These items are part of Northlight’s regular practices and systems as of June 2020. We felt it was important to share these to hold ourselves, and ask our community to hold us, accountable to these practices.

Productions

  • On the first day of rehearsal, we will continue to explicitly state that bathrooms are gender neutral downstairs (and there is one in the office area).
  • We will continue to assign dressing rooms specifically to each show, considering non-binary persons in the process.
  • We will continue to have the costume supervisor assess individual needs prior to first costume fitting. The supervisor will ask each actor if they have any specific needs in regard to undergarments, allergies or anything else we should consider.
  • We will continue to have stage management create a carpool list on the first day of every rehearsal process for those willing to car share to/from Northlight.
  • Our Associate General Manager will continue to introduce Northlight policies and procedures regarding carpooling, complaint resolution, gender-neutral bathrooms, etc. at all first rehearsals.
  • We will continue to develop a system to share plays in high consideration company wide in order to allow input based on specific departmental goals.

Hiring

  • We will continue to practice equitable hiring. We do not ask for salary history and we have a team in the hiring process that includes Department head, Executive Director and Managing Director.
  • We will continue to use pronoun identification in interviews, staff and rehearsal introductions, casting forms, company-wide emails, etc. We will add pronouns to staff signatures and contact sheets, where appropriate.
  • We will continue to offer an Artistic Fellowship for a person of color to be an integral member of the artistic team.
  • Northlight Staff, including the Artistic Director, Managing Director, and Production Manager, will continue to promote hiring a diverse design team with race and gender parity in mind in collaboration with all season directors.
  • We will continue to use inclusive language (based on EEOA guidelines) to our online designer submission form that will encourage designers to self identify race/gender if they choose. Our goal is to continue to break down barriers for a diverse array of designers to submit their materials.
  • We will continue to offer stipends for assistant directors and interns.
  • We will continue to assure our on-boarding practice is in line with the Chicago Theatre Standards. We will keep a handbook with all policies and chain of command in the rehearsal room at all times.

Community 

  • We will continue to apply standards for Northlight events off-site where we will check in to make sure there are non-binary options for restrooms. We will continue to ensure there are no discriminatory policies where the event is held for all our staff, artists and guests.
  • We will continue to expand the Arts for Everyone program to break down barriers for communities who may not have access to Northlight.