In collaboration with 3Views on Theater, SideLight is thrilled to present another round of curated essays from a contingent of the next generation of artists and arts leaders. As the theater and entertainment industry rebuilds and reimagines, these pieces speak directly to our present, yet also seek to envision our future. Please click and read, absorb, and share widely.
Editorial Collaborators Include:
Melissa Crespo – Sarah Rose Leonard – Phaedra Scott
Lauren Auyeung
Making Space for Black Voices in Dance: My Work with Hip-Hop Dance in Education and Performance
Read here
Lauren Auyeung (she/her) is a dancer, choreographer, and artist. She graduated from Princeton University in 2019, where she studied Dance, Architecture, and Urban Studies. Lauren has recently received a Fulbright Scholarship to the UK, where she will be researching the history and aesthetics of London’s hip-hop dance movement through the context of a Master’s Degree at Trinity Laban Dance Conservatory.
All media courtesy of the writer.
Brian Bahe
Fewtch of Com
Read here
Brian Bahe is a Native American (enrolled member of the Tohono O’odham Nation, and a member of the Hopi and Navajo Nation) standup comedian, writer, and turquoise jewelry model originally from Phoenix, Arizona, now based in New York City. You can find him Twitter and Instagram @brian_bahe.
All media courtesy of the writer.
Victoria Detres
Who Is She?
Reflections from a Young Latina Producer
Read here
Victoria Detres (she/her) is a mixed Latina producer and director. She is passionate about building a platform for contemporary theatre’s innovative, new voices; particularly those of marginalized communities. Victoria currently works at Octopus Theatricals as the producing assistant and most recently, she completed the New York Theatre Workshop 2050 Producing Fellowship for the 2018-2019 season. Additional credits include Stages on the Sound’s “Julius Caesar” (Assistant Director; Dir. Scott Barrow), and “Recipe For a Sell-Out” (The Wild Project, Lead Producer). Victoria is also a certified Moment Work teacher for Tectonic Theatre Project.
All media courtesy of the writer.
Khiyon Hursey
Transparency
Read here
Khiyon Hursey (he/him) is a writer and composer based in Los Angeles and New York. He was a staff writer for Netflix’s romantic musical drama, SOUNDTRACK and is currently co-writing LOVE IN AMERICA, a movie musical to be produced by Issa Rae at Universal. He is the recipient of the ASCAP Foundation’s Irving Burgie Scholarship, Bart Howard Songwriting Scholarship, and the Lucille and Jack Yellen award, a 2016 NAMT Writers Grant, a 2016 - 2017 Dramatists Guild Musical Theater Fellow, 2017 Space on Ryder Farm Residency, 2018 Johnny Mercer Songwriters Project residency, 2019 ASCAP Musical Theatre Workshop with Stephen Schwartz, 2019 Rhinebeck Writers Retreat, the 2020 Johnny Mercer Writers Colony at Goodspeed Musicals and the 2020 Stephen Schwartz Award. His musical, EASTBOUND (Book and Lyrics) was selected for the 2020 National Alliance of Musical Theatre Conference and he has works in development at New York Stage and Film and Ars Nova. Khiyon got his start as the music assistant on the off-Broadway and Broadway productions and the Grammy Award Winning Cast Album of HAMILTON. He's been a guest lecturer at Columbia, Yale and Berklee College of Music on Musical Theater. He is a graduate of Berklee College of Music with a degree in Songwriting.
Photo Credit: Korde Arrington Tuttle
Riw Rakkulchon
Directions Log 13.7563° N, 100.5018° E
Read here
Riw Rakkulchon (he/him) Bangkok, Thailand. Selected Credits; Twelfth Night (Yale Repertory Theatre), Cymbeline (The Public Theatre) The Waiting Game (59E59); Free and Proud (Edinburgh Fringe); Antony + Cleopatra (Yale Summer Cabaret); Loose Canon (Fringe Encore NYC 2015); and Far From Canterbury (FringeNYC), as well as collaborations with Kitchen Theatre Company, Opera Ithaca, and Ithaca Shakespeare. He assisted designers such as Riccardo Hernandez, Wilson Chin, Jason Ardizzone-West and Walt Spangler on productions at Center Theatre Group, La Jolla Playhouse, and Berkeley Rep, among others. He holds a BFA from Ithaca College, and MFA from Yale School of Drama. riwrdesign.com, @riwrdesign
All media curtesy of the writer.
Joey Reyes
(Re)Building Blocks
Read here
Joey Reyes (they/them) is a producer, facilitator, and writer. They are the Executive Assistant and Line Producer at Long Wharf Theatre in New Haven, CT, the Associate Producer at The Sol Project, a national theatre initiative dedicated to producing the work of Latinx playwrights in New York City and beyond, and co-host of The Sol Project’s podcast, SolTalk. Joey is an alum of artEquity's National Facilitator Training and their written work has been featured in the Los Angeles-based, monthly zine Young Ignorantes. B.A. in Theatre Arts and Business Administration minor from Azusa Pacific University and Oxford University. IG & Twitter: @mxjoeyreyes.
All media courtesy of the writer.
Upon reading these pieces,
please learn about the below organizations and make a donation:
"Confronted with the lack of resources for low-income immigrant theater artists, this fundraiser was started to give immediate relief to those in need."
"Our mission: Empower undervalued Black and Brown youth to become socially conscious leaders, by teaching them how to communicate authentically and persuasively about social justice issues. We designed a unique, research-informed culturally affirming public speaking program that provides Black and Brown high school students with a safe space to (1) reflect on and share their personal stories, (2) learn about the causes and consequences of oppression, and (3) practice talking about social justice in ways that are true to who they are and persuasive to their intended audiences."
"A Movement Uplifting Black-Owned Bookstores, Literature, and Works of BIPOC Communities."
"TheFrontOffice Foundation supports the live theatrical community in this time of industry shut down. Our support will happen in a multitude of ways over the course of this season, including direct artist relief, commissions and grants."
"A National Prison Abolitionist Organization dedicated to abolishing the criminal punishment system and liberating LGBTQIA2S+ people and people living with HIV/AIDS who are affected by that system through advocacy, support, and organizing."
"A Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Two Spirit, Trans and Gender Non-Conforming People of Color Community Organizing Center, focusing on the New York City Area."
"Protests and defends the humans rights of Black transgender people. We do this by organizing, advocating, creating and intentional community to heal, developing transformative leadership, and promoting our collective power."
This collaboration with 3Views on Theater is generously funded by The Lillys
and donations made by:
Suzanne Agins
Bernie Belkin
Michael J. Bobbitt (on behalf of New Repertory Theater)
Mimi Brodsky Kress
Evelyn Giovine
Cassie Greer (on behalf of Bag 'N' Baggage Theater)
Patricia Lynn (on behalf of Hunger & Thirst Theater)
Donna Nadler
Barbara Nagel
Adam Odsess-Rubin (on behalf of National Queer Theater)