Mission & Commitments

Mission

The mission of Great Lakes Theater is to share the pleasure, power and relevance of live theater through mainstage productions and educational programs of the highest quality.

Since Great Lakes Theater's inception in 1962, programming has been rooted in Shakespeare, but the company's commitment to great plays spans the breadth of all cultures, forms of theater and time periods, and provides for the occasional mounting of new works that complement the classical repertoire.

Classic theater holds the capacity to illuminate truth and enduring values, celebrate and challenge human nature and actions, revel in eloquent language, preserve the traditions of diverse cultures and generate communal spirit.

From the historic Hanna and Mimi Ohio Theatres in Playhouse Square and through community outreach, Great Lakes Theater seeks to create visceral, immediate experiences for participants, asserting theater's historic role as a vehicle for advancing the common good, and helping people make the most joyful and meaningful connections between classic plays and their own lives. Great Lakes Theater wishes to share such vibrant experiences with people across all age groups, creeds, racial and ethnic groups and socio-economic backgrounds.

Great Lakes Theater is dedicated to the highest standards, to creative problem solving and to innovation in all areas of its operation, including theater production, education, outreach, management and governance.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Statement

Great Lakes Theater is committed to creating an inclusive workplace that promotes and values equity and diversity in all aspects and across our Board, staff and artistic company. Organizations that are diverse in age, gender identity, race, sexual orientation, physical and mental ability, ethnicity, and perspective are proven to be better and healthier organizations.

We know from our experience that different ideas, perspectives and backgrounds create a compelling and more creative work environment and artistic product, one that elicits a powerful response from our audiences.

We seek to reach a broad and inclusive audience that is representative of the communities we serve. We strive to support a culture where there is a deep sense of pride, passion and belonging, and that is unified in our shared commitment to excellence, innovation and social responsibility in all that we do.

CLEan House Standards

Great Lakes Theater supports CLEan House Standards. This means we are committed to being a safe and nurturing environment that fully allows us to challenge ourselves, our audiences and our communities: that supports creative risks of mind and body; and that establishes the freedom to create theater that represents the full range of human experience.

We are committed to being a space free of harassment based on sex, sexual orientation or identity, gender, gender expression, race, color, religion, class, ethnicity, nationality, political belief or ability.