TYA/USA National Research Reports
TYA/USA partners with outside stakeholders to provide the TYA professional industry with data in order to better understand the national landscape, analyze trends, track progress, and highlight the ways the field can expand impact.
THEATRE FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES/USA (TYA/USA)
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
THE CENTER FOR SCHOLARS & STORYTELLERS (CSS) RELEASES
A LANDMARK REPORT ON GENDER AND RACIAL REPRESENTATION IN
THEATRE FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES
TYA/USA OFFERS THE FINDINGS AS A CALL TO ACTION IN COLLABORATION WITH THE
NATIONAL LEADERSHIP OF THEATRES FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES
New York Times Announcement Here
June 17, 2020 –Theatre for Young Audiences USA (TYA/USA) in partnership with the Center for Scholars & Storytellers (CSS), based at UCLA, announces the release of the Exploring the Landscape of Live Theatre for Young Audiences in the US Report. Initiated last year by the leadership of TYA theatres across the country who were interested in understanding and confronting the inequity across the industry, the study was commissioned by TYA/USA to provide concrete data as a tool for meaningful change and accountability. Key findings demonstrate that the TYA industry has made strides for increased representation in terms of gender and race across the last decade, but racial diversity in live theatre for young people is not yet representative of the US population. The study showed that productions by POC playwrights nearly doubled in the last decade, but the overall total was still only 20% in the 2018/19 season. Moreover, productions helmed by POC directors accounted for 15% of the 2018/19 season. Examining the national landscape in this way provides an important step in creating an equitable TYA industry that represents all children and families across the US.
This landmark study offers the first-ever analysis of representation of gender and racial diversity of this scale to be conducted of the plays being produced for young audiences across the country, including the stories that are presented and the actors, playwrights, and directors who create them. TYA/USA was inspired to pursue this research based on the work of the Artists’ Anti-Racism Coalition and their efforts to collect similar data across the Off-Broadway community. Compiled by the Center for Scholars & Storytellers, the report shares data representing the productions from TYA/USA member theatres across the 2018/19 season, and compares it to the 2008/09 season. Research demonstrates that diverse representation is an issue across disciplines and media, supporting the need for studies like this one to illuminate the significant work left to achieve.
Exploring the Landscape of Live Theatre for Young Audiences in the US (June 2020)
The Center for Scholars & Storytellers (CSS) and Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA/USA) partnered to explore representations of gender and race, both on stage and behind the scenes, in theatrical productions for children in the 2018/2019 season in the United States (U.S.). A comparison season (2008/2009) was also included in the analysis to explore shifts over the last decade. This report aims to provide initial data on the landscape of theatrical productions for children, identify areas where progress has been made and suggest areas that can be improved upon for the future.
Theatre for Young Audiences State of the Field Research Report 2019
This report shares data from the Theatre for Young Audiences State of the Field Study (2019) conducted by Utah State University in partnership with TYA/USA, which surveyed artistic, business, and education leaders of US TYA companies. While limited survey research related to TYA exists, this study is the first of its kind to systematically survey leaders regarding the broad array of topics it considers.
Envisioning the Future of Theater for Young Audiences (April 2020)
Recognizing the benefits of theater experiences in developing creative, adept, and resilient young people, the National Endowment for the Arts released the Envisioning the Future of Theater for Young Audiences (April 2020). This publication details the challenges and opportunities faced by theaters in America focused on programming for young audiences, compiled from a convening held in partnership between the NEA, TYA/USA and TCG at which leaders in the field broke down the challenges of their unique business model and the potential for growth and long-term sustainability. The report also includes research on the powerful effects of exposure to theater for children and teens.