Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) Statement for San Pedro Playhouse

San Pedro Playhouse: A Legacy of Inclusivity and Artistic Excellence

In the heart of San Pedro Springs Park, one of the oldest public parks in the United States, San Pedro Playhouse is a testament to San Antonio’s rich cultural and artistic heritage. The theater is proud to be the oldest and longest-running theatre company in Texas, embodying the vibrant spirit of San Antonio for over a century.

Historical Tapestry: San Antonio, a city known for its unique blend of cultures and histories, provides the perfect backdrop for our mission. From its early days as a Spanish colonial outpost to its role as a melting pot of Mexican, Tejano, and American influences, San Antonio has always been where diverse stories intersect. With its natural beauty and historical significance, San Pedro Springs Park has long been a gathering place for the community, offering a space for recreation, reflection, and artistic expression.

Diversity: San Pedro Playhouse celebrates the rich tapestry of cultures, identities, and perspectives that define our community. The theater is committed to diversity in programming, casting, and partnerships. By showcasing a wide range of voices and stories, we aim to create a space where all feel represented and valued. Whether through traditional performances or contemporary works, we honor the myriad experiences that make San Antonio unique.

Equity: San Pedro Playhouse strives to ensure fairness and justice in all its operations. We dedicate ourselves to removing barriers that have historically marginalized certain groups within the arts. We aim to provide equitable participation, employment, and artistic expression opportunities for people of all backgrounds. By engaging with the community and listening to their needs, we work to create a theater that is accessible to everyone.

Inclusion: The theater believes inclusion involves inviting diverse groups to the table and creating an environment where everyone feels welcomed, respected, and heard. We commit to cultivating a culture of belonging where individuals can fully engage and contribute to the vibrant life of the theater. Our inclusive approach ensures that every voice has a platform and every story has a spotlight. We commit to producing stories that feature the unique voices of diverse cultures and include practitioners of all backgrounds in stories from the traditional Western canon of musicals and plays.

Accessibility: San Pedro Playhouse places accessibility at the heart of its mission. The theater dedicates itself to making performances, facilities, and programs accessible to all individuals, including those with disabilities. We provide physical access to the venues, offer accommodations for various needs, and ensure everyone can access communications and materials. Specific initiatives include ASL Nights and Audio Description services, enhancing the experience for audience members who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind, or visually impaired.

Our Commitment:

• Programming: The theater continues curating diverse productions that reflect our community’s multifaceted experiences. The repertoire celebrates San Antonio’s rich cultural heritage, from classics to contemporary pieces. San Pedro Playhouse works to amplify the voices of women and minorities in our storytelling, include a broad range of ages and experience levels in our productions, and reinvigorate and reimagine works from antiquity to today. 
• Casting Practices: We ensure our casting calls are open and accessible to actors of all backgrounds. We proactively seek talent from underrepresented communities and create a welcoming audition environment where all performers feel respected and valued. We base our casting decisions on talent, potential, and each actor’s unique qualities, free from traditional stereotypes or biases. We believe diverse casting enriches our productions and offers fresh perspectives on classic and contemporary works. We engage our casting directors and creative teams in regular training and workshops to recognize and counteract unconscious bias, ensuring fair and inclusive casting processes.
• Hiring Process: We design our hiring practices to attract and retain a diverse workforce. We advertise job openings widely and on various platforms to reach a broad audience. We write job descriptions that are clear, inclusive, and free from biased language to avoid deterring potential applicants from diverse backgrounds. We assemble diverse interview panels and train them to conduct fair and inclusive interviews, focusing on each candidate’s skills and experiences.
• Education and Outreach: The theater aims to engage a broad audience and provide artistic growth and development opportunities through educational programs and community outreach initiatives. It strongly believes in the transformative power of theatre to inspire and educate.
• Training and Development: The theater provides ongoing training for the staff, volunteers, and board members to ensure a deep understanding and commitment to DEIA principles. Continuous learning and development are crucial to success.
• Evaluation and Accountability: The theater regularly assesses its DEIA efforts and seeks feedback from the community to improve and adapt its practices continually. Transparency and accountability guide our actions. Alongside our Community Inclusion Committee, we ensure this commitment. This committee, which includes board members, staff, and community representatives, dedicates itself to advancing the organization’s DEIA initiatives. Additionally, it provides valuable guidance on both artistic and organizational matters. If you want to join the Community Inclusion Committee, please email us at info@thepublicsa.org.

San Pedro Playhouse dedicates itself to promoting diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility within the arts community. We believe that embracing these values enriches our theater and the broader cultural landscape of San Antonio and beyond. By doing so, we aim to create a more inclusive and vibrant future for the arts.

Contact Information: For more information about our DEIA initiatives or to provide feedback, please contact us at info@thepublicsa.org. We welcome your input and look forward to continuing this vital work together.