Congo Square Theatre to Host Panel on Equity and Equality for Culturally-Specific Theatre Institutions

Congo Square Theatre to Host Panel on Equity and Equality for Culturally-Specific Theatre Institutions 1 Congo Square Theatre Company will host a panel of national theatre leaders and arts 
funders during the third conversation in its Owning our Worth series, titled Equity and Equality, on Wednesday, 
February 25, 2014 at The Dance Center of Columbia College, located at 1306 S. Michigan, from 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
in Chicago.  Larger theaters are now producing African-American theater, and the purpose of culturally-specific theaters is being questioned by great stakeholders, who are essential to the longevity of the Arts in Illinois. The conversation 
will cover diversity and inclusion within the American theatre landscape, and the realities of creating sustainability 
for artists of color and culturally-specific theatre institutions. This series will culminate in a mini-conference during the American for the Arts Convention this June 2015.

congoCongo Square Theatre Company will host a panel of national theatre leaders and arts 
funders during the third conversation in its Owning our Worth series, titled Equity and Equality, on Wednesday, 
February 25, 2014 at The Dance Center of Columbia College, located at 1306 S. Michigan, from 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
in Chicago.  Larger theaters are now producing African-American theater, and the purpose of culturally-specific theaters is being questioned by great stakeholders, who are essential to the longevity of the Arts in Illinois. The conversation 
will cover diversity and inclusion within the American theatre landscape, and the realities of creating sustainability 
for artists of color and culturally-specific theatre institutions. This series will culminate in a mini-conference during the American for the Arts Convention this June 2015.

The event is in cooperation with the League of Chicago Theatres and the Joyce Foundation.

MODERATOR:
Sylvia Ewing, journalist and producer, WTTW

PANELISTS:
Michelle Boone, Commissioner, City of Chicago, Dept. of Cultural Affairs and Special Events
Ben Cameron, Program Director of the Arts, Doris Duke Foundation
Deb Clapp, Executive Director, League of Chicago Theatres
Suzanne Connor, Senior Program Officer, Arts and Culture, The Chicago Community Trust
Teresa Eyring, , Executive Director, Theatre Communications Group
Ra Joy, Executive Director, Arts Alliance of Illinois
Martha Lavey, Artistic Director, Steppenwolf Theatre Company
Mary McColl, Executive Director, Actors’ Equity Association
Angelique Power, Senior Program Director, Joyce Foundation

Congo Square Theatre’s 2014-2015 Season is made possible through funding provided in part by Target, the Illinois Arts Council, The Joyce Foundation, Illinois Tool Works, Exelon, Southwest Airlines and The MacArthur Fund for the Arts and Culture at Richard H. Driehaus Foundation.

About Congo Square Theatre Company
Congo Square Theater Company is an ensemble-based entity that seeks to broaden the scope of the theater-going experience. The ensemble’s effort matches education and the performances of productions that push the envelope in the telling of the diverse stories from within the African Diaspora – that ultimately resonate throughout humanity.  For more on Congo Square Theatre Company – visit CongoSquareTheatre.org