‘As I Was, Not As I Am’

Statement of Apology & Accountability

Issuing a clarification and apology ahead of our production of August Hakvaag’s play As I Was, Not As I Am -

Center Stage would like to apologize and address concerns and missteps that have been brought to our attention regarding the production of As I Was, Not As I Am by August Hakvaag. We understand the need to communicate openly and transparently about the issues regarding the promotion and production of this play and never intended to dismiss or insufficiently credit August Hakvaag for their work as playwright. 

First and foremost, we acknowledge that there have been shortcomings in the way that we credited August Hakvaag as playwright during the promotion of the show. Our failure to credit the playwright in the promotion of our production does not reflect our values, and we do not, nor have we ever, intended to erase the playwright’s imperative contributions to any of our productions. It is essential to adhere to industry practices and legal requirements to ensure that all contributors receive proper recognition. We deeply regret that these oversights have caused frustration and concern, and we apologize for our lack of judgment. 

We highly value August Hakvaag’s contribution to our 2023–2024 season, and we are dedicated to making this right. We are thankful for their generosity in allowing us to continue to produce the show. The students involved have spent weeks working hard in preparation for this weekend's performances, and without the kindness and artistic contributions of August Hakvaag, this production would not have been possible. 

Furthermore, we are aware that the circumstances surrounding the contract and rights have not been handled appropriately. It was never our intention to jeopardize the rights or misrepresent the artistic intent of the piece. We understand that our conduct in this situation has been unacceptable, and we will do everything we can now and in the future to ensure we do not tarnish the reputation of Center Stage or the College of Charleston. Our mission as an organization is to provide practical theatrical opportunities and experiences to students from diverse backgrounds; we have learned from our mistakes and will not allow missteps like this to happen again. 

We would like to publicly acknowledge and apologize for the discrepancies in our production of As I Was, Not As I Am. Firstly, we did not properly credit the playwright, August Hakvaag, whom we greatly appreciate for their patience, understanding, and creation of this beautiful story. Secondly, we acknowledge that we are using an outdated version of the script, which could potentially result in a misrepresentation of artistic intent. We understand these faults, and we are incredibly grateful for August Hakvaag’s generosity in allowing us to continue to produce the show as rehearsed.

Center Stage appreciates the understanding and graciousness of the playwright as they have chosen to not withdraw the show from our season. As I Was, Not As I Am means so much to the dedicated theatrical artists involved who have invested their time and effort. Moving forward, we are committed to addressing these issues promptly and appropriately by discussing organizational changes that will prevent issues like these from happening in the future.