‘Simply dive in’: BLACKstage workers on constructing neighborhood via theater

BLACKstage, a gaggle aiming to supply Black college students a neighborhood to discover theater, was lately revived. The group’s first manufacturing after the revival, “Pipeline,” explored the school-to-prison pipeline and the systemic racism Black college students usually expertise. 

The Stanford Every day sat down with Lee’Shae Lawson ’23, BLACKstage’s Schooling Chair, and Eryn Perkins ’25, the director of “Pipeline” and co-director of the upcoming manufacturing “Cinderella,” to speak about their expertise in theater and BLACkstage’s spring musical.

The Stanford Every day [TSD]: What obtained you interested by BLACKstage? 

Lee’Shae Lawson [LL]:  I needed to have an area that supported Black college students and emphasised our voices and tales within the content material of the present. 

TSD: What’s the significance of getting an area that helps Black college students in theater, and the way entry to this neighborhood has impacted you? 

LL: “Pipeline” was actually impactful to me. We put in a variety of work, however I used to be gratified as soon as I noticed the viewers. The present actually made the influence that I needed to have: to assist Black college students have extra publicity to theater. Pipeline additionally helped bridge the hole between college and college students as a result of we had many college members within the viewers, together with the Affiliate Program Director of African and African American Research. General, having a Black-majority viewers was actually unimaginable and one thing I’d by no means seen earlier than.

TSD: What’s one factor you’re trying ahead to for the manufacturing of “Cinderella”? 

LL: I like musicals. I’m actually excited to get to dive into the music and the theatricality. Our intention with “Pipeline” was extra critical and now we need to observe up with a variety of Black pleasure, an opportunity to simply exhale, letting it’s whimsical and magical. I’m actually excited to convey that to campus, particularly throughout spring the place it’s a really magical time.

TSD: For Black college students that haven’t been capable of interact with theater, what sort of recommendation would you give them?

LL: I might say — particularly with BLACKstage — you possibly can completely simply dive in. We’ve common conferences periodically all through the quarter. You may meet people who find themselves a part of the organizations and ask about our expertise. We’ve assistant roles open, and people are the easiest way to get your ft moist earlier than you tackle an even bigger accountability. You’ll be supported and there’s no expertise crucial. So simply dive in.

TSD: How did you become involved in BLACKstage? 

Eryn Perkins [EP]: I used to be a freshman final 12 months researching all of the theater organizations that have been on campus and I noticed that BLACKstage used to exist however not existed and that made me actually unhappy. Then I obtained an electronic mail from Lee’Shae Lawson that some persons are getting BLACKstage again collectively, and I instantly needed to be a part of this work. It’s actually necessary that we’ve got this on campus.

TSD: How has BLACKstage helped form your expertise at Stanford? 

EP: In highschool, I went to a predominantly white establishment, and that was actually reflective of my theater expertise. It felt isolating. Now that I’m at Stanford, I needed a unique expertise. BLACKstage has helped me meet friends and different creatives that seem like me and which have experiences which are much like me. We’ve comparable experiences navigating the social and educational framework at Stanford, which might oftentimes be inaccessible. BLACKstage has additionally allowed me to attach with tales that I felt I used to be unable to inform in different settings, resembling “Pipeline.” BLACKstage was the proper firm to provide that present. It introduced collectively so many individuals of various backgrounds.

TSD: What sort of neighborhood does BLACKstage convey to Black college students on campus?

EP: Greater than something, it’s a house to be taught. It’s a house for individuals of any expertise stage to return and take part within the arts and theater in ways in which they could not have thought have been doable earlier than. It’s all about discovering your abilities that you simply didn’t know you had and making use of them to efficiency artwork. 

TSD: What’s one factor you’re trying ahead to along with your upcoming “Cinderella” manufacturing?

EP: I’m actually excited to do one thing that’s tremendous enjoyable. Plenty of instances Black narratives within the media are centered across the extra detrimental facets of the Black expertise. “Pipeline,” for instance, is concerning the college to jail pipeline, and that’s one story that wanted to be instructed. I’m glad that, with “Cinderella,” we will merely watch younger Black individuals have enjoyable and fall in love on stage. I’m excited to see how individuals react to it. I hope that it provides individuals nostalgia to the brandy model of the film. 

TSD: What recommendation would you give to somebody who desires to be concerned in theater?

EP: I might say simply strive all the pieces. Become involved. Many of the expertise and data that you simply get from theater just isn’t from lessons. It’s from really doing exhibits. So simply begin asking questions. Don’t be afraid to be unsuitable or to sound foolish as a result of the theater neighborhood actually may be very open and welcoming. Simply dive in all the way in which.