Into a New Life
The state of the world is… a lot, to say the least. During these times, it’s important to take care of yourself and others, and take a stand for what is important. The global pandemic, combined with the nationwide Black Lives Matter movement, provides the opportunity for lasting change, if we are able to have discussions and learn.
(Steps on soapbox)
Just to make it clear, Black Lives Matter. They mattered then, they matter now, and they always will matter. Racism seeps through the core of everything in our lives, from beauty to work to yes, the theatre industry. Ask any BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) in the industry and they can tell you stories of racism they’ve experienced in class, in the rehearsal room, or on stage. I have my own, too. Theatre companies make audition posts that call for any ethnicity, and when zero/few BIPOC show up, they cast white actors instead of evaluating why none showed up and reaching out to them specifically. Their executive boards are primarily white. Their audiences are mostly white. Theatre companies need to not only denounce racism, but develop and implement steps to dismantle it within their structure. One Instagram post is not enough.
(steps off of soapbox)
How am I doing? I’m fine. I’m trying my best to take care of my mental health, especially since so much of my life depends on a routine that has been upended by the events of the world. I’m back home in Texas with my parents. Some sanity is maintained through Animal Crossing, group chats, and a YouTube Channel that a few friends and I made (we just play games over Zoom. Nothing too exciting). As life slowly picks back up, scheduling gets more complicated.
The things I mentioned in February’s post (Mentalhaus and senior showcase) went digital. Not how I imagined things going, but oh well.
I recently signed with Gray Talent Group! It’s exciting and humbling to be able to join the ranks of some wonderful people, and I can’t wait to see where things go from here.
Until next time, stay safe and be bold.