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• 1 media/arizsiastatonheadshot.jpg 2021-03-13T14:47:59-08:00 Arizsia Staton 6 plain 2021-05-09T14:14:51-07:00 What parts of the industry are you involved in?

  I'm involved in the industry as an academic, an acting graduate student, a stage actor, and a director. 

  Are you currently involved in any theatrical or artistic projects?

  Currently I'm directing 2 virtual productions (one in pre-production, and one in post production). One project is with Farmer's Alley, written by Joriah Kwame, and another is association with University of California, Irvine work of HEArt initiative debuting Maternal Negligence by Autumn Martin.

  I'm currently filming a screenplay, Main Characters written by Nick I. Adams, in correlation with UCI CTSA drama department.

  I'm also working on something special, an independent project, I won't spill the beans yet--but I'm excited to share in a couple months ;-). 

  How has the COVID-19 epidemic personally affected your artistic opportunities?

  As a current theatre academic COVID was extremely impactful on my educational and professional journey; but not in the same way for those who are purely relying on artistic opportunities to support themselves. As a graduate student, and therefore an employee of the university, and a professional artist all my endeavours had a hard shift to an online platform, but I was still able to pour myself into artistic growth and remain funded due to being in an educational environment. 

  Doing movement, voice, and acting work I experienced a serious learning curve. Teaching, directing, and experiencing sustainable human connection via a computer screen has been disheartening, and challenging, but ultimately a valuable learning experience. However, like many others, I am ready to surpass that particular lesson.

  What do you think is in store for the industry? Will it be the same post-COVID?

  The industry will move forward, art will move forward--it always does. What we create as artists is often, if not always, in response to what's happening in us, and ultimately a response to how we're moving in the world. Like many life changing events, especially how the industry has changed, one might mourn the loss of a previous version of normalcy. Myself included.

  Theatre is making and will make a full come back, unfortunate that it is slow, but it is sure. For the future I think a lot of pre-production large-scale things will remain in an online form--like large calls and the way people are finding talent and new material. I even anticipate that online productions of virtual shows won't completely phase out either. My hope and anticipation is that as we move into safely being in spaces with one another again in creating and performing, we will still have some of the positive attributes of this era as other options.

  What words of advice or solidarity do you have for other artists in the theatre industry?

  Words of advice...oohh...that's a hard ask.

  Well, I advise all my fellow creatives to KEEP creating. It's so easy to get caught in the cycle of creating for the purpose of consumption. Right now is the perfect time to evaluate what's important for YOU to say...and allow your works to come from that. Whether that needs to be a release of any kind, a sense of calm, a sense of joy--show up, be graceful to yourselves, and look upward. 

  Easy to say that when folks still have bills to pay--but hey, we're all taking this one breath at a time, and every breath is another chance.