At Babes With Blades Theatre Company, we strive to be a safe space to do dangerous things.
We are frustrated that, once again, the Jeff Committee appears unconcerned about the physical and emotional safety of the thousands of brilliant, talented artists in our Chicago Theatre Community. After witnessing them celebrate abusers again this past Monday, Babes With Blades Theatre Company will no longer be participating in the Jeff Awards system.
Per the Jeff Committee’s own words, award decisions were made before survivors came forward, and they claim “any alteration to the consistent voting process… would undermine the integrity of the determination of artistic excellence”. The Jeff Committee must understand the position of power they have in our community, and, therefore, the responsibility they have to our community. Their awards continue to play an important role in commercially legitimizing theaters and the people who create within them. When they award an abuser, they are condoning abuse.
Art does not happen in a vacuum, and neither do the awards for said art. The Jeffs cannot be involved in our community and judge our community’s talent while remaining ambivalent about abusive and/or unsafe environments in the community they claim to champion.
Babes With Blades Theatre Company has made the decision not to participate in the adjudication process. We will not be inviting the Jeff Committee to our opening nights or providing them with complimentary tickets. We will observe how the organization responds to the concerns of the Chicago Theatre Community, whether they choose to take active steps to grow and do better. We may re-evaluate our decision after next year's awards ceremony.
Babes With Blades holds no ill will to the dozens of other talented theater artists who won on Monday. We also acknowledge the committee members within the Jeffs who have been pushing them to improve their internal processes for years now. Unfortunately, it appears that those voices are being drowned out by a majority that appear to be comfortable with “business as usual.”
We ask that The Joseph Jefferson Committee reflect on their actions and listen to the voices of hundreds of Chicago Theatre Artists who are asking them to stand in solidarity and reject abusive practices.
Official Statement regarding The Jeff Awards
![It’s the start of our Annual Appeal, and this year we
wanted to do something different. Pictured here is
Maureen (Moe) Yasko, a long-time BWBTC member.
We’ve recently realized that in almost every show that
Moe has been featured in, her characters
don’t…well…make it to the end of the play.
Now Moe is an appreciated artistic affiliate, and we
don’t actually want her character to [skull emoji] in every show.
So this year, we’re asking you to donate to keep Moe
fighting! (And help BWBTC.)
Our goal is $5,000. Will you consider a gift to Babes
with Blades Theatre Company?
Please click the link in the bio to donate.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:na3ggxthmbbycwwqoycolvx3/bafkreihzpg27b7ui7rbrl52z4zhaak6ftx4cybj554tkohd5xv2pbayoju)
