Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility

The land of Central Florida, where we live and create together, is stolen land. It rightfully belongs to the native Seminole and Timucua people. We recognize that these lands were attained through genocide and mass ethnic cleansing. Despite the many atrocities committed, Native communities remain committed to leaving the world better than they found it.

We also acknowledge the injustice of capturing, enslaving, and forcing Black people to build the infrastructure of what we know as America today. We lift up the resilience, the brilliance, the spirit, the creativity, the fortitude, and the legacy of those who sacrificed their lives in the pursuit of freedom and civil rights.

Acknowledgements tend to be performative in nature while glossing over brutal acts of colonialism, erasure, and racism. We have more to learn and more to do in order to create an environment where Black, Indigenous, and artists and patrons of color are safe and celebrated. However, our silence as we grow will only perpetuate white supremacy.

For more information about accessible parking, seating for patrons using wheelchairs or other mobility supports, and resources for deaf and hearing-impaired patrons, please explore our Plan Your Visit page.

The Theatre & Dance Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (T&D IDEA) Council is comprised of faculty, staff, alumni, and student representatives. The IDEA council plans monthly programming for theatre and dance students and the greater campus community. The goals of this programming are to foster belonging, educate about industry best practices, and address students’ concerns in the areas of inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility, particularly in theatre and dance spaces.

T&D IDEA hosts an annual Color-Conscious and Identity-Conscious Directors' Retreat that equips Mainstage and Second Stage leadership with tools and insight to bring excellent care to production.