The PEI is focused on the political and institutional systems and communities that, taken together, form the context in which theatre is made. The issues addressed by the PEI are identified by Dramatists Guild members themselves, individually and/or in community. The PEI does not set the agenda, but serves as a connector of playwrights to other playwrights with similar concerns, and to resources, organizations, and strategies to aid dramatists and their communities in taking action on their own behalf. It is a non-partisan tool of local empowerment.
The concerns of membership determine the PEI’s agenda and members spur the initiatives taken up by the PEI. When issues brought to the attention of the PEI align with DG imperatives, the DG might take an official position on some of them. On others, the DG will remain neutral, either because they fall outside of the DG’s scope of concern or because in some cases they run counter to DG imperatives. The PEI will not support activities that harm, endanger, or denigrate fellow DG members.
The PEI does not, and never will, involve itself with the content of plays. The goal of the PEI is to aid our members in strengthening the communities in which they work and live, so they can better support, defend, and value the idiosyncratic, independent, and original voices in their midst.
Action Alert: Protect Your Post Office and Right to Vote
The Dramatists Guild of America is a national organization that relies on the U.S. Post Office to deliver our magazine, The Dramatist, notices, member cards, invoices, dues payments, regional event promotions, and helps us communicate with 8,900 members across the United States and abroad.
As you may have heard, the US Post Office, under the current Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, recently made a series of substantial cuts that removed mail sorting machines, postal boxes, employee hours, and more. Many are concerned that these far-reaching cuts will amount to voter suppression for the millions of American.
State Health Agency Officials
State governments are closing schools, universities, theatres, gyms, restaurants, and other gathering places. Public anxiety and fear are at an all time high.
To make matters worse, many Dramatists Guild members work as independent contractors, freelancers, and license their intellectual property - leaving them without health insurance. Would you consider contacting your state government officials to ask them when COVID-19 tests will be made available to the public, irregardless of insurance status?
Below is a list of state health agency officials. If you feel that your state is not doing enough to allocate resources towards COVID-19 tests and response, please take five minutes to call, write, and email:
ALABAMA
ALASKA
ARIZONA
ARKANSAS
CALIFORNIA
COLORADO
CONNECTICUT
DELAWARE
FLORIDA
GEORGIA
HAWAII
IDAHO
ILLINOIS
INDIANA
IOWA
KANSAS
KENTUCKY
LOUISIANA
MAINE
MARYLAND
MASSACHUSETTS
MICHIGAN
MINNESOTA
MISSISSIPPI
MISSOURI
MONTANA
NEBRASKA
NEVADA
NEW HAMPSHIRE
NEW JERSEY
NEW MEXICO
NEW YORK
NORTH CAROLINA
NORTH DAKOTA
OHIO
OKLAHOMA
OREGON
PENNSYLVANIA
PUERTO RICO
RHODE ISLAND
SOUTH CAROLINA
SOUTH DAKOTA
TENNESSEE
TEXAS
UTAH
VERMONT
VIRGINIA
VIRGIN ISLANDS
WASHINGTON
WASHINGTON DC
WEST VIRGINIA
WISCONSIN
WYOMING
For more information questions@dramatistsguild.com.