About The Director
When I started out as a director, I made it a priority to honor what I value most as an actor, advocacy. When working with young actors, especially children, I wanted to created and provide a space where actors could openly express themselves safely. And its something that I still implement in my work today. As stated above, I believe that acting should allow a sense of vulnerability in one’s self. The ability to be completely unafraid to fail, get back up, and try again without shame or fear. I want to encourage young actors that the stage is never a place where one should have to hold back parts of themselves, but rather a space of expression and experiment. Freedom to practice self-advocacy and find what you want to hold true to yourself. To know that there is more than just yes’s and no’s, that there is a place where someone will sit down with you and say “How can I help?“
Plays In The Park
When I was 18, my friend and I created a youth theatre company called Plays In The Park. Our goal was to provide a space where young actors could have an outlet to truly express themselves, regardless of race, gender, sexulality, class or creed. We spent months fundraising, and with the help of our community we were able to produce or first show: The Wizard of Oz-Youth Edition. Since 2022, Plays In The Park has been a thriving youth theatre company that continues to produce summer shows for the Arkansas Valley.
While I am no longer apart of the company today, I still hold its values near and dear to my heart. I believe that Plays In The Park is not just for the children, but for the community. It brought together all walks of life for one cause; art. Becuase of this company, I have been able to connect with those in my community in way that I could have never imagined. It helped me see the beauty of an itntertwined community and how passion can affect those who arent actors, directors, or designers. Just people helping people.