Penumbra Theatre - Summer Institute 2010

SI Class of 2012

Class of 2012

Track 1A

Sabrina will be a senior in the fall. She has been dancing and singing since an early age. She has been in talent shows, performed for family, and participates in school concerts. She is a proud member of Habitat for Humanity and loves to write poetry. She wants to develop social awareness about genocide and body image; she feels that society tries to manipulate the real truth about those issues. This is Sabrina’s first year at Summer Institute. She has always wanted to make a difference in her community and Summer Institute has allowed her to do that. Sabrina dreams of being like Oprah with a lot of money, but giving back to the world like Ghandi and Mother Teresa.

Mansuda will be a sophomore next year. She has been in all the possible plays and musicals that her school had to offer. She is also involved in choir and dance. Mansuda is involved in her school’s Gay Straight Alliance and Intercultural Club. Living in the Middle East for two years sparked her interest in the issues of global cultures, as well as issues of gender equality. As a bonus she loves old movies and TV shows such as the twilight zone and is always looking to make people laugh. This is her first year at the Summer Institute and she is enjoying it so far.

Aaron will be a junior this year. He has been dancing all his life and began singing at age five. Aaron has performed at several different events and has been in two musicals at his school, Seusical and Fame. Some of his most memorable experiences have been performing at the Target Center, Xcel Center and starring as a lead in the musical Fame. He enjoys writing, producing, and recording his own songs along with participating in track and field at his school. He hopes to create a social change project around bullying, using his art to make people want to make a change in themselves, to make things better for the youth, and come together. This is Aaron’s first year at Summer Institute, he is so thankful to be given the opportunity to let his voice be heard, to be a part of a group that isn’t judgmental and only wants to make the world a better place. Janeka will be a freshman. She has participated in various activities such as track, band, and choir since she was a young child. She has also been involved in many talent shows and performances, including a Christmas musical for the young and old. She is hopeful that she will be able to make or develop a social change project to teach people how powerful their words and actions can be, to make the jokes and racial tension in the world go away. This is Janeka’s first year at Summer Institute and she is proud that she has made it this far at such a young age. She believes this program will help her make a huge difference in the world.

Haley will be a freshman in the fall. She developed a passion for theater, from seeing plays at a young age with her grandpa at the Children’s Theatre. Those plays motivated her to join drama clubs and do community theatre. Haley is a member of her church and school choir. She hopes to develop a social change project about the dangers of bullying. This is her first year at the Summer Institute and she has enjoyed this chance to make new friends.

Abigail will be attending 8th grade this fall. She has been writing stories and poems since kindergarten, including her recent book dealing with issues of diversity. She writes to entertain and to inform. She studies languages as a hobby. This cultural interest spurs her involvement in social justice. She hopes to bring different cultures close together through art and language, and is interested in educating American students about foreign culture and language in a fun way, while helping them to realize the importance of eliminating racial stereotypes from our culture. This is Abby’s first year at Summer Institute and is honored to have the opportunity to use her interests to learn how to teach the world, and expand and strengthen her own understanding.

Awazi will be an 8th grader. She has been involved in many church and school plays, and loves to act. She has been singing in her church choir since 4th grade. She likes to dance and be active, even though she feels she has two left feet. Surprisingly she was able to be part of a hip-hop class in elementary and middle school to gain her rhythm. Awazi participated and actually started a running club in 7th grade. Even though Awazi may seem small she strives to develop social change around her community and the world, she want to lessen racial jokes, gender inequality, and sexual inequality through the arts. This is her first year at Summer Institute she is excited and inspired about what this program has to offer her. She feels like this program can help create social change through the arts and she is very thrilled to be a part of it.

KiJana will be a junior in the fall. She performed in a play called Judgement Day at Living Word Church; she has also appeared in a short film called “April May”. She enjoys volleyball and dancing. She would like to create a social change project about racism and its emotional effects on teenagers, this is important to her because of her experience and what she has seen her peers endure. She would like to bring awareness of the pain to causes to everyone. It is KiJana’s first year at Penumbra Summer Institute. She feels blessed to be here and cannot wait for the years to come.

Ismail is entering his junior year this upcoming fall. He has played soccer since he was two, was captain of his school’s varsity soccer team, and plays for the St. Paul Youth Soccer Club “The St. Paul Blackhawks”. At age ten Ismail Khadar took up the trumpet and played for six years and toured with the Murray Junior High Jazz band. Ismail hopes to travel the world as a musician and anthropologist to expand his view on different people, so he can educate others about the people he has met and break down barriers such as racism and sexism. This is his first year in the Penumbra Summer Institute.

Emily will be a junior this fall. She has been interested in acting and singing for as long as she can remember. She has been involved with school performances, both on and off stage, along with performances at Phipps center for the arts, most recently being Alice in Wonderland. She enjoys making short videos with her brothers and friends. She is rarely found without her guitar in hand or a bad joke about lawyers. Emily was first intrigued by using art for social change when she joined an acting group called S.O.S. for Youth, which specialized in helping kids and teens change their world. She believes words, knowledge, and actions hold an incredible amount of power, she hopes to teach others to use these three tools wisely to bring about a more accepting society. She feels very strongly about equal rights, especially marriage rights. This is Emily’s first year at Summer Institute and she is grateful to have this wonderful opportunity and experience with Penumbra.

Anita will be a junior. She has played basketball since 2nd grade; she is also involved in track and volleyball. She enjoys singing and expressing herself anywhere, at any time. Until Summer Institute she had not been introduced to acting. Her sister Genesis participated in Summer Institute for four years and told her it caused the best changes in her life. Anita wanted to experience that for herself, so she decided to join, and already sees changes for the better. She is interested in eliminating stereotypes and racism in the community around her. This is her first year at Penumbra and definitely will not be her last!

Hunter will be a sophomore this year. He was encouraged by his family, mostly his mother, to participate in the Summer Institute for his passion for theatre and social change. He is also passionate about movies and could be known to impersonate voices from any performance he sees on screen, that’s why his family believes he can be great at acting. His other activities include Ultimate Frisbee and track. This is Hunter’s first year at Summer Institute and he is proud of this company’s passion for the art of social change and of the relationships he’s built. He wishes to make changes in areas such as stereotypes, jokes, and racial bullying, all areas he has experienced.

Rhaveana will be a sophomore. She has been singing and putting on shows since she was five, most recently she was in Night of Improv, The Laramie Project, and Aladdin. She has been taking voice classes for most of her life. Rhaveana hopes that her singing and acting will spark emotion to change the world. It is her first year at Penumbra and she loves it.

Jamier will be a sophomore. She is involved in many activities, including basketball, track, volleyball, and karate. She is also in the marching band and she plays many instruments. She volunteers at local food shelters in the Twin Cities. She has not had any acting lessons, but is told she is a drama queen. She is very interested in studying stereotypes, discrimination, sex trafficking, and much more. She wants to become an actress while creating project about social justice issues. This is her first year at the Summer Institute and so far it has been a blessing for her to be in this program. She is very excited to see what is to come in the future.

Track 1B

Makkah is going into the 8th grade. She has been dancing tap, jazz, and ballet since her diva-in-diapers years. She was a member of her middle school choir and theatre troupe. She also dances for church. She is hoping to develop a social change project around the media and the dumb stuff they teach kids, especially about bullying. Here at Summer Institute she feels like she can be herself around these wonderful, heartfelt, and selfless people. She is really grateful for Summer Institute and the tools they gave her and she can’t wait to be a second year next summer.

Adenike is an upcoming junior. A couple years ago she played a role in the musical, A Christmas Carol, performed at Stages Theatre Company. Unfortunately she did not continue acting but now hopes to bring her passion of theatre back into her life. Adenike wants to be an advocate and promoter of social change by educating herself about social justice issues in order to better herself as well as the community she lives in. She hopes that one day she will be able to change the minds of those who either do not know or choose to ignore the problems of the world today. This is Adenike’s first year at the Summer Institute and she is absolutely inspired by the creativity and passion that all students give off in the program.

Grace will be a freshman. She has taken acting lessons since she was eight. Since then she has been in several performances including Into the Woods, Guys and Dolls, and many others. She hopes to one day create a social change project about bullying at schools and community centers. She wants to educate people on social change and is interested in eliminating stereotypes. This is Grace’s first year at the Summer Institute and she is happy to be participating in the program.

Denasia will be an 8th grader. She has only participated in theater for one year when she performed in Sadaku and the Thousand Paper Cranes with the Children’s Theatre program. She has also participated in her school band for six years playing the saxophone and flute. She has been a part of her school and nearby recreation center, playing volleyball, softball and basketball. Social justice to her means trying to make a difference or find hope, no matter what the size, to make things right, real, truthful and to make a change for the better. When she heard and was introduced to Penumbra Summer Institute from her Girls-In-Action program through her school she was inspired. Now she can’t wait until the final performance to see what Summer Institute will do to make a difference in the way people think, this is her first year.

Toria is an upcoming junior. She has been involved in church plays ever since she could talk and has been playing the piano for eight years and the saxophone for four years. She was featured at the Guthrie Theatre for her skill with the piano. She plays basketball and is on varsity track. She also enjoys writing. In the future Toria would like to create a program for the LGBTQ youth community which would provide a safe place for free expression. This is Toria’s first year at the Summer Institute and it has been a life changing experience!

Kennadi is a rising star. She is a natural performer. Through her singing, acting, and dancing she touches people with her confidence and pure talent. Seriously, she can “SANG”! She has done multiple plays for her church and school and has also worked professionally with Penumbra. Kennadi is passionate about everything she does so when she learned about Summer Institute she was so excited to know that she could change social injustices like racism and sexual assault with her art. In this first year of Summer Institute she has grown even more through her talents and has learned to view the world in a new way.

Ashe will be a freshman in college in the fall with a major in English and Theatre Arts. She has been involved in Improv Club at her high school since freshman year. Since then she has participated in a few productions at her high school. During her junior and senior year she was an active member in her school’s speech team. One of her favorite experiences in theatre was participating in Park Square Theatre’s Ambassador Program. She also enjoys writing, music, and singing in her church’s gospel choir. She is hoping to grow and learn more about social justice so that she can advocate and educate people about stereotypes and problems with society. Ashe is a first year at Penumbra’s Summer Institute and is enjoying the experience very much. She has been enlightened in social justice as well as theatre and she hopes to return as an intern next summer.

Gebriel is a first year student at Penumbra and will be going to 8th grade this upcoming school year. When he was younger he participated in Stepping Stone Theater for two years. He is talented in music as well, as a main instrument he plays bass guitar with ease since 4th grade. Before starting bass he took piano for a year and took six weeks of percussion. He also loves to draw and when he draws he can copy any cartoon onto paper by sight. Social justice to Gebriel is mainly about eliminating bullying in and out of schools. Gebriel believes music is a good way to promote social justice in communities because most people like music and are more likely to respond to it.

Macailah will be sophomore this fall. She has been seen in several theatre performance and films in the Twin Cities. She creates her own films for schools, celebrations, and other festivities to inspire others with her quirky outlook on life. Macailah enjoys apple crisp, bacon, and snuggling with her dog, Jane. She is hoping to create a powerful and engaging piece to speak to an audience of all ages about social justice issues that need a voice, such as equal rights, racism, and bullying. This is her first year at Penumbra Summer Institute and she anticipates more upcoming projects to create and be a part of.

Esrea is an up-and-coming senior. Born as a creative and outspoken soul. Esrea enjoys acting in the Blackbox Theater program at her school, writing, singing in the shower, and dancing her heart out. Esrea is passionate about being a voice of her generation, vocalizing experiences surrounding beauty, body image, and lineage through social justice as an art. This is her first year at Penumbra and she is excited to work amongst other creatively driven individuals and teachers.

Paige will be a junior this fall. She was involved with the IHM St. Lukes community theater company for seven years, and went on to work with Stepping Stone and SOS for youth. She is an avid feminist, and she likes to make that fact well known. She is also deeply passionate about transgender equality and body acceptance, and hopes to create a social change project around those things. This is Paige’s first year at Summer Institute and she is extremely thankful for the experience. She plans to complete the three year program.

Nicolai is excited to be entering his junior year this fall. He recently performed in Analyzing the Bully at Blank Slate, Pirates of Penzance at SPCPA and Annie at Children’s Theatre Co. He has also performed at theaters such as Stepping Stone Theater and Circus Juventas. He adores the idea of using something as powerful as art to the change the world around him. He plans to begin volunteering with the Emily Program and Outfront MN this November. This is his first year at Penumbra and he plans to return next summer. He hopes to change the way teens see themselves and to show people they are perfect the way they are. He also wishes to do whatever he can to assist with the “Vote No” project for amendment vote this November.

Alexsis will be entering her freshman year of high school this August. Among her ever growing list of extracurricular experiences are basketball, clarinet, track & field, gymnastics, poetry, cheerleading, karate, and boxing. She would like to spread her message of human equality, self-acceptance, and suicide prevention through her art, if she could sit still long enough to create any. She is happy to be back in her birthplace of St. Paul and to be participating in her first year of Penumbra’s Summer Institute. She plans to complete the three year program.

Emily is going into her sophomore year. She has been involved in a total of six productions in her high school and three operas through her vocal teacher. They include her roles at Sgt. Sarah Brown in Guys and Dolls and Rapunzel in Into the Woods Jr. Recently she was the vocal coach for the middle school production of Annie Jr. She has been taking private classical vocal lessons for about four years and is extremely interested in pursuing a career as an opera singer. She is involved in the Gay Straight Alliance at her school and is passionate about equal rights for the GLBTQ community. This is Emily’s first year at the Penumbra Summer Institute and she cannot wait to bring what she has learned back to her school and use her artistic abilities to make a difference in the world around her.

Jazmin will be a junior this fall. She has been involved in theater since she was twelve years old and loves singing. She has been in several performances at her school. She also participates in talent shows and was a host for a television show called “Our Turn”. She is hoping to make a change in her community with the help of more students. She believes that theater can change the way people see things. This is Jazmin’s first year at Summer Institute and she is really happy because this program has given her a lot of tools that will help her for the rest of her life.

Bianca is a college bound sophomore. Growing up, she was expressive, outgoing, and loved watching movies/plays which triggered her interest for theater. She has been on dance teams and choirs, but her passion is acting. She has done two school performances, Blalock Jones and the musical Aladdin Jr. along with one church performance, The Christmas Cup. Aside from performing, Bianca is extremely active and athletic. She loves to exercise, participating in basketball and track & field. Due to her own experience as an African-American she is striving to create social change on topics like racism. She also wants to fuel appreciation for the arts so others will understand why she loves it so much. She is thrilled to be attending Penumbra Theater’s Summer Institute Program for the first time this year and hopes that it will help her create social change through her passion for theater.

Second Year

Alexandra is a rising junior. Her primary form of art is acting. She has participated in theatre throughout her life, including playing Rosalind in Shakespeare’s As You Like It, the Wizard of Oz, and two Penumbra Summer Institute final performances for which she has written and performed in. She has also played classical violin for thirteen years, and has basic experience in choral vocals and African-based movement. Outside of school, she travels nationally in varsity policy debate. She is politically active, having lobbied at the capital in DC for Queer rights legislation. In terms of social justice, as a Black American woman herself, she is particularly interested in issues of Black Feminism. She also is interested in the inequities in the criminal justice system, mental health, genocide prevention and queer activism. This is her third year with the Penumbra Summer Institute and she is the grateful recipient of the Kathryn Coram Gagnon fellowship. She plans to continue social justice work both through art as a young person and in her future professional life.

Delly is a rising freshman in Georgia this fall. She was previously a resident of Minnesota. Delly has taken part in a variety of theater camps and has participated in a short play competition in Georgia the past year. Delly has also taken two years of singing lessons and has taken interest in songwriting this year. She is interested in helping people with strong emotional pain deal with it positively and turn away from self-harm, specifically cutting. She is passionate about healthy non-processed food education and has enjoyed cooking since the age of two. This is her second year as a student at Summer Institute and she is thankful to be back.

Chris is a attending university in the fall, where he participated in his school’s symphonic band and concert choir during his senior year. Chris is a member of Harbor Theater Group and also performed in Steppingstone Theater’s The Disappearance of Daniel Hand. He will be attending University in the fall to pursue his BFA in musical theatre. He hopes to use his social change project to work to end the belief that one can “act” a certain race based on stereotypes. This is his second year at Summer Institute. Chris greatly enjoys the opportunity to reconnect with other returning students as well as meet new members of the Summer Institute family. Chris believes a simple smile can literally make the world a brighter place.

James will be a freshman in college. He would like to study kinesiology and minor in theater. Prior to graduating from Armstrong High School, James participated in many musicals such as: Dream Girls, School House Rock, and his church musical No Change. James is interested in the misconception that because of a person’s race, class, or gender, assumptions are made about their level of education. This is James’ second year in the Summer Institute and he is very grateful to work with all the talented students involved in the program.

Mariana will be attending her first year of college in the fall, with a major in youth studies and human social sciences. Having just graduated from St. Paul Central High School, she enjoyed participating in her school’s touring theater. Mariana considers herself to be a singer, an actress, and a writer who dabbles in dance and other mediums of artistic expression like film. This is Mariana’s third year in Penumbra Summer Institute. The close-knit community and openness of the atmosphere of Summer Institute is what keeps her coming back. As well as the opportunities she has been provided through the program in terms of meeting new people and developing her passions. She plans on returning to Summer Institute next summer to take advantage of an internship in order to help derive a seamless transition for prisoners into mainstream society.

BriAnna will be entering her senior year in high school where she has acted in several plays and will direct Arsenic and Old Lace this December. This fall she will begin working with Park Square Theatre as a theatre ambassador and studying African American history at MCTC. When she isn’t acting and directing she is busy being a clean, mean, ceramic-sculpting-machine. BriAnna hopes to develop a social change project to analyze the misconceptions about class and identity. This is her second year at Summer Institute as a returning student she is proud, passionate, and excited to have worked and continue working with the Summer Institute.

Adera will be entering her sophomore year of high school. She first began taking dance lessons at the tender age of four, which sparked her interest in the arts. Following the constant dance classes and performances, Adera began acting and vocal lessons. She is an active member of her church choir as well as the top saxophone chair in her school band. Participating in sports such as volleyball, softball, and lacrosse, Adera likes to stay active as well. This well-rounded young lady is hoping to gain knowledge about current local issues as well as inform her general community about how to redefine beauty as a whole. This was Adera’s second year at Penumbra Institute and she hopes to continue on her journey of self-discovery and advocating for change. Anne will be a senior in the coming school year. She has been performing in theatre since she was very young. Anne is the captain of her competition cheerleading team and writes for the school newspaper. She is very involved in the diversity team and S.A.D.D(Students Against Destructive Decisions). She is dedicated to the arts and will be participating in an advanced art program for photography. Anne is passionate about the effects of bullying and is working to create anti-bullying programs in local elementary and junior high schools. This is Anne’s second year in Summer Institute and she is grateful for the opportunity to develop her skills and promote social change in her community through art.

Micah was born and raised in Saint Paul, MN. She is entering her junior year of high school in the fall. Micah has been performing since toddler years, beginning in ballet, tap, and jazz dance, progressing into music, playing the cello, and now fully invested in acting. This performance closes her second year in Penumbra. Outside of the arts, Micah enjoys track & field, volleyball, and being involved in her community. Micah is undecided on her social justice issue; having to decide between an issue based on self-worth or an issue focusing on helping others cope with loss and making a positive out of a negative. This is Micah’s second year in Summer Institute and she would like to express her deepest gratitude for all that was taught to her in the program and also would like to extend a special thank you to all the instructors that put up with her big mouth.

Interns

Roderick was born and raised in Washington D.C. and will be a senior at Johnson C. Smith University pursuing a BA in the Visual Performance Arts with an emphasis in theatre. Roderick has demonstrated his passion for the arts ever since adolescence, singing gospel in the church choir. From there he had a desire to gain as much exposure as possible to become a better artist. He has performed in numerous musicals at Evangel Cathedral in Hyattsville, MD, held lead roles in plays such as Vickie Evan’s A Change is Gonna Come and Gus Edwards Lifetime on Streets, and has used his social skills to assist students in preparing for college as a mentor in the DC Achiever’s program. Roderick is currently an honor student, a Bass in the JCSU choir, and works as a lighting board operational director at Carolina Actors Studio Theatre. Roderick feels that his objective as an artist is to use art to enlighten and reveal truth to the lives that have been dramatically altered by societal norms. It is so inspiring to do that by working with the Summer Institute students and Penumbra Theatre Company.

Natalie has grown up in the Twin Cities and graduated from the University of Minnesota in Spring 2012. She studied gender, women, and sexuality studies with minors in African-American and African studies, comparative U.S. race and ethnicity, and global studies. After interning with Children’s Theatre Company this spring, she realized how powerful a tool theater can be to open people’s minds. Natalie was campus outreach coordinator for the “Whose University?” campaign at the University of Minnesota during Spring 2011. Along with other students, workers, educators, and community members, she organized a “Day of Education” to raise critical dialogue regarding the importance of ethnic studies, cultural centers, and holistic admission standards on campus. This experience, along with a three week seminar in Cape Town, South Africa, solidified her dedication to educational justice. Natalie plans to become a teacher within the next few years. She is overjoyed and humbled for the opportunity to be part of Summer Institute, as she loves working with young people and fostering their passion and intellect. Will is a senior at Macalester College, double majoring in Theatre (Directing) and English. He has been, acting, dancing, and singing from the moment he could walk and talk. Most recently, he has appeared on the Macalester stage in Cabaret and Twelve Ophelias, as well as starring in the American premiere of The Inland Sea. Will is passionate about family rights and strives to use the arts as a medium to fight for equal rights for all people, by creating more representatives of LGBTQ and multiracial people to eliminate stereotypes. He is thrilled at the opportunity to intern at Penumbra’s Summer Institute, which has served as a humbling and educational experience and a place where he has continued to explore the complexities of arts, representation, and pedagogy. Will intends to pursue a Ph.D. in performance studies in the near future.

Phillip is from Brooklyn, NY and he is a graduate from Johnson C. Smith University class of 2012. In regards to theater, he was a diamond in the rough. During his junior year of high school he started his journey as an actor and entertainer. He took his talents big time by joining a teen stage acting program called Keen Teen. There he performed in two plays in off-Broadway Theatres including Theatre Row. In college Phil played four years of football, was Vice President of Drama club, and performed numerous plays with O.C. productions and Spiritual Life organization. He believes he can make a difference in social justice issues with his talents on and off the stage. He wishes to eliminate bullying as well as stereotypes about athletes being just “jocks” with no brains. This is his first year interning at the Summer Institute and he is blessed with the opportunity to reach out to young actors and lead them in the right direction in life as well as in production.

Salima is a junior at Macalester College working to complete a major in Theatre. She has been involved in Theatre since her freshman year of high school and most recently participated in Macalester College’s production of The Laramie Project as a stage manager. She has recently discovered her passion for using theatre and performance to unleash the voices and stories of the silenced. She is extremely blessed and honored to have been chosen as an intern for Penumbra Theatre’s Summer Institute.

Kristyn is entering into her senior year at Johnson C. Smith University in North Carolina. In pursuing her bachelors in visual and performing arts, Kristyn developed a passion for creating and influencing artistic outlets for misguided youth. Kristyn has been a part of countless productions in Charlotte, NC on stage and behind the scenes. One of her most memorable experiences was stage managing and co-directing the production The Pot, a play produced to create awareness about immigration and interracial relationships. Kristyn is also a singer, a member of Drama club, a spoken word artist with the Black Ink Monk poetry organization, president of Sigma Tau Delta English Honor society, and founder and President of Polaris Ent. She is also a member and actress of Famay productions where she hails as Improv queen. Kristyn feels blessed and humbled being a first year intern at the Penumbra Summer Institute. Her secret agenda is to receive lifetime employment or involvement with Penumbra Theatre.

Jeff is co-founder and co-Artistic Director of Atomic Age Theater Company in Boston, MA. In his position he has produced four plays, two readings, a poetry slam, and a movement jam. He will be acting in Emerson College’s upcoming production of The Grapes of Wrath in October. He is thrilled to be back in Minnesota, and even more thrilled to be working with Penumbra, where he is excited by the potential for community engagement through theater. He will graduate with a BA in theater and a minor in Post-Colonial Studies in the Spring of 2013.

Brittnee is a graduate from Johnson C. Smith University, majoring in Psychology. She became involved in theatre her junior year in the performing arts program at her school, as well as became a member of the drama club, where she was stage manager for Desiree’s Baby. She has also participated in a few plays that dealt with the awareness of domestic violence and is currently an intern at Penumbra Theatre. In the fall, she will be attending the University of Connecticut obtaining a Masters in social work, which will allow her to provide therapy for children experiencing trauma, domestic violence, and other mental health issues.

Madeleine is a rising sophomore at Davidson College. A New Yorker through and through she attended the Ethical Culture Fieldson School, which instilled in her a deep desire to challenge injustices and question social norms. She has a passion for all art and spent her afterschool hours singing, acting, playing in bands, writing, dancing, and wandering around the Met museum. Most recently she performed in The Little Foxes and Sleeping Beauty as well as writing and acting in a one-woman play about the Gulf Coast oil spill. She is thrilled to be working and learning with the Penumbra Summer Institute, which has shaped her ambition to create ethical art and media for young children.

Rodney is a rising senior at Davidson College, majoring in Theatre. A native of Delaware, Rodney has been enamored with the arts since elementary school, having acted, stage managed, and designed in various productions throughout high school and college. From songwriting to spoken word poetry, he has found his voice in creative writing, aiming to pursue a career in both screenwriting and playwriting. Through his work, he will tackle cultural issues such as religion, sexuality, and the images of masculinity versus femininity. Rodney is most grateful for his internship with the Penumbra Theatre Company, allowing for the exploration of his endeavors in the arts and social change.

Brigid is a senior at Macalester College, double-majoring in Theatre and Media and Cultural studies. She hails from Long Beach, CA where she began to study acting at the Young Actor’s studio. She has worked as a stage manager, assistant director and producer for the Blank Theatre Company’s Young Playwrights Festival, which sparked her interest in doing theatre with young people. She is passionate about working with youth about body issues and bullying as well as using her art to change perception and stigma surrounding illness, both mental and physical. She spent last semester in Johannesburg, South Africa studying performance and critical pedagogy and working with high school students at Hillbrow Theatre. Though she is experiencing a bit of culture and sticker shock, she is happy to be back in the United State and thrilled to be interning at Penumbra’s Summer Institute.

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Class of 2012