Bridges The International Repertory Theatre Of Seattle

Causes: Arts & Culture, Cultural & Ethnic Awareness, Theater

Mission: Over two and a half million people from all over the world now call Washington's Puget Sound region their home. African-Americans, Japanese, Hispanic/Latinos, Jews, Gay and Lesbians, East Indians, Hearing Impaired, Norwegians, and Native Americans, to name a few, make this region rich, vibrant and internationally diverse. However, the growth of diversity brings not only new opportunities, but also new responsibilities and challenges. While the Puget Sound region has grown rapidly in size and diversity, our individual communities remain relatively separate from each other and rarely do we interact outside the workplace. We understand little of others' cultures or cultural priorities. Thus, we are often unable to find the common ground between us when attempting to solve shared problems. This cultural separatism impacts every aspect of our lives and inhibits the region's citizens and institutions from realizing their full potential. Bridges International Repertory Theatre was created to address these cultural issues by using theatre as an educational tool. Through the presentation of international plays of quality that address the human and social issues facing all of us today, we hope to increase the Puget Sound community's awareness, understanding and acceptance of all people and cultures. Each play focuses on a culture or ethnic community found in the Puget Sound region and is performed by a culturally diverse ensemble of local, professional actors. Bridges is the region's only professional theatre company whose focus is the improvement of relations between the diverse communities and people of the area.