theater
As social and civic practice theater artist, I write and directs plays that engage audiences as participants in performance experiences rather than recipients. Grounded in Augusto Boal's Theater of the Oppressed practices and "rehearsal for the revolution," I create theater to shape new and less broken worlds. My plays have a primary focus on sexual violence prevention and abortion access and have been used to push legislation, transform dominant cultural ideas, and heal communities.
DON’T GO- Co-wrote and Co-directed
DON’T GO is a three act journey of shared tasks, intimate exchanges, difficult conversations, a staged eruption of an epic story and a final coming together. Blurring the borders between theatre and civic participation, Don’t Go hosts, at each performance, four new community members as the Stranger Chorus. They are curated across difference (from ideology to identity, from generation to affinities). In a time when conflict has been weaponized to divide political parties, families, neighbors, and friends, DON’T GO joyfully sparks authentic dialogue through shared tasks: learning to dance together; traveling to imaginary worlds; being curious about each other’s opinions on religion, politics, music, sports; sharing their disparate identities and backgrounds- all in front of an audience.
A body, home- Wrote and Co-Directed
A body, home is multimedia intergenerational performance piece that unapologetically celebrates the resilience and brilliance of sexual assault survivors. It's performed in the back of a moving truck, seating audiences in the question of what it takes to move from past traumas, the world that we are moving towards, and all that needs to get packed and unpacked in the process. A body, home tours to college campuses, domestic violence shelters, sexual violence prevention community spaces and beyond.
This Boat Called My Body- Conceived, co-wrote and co-directed
A devised spectacle that collides together over a dozen abortion stories from youth in Illinois. Performed on the water at Palmisano Park's quarry, This Boat Called My Body seats audiences in the metaphor for the islands that young people travel to in order to get unfettered access to abortion. Produced by the FYI Performance Company at the Illinois Caucus for Adolescent Health in May 2018.
"Proves that art for change and art for joy are not mutually exclusive, that joy and love inspire change” -New City Stage
As I Am- Directed, and co-wrote
A devised performance with music that collides together over 100 interviews from queer Christian college students across the country. As I Am investigates how these students navigate their love for God with their love for the same sex.
“The characters’ struggles are near identical to ones I’ve had before. I found that rhythmically working through how each character grows throughout the play brought redemption and reconciliation to past hurt.” -The Bell
Visit the project website here.
Redmoon's Youth Spectacle: The Commitment Project- Co-Conceived and Co-Directed
Imagined, designed, built, and performed by over 750 youth, different venues spanning the city of Chicago have become transformed with shadow animation, sound installation, visual art and performance, creating a surreal world of interactivity and discovery. The Commitment Project was an exploration of the countless instances of human to human commitment. Students from all over Chicago made spectacular art celebrating the commitments, big and small, that make up their lives. Performed at Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum and Homan Square Community Center- Spring 2012.
With Each Other- Devised and Directed
With Each Other is an original performance devised by ASU students and faculty exploring sexual violence prevention on campus and at large. The 35-minute play imagines a graduation ceremony that celebrates the contributions of ASU students towards creating a culture of healthy sexuality and consent on campus. It asks, how do we foster healthy relationships and an environment that does not tolerate sexual assault with each other, in our intimate relationships and wider community?
Student Body- Devised and Directed
Student Body is a devised play and class about sexual violence created by Northwestern students. Performed during Northwestern's Freshman Orientation Program for 2500 freshmen each year, continuing into future orientation programs- Northwestern University.
Tell Me What You Remember- Directed
A documentary-style piece that follows one family's true story of dealing with depression, told in the real words spoken by the family members. Premiered in December 2014 and remounted in November 2015 for Erasing the Distance.
"Director Nik Zaleski doesn’t bind the characters linearly and allows free interaction across generations, even if not directly speaking to each other. With only five cast members, Zaleski creates a full stage with heavy use of motion and overlapping dialogue that helps to create a bigger space and more dynamism that is going on." -Chicago Stage Standard
For Youth Inquiry Plays - Conceived, Written and Directed
Project US and Can I Hit It? are two participatory plays that engage audiences in dialogue about sexual health and sexual violence. Touring to Chicago Public Schools, conferences and programs through FYI at the Illinois Caucus for Adolescent Health- Fall 2010- present.
Forecast- Devised and Directed
An original performance that explores the intersections between racial and reproductive justice. A young woman discovers she is pregnant, slips into sleep that night and enters a dream world filled with racialized myths, prophecies and monsters that confront her with the decision of whether or not to parent in a broken world. Performed for Chicago Home Theater Festival at the Museum of Contemporary Art in May 2015 and touring presently.