performance artist

This is a show about identity, specifically finding personal identity, a privilege not granted to those who live in a constant state of poverty and virtual enslavement to their jobs. We follow the coming-of-age stories of five kids struggling to come to terms with their loss and coping.

"I was 16 years old when my friend, Gara, and I decided that we wanted to direct a Young People's Production at our local theatre. Without a clue in the world as to what goes into the process of directing, we dove in and found ourselves in way over our heads. Coming from a rural town in Iowa with limited arts education, we had no concept of dramaturgical work or what it really meant to be directors. While my co-director, Gara, took on the role of choreographer, I took on the role of stage director, focusing largely on blocking and character development. We explored this new experience, growing alongside the cast, eventually creating a production that we were all proud of that was incredibly well-received by our community. This production is a testament to the power of young people on a mission, produced entirely by a group between the ages of 13 and 22. While I found myself crying in costume storage more than a few times during this production, this is where I found my love for youth arts work. Despite this rollercoaster of an experience, I came back to direct another Young People's Production two years later, hoping that my technique had improved with my education.

It. had."