for the producing team of the contemporary performance festival American Realness. Natalie Robin is a Philadelphia-based lighting designer, educator, and organizer. Her most recent collaboration with choreographer Meg Foley, FIXING, premiered at the site-specific performance festival FORMATIONS at the 2019 Prague Quadrennial. She is also associate artist at Target Margin Theatre, and is currently program director of theatre design and technology at the Ira Brind School of Theater Arts at University of the Arts in Philadelphia. She serves as secretary/treasurer of the Eastern region of United Scenic Artists /IATSE Local 829.

You can read more about the project www.productionlaborbook.com or email the authors at equitablelabor@gmail.com.