Our Values
Opportunity, Multiplicity of Experience, Inclusion, and Access
Lexington Children’s Theatre (LCT) is committed to Opportunity, Multiplicity of Experience, Inclusion, and Access in the life and culture of our organization and community. We are actively interrogating our past and present policies with open eyes, ears, and hearts. We have made mistakes and perpetuated racism in our organization. As we move forward, we are deliberately employing practices to promote anti-racist and anti-oppressive policies. We will continue to work to center marginalized voices, bodies, and stories in our hiring policies, productions, and classes. We will listen to our patrons, our students, and our community to learn about racism, discrimination, and adversity so that we may be a better voice for all children and their families in Kentucky.
Lexington Children’s Theatre’s values include Opportunity, Multiplicity of Experience, Inclusion, and Access. We build on the definitions for these and other terms laid out by Donna Walker-Kuhne in Champions for the Arts (2022).
Opportunity
To recognize the equality and dignity of all people, and see them as being worthy of respect, based on the common denominator that we are all human beings. LCT is a brave space where young people can come together to create and imagine on an equal playing field.
Multiplicity of Experience
To celebrate the unique and important contributions each person can make to the collective based on race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, differing abilities, socioeconomic status, national origin, legal status, political persuasion, personality, and life experience. LCT celebrates young people’s expression of their whole selves.
Inclusion
To build and promote a culture of belonging by actively inviting the contributions and participation of all people. LCT encourages compassion, empathy, teamwork, and cooperation in our rehearsal rooms, classrooms, and all types of audiences.
Access
To remove the physical, social, economic, cultural, language, or geographical barriers that block full participation. LCT aims to make experiencing theatre as easy as possible by keeping class and ticket prices low, touring our work far and wide, and never charging a fee to perform in our productions.
Values without action are just talk. In order to live up to these values Lexington Children’s Theatre:
- Provides ASL Interpreted performances for all shows on request and offers Sensory Friendly performances for most plays.
- Produces stories in Our Season representing a wide range of cultures.
- Reduces economic barriers through Class Scholarships and Pay What You Will performances.
- Casts to ensure that the people on our stages are reflective of the population in our communities.
- Includes young people in organizational decision-making through the Youth Advisory Board.
- Offers classes for young people with cognitive, physical, and/or developmental disabilities through our Trailblazer Classes.
- Brings additional theatre classes and performances to Eastern Kentucky and beyond through our Shooting Stars Youtheatre program.
- Discounts performances for school children through our Field Trips and Touring Performances.
- Partners with local nonprofit organizations to promote awareness of issues impacting our community through our Discover More Series.
- Never charges a fee for a person to Audition or perform in our productions.
Sustainability
Lexington Children’s Theatre is committed to sustainability to ensure that the community we live in will be a vibrant and healthy community for all young people for generations to come. Public buildings, such as theatres, have a responsibility to lead by example and reduce waste and pollution. Youth organizations must take the current climate emergency seriously because it is ultimately young people who will pay the price for our inaction.
To promote sustainability, Lexington Children’s Theatre:
- Is Green Check Certified by Green Check Lexington.
- Maintains a stock of reusable scenery, costumes, and props.
- Actively recycles and reduces waste in its business operations.
Land Acknowledgment
Indigenous peoples have lived on the land now called Kentucky for at least 12,000 years. Every community owes its existence and heritage to generations from around the world who contributed their hopes, dreams, and stories to making the history that led to this moment. Indigenous peoples have always lived on the land that is now called Kentucky and continue to live here today. The place we now call Kentucky is primarily Shawnee, Cherokee, Chickasaw, and Osage land.
A commonly cited claim many of us heard in history class growing up is that this region was merely a hunting ground. This claim is a myth, perpetuated at first by land speculators who wished to improve land sales, and still today to absolve settler colonists and their descendants from grappling with their history of land theft, genocide, and white supremacy. The continuation of this myth is harmful for all of us.
Accountability
We ask that our #LCTFamily serve as our partner in accomplishing this vital work and as our partner, we hope that if you find yourself with questions about an LCT practice or program, you will reach out to anyone on staff or our Producing Artistic Director at jkisling@lctonstage.org or our Managing Director at jsachs@lctonstage.org.