Female leaders navigate the arts, post 'me too'

Author

Peyton Kennedy, James Madison UniversityFollow

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Date of Graduation

5-8-2020

ORCID

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3636-2313

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Department

School of Theatre and Dance

Advisor(s)

Ingrid De Sanctis

Jessica Del Vecchio

Shaun Wright

Abstract

As the lights dim and the curtain rises on a theatrical production, there are roles to fill onstage and off. Perhaps the most important roles in modern theatre are those of leadership. Leaders in the arts have the power to influence company communication, shape the culture of the rehearsal room and navigate through a crisis. However, leadership and power can be manipulated, as the world witnessed through the ‘me too’ movement. As allegations rose against prominent leaders, the push for change strengthened. We are now three years past Hollywood’s ignition of the ‘me too’ movement, which prompts the question: have the protocols and standards of leadership improved in the artistic workplace?

In an effort to understand the current practices of leadership in theatre, operate productively as a young woman in the arts and inspire like-minded theatre individuals, I created an interview-style documentary. This 30 minute piece follows intimacy and fight director Cara Rawlings (Virginia Tech), literary manager and dramaturg Anne Morgan (American Shakespeare Center), and deputy artistic director Seema Sueko (Arena Stage). They share pivotal stories of their careers and offer advice for aspiring theatre artists as they enter the post ‘me too’ theatre community.

Recommended Citation

Kennedy, Peyton, "Female leaders navigate the arts, post 'me too'" (2020). Senior Honors Projects, 2020-current. 23.
https://commons.lib.jmu.edu/honors202029/23