(upbeat soft music)
- Thanks for staying with us
for this latest episode of The Broadway Show.
Glad you're here.
The Broadway community had a reckoning during the
18 months the lights were off.
After the murder of George Floyd,
a spark was ignited and the push to increase
diversity on the Great Bright Way,
both on stage and behind the scenes,
really came to the forefront.
Now that effort is starting to bear fruit.
Charlie's here with the story.
- Thanks, Tamsen.
In addition to being a Tony honoree
and the production stage manager at Hadestown,
Beverly Jenkins is also one of the founders of
Broadway & Beyond.
I got to meet with her outside of Hadestown,
to learn more about that.
So Beverly Jenkins, thank you so much for joining us today.
- Thank you for having me, my pleasure.
- Yeah, for sure.
Start out by talking to us a little bit about
Broadway & Beyond.
- Oh, Broadway & Beyond is an organization that was
started during the pandemic.
And we started it because, we started thinking about,
you know, to really address the inequalities
in our business.
Systemic racism, the exclusion,
instead of inclusion.
And I don't really believe anyone was doing it on purpose.
It's just a matter of habit.
And so we said, "Let's break this habit."
Let's not have people call
the five Black stage managers that they know,
and ask us, "Hey, can you do this show?"
No, we can't do this show,
because I'm on another show.
And so we said, "Let's introduce them to people,
how do we do this?"
We started Broadway & Beyond,
Access for Stage Managers of Color.
Now, our goal is to get as many stage managers
of color in front of the people who hire.
And so what's the best way to do it?
Zoom. Do it virtual.
No one has to leave a home,
people from all across the country.
We even had a few international stage managers join us.
Can come and meet, get in a room,
meet people that they never would have even thought
that they would have met before, especially in person.
You would never get into some of these rooms.
- I love that you're providing this platform
for people who do similar things as you,
and who also look like you.
Essentially you are sharing the opportunities,
but why do that?
Why is that so important for you to do?
- Because someone opened the door for me.
And so who am I to tell someone that,
"Oh, no, I'm the only one."
Because then what's that gonna do?
We're gonna stand around and complain.
"Why is she the only one?"
No, it's my obligation,
to open as many doors as I can.
To put my hand down and bring up as many stage managers,
not just Black stage managers.
Latino stage managers,
Asian stage managers,
Middle Eastern,
wherever you come from.
If you are a person of, of Native American.
If you are a person of color
you need a hand in this business,
and I'm here to provide it.
I've been blessed.
I've been in this business on Broadway for 30 years.
That's a long time for anybody to have consistent work.
And so if the least I can do is to introduce stage managers
of color, to the people who I consider my friends
and my coworkers, so that they can have an easier time.
'Cuz I know that they want to meet these people.
It's just that, in the circles that they're in,
they don't know them.
- Yeah. What's it been like for you,
working on Hadestown, it's a big deal.
- I love it.
I love it.
I didn't know it was a big deal, until.
I did not know it was a big deal until the
first paid performance,
and the energy in the room,
and the reaction from the audience, which is everything.
Isn't that the reason why we do it?
To give stories, to change people's lives,
even if it's just for 10 minutes?
If it's just for the two hours they're sitting there?
It's give them something to take home and talk about.
This story tells
a fabulous story.
It makes it, fills me up with joy,
Just talking about it.
That's why I'm tripping over my words
because it just fills me with joy
knowing what kind of joy we bring to people.
It's a fabulous story.
And no, I did not know it was gonna be,
the hit it is.
I did not know it was gonna change people's lives
and I'm grateful for it.
(bright music)