Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Access

PHOTO: Kevis Hillocks and Robert Barnes in Antoinette Nwandu's PASS OVER, directed by Devin E. Haqq (February 2020).

Luna Stage is committed to the development and production of new theatrical works that will support our communities, challenge white supremacy culture, and create physical and metaphorical spaces where all are welcome, engaged, challenged, inspired, and uplifted.

At this pivotal moment in our democracy, it is vital that our arts organizations embrace hope and grapple with the essential question of who we are as a country, as well as incorporate practices and policies that work toward equity. We believe that engaging authentically with stories of previously obscured experiences and amplifying underrepresented voices can change our world. 

We believe that artistic engagement is a civic right and are dedicated to eliminating barriers to participation and nurturing the next generation of artistic voices. Throughout its history, Luna has consistently commissioned and supported early-career BIPOC artists, developing and producing world premieres including Nikkole Salter’s Lines In The Dust and Indian Head, Matthew Lopez’s The Whipping Man, and many others. 

We commit to continuing this practice and programming at least 50% BIPOC-created work on our MainStage and in our Studio. Luna Stage encourages open submissions from playwrights throughout their career. By building bridges between our programming and deep conversations, we reinforce the idea that art catalyzes understanding and action. 

Luna Stage recognizes, and aims to dismantle, the role ableism plays in the American theatre. To that end, Luna does not discriminate on the basis of disability in employment, admission, or participation in its programs. Luna Stage has designated a staff member to facilitate compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and with sections 504 and 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and Luna’s theatre and facilities are ADA-accessible. Beyond the letter of the law, Luna Stage is committed to addressing accessibility barriers that exist in programs and services. We offer large-print programs and assistive listening devices, and we’re working on expanding our accessibility offerings even further. 

​Luna acknowledges the ways in which race, gender, disability, and other factors affect employment, and we believe in equitable work practices. We continue to adhere to a twenty-six hour rehearsal week model with no 10 out of 12 hour work days. The pay scale at Luna aims to close the wage gap, with our highest-paid employees making approximately 1.5 times the lowest salary. Luna does not offer unpaid internships; instead, all interns are paid over 50% of the highest-paid staff member’s rate. We are committed to hiring staff and artists whose identity and work explores diverse cultural experiences. ​

Luna Stage’s executive board is currently 50% BIPOC and 75% female. In support of diversity, equity, and access across our leadership, Luna revised its previous board policies to eliminate financial requirements for membership. Luna has a standing six-year board term limit. ​

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we transformed all of our educational and artistic programming to a pay-what-you-wish model, which enhances equity and access. Virtual programming also widened our audience beyond those able to attend physically. We plan to integrate this learning from the pandemic as we explore prioritizing the contributions of long-term local residents in this process. 

Our physical space is located at a crossroads of communities and cultures, and we actively participate in building an artistic landscape inspired by our location. We recognize that entering Luna’s building is a barrier for many. A central aspect of Luna’s mission is to offer theatrical experience in the primarily low-income Valley Arts district and neighboring areas of Orange and West Orange that immediately surround our theatre. To ensure we are welcoming the widest possible audience, we perform in community spaces and in multiple languages. We are also working on closed captions for virtual performances. 

We are deeply committed to both expanding access to all of our on-site programming and creating theatrical experiences off-site to better serve our culturally and socio-economically diverse community. We recruit front-of-house staff and teaching artists who both come from and reflect the communities we serve. This allows us to better serve our audiences and students and grow institutionally as these voices become instrumental in shaping our programming. 

We are aware that equity is a process and engaging in an ongoing exploration of how we can improve both artistically and institutionally. 

Darin Earl and Valerie Terranova in in Bernardo Cubría’s THE GIANT VOID IN MY SOUL, directed by Rajesh Bose (May 2022). PHOTO: Joel Weber.

Land Acknowledgement

Luna Stage acknowledges that our physical theatre space is on the occupied land of the Lenni Lenape people.

Caretakers, warriors, and diplomats, the Lenape people were the first Native tribe to sign a treaty with the United States government. They lived in the area in and surrounding New Jersey for over 10,000 years, stewarding the land for generations until Dutch and English settlers arrived in the seventeenth century. In the subsequent centuries, these settlers took land from the Lenape, killing or relocating them away from their native land.

We at Luna Stage believe this land acknowledgment is only an initial step in respecting and supporting Indigenous and other disenfranchised communities. We are committed to honoring Native Tribes through learning and relearning history, working as allies and accomplices, creating open theatrical spaces, and sharing resources.

We invite you to join us in these efforts. You can look up the original stewards of the land you now occupy, and learn more at the links below.

Learn More