Dear EST Family,
Spring is in the air and almost here! YAY!
EST is back! And we are Live and in Person! It has been exciting to see our doors open again for our first full production since the pandemic. If you have not had the chance to see what you are now, click on the link below to get more information. But hurry, as the show closes on Sunday April 3rd!
what you are now
Also,
We have some exciting readings coming up in the month of April. Click on the link below to learn more about them, and make your RSVP's
Upcoming Events
These past six months we have put in a lot of work that has been asked of us from the Transition Team list recommended by RKG. (Please see page 45 of the Equity & Justice Report numbers 1-6 on what the Transition Team has been set up to do)
Out of our discussions, we have decided that the best way for EST to move forward is through a shared Leadership of two Artistic Directors and one Managing Director to help see EST move into the future. (Please see pages 39-41 of the Equity & Justice Report to read more on why we decided on the Shared Leadership model.)
After looking at successful shared leadership models, we want to take away hierarchical decision making and have three people talking together on money, art, audience, marketing and fundraising along with putting in anti-racist practices to lead us in our new chapter. We feel that having multiple voices working together helps keep the leadership on equal footing and allows their multiple experiences to come to the table to achieve our goal of being transparent with each other (and to our community), along with working towards a shared vision & goal to help develop healthy new habits and a way of working.
We have included some links below for you to read to help you understand more on why we have made this decision:
1) https://www.americantheatre.org/2021/09/02/oregon-shakespeare-festival-announces-new-leadership-structure/
2) https://www.americantheatre.org/2021/11/22/why-lead-a-theatre-when-you-could-share-one/
3) https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/22/theater/steppenwolf-theater-chicago.html
4) https://www.americantheatre.org/2020/02/18/for-the-wilmas-next-chapter-four-artistic-directors-instead-of-one/
You can also click here for more reading materials that are up on our site.
If you have any questions regarding this newsletter or any section of the reading materials listed above, please do not hesitate to email us at questions@ensemblestudiotheatre.org or you can reach out and email your individual representative. We strongly suggest that you please read through the attached links before sending your questions. Many of the answers may be found in the reading materials.
*Please note that your questions will be brought to the Transition Team and the Team together as a whole will answer any questions that you may have*
Sincerely,
Eliza Beckwith, Focus Group
France-Luce Benson, Playwrights Unit
Erin Cherry, EST Membership
Bjorn Dupaty, Black Affinity Group
Jahna-Ferron Smith, Youngblood
Linsay Firman, Staff
Lynnette R. Freeman, EST Membership
Russell G. Jones, Board
Lou Liberatore, Members Council
Mariel Sanchez, Staff Affinity Group
Elizabeth Van Dyke, EST Membership