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« It has the power to tell the stories of those who are directly affected by repressive systems in our society. »
Tony nominees Karen Olivo and Adrienne Warren know what they want – they are Artists with strong convictions. If you immerse yourself in racist and misogynist ideals buried in the industry they have worked tirelessly for, they will confront you directly and invite you to do the work for change. They did so in 2020 and will continue to do so as the Broadway performances gradually resume.
Warren stars in Tina: The Tina Turner Musical and has won over for her portrayal of the legendary singer on Broadway and in West End received excellent reviews. She has the voice and moves for the role, but most importantly, she has Turner’s indomitable mind and heart to sell the performance. Warren uses the platform of her second Tony nomination to highlight the Broadway Advocacy Coalition, the nonprofit she founded in 2016 with six other artists to help students, artists, organizations and communities use the arts for social change . Her work became even more important and visible after the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor and the ongoing pandemic.
Olivo, who commands the stage as Satine, the glamorous courtesan in the stage adaptation of Baz Luhrmann’s Moulin Rouge !, also uses it their platform for advocacy. They swore they would not lend their artistic services to Trump supporters in June 2020 when they discovered that an industry celebrity had donated a large sum of money to his campaign and another donated money to Republican Senator Roy Blunt’s campaign had donated. The unveiling prompted Olivo to co-found the nonprofit AFECT (Artists for Economic Transparency) with Broadway star Eden Espinosa.
“It became a calling. We did not take these vows with the idea of starting a nonprofit organization; We vowed never to make money for people who knowingly support candidates who would undermine our civil rights, ”reveals Olivo.
Olivo has adopted the activists’ label since their Broadway debut on Rent in 1996 when they campaigned for their castmates with union officials – but it’s still not easy to wear. “Most of the people who have been successful have been compliant in some way; What was pulling me inside is something I have to put into practice every day, « says Olivo, adding, » It can’t be something that [they] do sometimes. It has to do the things [they] generally do. ”
When I interviewed Olivo and Warren in late 2020, their energy feels like a pain meeting a long-awaited catharsis. « It has power to tell the stories of those who are directly affected by repressive systems in our society, » says Warren. “There is power for telling these stories; you conjure empathy. As an artist, I want my audience to be changed, to look at things with a more critical and empathic look. At that moment, any art that is consumed has the power to change a person’s life, perspective and thoughts, which will later affect their actions. This viewer can be a judge, lawyer, student, police officer, doctor, or teacher. That’s the power to change laws, policies, careers, judgments, and even a curriculum for a class. «
» I hope Broadway doesn’t ‘come back’ but rather moves ‘forward’ to a fairer one to become a safer and more inclusive institution. ”
And that brings us to the current reckoning that is being driven by the ongoing pandemic and protests against racial injustice in various industries. The 2020 Tony nominations hit differently when they hit Broadway during the 18-month hiatus. It also coincided with crucial discussions on systemic racism, when old institutions like the American Theater Wing, which runs the Tonys, were long involved.
« We’ve all been through so much in that time. I hope Broadway doesn’t « come back » but rather « moves forward » to become a fairer, safer, and more inclusive institution, « Warren says. Olivo is quick to point out that companies are working very hard to figure out how to restructure the inner workings of the industry. Still, it’s important that they find ways to make theater more sustainable and “create a safety net for all these different companies that rely on the live theater industry”.
The performers weren’t put off by the fact that they didn’t know how to start a nonprofit organization. Olivo recalls talking to Espinosa after the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, and it came to them after their promise. “We were so scared and knew we had something else to do besides protests and donations.” Warren recalls similarly: “I bought books, asked friends, did everything I could to educate myself. I don’t think either of us had any idea where it might be going; We just saw a gap and wanted to fill it. So we did it. First we needed money. Because we were all artists, we all worked on different schedules. ”
Despite the humble beginnings of their organizations, the impact has been significant. Last summer, Warren’s Broadway Advocacy Coalition hosted Broadway for Black Lives Matter Again, a forum that allowed members of the black industry to share their experiences of racism, access resources for self-care, and identify the tools to help understand the effects of systematic oppression unlearning while at the same time allowing white allies to review their prejudices and sign an accountability pledge. Their goal behind the event was not only to listen, but also to lead – and it caught on. In fact, the coalition is now entering into a multi-year partnership with Columbia Law School. This spring, artists and law students had the opportunity to work together during the semester course “The Theater for Change: Reimagining Justice Through Abolition”.
AFECT is known as a source of insights from fellow theater professionals and a website to find out about the minimum investment for a Broadway show, the difference between nonprofit and for-profit theaters, and the minimum annual salaries in the industry. Olivo and Espinosa are both educators who know that not everyone can afford tickets to a Broadway show. Hence, they want to use their expertise to explain why tickets are so expensive and give consumers the opportunity to question what they are buying. Olivo tells ELLE.com that they educate students outside of AFECT at the college level of the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music and Middle and High School Students.
With the 2020 Tony Awards ceremony being postponed to Sunday, September 26th, Olivo and Warren are grateful that their accomplishments are finally being recognized, months after the nomination was originally announced. They both know firsthand that a nod or victory from Tony can lead to a plethora of job opportunities, and is not something you alone deserve. “A nomination specifically for me means that A.J. Littlefield, my dresser, and Daniel Mortenson, our hair and makeup supervisor, the people who are with me every step of the way are also highlighted, and they never are, as are my standby Ashley Loren. Without them I couldn’t do my job, ”confesses Olivo. But while it would be an excellent opportunity – not to mention a turning point – to celebrate these extraordinary BIPOC artist accomplishments, actors agree that the moral responsibility they have to their audience takes precedence over any award / p> Since our interview, Olivo has announced that they will not be returning to the Moulin Rouge! The Musical this September and used its departure to denounce the industry’s silence over alleged abuse by stage and film producer Scott Rudin. (Rudin doesn’t have a stake in Moulin Rouge!) Instead, they’ll keep building the industry they’re hoping for. Warren, on the other hand, promised during a Broadway United For Racial Justice rally in May 2021 that he would not sign a Broadway deal until producers provide details on how to approach racism and create initiatives that support inclusivity and intersectionality, and boost BIPOC voices . In July, she announced that she would be returning to Tina for a limited engagement. The American Theater Wing has also noted the efforts of the Broadway Advocacy Coalition and will award the organization an Honorary Tony.
While Warren demands to be seen and heard, she wants others to do the same, too, even if they feel the system is not working in their favor. “I encourage everyone: if you want to make a change, don’t wait, do it. There are so many people waiting for you and waiting for you. «
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