Inclusion, Diversity & Belonging
Arcade is committed to being a place where all people feel welcomed, safe, and supported.
Our Commitment
Arcade Comedy Theater is committed to being a place where all people feel welcomed, safe, and supported, and where the full variety of diversity is celebrated. To reach the theater staff and our Inclusion & Belonging Committee, email inclusion@arcadecomedytheater.com.
The P.A.U.S.E. Framework
A simple guide for responding when something feels off:
| Perceive | Notice that something happened. Trust your instinct — if it felt wrong, it probably was. You don't need a label for it to name it. |
| Assess | Consider the context. Is this a moment for real-time intervention, or a private conversation later? Think about safety, your role, and who else is present. |
| Use your voice | Name what happened. You don't have to be perfect — a simple pause is enough to start. |
| Support | Check in with the person who was harmed. Keep it private and simple: “Are you okay? I saw what happened and I want you to know it wasn't okay.” |
| Escalate | If the situation is beyond what you can address alone, use Arcade's reporting pathway below. You are not expected to fix everything — you are expected to not look away. |
Sometimes it's hard to know what to say in the moment. Phrases you can use right now: “Hey, can we pause for a second?” · “I don't think that landed the way you meant it.” · “Can we rewind? I think something just happened.” · “That felt off to me — can we talk about it?” · “I noticed something and I want to check in with you.”
These resources come from Dr. Cheryl Hall-Russell of BW3 Culture, from the Spring 2026 diversity, equity, and inclusion training conducted at Arcade Comedy Theater.
Reporting Pathway
When a situation requires escalation, Arcade is here to support you. Let us know what you observed by emailing inclusion@arcadecomedytheater.com. If you wish to remain anonymous, use our anonymous reporting form: forms.gle/pKD5cpUFvWv5hBzP6.
The email and anonymous form go to our Interim Executive Director, Andrew Lotz, and to our DEI Chair, Anna Faila. Non-anonymous reports will be acknowledged within 48 hours and reviewed by the IED and DEI Chair. If an incident involves either of those people, the report can instead be made to Arcade's Board of Directors at board@arcadecomedytheater.com.
If further investigation is warranted, it will be conducted to protect, as much as practicable, the privacy of all persons concerned. The theater expects personnel, Board, interns, coaches, house/stage managers, performers, volunteers, and Academy faculty and students who are contacted in connection with an investigation to cooperate fully and maintain confidentiality.
Arcade's A.B.I.D.E. Policy & Guidelines. Arcade's Academy operates following the guidelines of our A.B.I.D.E. policy (Arcade A.B.I.D.E. — 4.26 update). Arcade also maintains a Policy Against Harassment in support of a welcoming, safe environment for comedic expression.