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CALLING UP is a transmedia company producing performances of justice online, onstage, and in real life. We facilitate the development and performance of scripts for social justice, connect thought leaders, provide social impact consultation, intersectional inclusive reflection and assessment, and produce trainings. We operate on a model of radical generosity. Projects include creating scripts to combat micro-aggressions and responding to the #metoo moment, developing and distributing scripts to respond to racial inequity, helping an art museum with it's architectural accessibility, providing institutional assessment, casting consultation, sourcing diverse candidates, dramaturgical support, producing guidance, directing, and providing digital spaces for dynamic resource and idea sharing. We operate on a radical generosity model sharing our work freely and are compensated on a PAY WHAT YOU CAN model. Our community is asked to contribute content, ideas, as well as monetary capital. Your support will subsidize work for communities and individuals who need these resources. We are working with foundations, theaters, museums, community groups, and individuals. We value creation over promotion so this space will be infrequently updated. Visit our YouTube and Patreon for updates on our latest happenings!
Testimonials
CALLING UP TESTIMONIALS
"From the first moment I spoke with Claudia, it was clear that she was an invaluable resource and passionate professional. During our conversation she helped me formulate a clear outline for action, suggested resources, and shared insight about other organizations we might be able to partner with. By the end of our conversation, I felt much more confident about approaching other artists about building a support network for our #TheatreActionGunControl initiative. Claudia is an incredible theatrical ally!"
Tiffany Antone, Protest Plays
"As an advocate, activist, artist and dramaturg, Claudia Alick brings intense intellectual rigor and fierce emotional fervor to everything she does. Her approach is so solidly rooted in her exemplary practice on the values of artistry, equity, and empathy. She is among the foremost thinkers in the American theater, and her multi-faceted work provides vital and extraordinary service to the field."
Lloyd Suh, Ma-Yi Theater Company
“Claudia Alick and Calling Up have been a vital part of the launch of the latest cohort of theatres with TCG’s Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) Institute. The Institute is a peer-learning cohort of theatres going through a three-year curriculum to advance EDI at the personal, organizational, and fieldwide levels. Claudia has brought so much to the work: a deeply intersectional analysis of EDI; a toolkit for collaborative practice; a welcoming and insightful presence as a facilitator; and, above all, a joyful sense of play and possibility that infuses even the most complicated and difficult conversations. I highly recommend Calling Up for anyone who believes in the transformative powers of culture and community.”
August Schulenburg, Director of Communications & Community Engagement, Theatre Communications Group
"Thank you so much Claudia! Your help has been invaluable! This is perfect! You’re a goddess genius woman!"
Lillian Osei-Boateng, Program Manager for the Arts, Doris Duke Charitable Foundation
"From the first moment I spoke with Claudia, it was clear that she was an invaluable resource and passionate professional. During our conversation she helped me formulate a clear outline for action, suggested resources, and shared insight about other organizations we might be able to partner with. By the end of our conversation, I felt much more confident about approaching other artists about building a support network for our #TheatreActionGunControl initiative. Claudia is an incredible theatrical ally!"
Tiffany Antone, Protest Plays
"As an advocate, activist, artist and dramaturg, Claudia Alick brings intense intellectual rigor and fierce emotional fervor to everything she does. Her approach is so solidly rooted in her exemplary practice on the values of artistry, equity, and empathy. She is among the foremost thinkers in the American theater, and her multi-faceted work provides vital and extraordinary service to the field."
Lloyd Suh, Ma-Yi Theater Company
“Claudia Alick and Calling Up have been a vital part of the launch of the latest cohort of theatres with TCG’s Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) Institute. The Institute is a peer-learning cohort of theatres going through a three-year curriculum to advance EDI at the personal, organizational, and fieldwide levels. Claudia has brought so much to the work: a deeply intersectional analysis of EDI; a toolkit for collaborative practice; a welcoming and insightful presence as a facilitator; and, above all, a joyful sense of play and possibility that infuses even the most complicated and difficult conversations. I highly recommend Calling Up for anyone who believes in the transformative powers of culture and community.”
August Schulenburg, Director of Communications & Community Engagement, Theatre Communications Group
"Thank you so much Claudia! Your help has been invaluable! This is perfect! You’re a goddess genius woman!"
Lillian Osei-Boateng, Program Manager for the Arts, Doris Duke Charitable Foundation
PROJECT EXAMPLES
Below is a short list of a few projects we did in 2018. This field is emergent and we are working with the vanguard. We are experimenting with form and content, connecting with thought leaders, and building our repertoire of vocabulary and producing structures through experimentation and active learning. Our philosophy is based in ensemble practice, validated learning, radical generosity, and restorative justice.
June 2018. #MeToo: Time's Up: Practices and Training for Change
How do we share techniques to prevent sexual harassment, create a culture of respect and care, and build practices of restorative justice?
This panel and workshop was done at the 2018 TCG Conference in collaboration with Karena Fiorenza, Jewel Cadet, and Akia Squitieri for aprox 30 participants. Results were shared exchange between the presenters and increased capacity for responding to performances of injustice in the moment.
June 2018. TCG Equity, Diversity, Inclusion Institute Training Cohort 2 and 3 Pre-conference Meeting
How do we practice performances of justice once we've learned to identify micro-aggressions?
Claudia Alick facilitated these two groups in an all day session with August Schulenberg, Elena Chang, and Analisa Dias. The customized micro-aggressions an Rehearsing Performance of Justice was done
June 7 2018. Digital Discussion: CALLING UP: Artists respond to Gun Violence and Racial Inequity.
How do we expand the traditional form of a talkback where artists share process (HOW) and motivation (WHY)?
We partnered with Vidhu Singh and HowlRound to explore this form. Results were an exchange with 8 artists in several different states, increased capacity for organizing and facilitating a digital discussion, and most importantly a deeper understanding of the large community of artists responding to gun violence and racial inequity.
May 2 2018. MOVE: An experiment in Asynchronicity, Antiphony, and Rapid Response.
How do we collaborate across space and time? Can the call and response form activate a group of artists in a rapid response form to create an immediate performance of justice? Will the results be engaging to live audience?
We partnered with Eric Kuppers, Cal State University East Bay, and the Inclusive Interdisciplinary Ensemble to explore this question in This Too Shall Pass: A 5-day, 49-hour performance event exploring time, impermanence, and spirals of intersecting cycles from diverse cultures. Results were increase capacity for organizing and facilitating artists using digital technologies to give call and response performative texts, deep engagement with artists from Montana, New York, Florida, New Orleans, and California, and a live performance that reflected on racial inequity, state violence, and collective action.
April 2018 . Understanding MicroAgressions Workshop, New York
How do we change our behavior by more deeply understanding it?
This custom workshop was done for a staff of 40 in collaboration with Alison De La Cruz. Results included creation of an Understanding Microaggressions resource sheet, and increased capacity for understanding microaggressions and reducing them for the staff.
March 2018. DIGITAL PLAY: Every 28 Hours Plays transmedia production "When The Bullets Strike"
with #TheaterActionGunControl,
How do we amplify the live performance of justice taking place on stage and IRL in protests and rallies? What are the different ways we can produce plays in digital platforms? Can we generate rapid response performance
This transmedia social justice intervention resulted in a collaboration with artists from 7 different states. Performance on different social media platforms were diverse. One artist created a twitter account and tweeted each line of the play, others created videos with multiple performers, and others did a simple one camera shoot. with an individual actor. We have increased capacity for creating invitational performative scores and using social media to generate a large pool of artists to respond.
How do we share techniques to prevent sexual harassment, create a culture of respect and care, and build practices of restorative justice?
This panel and workshop was done at the 2018 TCG Conference in collaboration with Karena Fiorenza, Jewel Cadet, and Akia Squitieri for aprox 30 participants. Results were shared exchange between the presenters and increased capacity for responding to performances of injustice in the moment.
June 2018. TCG Equity, Diversity, Inclusion Institute Training Cohort 2 and 3 Pre-conference Meeting
How do we practice performances of justice once we've learned to identify micro-aggressions?
Claudia Alick facilitated these two groups in an all day session with August Schulenberg, Elena Chang, and Analisa Dias. The customized micro-aggressions an Rehearsing Performance of Justice was done
June 7 2018. Digital Discussion: CALLING UP: Artists respond to Gun Violence and Racial Inequity.
How do we expand the traditional form of a talkback where artists share process (HOW) and motivation (WHY)?
We partnered with Vidhu Singh and HowlRound to explore this form. Results were an exchange with 8 artists in several different states, increased capacity for organizing and facilitating a digital discussion, and most importantly a deeper understanding of the large community of artists responding to gun violence and racial inequity.
May 2 2018. MOVE: An experiment in Asynchronicity, Antiphony, and Rapid Response.
How do we collaborate across space and time? Can the call and response form activate a group of artists in a rapid response form to create an immediate performance of justice? Will the results be engaging to live audience?
We partnered with Eric Kuppers, Cal State University East Bay, and the Inclusive Interdisciplinary Ensemble to explore this question in This Too Shall Pass: A 5-day, 49-hour performance event exploring time, impermanence, and spirals of intersecting cycles from diverse cultures. Results were increase capacity for organizing and facilitating artists using digital technologies to give call and response performative texts, deep engagement with artists from Montana, New York, Florida, New Orleans, and California, and a live performance that reflected on racial inequity, state violence, and collective action.
April 2018 . Understanding MicroAgressions Workshop, New York
How do we change our behavior by more deeply understanding it?
This custom workshop was done for a staff of 40 in collaboration with Alison De La Cruz. Results included creation of an Understanding Microaggressions resource sheet, and increased capacity for understanding microaggressions and reducing them for the staff.
March 2018. DIGITAL PLAY: Every 28 Hours Plays transmedia production "When The Bullets Strike"
with #TheaterActionGunControl,
How do we amplify the live performance of justice taking place on stage and IRL in protests and rallies? What are the different ways we can produce plays in digital platforms? Can we generate rapid response performance
This transmedia social justice intervention resulted in a collaboration with artists from 7 different states. Performance on different social media platforms were diverse. One artist created a twitter account and tweeted each line of the play, others created videos with multiple performers, and others did a simple one camera shoot. with an individual actor. We have increased capacity for creating invitational performative scores and using social media to generate a large pool of artists to respond.