2023 was my first year coming back to live theatre, post-pandemic. I underestimated how challenging it would be to begin my solo show journey again. I thought that I would be able to pick up from the last place I left off. I was in the middle of packing for a workshop in Philly, and I had a show booked at a college in Long Island, NY, in 2019.
This year, I was finally able to press play on a 3-year career pause, but things didn’t go as I planned. I faced several challenges from contractual disagreements, unsafe working conditions, lack of institutional support, and funding. I switched gears from theatre and auditioned for a TV show, and then the strike happened. I also struggled with my mental health in the early part of this year.
I had to pivot my focus to new experiences, community care, and self-advocacy. A large part of my artistic craft is seeking out new lived experiences that invite me to expand my perspective on life and to create a body of work that accurately reflects human life on stage. The best gig for me is life. I am elated to have another year on this planet!
Good News: Dramatist Guild National Fellowship Semi-Finalist
“Out of a pool of highly competitive submissions from over 600 aspiring dramatists, your application stood out, and you were chosen as a semi-finalist. It was because you were among the dramatists who demonstrated exceptional talent, creativity, and a deep commitment to the art of playwriting.”