My Hopes for Theatre in 2022
For better or for worse, 2022 has arrived, bringing with it new hopes and goals. And much like we create resolutions for ourselves, I have hopes for theatre in 2022. I want to see a more equitable and diverse industry, onstage and offstage. But above all, my biggest hope for theatre in 2022 is that it is safe.
We’re entering the third year of the pandemic. We have taken care to stay healthy and put safeguards in place so theatre could return. Sometimes it does feel hopeless. It seems like people simply do not care anymore. As a lover of theatre, it is hard to see Broadway show after show canceling performances due to Covid. I am grateful for vaccine and mask mandates to allow safety for audiences, but there needs to be more. And this isn’t just for theatre, it’s everything. We need more vigorous testing procedures so shows don’t have to be canceled after they are already scheduled to begin. Workers should be better protected, too. There should be more transparency about what theaters are doing and how workers are being kept safe.
In fact, transparency is a major theme I would like to see more of going forward in 2022. Over the past few years, talks of equity and diversity in all areas have increased. I hope this is the year we really begin to see a difference. With groups such as No More 10/12s and We See You White American Theater, the tides are beginning to shift. The time has passed for all white & cis creative teams. We need more diversity from the top down. We need transparency about all aspects of the process – who is making the work, how much they are getting paid and how the workers are being treated. When this has been achieved, we can have a more equitable theatre industry.
I am sure many of you have the same hopes as me. We all love theatre. But this year, I want theatre to be better than it was before. I want to be sure that everyone who works in theatre is being taken care of. I want them to be safe and feel comfortable going to work. I want them to be paid a living wage. I want everyone to have a voice. I want diversity to be a top priority. We work in theatre. We are storytellers. The stories being told should represent everyone. Theatre needs to be for everyone.