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Interview with the Playwright of “Not____Enough” Bella Pelz

I sat down to tea with the wonderful Bella Pelz today to discuss her inspiration behind her new play “Not____Enough.” The play explores identity, sexuality, mortality, reality, gender, race and our very foundations as human beings. It will be performed this Monday at 6:00pm for the Boston University School of Theatre’s “Sunday and Monday Sitdowns” […]

Thesis Part II: Start where you are

Two weeks ago, I decided to re-evaluate the frame of my thesis. I have since found a co-collaborator who is part of the Deaf community and am thrilled to have his creative mind and spirit in the room. We decided to meet after thanksgiving break and I honestly, realized too late that I should have […]

Thanksgiving to Who?

It’s that time of year again. Perhaps you are gathering around the family table, stuffing your face with turkey and cranberry sauce or maybe you’re having eggplant rollatini with marinara sauce or getting ready to slice into that tofurkey. But whatever the tradition, remember it’s all in the spirit of giving.  So, with that being […]

It Takes a Village

It takes a village. I recently rediscovered this phrase in an meeting discussing a project I am working on for the Spring that incorporates both Hearing and Deaf actors. My advisor told me that the one of the key pieces of Dramaturgy is when to relinquish your power. Yes, I had an idea. Yes, I […]

A message to those who consider themselves artists (and those who don’t)

Hey Reader, How are you on this lazy Sunday afternoon? To the artists out there, relax. Take this moment to read a passage in a book, take a walk, skype people you care about, drink a warm cup of tea. Your work will get done. Your work doesn’t define you. You don’t have to prove […]

Breaking the Echo Chamber

In a liberal arts bubble, it sometimes feels like an echo chamber. I am confident about values, I understand my moral compass. I try my best not to hate, to judge, to hurt someone intentionally. So should I be afraid to play a character that does not share my own values? I have been asking […]

Gray Area: Who do we believe?

Trigger Warning, this post deals with issues of sexual assault and violence. Sexual assault is ingrained in our society and our theatre isn’t helping. From plays like Street Car Named Desire, Really Really and Oleanna, sexual assault is dealt with in a way that seems like a “gray area” or an area where everyone is […]

Downtown

“The lights are much brighter there You can forget all your troubles, forget all your cares So go downtown, things’ll be great when you’re Downtown, no finer place for sure Downtown everything’s waiting for you” This song by Petula Clark seems to ring true for playwright Kyle Chua in his new play, Downtown. The lights […]

Artist or Activist?

What does it mean to be an activist? Can my art be my form of activism? These are questions I have heard from my peers and something I continue to ask of myself. Am I a connected theatre artist? Are you? I know I am trying to bring issues to light with my art. To […]

No place like Home

“Hello and welcome back Have you been here before? Does it feel familiar?” -Geoff Sobelle, Artist Statement from the play Home Geoff Sobelle and his cast of six reach out to the better parts of humanity with their production of Home. On the train to ArtsEmerson I got this strange feeling that this play would change […]

Writing without strings attached

There are some writers who have a heavy hand in the rehearsal room and there are some who do not. As an aspiring writer, I have always seen myself as falling into the first category. It is hard for me to let go. Recently, though, I have encountered more playwrights who seem unencumbered by the […]

White-minded: Fear of screwing up.

What does it mean to be an ally in the arts? How do I serve a community I am not necessarily apart of? I want to pursue working with both Hearing and Deaf artists. I, however, am part of the Hearing community. My work as an artist is guided by putting my ideas into action. […]