MONTICELLO OPERA HOUSE

Diversity and Inclusion at the Monticello Opera House

Artistic creativity flourishes in an environment that welcomes different ideas, perspectives, and backgrounds. At Monticello Opera House, the performing arts thrive in a creative community that is diverse in age, gender identity, race, sexual orientation, physical and mental ability, ethnicity, and perspective. We value the uniqueness of every individual and benefit from their contributions.

The leadership and management of Monticello Opera House are committed to ensuring a diverse and inclusive atmosphere for our actors and audiences in each of the following ways:

• Play Production

WE ARE COMMITTED to producing plays and musicals written by African-Americans and other persons of color. In recent years, the Opera House has held productions of Raisin in the Sun, Anne and Emmet, as well as the world premiere of The Long Goodbye by Anthony Lamar White, as well as several plays produced by the Tallahassee Hispanic Theater. Upcoming productions will include the musicals Underground and The Color Purple.

• Diverse Casting and Production Staff

WE ARE COMMITTED to featuring artists of color on our stage and in all of our productions. Our 2019-20 season featured persons of color in each of our main stage productions (with one exception) including our plays, dinner theater, children’s theater, and musicals.  

• Leadership

WE ARE COMMITTED to representation on our Board of Directors that reflects the diversity of our community. For over 10 years, at least 20% of the Board of Directors at the Opera House has included persons of color.

• Funding

WE ARE COMMITTED to pursuing funding for diversity programming and educational initiatives at the Monticello Opera House. Through the generosity of donors, the Monticello Opera House has recently launched a Diversity Fund specifically allocated for producing work by persons of color. As part of this initiative, we are currently planning upcoming productions of the musicals Underground (about the Underground Railroad) and The Color Purple.

• Education

WE ARE COMMITTED to continuing our rich tradition of educational programming which has been a part of the Opera House history for over 30 years. Such initiatives allow us to share the arts with the students of Jefferson and Leon County. Through Partnerships with Opening Nights at FSU, the Opera House hosted multiple performances by the Egyptian musician and dancer Karim Nagi, and Nan Liu, who performed traditional Chinese art, music and calligraphy.

Monticello Opera House

A Selection of Recent Diversity Programming and Initiatives

As of August 4, 2020

 

2013                              A Raisin in the Sun

                                      By Lorraine Hansberry

                                      In partnership with Canopy Roads Theater Company

 

2014                              Anne and Emmett

                                      By Janet Langhart Cohen

                                      In partnership with Canopy Roads Theater Company

 

2017                              An Evening with Karim Nagi

                                      Egyptian/Arab Music, Dance and Culture

                                      funded by SouthArts and the FL Dept of Cultural Affairs

 

2017                              Echoes of Nature featuring Nan Liu

                                      Traditional Chinese Art, Music and Calligraphy

                                      In partnership with Opening Nights Performing Arts

 

2017                            Anna in the Tropics

                                     by Nilo Cruz

                                     In partnership with Tallahassee Hispanic Theater

 

                                     Forever Yours, Julita

                                      By Roberto Ramos-Perea

                                      In partnership with Tallahassee Hispanic Theater

 

2018                              Happily Ever After

                                      By Christina Colmena

                                      In partnership with Tallahassee Hispanic Theater

 

2018                              The Long Goodbye

                                      By Anthony Lamarr White

                                      In partnership with FAMU Essential Theater

                                      A world premiere by an African-American playwright

 

2019                              Beehive: The 60’s Musical and Clue: The Musical

                                      In partnership with Monticello Acting & Dance Co.

                                      featured African-American performers in lead roles

                                     

                                      Makana, slack key guitarist, singer, composer, and Hawaiian Island cultural activist

                                      In partnership with Opening Nights Performing Arts

 

Season 2019-2020         

MOH cast persons of color in all Main Series shows for the season with one exception. All Murder Mystery Dinner Theater shows featured performers of color in the cast. All Children’s Shows featured persons of color in the cast. Our primary tech person for the season was a person of color

 

Season 2020-2021         

Two diversity-themed programs were planned, Underground the Musical (by emerging local African-American writer and filmmaker, Akil Dupont) and The Color Purple by Alice Walker. Due to Covid-19 and artist availability, Underground is on hold and The Color Purple has been moved to 2022.

 

MOH Leadership           

The Monticello Opera House has been honored to have African-Americans serving on the Board of Directors for over 10 years.