Actor-comedienne Keisha Zollar talks with host Ben Hauck about diversity issues at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre and in the improv world in general, and what actors can do to increase the population of diverse voices in performance.
In this interview inspired by a Washington Post article on diversity issues at UCBT, Keisha explains her current relationship with UCBT as an improv teacher and formerly as its diversity coordinator. She details her activities and achievements as diversity coordinator along with some of the diversity concerns students have brought up to her.
Keisha also details why she values diversity and how being more inclusive in improv communities means richer performances and richer representations of a nuanced American culture, both in the performer ranks and in the content of performance. She goes into the historical roots of oppression and how it leads to the marginalization of voices, but also how marginalization creates new art forms and voices.
Having the goal to represent diverse voices is not enough, says Keisha, and exhausting followthrough is also necessary in order to ensure a richer diversity. Keisha does not mandate how to start an improv group or improv school, nor does she express not to work with people of similar backgrounds. Instead, she urges performers to become aware of their unconscious biases so they do not work against interests in diversity. She also reminds her students that, in improv, they can be anything, not just stereotyped roles that match their ethnicity or gender.
Keisha concludes with a plea of empathy for performers who feel their voices have been marginalized.
