A message from the Artistic Director

Dear Friends.

I am distraught over the pain and uncertainty that ravage our land - particularly among our African-American neighbors.  Living a life of fear is no life at all so we understand when someone determines to stop being afraid and raises their voice in protest.

The murder of George Floyd was not a singular event. It was the final straw of a long history of injustices. Too long.

As a theatre director, playwright and actor, my natural impulse is to gather a crowd and share a story in frightful times.  That time will surely come but my role now is to shut up and listen.

What I have heard so far makes me understand that the Springer has work to do. We have always worked toward our stages, board, staff and audience reflecting the community in which we live. But the truth is, our progress has been too slow and we have fallen short.

On June 23, 2020, the Board of Directors established a Springer Diversity and Inclusion Council to explore ways to attract a broader range of voices to our organization.  This will not be the end of the conversation but the beginning.

We pray that wisdom, insight and grace await us at the far end of this bridge we are on.  But it is essential that we open our hearts to the reality that change also awaits. As an optimist and a builder of dreams, I anticipate a brighter, more loving day ahead for our nation. 

“We delight in the beauty of the butterfly,” Maya Angelou reminds us, “but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.”

To our BIPOC artists and neighbors, I want you to know that we see you, we hear you and we stand with you in solidarity for social justice and glorious transformation.

Paul Pierce

Producing Artistic Director

To read more about our Diversity and Inclusion Council Click Here