A message from Rod Oden at Lee Street theatre

Rod Oden, the Executive Artistic Director of Lee Street theatre, invites creatives from across North Carolina together as a community of artists on April 5.

Editor’s Note: Rod Oden shared the following letter with Y’all Weekly staff and artists across North Carolina on February 12th. We have republished the letter in its entirety with Oden’s permission.

My name is Rod Oden, and I am the sitting Executive Artistic Director of Lee Street theatre, a small, fledgling community theatre in Salisbury, NC. I am writing to you today to bring awareness for the much needed dialogue that is eminently needed. Our stages are in the crosshairs of our government, both local and national, due to the important work we do providing representation of diversity, equity and inclusion in our seasons.

As many of you are aware, the face of our political machine, our patron base, and even our support structure is shifting in America. In a little less than a month, we have seen our local, regional and national world be upended by a wave we never imagined happening. This has begun the process of shifting funding and representation within our industry. Our once-welcomed diverse melting-pot of voices, performers, artists and leaders in our communities has come under fire. Our communities we support that once had welcoming, inviting and accepting stages will soon be singled out and under supported to assist us in bringing actual dialogue and engaging messaging to our audiences.

But my message today is one of unity, hope, encouragement and support. I am writing to invite you to a thoughtful, invested and productive dialogue with our region’s arts leaders, organizations, institutions and artists. I want to come together to discuss how we can support each other through our mutual financial, production, artistic and organizational resources. I would love an opportunity to hear your concerns, share in our fears, and lift each other up as only we know to do as artists.

This is not a protest. This is a quilt. A quilt of acceptance. A quilt of support. A quilt that knows you, hears you and loves you. We need to come together to mourn what we have lost, listen to what we are challenged with, and plan to be together, as one, as we move forward continuing the good work of appropriate and equitable stage representation of stories and artists that include diversity, equity and inclusion. Now more than ever, I need you. We need each other. We need to come together as a community of artists supporting each other, encouraging each other and lifting up the message and voice we have as one to bring us back.

Lee Street theatre is neither large nor well known, however, we are asking you to join us on April 5th from 9AM to 9PM doing the good work of listening to each other, writing our representatives, getting our messages out to our donor base and supporters, and most importantly seeing that we are not alone. I am not sure what will come of this day, but whatever we do together, nothing can tear apart.

Please join myself and Lee Street theatre on April 5th at 9am for a symposium and collaborative planning day about the state of the arts in our region. ALL communities are welcome, ALL artists are welcome, and ALL people from every representative group are welcome. We would love to send a large message to our state and national leaders asking to be heard, seen and supported.

Please email me if you are willing to join us on the 5th, either in person or virtually. Please share this invite with anyone you think would gain benefit and would want to be a part of this important conversation. I thank you for your valuable time and consideration. But more importantly, I thank you for standing up for what is needed and right in our communities.

Sincerely,

Rod Oden
rod@leestreet.org