Simpatico Anti-Racism and Anti-Oppression Statement* 

At Simpatico we believe that Black Lives Matter.

Simpatico Theatre would like to acknowledge our part in perpetuating the systemic racism that is deeply embedded in the American Theatre industry. We recognize that throughout our sixteen years of operation we have upheld harmful systems of oppression, and benefited from white privilege in ways we are just beginning to fully understand. Moving forward we commit to centering the voices of the global majority on our stages, in our artistic, administrative and Board leadership, and in the stories we tell. 

Earlier in 2020 a community of BIPOC theatre makers came together to call in the White American Theatre (WAT) to action and change and we are indebted to their work. Over the past few months the staff and Board of Simpatico have been conducting a self-assessment based on the full list of demands released by We See You WAT. In November of 2020 we began to pair that work with an intense and personally tailored anti-racism education and training program with Laura Hinds of Hindsight Consulting Group. The entirety of the white staff and Board of Directors of Simpatico Theatre will participate in this training and share our work and action plan with transparency.

As we begin our work for this season we will actualize our commitment to anti-racism by hiring and centering artistic voices that reflect the cultural, economic and racial diversity of our city. Click here for more information on our Season of SEEDs for 2020/2021. We will actively work to diversify our Board of Directors which is currently 100% white. We are also honored to continue our partnership with Jouska PlayWorks, an assembly of Black playwrights based in the Philadelphia area. Additionally, we are committed to continuing our Pay What You Decide (PWYD) ticketing policy for all productions and events.

We hope you, as supporters of Simpatico, will join us in this work, and continue to hold us accountable for our actions and inactions. It is only together that we can begin to undo the decades of damage that systemic racism has done to our industry. This statement is an ongoing and ever changing promise and to that end we welcome any feedback or questions you may have about it, our ongoing work, or our next steps. Please use the form below to send an email directly to Artistic Director Allison Heishman, all messages will receive a timely response.

Thank you,

Allison Heishman, Artistic Director

Mike Gumbel, President of the Board of Directors

Kelly Colarelli, Board of Directors

Emily Esten, Board of Directors

Melissa Hewitt, Board of Directors

Jenna Pinchbeck, Board of Directors

Erin Read, Board of Directors

Janet Riser, Board of Directors

*This statement was originally posted in October 2020 and updated in February 2021.