ABSTRACT
Traditional labor practices in theatrical production have a disproportionate impact on BIPOC workers; LGBTQIAA+, women, trans* and non-binary workers; workers with disabilities or neurodivergences; caregiving workers; and others who do not benefit from the privileges of white, able-bodied, neurotypical, cis-gendered men without primary caregiving responsibilities. How have these practices created barriers to the accessibility and sustainability of careers in production, and what can be done to break down these barriers? This chapter defines and describes the scope of Theatre Work, the professional theatrical design and production field in the United States, and introduces the range of labor practices the book explores. This introductory chapter also raises the question of if and why these challenges are specific to production labor.
