Lee, a Korean-American actress and director, wrote in a tweet that she “was not the only person misidentified with a wrong photo/name mispronunciation. I was just the 1st one of the night. #DoBetter doesn’t even scratch the surface.
LA Stage Alliance, which has its origins in two separate organizations – the Los Angeles Theatre Alliance service organization founded in 1975 and The League of Producers and Theatres of Greater Los Angeles trade association founded in 1983 – serves more than 500 arts organizations from across Greater LA, according to the organization’s website. More than 300 of are dues-paying members.
Last July, the Alliance furloughed several staffers due to the Covid pandemic but later announced that it would proceed with its annual Ovation Awards. The pre-recorded show, in which the nominees’ names were read in a voice-over, was hosted by Celebration Theatre Artistic Director Michael A. Shepperd takes full responsibility for the mistakes made in the Ovation Awards presentation on Tuesday, March 30.
“A written apology,” the organization continued, “can only do so much, especially when there are underlying issues that need to be addressed. LA Stage Alliance takes its dedication to equality and support of its diverse theatre community and representations seriously. With that in mind, effective immediately, LA Stage Alliance will focus on undertaking a visible and transparent transformation so it can be held accountable to the community it serves.
“Create an advisory board with diverse theatre stakeholders to review and revise its Ovations Awards policies and procedures and assure adequate BIPOC representation on all Ovation committees”Create new partnerships and develop relevant programs for the benefit and equitable treatment of all its members”