Theatre for Change
Evocative.
The diverse and innovative communities in which I've surrounded myself with have uplifted me as an artist. I advocate the quest to push boundaries and provoke conversations with evocative works and projects. These elements are why we are storytellers. Having seen a variety of outstanding and diverse actors and creative team members in various productions, I feel welcomed and motivated as female artist of color. Finding collaborative and artistic homes are where I see the most important stories told.
Inclusive.
American sociologist Charles Horton Cooley's process called "looking-glass self"describes humanity's reflection of how we think we appear to others, lending explanation to how one conceives the way others view them. I believe that this process weaves itself through the stories we tell and who we select to tell them. Seeing an array of humans with different backgrounds, cultures, and truths, despite of the color of our skins, is how we can lend these explanations of how we view humanity and how humanity views humanity. Inclusion can and should be universal.
Livelihood.
Whether it's evoking uncomfortable but necessary conversations, providing people with an escape from their everyday lives, or simply bringing laughter to a room, theatre is a livelihood. Why do we spend hours, days, months, preparing? Because we want to tell stories and we want to tell them well. The different working parts that bring productions to life starts and ends with wanting to tell stories.