Our official statement of support of the Black Lives Matter movement and anti-racist resources
To Our Community,
Princeton Summer Theater stands with everyone fighting for racial justice: the protesters doing the brave and sadly necessary work on the front lines this week and all of the activists who have been leading this battle for years.
The murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Tony McDade, Nina Pop and too many others are not isolated incidents. They are part of the horrific and continuing legacy of state-sanctioned violence against black bodies. Black Lives Matter. The United States has failed to recognize this for its entire existence as a country.
Princeton (both the University and the town) has been and continues to be complicit in this violence and injustice. Its history is interwoven with the institution of slavery and the ongoing legacy of racism—read more at The Princeton and Slavery Project website. Princeton Summer Theater is far from exempt from this legacy.
Theater should be an inclusive, healing, and safe space for all, lifting up Black and POC voices on and offstage. This too often is not the case. The American Theater has a history of disenfranchising Black and POC folks. Princeton Summer Theater is no exception: We have fallen short of being an anti-racist organization. As people who love theatre and love this organization, we have a responsibility to do better. We must make a plan to uplift Black theater-makers and stories, and to support broader anti-racist work.
We urge you to join this effort in all the following ways:
Donate.
For years, we have been grateful for the generosity exhibited by our audiences. We ask you now to turn that same generosity towards organizations fighting for racial justice. If you have the means, please consider donating to one or more of these groups:
National Bail Out — #FreeBlackMamas
NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund
Communities United Against Police Brutality
Official George Floyd Memorial Fund
The Nina Pop Mental Health Recovery Fund
Justice for Breonna Taylor Petition and Fundraiser
The Solutions not Punishment Collaborative
This is not a comprehensive list, but just a few of the many important organizations working for racial justice.
Commit to an anti-racist education.
We particularly urge the non-black members of our community to join us in the necessary, ongoing learning process. There are a huge number of resources for this. A couple places to begin are this list of anti-racism resources and this anti-racist reading list (compiled by two Princeton students, Lauren Johnson ’21 and Ashley Hodges ’21).
Engage.
This document, created by the The Carl Fields Center, LGBT Center and Women*s Center at Princeton University, is a guide for taking action for those who want to aid in this fight but aren’t sure where to begin.
Let’s build a better world.
In Solidarity,
Princeton Summer Theater
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Princeton summer theater: at home!
Despite the postponement of our 2020 season, Princeton Summer Theater remains committed to our mission: to provide an opportunity for young theatre-makers to become part of a unique artistic community, and to create exciting experiences for a wide array of audiences. Therefore, we will be providing an online season including a virtual theatrical performance, a series of digital cabarets, and interactive programming for children. In addition, as we approach the Fall 2021 celebration of Princeton Summer Theater’s 50th Anniversary and Theatre Intime’s 100th Anniversary, we will take a look back at some of our favorite PST moments. Updates on these events will come through our MailChimp, website, and social media.
Statement regarding our summer season:
In light of safety concerns amid the COVID-19 Pandemic, Princeton Summer Theater is postponing our 2020 season to the summer of 2021. In the same vein, we are no longer accepting video auditions. This is a heartbreaking decision for all of us involved, but one that is necessary for the safety of our audiences and artists.
To those of you planning to audition: we are so delighted by and grateful for your enthusiasm. We are sorry that this summer will not be able to happen as planned, and strongly encourage you to join us next year! Though this is a very difficult time for small arts organizations all over the world, we are excited about finding creative, virtual ways to maintain PST's mission of supporting young theatre-makers and connecting with a ride array of audiences. Look out for updates in the following weeks, as we plan a summer away from our usual theater space.
We wish you all the best as you navigate these tumultuous circumstances, and look forward to making art with you—through digital means and in future summers!
Sincerely,
Eliana Cohen-Orth,
Princeton Summer Theater Artistic Director
If you would like to donate to Princeton Summer Theatre, visit this page.
PST is an opportunity for young actors, directors, designers, and theater administrators to become part of a unique artistic community. Our executive board and full-time company are made up of passionate undergraduates, graduate students and recent graduates from Princeton University and other neighboring institutions. PST offers them an unparalleled experience: a nurturing environment that inspires artistic ingenuity and prepares creative minds to enter the professional theater world.
“We applaud PST’s distinctive initiative that gives talented individuals the opportunity to hone their skills in the performing arts. We highly recommend their productions to our readers.”
Strong relationships are formed between company members who work and live together for the duration of the season and artists of the greater-Princeton area who are enthusiastic about collaborating with precocious newcomers on the theater scene. Through our Children’s Show, partnerships with area businesses and residents, and a fantastic collage of diverse performances, we bring together artists and community members in an 9-week long celebration of great theater.
Graphics designed by Nico Krell