The Summer 2020 edition of "Theatre Design & Technology (TD&T), our quarterly journal, has been sent out to all members of USITT. Though you must be a USITT member to enjoy TD&T in full, we are providing an article from this issue to you for free!

In this edition of TD&T, we explore racism in the theatre in an important piece by Taylor Leigh Lamb.

"This is a real moment for change in our industry," writes Lamb. "But white theatre institutions and white theatre makers have to go beyond statements with no teeth. They have to commit. They have to do the work. Because Black artists have already been doing it for themselves, as well as other artists of color. They don’t need to change. They don’t need to do more than the work they have already been doing. The white stakeholders in this industry do."

We've linked a PDF version of this article, because the Institute believes that the more it can facilitate conversation and stimulate new ideas, the better off our industry will be in the future.

After reading Lamb's article, in which she interviews noted theatre historian, lighting designer, and USITT's 2020 Wally Russell Professional Mentoring Award recipient Kathy A. Perkins, who states emphatically, "There's no shortage of Black designers, " we encourage you to read an article Perkins wrote for TD&T in 1995. In the intervening quarter-century, has the awareness of Black designers increased? We've also linked to Perkins' 1995 article to assist you in beginning your own explorations.

Interested in receiving future issues of TD&T? Become a USITT member today and start using your benefits including quarterly issues of TD&T, member-only content, member event pricing, and more! Explore all USITT membership options.