An Update to our New Orleans Community

September 18, 2020

BIPOC theater artists in New Orleans and beyond have spoken loudly and clearly about the need for reconciliation, accountability, and change within the theater community.  In response, Goat in the Road Productions is engaging in a period of self-reflection and goal-setting, with the intention of becoming a more explicitly anti-racist organization that is working for equity.  We are committed to this work, to taking the time to do it thoroughly and thoughtfully, and to being accountable for past wrongs.  

As artistic directors of the company we acknowledge our shortcomings, and that we have caused race-based harm in the community. These shortcomings include our failures to robustly promote BIPOC artistic leadership, not being sufficiently transparent with our ensemble about artistic decisions, and not properly caring for BIPOC artists as we work with emotional and challenging artistic material. We are deeply sorry. 

Over the coming months we will be working with the GRP staff, board, and ensemble to build a long-term strategic plan for the company embedded in anti-racist practices.  Through this process, we will emerge with a renewed set of values and goals. We will make these goals public, with a timeline for implementation by the end of the 2020-2021 season. We aim to work carefully, with an understanding that change is overdue.  

Thank you for your time, and thank you to the BIPOC theater artists who are bringing attention to these issues within our community.  

Sincerely, 

Chris Kaminstein and Shannon Flaherty
co-Artistic Directors, Goat in the Road Productions