Looking Back: An archive of New Traditions' Forums & Commentaries: 1992-96

From 1992 to 1996, the Alliance, then Non-Traditional Casting Project, published New Traditions, a newsletter featuring contributions from sixty-six actors, playwrights, directors, designers, producers, critics, academics, grantmakers, and others, representing a wide range of opinion on making the arts more culturally inclusive. The perspective of contributors ranged from unabashed boosterism to deep skepticism. Most of these articles appeared as part of forums on a changing set of topics: actors' views on non-traditional casting; how directors of color and directors with disabilities engaged efforts at diversity; the evolution of thinking within the funding community; how playwrights of different cultures approach diversity in writing and production; the attempts of non-profit theaters to broaden their audiences; and the hopes and expectations for multiculturalism's future. The rest were part of a series of commentaries from critics and others on the possibilities and limitations of sustaining a performing arts truly representative of American society.

The thirty-eight articles from New Traditions' five-year publication cycle from 1992-1996 archived here present an intricate historical portrait of the impact and scope of attempts to make theater, film, and television more inclusive. Though there have been positive developments since they were first published, many of the articles reprinted here sound as relevant today as when they were written.

In its original print form, this volume was dedicated to Bernard B. Jacobs, President of The Shubert Organization and The Shubert Foundation until his passing in 1996. A man deeply dedicated to equality and inclusion, Bernie was one of our first board members. Throughout his ten years with the Alliance, then NTCP, he consistently brought the strength of his position and the resources of his organization to bear in support.

Sharon Jensen

The NEW TRADITIONS Compendium was made possible through the generous support of The Educational Foundation of America. The Web version of the Compendium has been made possible through the support of the National Endowment for the Arts.

© 1998 Alliance for Inclusion in the Arts

All rights reserved. No reprints, translations, or any republication in any medium permitted without the written permission of Alliance for Inclusion in the Arts. Articles reprinted here originally appeared in Alliance for Inclusion in the Arts's newsletters published 1992-1996.