Equity Diversity & Inclusion Statement
At WaterTower Theatre, we believe that there is no place in this world for discrimination, prejudice, or racial injustice. We believe that Black Lives Matter, love is love, and that every person deserves to be treated with respect, equality, and equity. Our goal is to celebrate the diversity of our world through the creation of art, and to also reflect these values within our organization. WaterTower Theatre strives for our stages, board, staff, and audience to mirror the wonderfully diverse community in which we live.
We know that being a part of building a more equitable artistic community is a journey that we are committed to, and we are ready to take on the challenge. We are proud to report that the work is being done and the proper steps are being taken to learn and grow. We are taking part in enlightening conversations with members of our community, anti-racism learning sessions, and have accepted a call to action which is the first step towards meaningful change for WTT to build a trusting relationship with those who support us. Finally, we believe it is vital for us all to hold one another up with love, kindness, and understanding during these turbulent times. It is our hope that our children, our children’s children, and all generations that come after will see one another as equals regardless of race, ability, identity, or religious affiliation.
WTT Commitments for an Equitable Artistic Future:
EDI Assessments of all productions- A diversity assessment of all productions where casting & hiring was completed under Producing Artistic Director, Shane Peterman’s leadership, showed that WTT is proudly ahead of the national average for BIPOC representation on stage, as well as among creative and production teams. WaterTower is committed to further raising this bar and will track and update that progress transparently here: (the below reflects the most recent assessment completed 09/19/2022)
- Percent of BIPOC Actors: 46%
- Percent of BIPOC Musicians: 46%
- Percent of BIPOC Creative/Production Team Members: 36%
Serve as a training ground for future theatrical professionals:
- WTT is collaborating with educators at Rowlett High School to design a certified Musical Theatre Magnate program in a public school in one of the most diverse independent school districts in North Texas. Rowlett High School is one of seven high schools in the Garland Independent School District. Currently, Garland ISD is the second largest public school district in Dallas County, the fourth largest school district in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, and the eleventh largest district in the state of Texas. The district is an open enrollment district, meaning that anyone from any area can attend any of the schools in the Garland ISD. Students will benefit from free tickets to WTT productions, ability to shadow WTT professionals, and multiple free masterclasses taught by WTT theater professionals at their school. These master classes will focus on how to prepare resumes and headshots, how to prep for and navigate auditions at professional theaters, and to assist high school Seniors prepping auditions for college programs and scholarships. WTT is proud and excited to serve as the professional theater partner for Rowlett High School!
- Accessible Masterclasses & Workshops for the DFW professional theater community- a new series of continuing education opportunities at WTT with pay-what-you-can opportunities, allowing actors of all ages & abilities to continue to develop their craft at WTT through masterclasses, audition workshops, & adult dance classes.
PENGUIN PROJECT CHAPTER: WaterTower Theatre is proud to be a part of the Penguin Project which provides an opportunity for children with special needs to develop creative skills related to the theater arts and an opportunity for children with special needs to participate in a community theater experience.
Board Diversification- The most recent classes of WTT Board Members are majority female & also our most diverse new member group ever.
WaterTower Board of Directors have founded WaterTower Theatre’s first Equity Diversity and Inclusion Committee.
Paid Internships- WaterTower Theatre recognizes that unpaid internships are a gatekeeping mechanism in our industry. That is why all internships are now hourly paid positions.
Fair Hourly Wages- WaterTower Theatre recognizes that hourly positions deserve a fair wage. This is an Equity issue, which is why all hourly positions now start at $12 an hour.
Increased Non-union Actor pay: the previous practice of paying non-union talent in a stipend payable at closing, has been ended replaced with a higher overall stipend paid in weekly installments.