Membership Spotlight – October 2024

Over the course of the Fellowship, I feel like my artistic practice has deepened. I’ve always wanted to put theater to use or make theater useful for communities. This Fellowship gave me the chance to meet other creators and theater-makers who believe the same thing and are creating artistically healing projects and communities. This Fellowship helped affirm my practice as an artist-healer. I am more conscious of the ways art and social healing is possible and happening!

I am very much into “yarn bombing” as an artivist practice. Seeing colorful crocheted messages about love and peace are really inspiring me these days.

My public art and history project, the Free Black Chesapeake Experience is ready for action! I can take this program on the road, conduct virtual workshops, visit schools and community organizations in person to facilitate workshops, or I could create a customizable experience for your community. Please reach out if you’re interested in collaborating!

Finally premiering my theater for young audiences experience “Sheela & The Amazons.” I’m envisioning a live play, interactive puppetry, and wrap-around public engagement experiences

Sending big love to Reiko Ho and Eric Johnson of the Honolulu Theatre for Youth. Aloha and thank you for believing in me and inviting me into your artistic home. I can’t wait to see how we continue to build together. Also, big thank you and love to Sara Morgulis, Executive Director of TYA/USA. That woman is an incredible weaver of dreams and people- she can hear your needs and connect you with resources in ways that are unbelievable!

Take a moment and consider your wildest dreams. What’s on your career wishlist? Where have you always wanted to go? What have you always wanted to do? Why? If you can articulate your dream, this Fellowship could provide key connections and resources to achieve your vision. Dream big and be specific 🙂

Y’all can check out my linktree: https://linktr.ee/ChelseaDee or contact me through my website: http://misschelsead.weebly.com/. Or reach out to TYA/USA and they can help connect us.

My fellowship experience has transformed the way I approach programing selection and development, specially creating and developing great art in a way that actively involves young people and those who care about them. On a more practical level, I have a new toolbox of strategies and activities to pull from when engaging these groups.

The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes is a gorgeous book I return to often. On a less serious note, I’ve been listening to Sabrina Carpenter’s new album a lot recently.

Last month, MTC opened our world-premiere production of An Unlikely Hero by Emilio Rodriguez, as part of With Great Power: The TYA BIPOC Superhero Project. We co-commissioned the play with Trike Theater and the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts. The project has been so energizing to work on from our initial meetings, through multiple development workshops, and now culminating in our fully realized production. This experience was also such a wonderful opportunity to meet and learn from new collaborators, hopefully building relationships that last beyond this project.

This past summer, MTC launched Baby Rave! Following a hiatus for the holidays, I can’t wait to continue bringing Saturday morning dance parties to families across St Louis. My dream would be to create Theater for the Very Young productions for the audience we are building. Bubbles are always a hit at Baby Rave, maybe we need a TVY piece all about bubbles?

Jenny Millinger is a magical human! I am forever grateful for her brilliance, heart, and sense of humor.

Think critically about what you want to learn from the Fellowship, ask important questions, and dream big about where you want to visit.

My IG is @juliaaaa2626 or reach out by email (jhlaurenson@metroplays.org)!

I’ve felt a monumental shift in my artistic practice, I no longer feel the need to separate my artistic work from my administrative career. They are constantly informing each other, and as a result, I feel so fulfilled. Most of all, I feel excited to collaborate and share space with others, which I’ve shied away from in the past.

Jake Blount’s concept album, The New Faith. An Afro-futurist reimagining of Hymns and Spirituals set in a post-apocalyptic world devastated by climate change.

I’m so proud of my songwriting workshop, I’m Gonna Say It Now: Exploring Protest Through Topical Songwriting. This project has been years in the making, and my research trip to the Woody Guthrie Center was instrumental in shaping its first iteration this past summer. I’m looking forward to developing it further and sharing this process with future students.

I have two projects that I can’t wait to share, but they’re very early in development so I hope to share more soon! I will say that I continue to be inspired by folk and traditional music, particularly from Nicaragua where my family is from. Adapting either of these styles for TVYA or intergenerational audiences is a dream of mine.

I feel so grateful to many folks who have made space for me to grow, but I’d really like to shout out Madeline Calandrillo and Yvonne Roen. Since I first started with NYCCT, Maddie has encouraged me to pursue every opportunity I could with unyielding support. More importantly, she is a model for compassionate leadership. Her earnest care for those around her has taught me how to be a better leader, and I’m grateful for every lesson. Yvonne’s artistry is truly something to witness, and she challenges me to hold myself accountable to the impact I envision for my work. She is a masterclass in allowing your artistry to inform every aspect of your life, and vice versa.

When I applied to the Emerging Leader Fellowship, I wanted to bridge the gap between my passion for TYA with what I recognized as an inherent educational value in protest and folk music. In my case, it made sense to propose an organization outside of the world of TYA! The same goes for mentors, if there are people doing work that inspires you, really think about what you would want to learn from them if given the chance.

You can follow me on instagram @frankruiznyc, or email me fruiz@nycchildrenstheater.org.