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Antiracist Statement

Capital Stage logo

Racial unrest, coupled with the awakening of Americans to the systemic injustices against people of color, has been a call to action for the theatrical world, and for our theatre in particular. At Capital Stage we naively thought that our good intentions were enough. The shocking, unjustified killings of Stephon Clark, George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, Ahmaud Arbery and dozens of other Black Americans at the hands of law enforcement have unearthed the grim reality of systemic racism in this country.

Our cultural institutions, our community and our country need to change. We need to infuse antiracism into the very fabric of our theatre and our lives. Therefore, our mission to entertain, engage and challenge our audience with bold, thought-provoking theatre must now be expanded to address the injustices occurring in our community.

At Capital Stage we are committed to this change. Through this statement, Capital Stage is announcing specific steps that we are taking to address and dismantle the structures of oppression and white supremacy that exist in our industry. We recognize that the theatrical culture has been a place of power and privilege and thus we are taking the following steps toward necessary change.

We are committed to recognizing and eliminating our biases, both conscious and unconscious. We look for guidance from members of our community who are Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC). We seek out unheard, underrepresented, and underprivileged voices to embrace in our theatre and in our community. In our audiences, our casts, our crews, and at the highest level of leadership and the Board of Directors, our primary focus is creating bold live theatre with an antiracist perspective.

Although this is an imperfect start, we will continuously revisit the following action steps to be sure we are on course.

Updates in red below as of December 9, 2025.

ARTISTIC

We pledge to hire at least 50% BIPOC theatre artists every season.

  • In the 24/25 Season we hired 4 BIPOC designers.
  • In the 24/25 Season, 19 of the 29 roles were for BIPOC actors.
  • In the 22/23 Season we hired 4 BIPOC designers, and 4 BIPOC technicians.
  • In the 22/23 Season, 19 of the 37 roles were for BIPOC actors.

We pledge to produce at least 50% BIPOC playwrights every season.

  • In the 24/25 Season selected 5 out of 7 BIPOC playwrights (71%).
  • In the 24/25 Season we hired 4 out of 7 BIPOC directors (57%).
  • In the 22/23 Season selected 4 out of 7 BIPOC playwrights (57%).
  • In the 22/23 Season we hired 4 out of 7 BIPOC directors (57%).

We pledge to cast BIPOC actors in roles traditionally assumed to be “white” roles.

  • In the 24/25 Season, for our production of GEORGIANA & KITTY we cast 4 actors of color in traditionally white roles, including Mr. Darcy.
  • In the 22/23 Season, for our production of THE WICKHAMS we cast 4 actors of color in traditionally white roles, including Mr. Darcy.

We pledge to be intentionally inclusive in the Apprentice Program to reflect our community.

  • In the 24/25 Season, we hired 2 (of 4) BIPOC apprentices.
  • In the 22/23 Season, we hired 2 (of 4) BIPOC apprentices.

BOARD

We pledge to review our strategic plan and mission statement to align our theatre with antiracist best practices.

  • We have hired Michael Kaiser from the DeVos Institute and are in the midst of creating a strategic plan with a DEI emphasis.

We pledge to customize the give or get requirement for each Board member.

  • COMPLETE.

We pledge to review Board practices to eliminate bias and exclusionary practices.

  • ONGOING.

We’ve created a Staff & Culture Committee to focus on these issues.

We pledge to review Board recruiting practices to ensure inclusivity.

  • ONGOING.

We pledge to increase diversity on our board to better reflect our community.

  • As of September 12, 2025, our board has 9 BIPOC board members out of a total of 16 (56%).

We pledge to initiate antiracism training for all Board members.

  • Board training with Brian Bedford, EdD, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Leader:  Associate Dean, Strategic Initiatives at California State University – Sacramento, February 12, 2022.

STAFF

We pledge to expand antiracism training for staff and volunteers.

  • The Artistic Director and the Managing Director are currently in a 14 week Inclusion for the Arts intensive workshop with Dr. Melissa Crum.
  • Twianna Armstrong training workshop held on August 14, 2022.

We pledge to view our recruiting and hiring practices through a lens of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI).

  • As of March 29, 2023 our staff has 4 BIPOC members out of 12 (33%).

ACCOUNTABILITY

We pledge to provide EDI progress reports at regular intervals throughout the season on our website.

  • Fifth update posted December 9, 2025.
  • Fourth update posted April 3, 2023.

We pledge to create a safe space for BIPOC feedback and comment for our artists, staff, and Board members.

  • Our CapStage BIPOC Advisory Council members will act as liaisons for BIPOC artists, staff & board members.
  • A BIPOC Liaison has been assigned to each production through the season as a point of contact for BIPOC artists, staff, technicians, etc., that’s 6 for the 22/23 season so far.

We will create an Artists of Color EDI Committee to make creative recommendations, give feedback to our company, and contribute to the conversation.

  • Renamed the CapStage BIPOC Advisory Council
  • 6 Artists from the Sacramento & Bay Area
  • Fourth meeting of the BIPOC Advisory Council held in April 2023.

We pledge to provide an EDI facilitator to conduct Board and staff training and consultation.

  • Board Training on at the Board Retreat on February 12, 2022 with Brian Bedford, EdD (see above).
  • New strategic plan to be centered on DEIA values.
  • New strategic plan with DeVos Institute to be centered on DEIA values with completion date June, 2023.

COMMUNITY

We pledge to create a space for community feedback.

  • Launched October 8, 2021 via the feedback form below.

We pledge to provide opportunities for collaboration with community groups focused on social justice.

21/22 & 22/23 Seasons:

  • Special Invited dress for Asian American community groups held for HOLD THESE TRUTHS on 8/24/21.
  • Community night for PASS OVER with Improve Your Tomorrow in March.
  • We were a Presenting Partner with TheatreWorks Silicon Valley of WRITING FRAGMENTS HOME – Jeffrey Lo’s play reading to benefit anti-Asian American violence and Compassion Oakland.
  • We partnered with the Asian Pacific Bar Association for a special performance of THE GREAT LEAP on January 30, 2021.
  • We donated rehearsal space to Teatro Nagual, Richard Falcon ED, to assist in their production of LYDIA in May, 2022.
  • We were a Presenting Partner with TheatreWorks Silicon Valley of WRITING FRAGMENTS HOME – Jeffrey Lo’s play reading to benefit anti-Asian American violence and Compassion Oakland.

We pledge to create outreach to our diverse communities to encourage greater access to our theatre.

  • We are currently working with Improve Your Tomorrow for a special performance of Smart People in July, 2022, at no cost to the IYT community.
  • We partnered with the Asian Pacific Bar Association for a special performance of THE CHINESE LADY in February of 2023.
  • We also partnered with ACC Senior Services for a special performance of THE CHINESE LADY.
  • We collaborated with Xiaomei Chen, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Chinese Literature, for a special presentation and Q&A session after the February 23 performance of THE CHINESE LADY.
  • We are working with CLARA Arts Up Front to bring a class from Luther Burbank High School to the final dress rehearsal of The Hombres this coming May 2, 2023.

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