PBN 2025 DIVERSITY EQUITY & INCLUSION AWARDS
Arts (Large Company): Trinity Repertory Company
Four years ago, Trinity Repertory Company created a position to oversee its long-standing commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion and anti-racism, to ensure that message was embedded in everything Trinity did, from fundraising, marketing and communications to its own interactions with employees.
Monique L. Austin was hired for the position, and in the years that followed, her role grew, and in March she was promoted to director of people and culture, reflecting her work at Trinity and its emphasis on EDIA efforts, said Kate Liberman, Trinity Repertory Company’s executive director.
“She’s supporting our staff and creating new programming,” she said.
Liberman said the 62-year-old Trinity Rep – the state theater of Rhode Island – has always been committed to inclusion, and sees its role as a “public square.” In 2017, it prepared a written statement about its commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, and in 2020, added anti-racism to the statement, which can be found on its website.
“It’s long been part of the DNA and culture of the organization,” Liberman said about EDIA efforts at Trinity.
The addition of Austin’s position and expanded role shows Trinity holds the values of EDIA close, Liberman said.
Other initiatives Trinity launched to support its EDIA efforts include a Femme Night and Black Out Night, both of which will return in 2026.
The first Femme Night was held last fall to acknowledge and empower all women regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation or identity. All productions that season were centered on women’s stories and were written and/or directed by women; the event was timely given the tensions in the country politically, Austin said, describing it as a “night of laughter and fellowship.”
The second Black Out Night was held in June, which was well received, Austin said. According to information from Trinity, Black Out Night is the “purposeful creation of an environment in which an all-Black-identifying audience can experience and discuss an event in the performing arts … free from the white gaze.” It is a concept that was created by playwright Jeremy O. Harris.
Liberman said Black Out Night “helped us expand our audience.”
“We want to make sure we are opening doors, especially to those who haven’t been to the theater or Trinity Rep,” Austin said.
Pre-COVID, Trinity featured up to eight productions, including its flagship “A Christmas Carol.” Now, it features five productions, including “A Christmas Carol.”
Liberman said the five-production schedule will continue until Trinity completes the renovation of its Chace Theatre. Trinity has two theaters, which are small enough that the audience is never more than 12 rows away from the actors. The work will help ensure Trinity meets its commitments to equity and inclusivity, as it currently has an elevator from the 1990s that does not reach all floors, limiting people in wheelchairs and those who cannot climb stairs. The new elevator will be up to code, reach all floors and allow Trinity to expand and use more space in the 1917 building. The project is expected to be completed in spring 2027, Liberman said.
Trinity has up to 200 people on its payroll during the production of “A Christmas Carol,” including actors, directors, designers, carpenters, painters, lighting and sound engineers, bartenders, and communications and human resources staff.
“We have an incredibly diverse workforce. … We are the state theater of Rhode Island, and we take that responsibility very seriously. We need to serve all of Rhode Island and without a commitment to inclusion, we are not best serving” the state, Liberman said.
That commitment includes a focus on plays that feature Rhode Island’s diverse population, such as “La Broa’ (Broad Street),” which was performed last year and featured real-life stories of Latino and Latina Rhode Islanders in their neighborhood on Broad Street in Providence, and the market they congregated at, Austin said. With both Spanish and English dialogue, the play resonated with the audience and demonstrated Trinity’s focus on equality and inclusion, Austin said.
“For ‘La Broa’ (Broad Street),’ folks really came out and we continue to talk about plays that will ensure all the communities that are represented in our audience are also represented on our stage,” Liberman said.
