Lessons in Homemaking: Devising Theatre with Women and Men in Transitional Housing
Chelsea Hanawalt, Nicole Kontolefa, and Esther Triggs-Camacho
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CHELSEA HANAWALT recently received her Masters from The City University of New York’s Applied Theatre Program (MAAT). Through the program she has learned to combine her love of theatre, social justice work, and community building. Chelsea is a co-founder of The Journey Theatre Project (JTP) in New York, started with fellow MAAT alumni. JTP works within non-profits, corporate entities, educational, religious and community environments, to create space for all voices to be heard, challenge traditional thinking of theatre, and disrupt unconscious bias, through use of theatre, dialogue, activities, scenarios and data.
Chelsea is originally from the central coast of California where she grew up doing theatre and attended the Pacific Conservatory of the performing Arts (PCPA). At PCPA Chelsea started her love for combining theatre and community activism by acting and producing in Eve Ensler’s the Vagina Monologues. Chelsea and fellow classmates raised money for the local women’s shelter through their performances. Chelsea received her undergrad in acting at Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle, WA. In Seattle Chelsea helped start boom! an original works theatre company. In 2012 Chelsea produced her first original show, ROAR, in boom!’s New Works Festival and travelled with it to the Santa Cruz, CA Fringe Festival. That same year boom! produced a show in the New York Fringe Festival, which then led Chelsea to relocate to New York City where she lives and works today. NICOLE KONTOLEFA is a theatre artist and teacher. A graduate of the Moscow Art Theatre School, she co-founded Studio Six, a company whose mission it was to build bridges between Russia and the USA. In 2019 she graduated from the CUNY Master's In Applied Theatre program. Working in institutions of all kinds, from universities to jails, her community engaged work aims to explore theatre as a form of expression, revolution and self-care. ESTHER TRIGGS-CAMACHO, Co-Founder of The Journey Theatre Project, began her career in the arts as an actor. She attended Western Michigan University for her undergrad receiving a B.F.A in Music Theatre Performance. Esther graduated from CUNY for Professional Studies where she received her MA in Applied Theatre. She has facilitated with Creative Arts Team, Jenison High School, School of Special Needs, ** Brooklyn Latin, Brooklyn Lyons, CUNY for SPS Racial Justice Conferences, and Pop Ups. Esther has directed Basic Bitch of the Resistance, Party in the USA, Our Town, Hair, The Room. Ms. Laura Mae of Harlem, Two Ladies, Till the Day I Die (abridged), and Birdhouse. She is currently in the process of receiving her certification in Diversity and Inclusion from Cornell. Esther is passionate about using theatre to inspire conversation and transformation. |
Abstract
This extended abstract explores the way applied theatre and performance might be used in transitional housing settings to foster a sense of home. It includes discussions on what it means to feel at home and how power and agency affect one’s experience of their living situation. The project described was completed in fulfillment of their graduate studies. Names and locations have been changed or excluded to protect the anonymity of the organization and participants.
This extended abstract explores the way applied theatre and performance might be used in transitional housing settings to foster a sense of home. It includes discussions on what it means to feel at home and how power and agency affect one’s experience of their living situation. The project described was completed in fulfillment of their graduate studies. Names and locations have been changed or excluded to protect the anonymity of the organization and participants.
| etudesdec2019hanawaltetal.pdf |
