Dawn Meredith Simmons

Anti-Racist Theatre Work: Responding to “We See You White American Theatre” | June 8

Anti-Racist Theatre Work: Responding to “We See You White American Theatre”: - Sponsored by Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation and part of BRIDGE’s Inclusive Leadership Cohort, this IAH panel discussion, moderated by Gwendolyn VanSant, will feature Dawn Meredith Simmons, Nicole Brewer, and representatives from WAM Theatre and Shakespeare & Company. Panelists will discuss what is required in anti-racism work in theatre, arts and with their sponsors and partners.

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Dawn M. Simmons is a holder of multiple hats and spinner of many plates as the head of two New England arts organizations, a freelance director, playwright and educator. Dawn is the Co-Founder and Co-Artistic Director of the Front Porch Arts Collective, a Black theater company committed to advancing racial equity in Boston through theatre. In 2008 Dawn cofounded her first theatre company, New Exhibition Room whose missions was to produce provocative, political, and affordable theater events. She is also Executive Director of Stage Source, an arts service organization focusing on work force development and sector improvement in theatre across New England. Dawn is also adjunct faculty at Northeastern University and has been a guest lecturer at Boston College. Over the last 5 years Dawn has used her own artistic practice and the resources to push the New England theatre community to examine and address the problems of systemic racism, sexism, sexual violence and homophobia that has been internalized in our work environments through programs like Line Drawn, The Gender Explosion Initiative and the Do Better Initiative (Currently Anti-Racism Resources) under StageSource her work has prompted the sector to hold itself accountable and work together to reduce harms caused. She has authored/co-authored think pieces on anti-racist practice, accountability and reducing sexual harm in the workplace, has been interviewed by The Boston Globe, WBUR and other news outlets to speak on racial equity in the performing arts and has been a featured speaker for The Globe, Multicultural Bridge, The City of Boston, Boston College, Northeastern University, UMass Boston, Berkley Boston Conservatory, Philanthropy Massachusetts, Mass General Hospital and more.