Introduction
Theatre production collaboration has long been an analog, face-to-face process. Production teams join together to discuss the script and the director’s concept, share designs and renderings, and exchange notes and questions, ultimately crafting every detail of the story’s world. When the Covid-19 pandemic hit in 2020, many theaters moved to innovative, online production models. Without the ability to meet in person, the meta processes of production also shifted to an online format, and theaters were forced to contend with a new landscape of production possibilities. But this evolution was rapid and panicked; most organizations did not have the luxury of time or resources to investigate best practices in the moment. Now that theaters have proven that they can produce in digital formats, what would happen if they approached opportunities for digital collaboration with intention and care? How could production processes be improved with technological tools and what other opportunities would that create?
In the early aughts, W. Chan Kim and Renee Mauborgne developed the concept of blue ocean strategy while working as researchers in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Their original theory, which formed the basis of their bestselling book, showed the business sector how to create business opportunities and new income from previously untapped markets. They defined crowded and cutthroat competitive markets as red oceans – no-win situations for long-term business success, and encouraged businesses to discover and develop blue oceans instead. It is within these tranquil blue oceans that businesses can differentiate, create new markets (and new profits) where there previously were none, and think expansively about the future. More recently, Kim and Mauborgne have adapted their theories for leadership. In this new context, they illuminate methods for managers to exit stale routines and inspire renewed engagement and commitment from their employees.
Moving production collaboration processes to a thoughtfully curated suite of digital products is a blue ocean for the theatre industry. Oregon Shakespeare Festival has been swimming happily in its blue ocean for many years now. Other institutions were plunged into dark and stormy waters during Covid and may now appreciate an opportunity to reflect and build on what was learned then.
What is the status quo?
In order to determine future opportunities, it is first useful to identify current practices in the field. To do so, article author Sara Bogomolny conducted a small survey targeting six theaters in Cleveland, Ohio and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. These institutions all operate with budgets between $1-10 million and fall within a spectrum of Actors Equity Association contracts spanning LORT B, C, and D, Guest Artist, Special Agreement, and Special Appearance. Companies within these cities and budget ranges were assumed to be representative of a large swath of theaters across the country; approximately 40% of TCG member theaters fall into these budget levels. At this size, organizations have ample funds, but lack the capacity to trailblaze proprietary technologies à la Oregon Shakespeare Festival and would therefore be likely to be using affordable tech, if any.
The survey response rate was 50%, represented by two organizations in Pittsburgh and one in Cleveland. Those who responded hold Director of Production titles and are deeply familiar with the production practices at their respective institutions. Though the survey was small, the results are still useful to pose in conversation with other research in order to establish the current landscape of digital tools and technology used in collaborative production processes.
So, what tech tools and digital platforms are theatre practitioners using to fuel collaborative processes?
Technology currently used by theatre production teams. Infographic and survey findings by author.
What’s wrong with the status quo?
The first article on this topic established four categories for collaboration technologies: document sharing, communication, project management, and brainstorming. These “buckets” encompass the primary collaborative touchpoints ripe for technological augmentation and formed the basis of the survey questions.
In terms of file sharing, survey respondents mentioned Microsoft and Google products, Dropbox, and local drives. Benefits of the web-based products include access to the files anywhere at anytime and capacity for real-time collaborative editing. However, this review warns that, as some of the Microsoft apps can be used locally on individual computers, inertia and low tech literacy within teams may cause colleagues to avoid the cloud. This could create security vulnerabilities and interrupt the intended collaboration.
The communication tools listed in the infographic above are likely familiar and comfortable, but that doesn’t mean that they are efficient, nor do they necessarily facilitate an optimally collaborative or creative process. Every survey respondent reported the use of text and email for communication amongst the production team; one uses Slack in addition. Spreading communication across these disparate channels essentially ensures inefficiency. A 2012 McKinsey report found that interaction workers were spending 28% (or nearly 2.25 hours per day) of their workweek tending to email. Email fatigue is real, and the “responsiveness cycle,” the pressure of keeping up with the firehose of constant notifications, can relegate creative work to stolen moments between messages. While text and email are searchable, those functions are not integrated between the two, leaving users fumbling to remember when and how a particular conversation took place and where critical information may live.
Theatre practitioners have the furthest to go when it comes to implementing technology for project management and brainstorming. None of the survey respondents use specialized technology for project management and only one uses any sort of technology for brainstorming. There is a robust array of project management platforms available at a variety of price points. When teams choose to work without such a tool, it indicates that project management is either not a formal priority within the production process or that project management processes are contained within one of the file-sharing options listed above and are therefore subject to the same flaws. It may also reveal that production managers require further training to cultivate project management as a formal skill.
The one respondent who integrates technology in brainstorming cited a cellphone notes app for personal use and Google Docs at the team level. Neither of these platforms are designed for creative thinking, largely guiding users toward linear, verbal expressions of thoughts and ideas. Furthermore, notes taken on a mobile device can be shared, but such apps typically lack co-editing capabilities and may, therefore, be likely to languish.
“In successful collaborations, judgment gives way to curiosity.”
What are the opportunities of embracing technology?
The opportunities of embracing technology in theatre production practices are numerous and multifaceted. There are real benefits to shared knowledge spaces that work to foster conversations and move them forward. Companies can offer technologies that engage their talented designers and managers around iterative processes and provide tools and touchpoints that maximize collective creativity.
Consider an initial concept meeting, scheduled to happen on Zoom, with collaborators calling in from across the country. The director wants to establish an environment in which collaborators feel comfortable to voice their ideas. The team can start on Google Docs, cursor blinking, and attempt to override blank page syndrome as they brainstorm together. Or the team can dive into a more freeform exercise on a Figjam whiteboard, where a fun, flexible canvas and user-friendly interface inspires team members to exchange ideas fluidly.
How to use FigJam for Brainstorming. Source: YouTube.
Collaborators typically then go their separate ways, sharing progress or renderings sporadically, and maybe not until the next meeting. By unifying the team on digital platforms, “creating threads of conversation and places to exchange information,” these collaborative relationships can sustain and grow between meetings, allowing for greater creative synergy throughout the process. Designers can develop shared visual vocabulary, granting access to individually or collaboratively developed mood boards, inspiration images, and drafts.
Adopting new technology in the production process also benefits departments across the organization. In-progress, behind-the-scenes, sneak peeks of designs, renderings, and brainstorms are excellent fodder for social media marketing or as premium perks shared with high-level donors. Currently, this kind of access requires active communication between the marketing or development staff and the designers. However, a theatre functioning within this blue ocean of collaboration could skip the inbox clutter, share broader access across departments, and leverage these creative midpoints into ticket sales and donor retention.
In pursuit of more ethical and equitable practices
In addition to the practical advantages of adopting collaboration technologies, such progress also creates opportunities for more ethical and equitable teamwork. These considerations are increasingly common priorities for organizations in the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement and the We See You, White American Theatre demands. Established properly, digital spaces can minimize accessibility issues and facilitate equitable collaboration. However, even with the requisite intentionality, digital spaces can make parsing interpersonal nuances challenging. As theatres explore technological opportunities for production collaboration, it becomes increasingly important to make deliberate and equitable choices.
Fractured Atlas, a nonprofit organization that seeks to empower artists with tools to run their businesses effectively, recently transitioned to a hybrid working model. In a July 2021 blog post, the Associate Director of Communications and Content, Nina Berman, wrote about the process and offered observations applicable to production teams exploring new practices. Namely, Berman emphasized the way that digital work alters how colleagues relate to their work and to each other. Among her recommendations for engineering a smooth transition is the reminder to take things slowly. In the case of theatre production work, many collaborators may be unfamiliar or uncomfortable with these new platforms. Implementing them will require care. Collaborators deserve proper onboarding to these new processes and the time to discover how they best engage with the opportunities.
We See You WAT enumerates demands to eradicate white supremacy and racism from all areas of theatre production and business. During the pandemic, some people of color reported that working from home granted them a reprieve from workplace microaggressions and white corporate culture. As theaters adopt digital collaboration, it will be crucial for leaders to see this transition through the lens of racial equity. Any steps that are being taken to reduce white supremacy within the theatre industry must be carried through to the online spaces they occupy as well.
The We See You WAT document also includes the demand to “open channels of contact between marketing consultants and creative teams so that they may more directly communicate around marketing decisions for a project or production.” As mentioned above, digital collaboration platforms not only create new marketing opportunities, they also facilitate transparency far better than analog procedures, by “mak[ing the] work and its history visible to other people within the company.” With a digital platform as a “single source of truth,” teams can unify around a central authoritative depot for information, taking advantage of the opportunity to bolster accountability.
Lastly, it is impossible to discuss ethics and equity without considering them in conversation with best practices for sustainability. A 2013 report from Julie’s Bicycle offers suggestions for “limiting environmental impacts at every stage in the production process and identifies four “main environmental impacts associated with production.” As companies and managers work to prioritize sustainability, it is crucial to embed these philosophies within all levels of production. Switching to digital collaboration processes is undoubtedly a net positive for environmental considerations. Some theatres, like the National Theatre in London, are sailing past the basics, embracing technology in production collaboration that may enable them to dip a toe into sustainable practices by reducing printing and crosstown commutes. A production team focused on reducing their own environmental impacts will undoubtedly set the tone and standards for environmental sustainability throughout the production process.
How to make the leap
Though phrases like “transition to digital” or “hybrid workspaces” may be more familiar to post-Covid ears, they still may trigger anxieties about cost, feasibility, and scope. Eventually, proprietary products designed specifically for theatre will trickle down to small and mid-sized organizations. At that point, digital options built for theatre will become a more standard format for collaboration, and nationally and internationally distributed production teams will thrive. In the meantime, many theaters have still not returned to full production schedules “post-Covid.” It remains to be seen whether and how the pandemic will have shifted these practices. Luckily, many tech options capable of revolutionizing production collaboration are available for free or at low cost; some even offer nonprofit discounts. It is possible to curate a suite of digital tools that is revolutionary in its uses, which, in the end, is a thoughtful constellation of familiar products that team members already know and use.
Blue Ocean Technology for Theatre Production Collaboration. Infographic by author.
It is not a great leap to institute more elegant solutions, to cross into the blue ocean of a technologically supported collaboration process, and reap the benefits. Over the past year and a half, production teams have bravely faced this progress out of necessity. Now, it is up to production teams to seize the same spirits of curiosity, creativity, and vulnerability that fuel their creative processes and drive forward their collaborative practices such that technology becomes a crucial final collaborator with them.
+ Resources
“2010-Present Production History – City Theatre Company.” Accessed October 22, 2021. https://citytheatrecompany.org/about/city-theatre-history/2010-present/.
“2019-2020 | Seasons | Cleveland Public Theatre.” Accessed October 22, 2021. https://www.cptonline.org/performances/seasons/2019-2020/.
“2021-2022 | Seasons | Cleveland Public Theatre.” Accessed October 22, 2021. https://www.cptonline.org/performances/seasons/2021-2022/.
“2021-2022 Season – City Theatre Company.” Accessed October 9, 2021. https://citytheatrecompany.org/play/2021-2022-season/.
“"A State-of-the-Art Psychological Perspective on Team Working and Collaborative Organizational Processes… This Handbook ,” n.d.
Prime Stage. “About.” Accessed September 25, 2021. https://primestage.com/about-2/.
“About.” Accessed September 25, 2021. https://ppt.org/ppt_home/about.
“About – City Theatre Company.” Accessed September 25, 2021. https://citytheatrecompany.org/about/.
PICT Pittsburgh’s Classic Theatre. “About PICT Classic Theatre.” Accessed October 9, 2021. https://www.picttheatre.org/about-pict/.
Alexander, Andrea, Aaron De Smet, and Mihir Mysore. “How Companies Can Make Remote Working a Success | McKinsey,” July 7, 2020. https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/reimagining-the-postpandemic-workforce.
Alexander, Andrea, Rich Cracknell, Aaron De Smet, Meredith Langstaff, Mihir Mysore, and Dan Ravid. “What Executives Are Saying about the Future of Hybrid Work | McKinsey.” Accessed November 15, 2021. https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/what-executives-are-saying-about-the-future-of-hybrid-work.
“Allegheny Regional Asset District | RAD Works Here.” Accessed November 10, 2021. https://www.radworkshere.org/.
Arce M., Daniel G. and L. Beth Gunn. “Working Well with Others: The Evolution of Teamwork and Ethics.” Public Choice 123, no. 1/2 (2005): 115–31.
“Arts, Entertainment and Recreation in New York City: Recent Trends and Impact of COVID-19,” February 2021. https://www.osc.state.ny.us/reports/osdc/arts-entertainment-and-recreation-new-york-city-recent-trends-and-impact-covid-19.
The Daily Egg. “Asana Review - The Good and The Bad for 2022,” November 27, 2021. https://www.crazyegg.com/blog/asana-review/.
Barone, Emily and Lon Tweeten. “29 Numbers Showing How COVID-19 Pandemic Changed Our Lives | Time.” Time, March 17, 2021. https://time.com/5947302/covid-19-data/.
Becker, Howard Saul. Art Worlds. 25 th anniversary ed. updated and Expanded. Berkeley (Calif.): University of California press, 2008.
Beecham, Marie. “How to Unite the Fight for Racial Equity and Environmental Action.” NRDC (blog), September 29, 2020. https://www.nrdc.org/stories/how-unite-fight-racial-equity-and-environmental-action.
Bennis, Warren and Patricia Ward Biederman. Organizing Genius: The Secrets of Creative Collaboration. New York: Basic Books, 2007. https://www.amazon.com/Organizing-Genius-Secrets-Creative-Collaboration/dp/0201339897/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=organizing+genius&qid=1632595493&sr=8-1.
Berman, Nina. “5 Best Project Management Tools for Artists.” Accessed September 25, 2021. https://blog.fracturedatlas.org/5-best-project-management-tools-artists.
———. “Best Zoom Alternatives for Meetings.” Accessed September 25, 2021. https://blog.fracturedatlas.org/best-zoom-alternatives-for-meetings.
———. “Building a Hybrid Workplace: What We’ve Learned.” Accessed September 25, 2021. https://blog.fracturedatlas.org/build-hybrid-workplace-tips.
———. “Project Management: An Introduction For Artists.” Accessed September 25, 2021. https://blog.fracturedatlas.org/project-management-introduction-artists.
———. “Recommended Reading: Tyranny of Structurelessness.” Accessed September 25, 2021. https://blog.fracturedatlas.org/recommended-reading-tyranny-of-structurelessness.
———. “What Is an Ethical Reopening?” Accessed November 15, 2021. https://blog.fracturedatlas.org/ethical-reopening-arts-offices.
“BIPOC Demands for White American Theatre.” We See You WAT. Accessed December 6, 2021. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5ede42fd6cb927448d9d0525/t/5f064e63f21dd43ad6ab3162/1594248809279/Tier2.pdf.
Blackshear, Bria. “Managing Projects on Asana; Mobile vs. Web Experience.” AMT Lab @ CMU, November 6, 2018. https://amt-lab.org/reviews/2018/11/project-management-with-asana.
Blue Ocean Strategy. “Blue Ocean Strategy Book.” Accessed December 1, 2021. https://www.blueoceanstrategy.com/blue-ocean-strategy-book/.
Bogomolny, Sara. “Examining Digital Collaboration in Theatre Production Processes.” AMT Lab @ CMU. Accessed December 8, 2021. https://amt-lab.org/blog/theatrecollaboration.
Brent, Caroline. “Task Management Software: Asana.” AMT Lab @ CMU, October 28, 2013. https://amt-lab.org/reviews/2013/10/task-management-software-asana.
Bricolage. “Bricolage Production Company: Downtown Pittsburgh Theater.” Accessed September 25, 2021. https://www.bricolagepgh.org/about/who-we-are/.
Bughin, Jacques, Michael Chui, Martin Harrysson, and Shannon Lijek. “Advanced Social Technologies and the Future of Collaboration,” 2017. https://www.mckinsey.com/~/media/mckinsey/business%20functions/mckinsey%20digital/our%20insights/advanced%20social%20technologies%20and%20the%20future%20of%20collaboration/advanced-social-technologies-and-the-future-of-collaboration.pdf.
Campbell, Maeve. “This 23-Year-Old Is on a Mission to Make Theatre Carbon Neutral.” Euronews, December 23, 2019. https://www.euronews.com/green/2019/12/23/this-23-year-old-is-on-a-mission-to-make-theatre-carbon-neutral.
“CARE.” Accessed October 24, 2021. http://www.clevelandplayhouse.com/education/in-school/care.
Carpenter, Nicola. “Tools To Make Remote Work Less Remote.” Fractured Atlas (blog). Accessed November 15, 2021. https://blog.fracturedatlas.org/tools-to-make-remote-work-less-remote.
Castrillon, Caroline. “How To Manage Email Overload At Work.” Forbes, April 25, 2021. https://www.forbes.com/sites/carolinecastrillon/2021/04/25/how-to-manage-email-overload-at-work/.
Chamorro-Premuzic, Tomas. “Why Brainstorming Works Better Online.” Harvard Business Review, April 2, 2015. https://hbr.org/2015/04/why-brainstorming-works-better-online.
Chanthadavong, Aimee. “Slack Tailors New Collaboration Tools for the ‘Digital HQ.’” ZDNet, September 21, 2021. https://www.zdnet.com/article/slack-tailors-new-collaboration-tools-for-the-digital-hq/.
Chui, Michael, James Manyika, Jacques Bughin, Richard Dobbs, Charles Roxburgh, Hugo Sarrazin, Geoffrey Sands, and Magdalena Westergren. “The Social Economy: Unlocking Value and Productivity through Social Technologies | McKinsey.” Accessed December 4, 2021. https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/technology-media-and-telecommunications/our-insights/the-social-economy.
“City Connects – City Theatre Company.” Accessed October 9, 2021. https://citytheatrecompany.org/inside-city/city-connects/.
“City Theatre 990.” Accessed October 9, 2021. https://pdf.guidestar.org/PDF_Images/2020/251/554/2020-251554580-202100129349300610-9.pdf?_gl=1*1gtpwv3*_ga*MzM3NTQxMjM1LjE2MzI2MTYxMzE.*_ga_0H865XH5JK*MTYzMzc5NDcwMS45LjEuMTYzMzc5NjA0NC4w*_ga_5W8PXYYGBX*MTYzMzc5NDcwMS45LjEuMTYzMzc5NjA0NC4w&_ga=2.194407725.1664651638.1633794702-337541235.1632616131.
“City Theatre 2016-2017 Season Annual Report.” Accessed October 4, 2021. https://issuu.com/citytheatrecompany/docs/fy2017_annual_report_final_draft.
“City Theatre Company.” Accessed October 9, 2021. https://citytheatrecompany.org/.
“CitySpeaks: A New Play Podcast.” Accessed October 9, 2021. https://citytheatrecompany.org/cityspeaks-a-new-play-podcast/.
“Cleveland Play House.” Accessed October 9, 2021. http://www.clevelandplayhouse.com/.
“Cleveland Public Theatre.” Accessed September 25, 2021. https://www.cptonline.org/.
Clurman, Harold. The Fervent Years: The Group Theatre and the Thirties. A Da Capo Paperback. New York: Da Capo Press, 1983.
ArtsFwd. “Collaborative Workspaces,” February 6, 2012. https://www.artsfwd.org/collaborative-workspaces/.
Connelly Rice, Karin, January 14, and 2021. “Karamu House to Present Virtual Variety Program in Celebration of MLK.” Cleveland - Freshwater Media. Accessed October 24, 2021. https://www.freshwatercleveland.com/street-level/KaramuMLK011421.aspx.
“Contact Us.” Accessed October 9, 2021. https://www.cptonline.org/contact-us/.
“Contracts & Codes.” Accessed December 3, 2021. https://www.actorsequity.org/resources/contracts/.
“Corporate Training.” Accessed October 24, 2021. https://www.karamuhouse.org/learn/corporate-training.
“CPH 990.” Accessed October 9, 2021. https://pdf.guidestar.org/PDF_Images/2020/346/515/2020-346515260-202111339349301036-9.pdf?_gl=1*1tu1d0s*_ga*MzM3NTQxMjM1LjE2MzI2MTYxMzE.*_ga_0H865XH5JK*MTYzMzgwODEwMS4xMi4xLjE2MzM4MDg1NDIuMA..*_ga_5W8PXYYGBX*MTYzMzgwODEwMS4xMi4xLjE2MzM4MDg1NDIuMA..&_ga=2.5655475.1664651638.1633794702-337541235.1632616131.
“CPT 990.” Accessed October 9, 2021. https://pdf.guidestar.org/PDF_Images/2019/341/359/2019-341359225-17254482-9.pdf?_gl=1*lryf2k*_ga*MzM3NTQxMjM1LjE2MzI2MTYxMzE.*_ga_0H865XH5JK*MTYzMzgwODEwMS4xMi4xLjE2MzM4MDgzODguMA..*_ga_5W8PXYYGBX*MTYzMzgwODEwMS4xMi4xLjE2MzM4MDgzODguMA..&_ga=2.4163504.1664651638.1633794702-337541235.1632616131.
Cross, Robert L., Roger D. Martin, and Leigh M. Weiss. “Mapping the Value of Employee Collaboration” August 1, 2006. https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/mapping-the-value-of-employee-collaboration.
Denning, Steve. “Moving To Blue Ocean Strategy: A Five-Step Process To Make The Shift.” Forbes, September 24, 2017. https://www.forbes.com/sites/stevedenning/2017/09/24/moving-to-blue-ocean-strategy-a-five-step-process-to-make-the-shift/.
“Digital Collaboration: Delivering Innovation, Productivity and Happiness,” 2013. https://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/se/Documents/technology-media-telecommunications/deloitte-digital-collaboration.pdf.
“Digital Collaboration Workflow Infographic - McKinsey.” Accessed October 9, 2021. https://www.mckinsey.com/~/media/mckinsey/industries/financial%20services/banking%20blog/how%20digital%20collaboration%20helps%20banks%20serve%20customers%20better/digital%20collaboration_ex1v3.pdf.
Stage Write. “Digital Script.” Accessed December 7, 2021. https://www.stagewritesoftware.com/digital-script.
Asana. “Discounts for Nonprofits.” Accessed December 7, 2021. https://asana.com/nonprofit.
“Drama Club.” Accessed October 24, 2021. http://www.clevelandplayhouse.com/education/in-school/drama-club.
“Dream Rust Workshop (a Hypothesis Project).” Accessed October 22, 2021. https://www.cptonline.org/performances/seasons/2020-2021/dream-rust-workshop/.
“Education.” Accessed October 24, 2021. https://www.cptonline.org/education/.
Quantum Theatre. “Educational Programs.” Accessed October 9, 2021. https://www.quantumtheatre.com/educational-programs/.
“Engage & Learn.” Accessed October 24, 2021. https://ppt.org/ppt_home/engage-learn.
National Theatre. “Environmental Sustainability,” October 2, 2019. https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/about-the-national-theatre/environmental-sustainability.
Figma. How to Use FigJam for Brainstorming, 2021. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DW2MjtAb2mU.
Fleury, Nora. “How Technology Can Support Artistic Collaborations.” Arts Management & Technology Laboratory, Spring 2015, 10.
———. “Research Update 2: How Technology Can Support Artistic Collaborations.” AMT Lab @ CMU, June 2, 2015. https://amt-lab.org/blog/2015/6/research-update-2-how-technology-can-support-artistic-collaborations.
Fumba, Omega. “5 Reasons to Use Collaborative Tools Instead of Email.” MUO (blog), August 31, 2021. https://www.makeuseof.com/reasons-use-collaborative-tools-instead-email/.
Garcia-Navarro, Lulu. “How The Pandemic Has Changed The Way We Communicate.” NPR, March 7, 2021. https://www.npr.org/2021/03/07/974495210/how-the-pandemic-has-changed-the-way-we-communicate.
Gillet, Cary, and Jay Sheehan. The Production Manager’s Toolkit: Successful Production Management in Theatre and the Performing Arts. New York ; London: Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, 2017.
Gino, Francesca. “Cracking the Code of Sustained Collaboration.” Harvard Business Review, November 1, 2019. https://hbr.org/2019/11/cracking-the-code-of-sustained-collaboration.
Godfrey, Elaine. “Another Truth About Remote Work.” The Atlantic, September 20, 2021. https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2021/09/work-from-home-numbers/620107/.
“Google Workspace vs. O365: Impact on Business.” Accessed November 25, 2021. https://inthecloud.withgoogle.com/workspace-vs-office-365-impact-on-business-report/GoogleWorkspacevsO365ImpactonBusiness.pdf.
Green, Jesse. “In Virtual Readings, Less (a Lot Less) Is Sometimes More.” The New York Times, January 27, 2021, sec. Theater. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/27/theater/virtual-readings-pandemic.html.
Harris, Miriam. “How the National Theatre Is Using VR for Set Design.” Digital Arts, August 5, 2016. https://www.digitalartsonline.co.uk/features/hacking-maker/national-theatre-experiments-with-set-design-in-vr/.
Hass, Chris. “How Remote Work Helped Us Improve Collaboration: 4 Lessons.” The Enterprisers Project (blog), May 27, 2021. https://enterprisersproject.com/article/2021/5/remote-work-how-improve-collaboration.
“High School Senior Project Program.” Accessed October 24, 2021. http://www.clevelandplayhouse.com/education/at-cph/high-school-senior-project-program.
Hines, Kevin. “Quick Question for an AMT Lab Article,” October 11, 2021.
“History.” Accessed November 10, 2021. https://www.radworkshere.org/pages/history.
Holloway, John. Illustrated Theatre Production Guide. Third edition. New York ; London: Focal Press, Taylor & Francis Group, 2014.
Quantum Theatre. “Home.” Accessed October 9, 2021. https://www.quantumtheatre.com/.
Hoskins, Diane. “Commentary: How Companies Can Reinvigorate Collaboration Post-COVID.” Fortune, March 21, 2021. https://fortune.com/2021/03/21/collaboration-remote-work-from-home-covid/.
Ingraham, N. “15 Years of Google Docs, and Where the next 15 Might Take Us | Engadget.” Engadget, October 11, 2021. https://www.engadget.com/google-docs-turns-15-190050626.html.
HowlRound Theatre Commons. “Is Technology in Sound Design Eroding Collaboration?” Accessed September 25, 2021. https://howlround.com/technology-sound-design-eroding-collaboration.
Izmailova, Sayana. “Project Management for Nonprofits: How It Can Help + 16 Software Tools to Consider.” WildApricot Blog (blog), October 15, 2021. https://www.wildapricot.com/blog/project-management-for-nonprofits.
Jaen, Rafael. Digital Costume Design and Collaboration. Routledge. Accessed November 28, 2021. https://learning.oreilly.com/library/view/digital-costume-design/9781317387466/xhtml/11_Chapter01.xhtml.
Johansson, Anna. “7 Forms of Business Communication You’re Using Wrong.” Inc.Com, November 10, 2016. https://www.inc.com/anna-johansson/7-forms-of-business-communication-youre-using-wrong.html.
John-Steiner, Vera. Creative Collaboration. Oxford University Press, 2006. https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195307702.001.0001.
“Karamu 990.” Accessed October 9, 2021. https://pdf.guidestar.org/PDF_Images/2019/340/714/2019-340714448-202041959349302169-9.pdf?_gl=1*1epiiqx*_ga*MzM3NTQxMjM1LjE2MzI2MTYxMzE.*_ga_0H865XH5JK*MTYzMzgwODEwMS4xMi4xLjE2MzM4MDg0NzAuMA..*_ga_5W8PXYYGBX*MTYzMzgwODEwMS4xMi4xLjE2MzM4MDg0NzAuMA..&_ga=2.262507660.1664651638.1633794702-337541235.1632616131.
“Karamu House.” Accessed October 22, 2021. https://karamuhouse.secure.force.com/ticket#/.
“Karamu House Arts Academy.” Accessed October 24, 2021. https://karamu.coursestorm.com/.
“Karamu House Year in Review (2019-2020).” Accessed October 24, 2021. https://issuu.com/karamu/docs/karamuhouse-yearinreview-20192020-lores.
Kennedy, Dennis. “Origins of Theatre.” In The Oxford Encyclopedia of Theatre and Performance. New York; Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005.
Kerravala, Zeus. “Box Bolsters Collaboration, Security Capabilities at Digital Event | No Jitter,” October 11, 2021. https://www.nojitter.com/team-collaboration-tools-workspaces/box-bolsters-collaboration-security-capabilities-digital-event.
DataArts. “Key Findings, Arts Vibrancy Index Report VI. DataArts.” Accessed October 31, 2021. https://culturaldata.org/arts-vibrancy-2020/key-findings/.
Blue Ocean Strategy. “Kim & Mauborgne: Authors of Blue Ocean Strategy & Blue Ocean Shift.” Accessed December 1, 2021. https://www.blueoceanstrategy.com/about-the-authors/.
Kim, W. Chan, and Renee Mauborgne. “Blue Ocean Leadership.” Harvard Business Review, May 1, 2014. https://hbr.org/2014/05/blue-ocean-leadership.
Krouse, Peter. “Why Do Rust Belt Rivals Cleveland and Pittsburgh Have Diverging Economies?” Cleveland.Com, July 30, 2021. https://www.cleveland.com/news/2021/07/why-do-rust-belt-rivals-cleveland-and-pittsburgh-have-diverging-economies.html.
“Learn | Karamu House.” Accessed October 24, 2021. https://www.karamuhouse.org/learn.
Lencioni, Patrick. The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable. 1st ed. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2002.
Leonardi, Paul. “Picking the Right Approach to Digital Collaboration.” MIT Sloan Management Review 62, no. 2 (Winter 2021): 1–7.
Lunden, Jeff. “The Show Must Go Online: Theaters Closed By COVID-19 Get Creative.” NPR, April 11, 2020. https://www.npr.org/2020/04/11/830390452/the-show-must-go-online-theaters-closed-by-covid-19-get-creative.
Maisel Ph.D., Eric R. “5 Ways to Overcome Blank Page Syndrome | Psychology Today,” April 13, 2021. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/rethinking-mental-health/202104/5-ways-overcome-blank-page-syndrome.
Mangla, Rahul, Rohit Singh, Kartik Trehan, and Marcy Williams. “How Digital Collaboration Helps Banks Serve Customers Better.” Accessed October 9, 2021. https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/financial-services/our-insights/banking-matters/how-digital-collaboration-helps-banks-serve-customers-better.
Martins, Julia. “Understanding the Iterative Process, with Examples.” Asana (blog). Accessed December 4, 2021. https://asana.com/resources/iterative-process.
McMills, Anne E. “Extended Reality Meets Theatrical Design: Virtual and Augmented Reality Technologies Offer Exciting Opportunities for the Theatre World, Presenting New Ways to Design and Collaborate.” TD&T (Theatre Design & Technology) 54, no. 4 (September 22, 2018): 30–37.
HowlRound Theatre Commons. “Media Design in the Rehearsal Hall Part 3.” Accessed September 25, 2021. https://howlround.com/media-design-rehearsal-hall-part-3.
Quantum Theatre. “Michelle Engleman.” Accessed October 9, 2021. https://www.quantumtheatre.com/michelle-engleman/.
Dobama Theatre. “MISSION.” Accessed September 25, 2021. https://www.dobama.org/mission.
“Mission, Vision + Values | Karamu House.” Accessed September 25, 2021. https://www.karamuhouse.org/about/mission.
Murphy, Sarah. “Calling All Nonprofits: Talk Smarter with Slack — AMT Lab @ CMU,” April 15, 2015. https://amt-lab.org/reviews/2015/4/calling-all-nonprofits-talk-smarter-with-slack?rq=asana.
Nickoloff, Anne. “Cleveland Public Theatre Announces Virtual Fall Season.” cleveland.com, October 15, 2020. https://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/2020/10/cleveland-public-theatre-announces-virtual-fall-season.html.
———. “Karamu House Announces Virtual Holiday Show.” cleveland.com, December 2, 2020. https://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/2020/12/karamu-house-announces-virtual-holiday-show.html.
“Nina Berman | Fractured Atlas.” Accessed November 6, 2021. https://www.fracturedatlas.org/team/nina-berman.
Notion. “Notion.” Accessed December 8, 2021. https://www.notion.so/.
O’Connor, Brian. “Can Holograms and Avatars Replace Zoom Video Calls?” Accessed November 8, 2021. https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20210826-can-holograms-and-avatars-replace-zoom-video-calls.
“Online Education | Karamu House.” Accessed October 24, 2021. https://www.karamuhouse.org/learn/online-education.
HowlRound Theatre Commons. “Opening Space for Collaboration and Change.” Accessed September 25, 2021. https://howlround.com/opening-space-collaboration-and-change.
Oregon Shakespeare Festival Assocation, Inc. 2018 Form 990. https://pdf.guidestar.org/PDF_Images/2019/930/407/2019-930407022-202042599349301509-9.pdf?_gl=1*8z2t5a*_ga*NjEwNjEyODYzLjE2MzQ1NzA0MDk.*_ga_5W8PXYYGBX*MTYzNDU5NzU5NC4yLjEuMTYzNDU5NzY2Mi4w*_ga_0H865XH5JK*MTYzNDU5NzU5NC4yLjEuMTYzNDU5NzY2My4w&_ga=2.247668743.140931692.1634570409-610612863.1634570409, accessed October 18, 2021.
Blue Ocean Strategy. “Our Story | Kim & Mauborgne’s Research Journey to Blue Oceans.” Accessed December 1, 2021. https://www.blueoceanstrategy.com/our-story/.
“Overview | Cleveland Play House | 216-400-7000.” Accessed October 24, 2021. http://www.clevelandplayhouse.com/education/cwrucph-mfa/overview.
“Overview & Mission | Cleveland Play House | 216-400-7000.” Accessed September 25, 2021. http://www.clevelandplayhouse.com/about.
Quantum Theatre. “Past Productions.” Accessed October 22, 2021. https://www.quantumtheatre.com/past-productions-2/.
PICT Pittsburgh’s Classic Theatre. “PICT - Pittsburgh’s Classic Theatre.” Accessed October 9, 2021. https://www.picttheatre.org/.
“Pittsburgh Public Theater.” Accessed October 9, 2021. https://ppt.org/.
“Pittsburgh Public Theater 990.” Accessed October 9, 2021. https://pdf.guidestar.org/PDF_Images/2019/237/398/2019-237398683-17279152-9.pdf?_gl=1*1xmk7h1*_ga*MzM3NTQxMjM1LjE2MzI2MTYxMzE.*_ga_0H865XH5JK*MTYzMzc5ODA0OC4xMC4xLjE2MzM3OTgwNTEuMA..*_ga_5W8PXYYGBX*MTYzMzc5ODA0OC4xMC4xLjE2MzM3OTgwNTEuMA..&_ga=2.126314509.1664651638.1633794702-337541235.1632616131.
“Pittsburgh Public Theatre 990.” Accessed October 24, 2021. https://pdf.guidestar.org/PDF_Images/2019/237/398/2019-237398683-17279152-9.pdf?_gl=1*epcri7*_ga*NjEwNjEyODYzLjE2MzQ1NzA0MDk.*_ga_5W8PXYYGBX*MTYzNTEyOTk5Ny43LjEuMTYzNTEzMDAxNS4w*_ga_0H865XH5JK*MTYzNTEyOTk5Ny43LjEuMTYzNTEzMDAxNS4w&_ga=2.60394029.1407209591.1635129998-610612863.1634570409.
Post, Kara. “Take Our Quiz: The Best Project Management Tool For You and Your Team.” AMT Lab @ CMU, November 7, 2017. https://amt-lab.org/blog/2017/10/take-our-quiz-the-best-project-management-tool-for-you-and-your-team.
“Prime Stage - GuideStar Profile.” Accessed September 25, 2021. https://www.guidestar.org/profile?id=25-1784757.
“Production History.” Accessed October 22, 2021. https://ppt.org/ppt_home/about/production-history.
“Quantum Theatre 990.” Accessed October 9, 2021. https://pdf.guidestar.org/PDF_Images/2020/251/760/2020-251760895-202013179349307051-9.pdf?_gl=1*1d1q4aa*_ga*MzM3NTQxMjM1LjE2MzI2MTYxMzE.*_ga_0H865XH5JK*MTYzMzc5NDcwMS45LjEuMTYzMzc5NTA1Mi4w*_ga_5W8PXYYGBX*MTYzMzc5NDcwMS45LjEuMTYzMzc5NTA1Mi4w&_ga=2.5668915.1664651638.1633794702-337541235.1632616131.
Quito, Anne. “Figma Says It Has the Answer to Lackluster Brainstorming Meetings.” Quartz, May 27, 2021. https://qz.com/work/2013079/figmas-virtual-figjam-whiteboard-aims-to-make-brainstorming-fun/.
“Remote Work Tools: Using Airtable and Asana for Project Management.” Accessed September 26, 2021. https://amt-lab.org/podcasts-interviews/2020/4/airtable-and-asana-using-technology-for-project-management.
Salas, Eduardo, ed. The Wiley-Blackwell Handbook of the Psychology of Team Working and Collaborative Processes. Wiley-Blackwell Handbooks in Organizational Psychology. Hoboken: Wiley-Blackwell, 2017.
Sawyer, R. Keith. Group Creativity Music, Theater, Collaboration, 2014.
Segal, Edward. “Survey Finds Email Fatigue Could Lead 38% Of Workers To Quit Their Jobs.” Forbes. Accessed December 4, 2021. https://www.forbes.com/sites/edwardsegal/2021/04/21/survey-finds-email-fatigue-could-lead-38-of-workers-to-quit-their-jobs/.
Sewell, Graham. “Doing What Comes Naturally? Why We Need a Practical Ethics of Teamwork.” International Journal of Human Resource Management 16, no. 2 (February 2005): 202–18. https://doi.org/10.1080/0958519042000311408.
“Shows | Cleveland Play House | 216-400-7000.” Accessed October 22, 2021. http://www.clevelandplayhouse.com/shows/2021.
“Shows | Cleveland Play House | 216-400-7000.” Accessed October 22, 2021. http://www.clevelandplayhouse.com/shows/2020.
Singleton, Chris. “Microsoft 365 vs Google Workspace (2021) — Which Is the Best Office Suite?” Style Factory (blog), October 12, 2021. https://www.stylefactoryproductions.com/blog/office-365-vs-google-apps.
broadwaysms. “SM Tech Fridays.” Accessed September 26, 2021. https://www.broadwaysymposium.com/sm-tech-fridays.
“Special Appearance · Actors’ Equity Association.” Accessed October 4, 2021. https://www.actorsequity.org/resources/contracts/Special-Appearance/.
“Staff.” Accessed October 9, 2021. https://ppt.org/ppt_home/about/staff.
“Staff | Cleveland Play House | 216-400-7000.” Accessed October 9, 2021. http://www.clevelandplayhouse.com/about/staff.
“Staff and Board of Directors | Cleveland Public Theatre.” Accessed October 9, 2021. https://www.cptonline.org/about/staff-and-board-of-directors/.
“Staff Directory | Karamu House.” Accessed October 9, 2021. https://www.karamuhouse.org/contact/staff-directory.
“Staff Photo Directory.” Accessed October 9, 2021. https://citytheatrecompany.org/play/photo-directory/.
Stern, Matthew. “Ten Lessons from 2020 about Theatre and Stage Management,” January 29, 2021. https://newsandviews.dataton.com/ten-changes-for-life-backstage-in-a-covid-world-0.
Quantum Theatre. “Stewart Urist.” Accessed October 9, 2021. https://www.quantumtheatre.com/staff/stewart-urist/.
Strungs, Amanda. “Death by 1,000 Messages: Keep Communication from Killing Your Team’s Spirit.” Moovila (blog), July 20, 2020. https://www.moovila.com/post/death-by-1-000-messages-keep-communication-from-killing-your-team-s-spirit.
“Student Matinees | Cleveland Play House | 216-400-7000.” Accessed October 24, 2021. http://www.clevelandplayhouse.com/education/at-cph/student-matinees/2019.
Quantum Theatre. “Subscribe.” Accessed October 9, 2021. https://www.quantumtheatre.com/subscribe/.
“Supporting Artists | Fractured Atlas.” Accessed November 6, 2021. https://www.fracturedatlas.org/what-we-do.
“Sustainable Production Guide.” Julie’s Bicycle, 2013. https://juliesbicycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Sustainable_Production_Guide_2013.pdf.
“TCG: Theatre Communications Group > Membership > Membership Directory.” Accessed September 26, 2021. https://www.tcg.org/Default.aspx?TabID=1494.
“TCG: Theatre Communications Group > Membership > Theatre Membership > Current Members.” Accessed December 3, 2021. https://www.tcg.org/Membership/TheatreMembership/CurrentMembers.aspx.
Blue Ocean Strategy. “The Books.” Accessed December 1, 2021. https://www.blueoceanstrategy.com/the-books/.
DataArts. “The Top 20 Arts-Vibrant Large Communities, 2020. DataArts.” Accessed November 10, 2021. https://culturaldata.org/arts-vibrancy-2020/top-20-large-communities/.
HowlRound Theatre Commons. “The Work of the Imagination.” Accessed September 25, 2021. https://howlround.com/work-imagination.
Tonks, Ann. The A to Z of Arts Management: Reflections on Theory and Reality. 2nd edition. New York ; London: Routledge, 2020.
“Upcoming Events and Tickets for Pittsburgh Public Theater.” Accessed October 22, 2021. https://ppt.org/calendar.
Vohra, Rahul. “The State of Your Inbox in 2021: Email Burnout and Browsing in Bed.” Superhuman Blog (blog), April 21, 2021. https://blog.superhuman.com/the-state-of-your-inbox-in-2021/.
Voyer, Benjamin. “Benjamin Voyer on the Psychology of Teamwork: Quick Study.” The Economic (Online), January 2, 2015. https://www-proquest-com.cmu.idm.oclc.org/magazines/benjamin-voyer-on-psychology-teamwork/docview/1642003654/se-2?accountid=9902.
Wallace, Doris B., ed. Creative People at Work: Twelve Cognitive Case Studies. Nachdr. New York: Oxford Univ. Press, 2010.
Warrington, Kate. “Virtual Theatre Began as Temporary Solution But It Offers Much More.” Impakter (blog), September 15, 2021. https://impakter.com/virtual-theatre-began-as-temporary-solution-but-it-offers-much-more/.
Blue Ocean Strategy. “What Is Blue Ocean Strategy?” Accessed December 1, 2021. https://www.blueoceanstrategy.com/what-is-blue-ocean-strategy/.
“What Is the Future of Distributed Work?” Wired UK. Accessed October 31, 2021. https://www.wired.co.uk/article/bc/what-is-the-future-of-distributed-work.
Quantum Theatre. “What We Are.” Accessed September 25, 2021. https://www.quantumtheatre.com/about/what-we-are/.
Wong, Venessa. “These People Of Color Are Dreading Returning To Racism In Their Workplace.” BuzzFeed News, June 29, 2021. https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/venessawong/workers-returning-office-racism.
Wroblewski, Alyssa. “Technology Adoption: How Arts Managers Can Prepare for Change.” AMT Lab @ CMU, April 9, 2020. https://amt-lab.org/blog/2020/4/technology-adoption-how-arts-managers-can-prepare-for-change.
Yang, Longqi, David Holtz, Sonia Jaffe, Siddharth Suri, Shilpi Sinha, Jeffrey Weston, Connor Joyce, et al. “The Effects of Remote Work on Collaboration among Information Workers.” Nature Human Behaviour, September 9, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-021-01196-4.
“Young Playwrights Contest.” Accessed October 9, 2021. https://citytheatrecompany.org/education/ypc/.
“Young Playwrights Festival.” Accessed October 9, 2021. https://citytheatrecompany.org/play/young-playwrights-festival-2/.