Cursed Child’s Artistic Director Leads Upcoming Sanctuary Project

Christine Jones, Tony Award-winning set designer and artistic director for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, is one of 18 leaders in the theater community that have created The Sanctuary Project.

According to The Sanctuary Project website, the goal of the effort is to bring people together:

“unite the theater community nationwide in solidarity. The project aims to create spaces – both literal and symbolic – that will serve as lights in the coming years, and to activate a network of people across the country working to support vulnerable communities.”

The initiative defines “sanctuary” as a space where:

– It is safe to be who you are, regardless of race, class, religion, gender, or sexual orientation.

– Diverse opinions, dissent, and argument are not only tolerated, but invited.

– Active listening and courageous exchange are fundamental values.

– Collective action, activism, and community engagement, both within and outside the walls of the theater, are cultivated, encouraged, and supported.”

The project will be launched on January 19th, 2017 – the eve of the Presidential Inauguration – at 5:30pm in each time zone across the US. Participants from a variety of theater organizations, including school and community, as well as professional theater, will gather outside their venues to:

“join in a collective, simultaneous action, together creating “light” for challenging times ahead. Inspired by the tradition of leaving a “ghost light” on in a darkened theater, these artists and communities will make a pledge to continued vigilance and increased advocacy.

The event constitutes the beginning of an ongoing commitment by theaters and artists to work for social justice and equity.

Click here to “Be a Light” and join the effort! A list of theaters currently participating in the event are listed on the website, and you can keep updated on their Facebook page here.

More details on the January 19th event will be announced soon.