ABSTRACT
The Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americas (LMDA)’s 2012 conference in Atlanta cast a determined spotlight on the issues of class and race. Notably, many of the conversations and events circulated around the issue of race as expressed through quantifiable representation. This observation is not a critique or condemnation. On the contrary, the need to consider race in terms of the inclusion or exclusion of raced bodies not only adheres to the spectacular worlds of theatre and performance, but it is a concern worthy of due and consistent attention. In deference to this practical truth, organized dialogues on race by theatre practitioners often ask us to consider the ways our institutional dramaturgy impacts the production and dissemination of racialized narratives. While issues of quantitative representation (a tangible presence in terms of season programming, artistic leadership, casting choices, and audience demographics) are important lines of inquiry, this essay aims to underscore how our storytelling and dramaturgical practices can also cultivate work with greater complexity and cultural sensitivity.
