Protecting Softness - featuring Jéhan Òsanyin (they/them)
Featuring theater director, actor, playwright, storyteller, and lead facilitator of earthseed Jéhan Òsanyin | they/them
Our evening begins as Will invites Jéhan to illuminate the audience about their company, earthseed, which is committed to decolonizing theater through examining the wilderness as the quintessential scene partner and inspiration. This leads to a fruitful discussion about what theatre artists too often fight to control when preparing to perform and what they unknowingly yield when sitting in community. Will then seizes the opportunity to ask Jéhan about their one-person show, "Yankee Pickney," as Will prepares for their own one-person show, "Gender Play, or what you Will." Besides one-person show development, the two discover a shared mischievous delight in titling their gender defiance - Jéhan enjoys "Gender Vacillator" whereas Will prefers "Gender Traitor." Jéhan speaks openly about the heartbreak and new resolve they have felt in equal parts while creating Art in a capitalistic American society especially in the wake of the pandemic. As the cards of chance flip, we hear a valuable conversation around relishing rest and peace after a lifetime of holding labor in high regard.
In Teacakes and Tarot: Conversations with Queer Futurists, host Will Wilhelm (they/them) welcomes an artistic crush for an intimate chat and a reading. Each episode features a new queer guest discussing art, life in our industry, and their dreams and intentions while the world of performance waits in the wings. Together, they hold space to summon more inclusive, exciting, and queer-friendly ways to create. As the candle burns low, Will offers their guest a unique tarot reading to give them greater insight on a personal journey. It's one part cocktail party and one part slumber party that will leave you stirred but never shaken.
Teacakes & Tarot: Conversations with Queer Futurists is produced by Island Shakespeare Festival as part of the Shakespeare Playground Series. The series presents socially distanced programming that upholds ISF’s mission of accessible Shakespeare that embraces intersectional storytelling and artistic excellence. Find out more at islandshakespearefest.org!
Co-Created by Will Wilhelm (they/them) and Erin Murray (she/her)
Graphic Design by Ray Kathryn Morgen (they/them)
Theme Song: Raro Bueno by Chuzausen, licensed under an Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 International License.
Audio & Mixing: Nigel Saskrotch (they/them)