In the heart of our artist incubator, Portrait of an Artist in a Safe Space, we invite you to join us each week on an exploration like no other. Together, we will shine a spotlight on a single artist, offering you a glimpse into their inner world. Get ready to be inspired as we reveal a curated selection of images from their archives, along with a backstage peek at their current projects.ðŸŽ
To kick off the series, we thought it'd be super cool to get to know our amazing artists a little better. So, we asked them to peak into their archives and some of their favorite promo images from over the years. 🤩 But that's not all! We also dug into their personal treasure trove of memories and perspectives.
Image Details: First off, where and when did these images come to life, and who's the creative genius behind them? We're all ears!
Image Context: Why did these artists pick these particular images? What's the story behind these visuals? Tell us all about it!
Personal Touch: And finally, what kind of memories or emotions do these images evoke for our talented artists today? We're dying to know the backstory, the inspiration, the whole shebang.
Let's jump right in! 💫
Susan Ferrara
Susan is an Actor, Writer, and Producer based in New York City.
The light and dark of this promotional image best capture the tone of the story. The photo was taken during the run of BUZZ, staged in the scene shop of the theatre in 2019 just before the pandemic.
Photo: JD Urban
Actors: Zuhdi Boueri (Hamlet), Elizabeth Davis (Buzz)
Space: Scene Shop at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, 2019
Joining the audience from outside the space, lunchboxes in hand, two Gravediggers stepped atop the cherry picker and motorized themselves in the air thirty feet. They were both vulnerable, heartbreaking, funny and - as they dug - lowered themselves, scene by scene, to the ground. They carried us through the story, page by page. The "dirt" was typed pages of the script itself that floated to the floor as they dug.
Photo: JD Urban
Actors: Sam McMurray (Sidney), Zack Calhoon (Leonard)
Space: Scene Shop at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, 2019
As far back as I can remember, New York was the place I wanted to be. Squigs’ drawings are quintessential New York. Capturing moments and stories on stage. This gift is a reminder that, no matter how I may feel on a given day, I am part of a theatrical landscape that includes many of my favorite creators.
Artist: Justin Squigs Robertson, 2018
Screen Grab of the ever brilliant Julie Ann Emery as Billie in my play THE SILVER KITCHEN as part of Actors Theatre of Louisville's Artist Residency (Virtual) capturing the collaboration among artists in LA, NY and Louisville, KY.
Actor: Julie Ann Emery
Director: Carrie Preston
2021 Screengrab
A light shines on Buzz as the darkness swallows her. This photo perfectly articulates the trajectory of her story.
Photo: JD Urban
Actor: Elizabeth Davis as Buzz in BUZZ, Alabama Shakespeare Festival 2019.
The cover page for the play’s LookBook. Photo taken in the scene shop of the theatre, where the play was staged.
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Check out 14 artists and their collaborators inside CTC's Contemporary Performance Gallery! We are currently featuring short works by artists from across the U.S. and Mexico.
