On January 19th, 2017 NWPL joined with organizations in every state across the nation in a pledge to Be a Light for our community. Through the hard times that lie ahead, the Balch Street Theatre will remain a safe space for all.
For information on The Ghostlight Project, or to receive updates from the national steering committee visit https://theghostlightproject.com.
New World Performance Lab’s Pledge:
New World Performance Lab commits to being “a brave space” and continuing to make The Balch Street Theatre a space where:
● It is safe to be who you are, regardless of race, class, religion, country of origin, immigration status, ability, age, gender identity, or sexual orientation.
● Diverse opinions, dissent, and argument are not only accepted, but invited.
● Active listening and courageous exchange are fundamental values.
● Collective action, activism, and community engagement, both within and outside the walls of the theater, are cultivated, encouraged, and supported.
We affirm that New World Performance Lab and The Balch Street Theatre has been and will be a place of diversity and inclusion. We confirm that the action of “Listening” is one of the actor’s primary tools of craft and we will work to “listen” to the communities and organizations around us that ask for our support.
We pledge to strengthen our existing relationships with Center for Applied Drama and Autism and Ma’Sue Productions and seek to discover what true partnership and collaboration might look like together with other local, regional, national, and international performance groups.
We pledge to share our knowledge of the artistic and social justice actions, programs, performances, and initiatives that NWPL has created and will create.
We pledge to interact with our community in new ways in order to empower each other to examine our sources, tell stories, sing songs, dance dances, and reconnect with the impulse to create.
“Gathering outside of theaters on the eve of the Presidential Inauguration, people will join in a collective, simultaneous action, together creating “light” for challenging times ahead. Inspired by the tradition of leaving a “ghost light” on in a darkened theater, artists and communities will make or renew a pledge to stand for and protect the values of inclusion, participation, and compassion for everyone–regardless of race, class, religion, country of origin, immigration status, (dis)ability, age, gender identity, or sexual orientation.
January 19th is a moment of gathering within a larger resistance to intolerance at all levels. We aim to create brave spaces that will serve as lights in the coming years. We aim to activate a network of people across the country working to support vulnerable communities. This is not a substitution for protests or direct action, but rather a pledge for continued vigilance and increased advocacy.”
NWPL 