On Monday, September 25, Black Ensemble Theater and Steppenwolf Theatre Company will co-present an event intended to bring the Chicago theater community to fight racism and other oppressions. This one-night-event, entitiled “Chicago’s Theater Community Coming Together to Fight the Ism’s: ‘Highlighting Racism,'” will begin with a presentation at 6:00pm followed by a reception and networking at approximately 7:00 p.m. at the Black Ensemble Theater Cultural Center, 4450 N. Clark Street. The event is free and open to the public.

The event will focus on a positive experience and includes performances and presentations from area companies including Teatro Vista, About Face Theatre, Black Ensemble Theater, Her Story Theatre and Firebrand Theatre. Featured speakers include Tyronne Stoudemire (‎Vice President Global Diversity and Inclusion, Hyatt Corporation) and Angelique Power (President, The Field Foundation and Co-Founder of Enrich). The evening was motivated by recent discussion within the Chicago theater community regarding racism. Organizers wanted to offer the community the opportunity to come together and communicate positively and productively.

“This is a necessary evening of education, understanding and coming together,” comments Black Ensemble Founder and CEO Jackie Taylor. “We must understand the systemic process of racism and oppression — what is it and how can we remove it from our community?  This is a way to bring us together so that we can begin the healing process that is so necessary in a racist and oppressive society.”

Tickets are free and open to the public, but must be reserved. To reserve, go to blackensembletheater.org/fighttheisms.