Woolly’s Statement

Statement Published: June 23, 2020

“The work of anti-racism is about becoming a better human to other humans.”

– Austin Channing Brown

These past few weeks have been hard and painful, yet incredibly important. With the necessary help of local actor Dylan Arredondo and a team of fantastic volunteers, Woolly’s lobby has been open for protestors as a safe space. This is a small part of how we are working to acknowledge and affirm that BLACK LIVES MATTER.

Alongside the pandemic and the protests, recent posts on social media detailing inappropriate and inexcusable behavior have been brought to light. We are troubled by the damage, pain, and hurt within our DC theatre community.

We are building a culture of openness and feedback that centers the needs of any person who has been harmed regardless of their position or affiliation. We take allegations of harassment and abuse seriously. We commit to address each individual claim quickly, decisively, and in its full complexity. In so doing, we will endeavor to strike the right balance between transparency and privacy. We will consistently refine our practices and processes for reporting to create brave spaces for all artists, audiences, staff, and visitors to Woolly Mammoth.

At Woolly, we are committed to anti-oppression and anti-racism in all that we do. Injustice is intersectional and abuses of power and white supremacy are often the root of those violations. We know this work can be raw, penetrating, and heart-expanding. It necessitates personal reflection, and the answers are not quick, nor easy, and are definitely not comfortable. Woolly is committed to doing this work inside and outside of our organization. And there is still much work to be done.

Finally, it’s important to acknowledge that despite the relative recency of our leadership, Woolly as an institution is not suddenly absolved of any past harm or complicity with upholding systems of silence. We welcome your feedback as we relentlessly recommit to embodying our values every day. Please know that we will receive your words with vulnerability and humility.