The creator of the award-winning musical “Hamilton,” Lin-Manuel Miranda, hopes to promote diversity on Broadway and in theaters across the United States with a new initiative announced Thursday.
The Network for the Representation, Inclusion and Support of Theater Employment (RISE) will publish a directory of non-acting professionals in theatre, making it easier for them to find employment in theatre, from producers and managing directors.
“There’s been a lot of talk about diversity and change since 2020,” Miranda told The Associated Press. The Directory appears “at a truly wonderful time in which the theatre, as a system, has learned to say the right thing.”
He said, ‘You have to support it.
According to a 2021 report by the Coalition of Asian American Performers, which studied Broadway’s 2018–2019 season, 100% of managing directors and 94% of producers were white. White actors played 80% of the lead roles in musicals and 90% of plays.
Steps have been taken to encourage diversity in theater, most notably with the 2021 deal by Teatro Negro Unido and Broadway shows and its traveling productions.
With RISE, Miranda wants to make it easier for productions looking for non-acting staff to find diverse applicants.
“RISE” aims to make sure that the beautiful mosaic of people you see — if you see a production of ‘Hamilton’ or ‘MJ (The Musical)’ or ‘Fat Ham’ on Broadway — is reflected on the screen. Even behind , who are not just people in the limelight,” Miranda said. “Because there are incredibly talented theater students and carpenters and makeup artists and wardrobe people out there who deserve that opportunity.”
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