November 9, 2022
WCW and the League of Resident Theatres will investigate systemic barriers to leadership positions and influence in the American theater.
A 2013 study from WCW found that obstacles, including balancing an unpredictable schedule with childcare needs, stand in the way of women advancing to theater leadership.
Women have never held more than 27 percent of leadership positions in nonprofit U.S. theaters, according to a WCW study.
This article references a 2015 study by WCW on the lack of gender and racial diversity in theater leadership.
Ineke Ceder and Dr. Sumru Erkut discuss gathering the right data on workplace climate to become more diverse and inclusive.
The vast majority of our society’s leaders are men— every president of the United States and very likely, many of our past bosses. This is also still the case in regional theater even though many in the field can easily think of a few female leaders at those larger regional theaters, like Diane Paulus, Lynn Meadow, and Molly Smith. There are as many women as men who graduate with advanced degrees in theater arts or theater management, and there are plenty of women employed in all ranks but the highest. Moreover, the majority of theater tickets are bought by women. But, for decades, women have held only about 25 percent of leadership positions in nonprofit regional theaters.