Boston's theater-goers are overwhelmingly white: 89%, according to a report by the nonprofit <a href="https://www.artsboston.org/audience-lab/">ArtsBoston</a>. At the same time, more than half of the city's residents are people of color. Some theater companies are fostering inclusion with <a href="https://www.wbur.org/cognoscenti/2024/05/31/black-out-theater-boston-front-porch-boston-central-square-next-to-normal-maurice-emmanuel-parent">Black Out nights</a>. Performances are taken off sale to the general public and made accessible with a code distributed to Black organizations and social media groups. <a href="https://www.mauriceparent.com/">Maurice Emmanuel Parent</a> is an actor, educator and co-founder and co-producing artistic director of <a href="https://www.frontporcharts.org/">Front Porch Arts Collective</a>, a Black theatre company promoting racial equity in Boston. He speaks with us about <span style="font-weight: 400;">the history and intention of Black Out experiences.</span> Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

The Common

WBUR

How Black Out performances promote inclusion in Boston theater

OCT 17, 202417 MIN
The Common

How Black Out performances promote inclusion in Boston theater

OCT 17, 202417 MIN

Description

Boston's theater-goers are overwhelmingly white: 89%, according to a report by the nonprofit ArtsBoston. At the same time, more than half of the city's residents are people of color.

Some theater companies are fostering inclusion with Black Out nights. Performances are taken off sale to the general public and made accessible with a code distributed to Black organizations and social media groups.

Maurice Emmanuel Parent is an actor, educator and co-founder and co-producing artistic director of Front Porch Arts Collective, a Black theatre company promoting racial equity in Boston. He speaks with us about the history and intention of Black Out experiences.

Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.