The world of musical theatre has a real-life #DiversityAndInclusion drama worthy of a being made into its own production.
1/9 https://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/entry/rob-guest-endowment-finalists-deny-bullying-claims_au_5f692506c5b6a9b19b3d582e">https://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/entry/rob...

TL:DR-
Australian endowment fund @RobGuestRGE picks 30 white semi-finalists for $50K prize.

Storm of protest ensues.

Fund& #39;s first response is the classic & #39;we don& #39;t see colour& #39; #meritocracy myth. (The Twitter account has been notably silent since).
2/9 https://twitter.com/RobGuestRGE/status/1296391887398424576?s=19">https://twitter.com/RobGuestR...

Ongoing protest.

Fund cancels award for 2020 to & #39;protect& #39; semi-finalists from bullying. Because everyone knows white people need protection from First Nations people and POC. https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🙄" title="Gesicht mit rollenden Augen" aria-label="Emoji: Gesicht mit rollenden Augen">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🙄" title="Gesicht mit rollenden Augen" aria-label="Emoji: Gesicht mit rollenden Augen">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🙄" title="Gesicht mit rollenden Augen" aria-label="Emoji: Gesicht mit rollenden Augen">

Also- the #microaggressions in the cancellation notice! https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="😱" title="Vor Angst schreiendes Gesicht" aria-label="Emoji: Vor Angst schreiendes Gesicht">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="😱" title="Vor Angst schreiendes Gesicht" aria-label="Emoji: Vor Angst schreiendes Gesicht">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="😱" title="Vor Angst schreiendes Gesicht" aria-label="Emoji: Vor Angst schreiendes Gesicht">
3/9 https://robguestendowment.com.au"> https://robguestendowment.com.au 

Fascinated by this paragraph in particular.

Wait- there was something in your charter that was previously thought to *not include* (or worse- actively prevent) #DiversityAndInclusion? https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🤔" title="Denkendes Gesicht" aria-label="Emoji: Denkendes Gesicht">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🤔" title="Denkendes Gesicht" aria-label="Emoji: Denkendes Gesicht">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🤔" title="Denkendes Gesicht" aria-label="Emoji: Denkendes Gesicht">
4/9

AND THEN.

30 white semi-finalists, all aged 18-25 as per the scholarship conditions, hit back.

They were going to *resign en masse* before the Fund (without telling them first) cancelled the award for 2020.

5/9

The full, wonderful statement here, by 30 young people who actually GET IT.
6/9
#TheKidsAreAllRight https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="👏" title="Applaus-Zeichen" aria-label="Emoji: Applaus-Zeichen">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="👏" title="Applaus-Zeichen" aria-label="Emoji: Applaus-Zeichen">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="👏" title="Applaus-Zeichen" aria-label="Emoji: Applaus-Zeichen"> https://www.meaa.org/mediaroom/statement-by-rob-guest-endowment-semi-finalists/">https://www.meaa.org/mediaroom...

BUT WAIT THERE& #39;S MORE.

Because THIS from director Dean Bryant-
& #39;What has particularly infuriated me during this ongoing saga is the fallacy that not enough talented POC entered this year...ALREADY THIS YEAR THERE WERE ENOUGH POC OF EXTRAORDINARY TALENT TO BE SEMI-FINALISTS.& #39;
7/9

Full post here-
8/9 https://bryantandfrank.wordpress.com/2020/09/18/on-the-cancellation-of-the-2020-rob-guest-endowment-and-the-events-that-led-to-it/">https://bryantandfrank.wordpress.com/2020/09/1...

But much more eloquent than anything I can say- this statement from 500+ past winners, finalists, and industry leaders-
9/9 https://aussietheatre.com.au/news/500-performers-sign-open-letter-to-rob-guest-endowment-committee">https://aussietheatre.com.au/news/500-...

Gah! How could I forget what prompted me to write this thread in the first place?

Watch this powerful response from @VidyaMakan and diverse performers, all aged 18-25, *all eligible for the @RobGuestRGE
Award*. And THEN tell me who you& #39;d pick.
(10/9) https://youtu.be/99WPIneNxG0 ">https://youtu.be/99WPIneNx...