Membership Spotlight – October 2025

Over the course of my fellowship, my artistic practice became more focused on early childhood arts experiences- through my fieldwork with Imagination Stage and the work that I produce/direct to my teaching of ages 3-6.

Philly Fringe was the entire month of September and I was able to see seven shows as part of it! Seeing the city come to life through dance, devised work, tya clown pieces, and more really fueled me and made me grateful to live in such a vibrant arts city.

I was acting in a show for the first time in many years this September. I played Celeste #2 in “Sunday in the Park with George” with an awesome community theatre and it reminded me why I fell in love with theatre.

Philly Sensory Theatre will be creating an original show this spring to tour around in April! I am excited to dive back into rehearsals and start devising. I am also thrilled to be going back to our touring model so that we can bring our show to many different communities. This will also be our first show under our new name!

As part of the Fellowship, we got to have conversations and mentorship from Sara Morgulis. These conversations were so helpful this past year as I thought about rebranding my company and what that would look like.

Really consider what it is you want to learn through the fieldwork and the fellowship because TYA/USA can really connect you with so many amazing people and theatres.

Contact me at sarahgordin@phillysensorytheatre.org and let’s dream up a collaboration (or just chat!!). Follow my company on instagram @phillysensorytheatre.

I’ve found myself really centered in the idea of open community spaces as performance, and the idea of The New Queer Conscience – the urgent need for queer responsibility – that queers anywhere are responsible for queers everywhere.

I’ve had a chance to really dig into community matters, and feel a resonating call-to-action – on how we can reflect those needs onto the field and the theatre landscape as a whole.

I recently attended the Getty Center’s Queer Lens: A History of Photography – and it’s hard to pick a specific piece.  I continue to reflect on Leopold Bloom’s How to Transition on Sixty-Three Cents a Day. It is a self-published memoir that details the author’s cross-country migration to access transgender health care. Set in the early 2000s, Leopoldo Bloom uses 31 unbound postcards to weave a non-linear travelogue of his transition. I keep returning to the piece as I navigate a recent cross-country move, and the resilience of the queer spirit in times of crisis.

In Omaha, I joined the co-conspirators at Old School Shakespeare Omaha (@osshakespeareomaha) for our first summer of repertory theatre. OSSO creates Shakespeare with no director, one rehearsal, performed in a bar. Learning both Twelfth Night (as Sir Toby Belch) and Henry IV Pt. I (as Westmoreland & Mistress Quickley) on my own, and then performing in rep alongside a close group of Shakespeare nerds was an electric experience.

I am in preparation for directing Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress at The Rose Theater (opening February 20th!). I feel lucky to work on this co-commissioned premiere of an earnest, heart-forward story.

Brian Guerhing at The Rose Theater has been a fantastic mentor, guide, and friend. His commitment to uplifting queer youth, young writers, and energy-centered teaching is a constant inspiration.

Clarity of purpose and intention are your friend – ask yourself: “What am I hoping to do next and how can this opportunity align me with those hopes?”

Instagram: @flareupwithlove
Website: jayhayden.neocities.org
Email: jhaydenta@gmail.com

My artistic practice has grown significantly during my time as a fellow. This experience has helped me identify key areas for growth in this season, allowing me to seek out more focused mentorship—specifically in community outreach, education program management, and curriculum development.

I’m currently watching the Korean drama A Hundred Memories, which follows two protagonists in the 1980s who unexpectedly form a beautiful friendship and support each other through life’s hardships. I’ve found many parallels to my own current season of life and it feels very timely!

I’m currently leading our first Óyeme Teen Troupe, an after-school program where newcomer youth participate in workshops to devise and create their own original touring performance!

Our Voices Beyond Bars program will start again this November! We will offer 2 – 13 week sessions with the Montgomery County Correctional Facility and use applied theatre and creative writing to work with incarcerated students.

A big shoutout to Charles Moore from Rehabilitation Through the Arts! Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions and for so kindly sharing your advice and experiences with me. Your hospitality truly made the difference, and I’m incredibly grateful!

I would say, to be intentional and specific about what you would do with this fellowship, and also be yourself!! Do your best to find creative ways in which you can give TYA/USA an idea of who you are and what you care for!

If anyone would like to get in touch with me about the work that I do or just for advice, feel free to reach me at my email: htijerina@imaginationstage.org I am happy to help! 🙂