“Lights, Camera, Action!,” doesn’t mean that the bright lights shining can spot everyone capable of helping put on a production.
The sorrowing metaphor is the upsetting reality in showbiz.
After publishing her novel on tips to leading art organizations, “Run It Like a Business” Aubrey Bergauer dug deeper to understand how art as a business is being held back.
Thanks to research conducted by The University of Melbourne & Deakin, Bergauer was able to present to her platform that from the 11 biggest budget opera companies in the US, in the past 16 years, 95% of their conductors were male, while 82% of their creative roles, such as directors, set & costume designers, were also male.
Theresa Rebeck, four-time playwright & Pulitzer Prize finalist in drama, shared her story, calling out the lack of a gender reckoning.
In her opinion article Rebeck writes about a famous– and unsaid– director telling her that “Women don’t write good plays, do they?”
In preparing for the university’s upcoming Fall play “Plumas Negras,” Senior Genesis Nicole Tanner, who’s majoring in theater design and technology and works as an undergraduate teaching assistant at the UTEP theater scenic shop, speaks on the inclusive culture that lives among the Miner theater.
“I tell my friends all the time, UTEP is a safe haven to work for in the theater department,” said Tanner. “We’re surrounded by women, queer people, people of color, and just amazing faculty.”
Tanner is part of an illustrious UTEP theater group that has represented the capability of El Paso on a national scale.
Last April, Tanner attended the Kennedy Center American College National Theatre Festival in Washington DC as the Region six National Representative.
There, she accompanied Senior Brittany Conyers and Senior Maya Lavin who participated in the ASPIRE program, a week-long curriculum that takes place during the national festival in which students of minority groups are taught how to lead in the art world.
During the fellowship, Conyers more than excelled, earning the John Cauble Emerging Producer and Leadership award. Conyer’s caliber was noticed and attested by judges Victoria Nolan, and Kelvin Dinkins Jr, both of whom are a part of the Yale School of Drama, and the leaders of the ASPIRE Arts Leadership Institute.
Tanner herself demonstrated that her work not only compares but stands out on the big stage. The senior was awarded for her show “Metamorphoses” by Mary Zimmerman in Undergraduate Scenic Design Excellence.
Whilst an impressive feature, Tanner’s achievements should not be surprising to others when learning more about her upbringing.
“My mother graduated with a food science degree, and she had to work really hard to get into the position she’s in,” said Tanner. “She’s told me she works in a pecan factory; she has experienced her fair share of judgment based on her gender.”
The resilient and persistent attitude of souls like Tanners are uplifting and motivating for those who wish to break barriers.
An attitude shouldn’t be needed to stop the exclusion of competent candidates from an important role in a play– or in any business– because of prejudice.
“We need to make more of an effort to give everyone equal opportunity,” said Tanner.
The UTEP Theatre Department continues its advocacy of the importance of women in all aspects of creativity and labor when premiering “Plumas Negras,” Wednesday, Oct 23rd.
Sebastian Perez-Navarro is a staff reporter for The Prospector and can be reached at [email protected]
