Celebrating Curiosity - featuring Michael J. Bobbitt (he/him)
Featuring theater director, choreographer, playwright and Executive Director of Mass Cultural Council Michael J. Bobbitt | he/him
The subject of structure, from institutions to boards to families, appears throughout this week's sparkling conversation. Will kicks off by asking Michael how his intersectionality across race, artistry, and sexuality informs the organizational reforms and redesigns he now leads as an artist turned executive administrator. Michael explains that he is learning to trust his artistic curiosity when approaching hard questions and inherited systems within art institutions. He continues by outlining how Theatre will need young people with new ideas and a friendly embrace to technology in order to welcome audiences back instead of waiting to go back to normal - or, as he points out, "theater of the late-1900s." In the tarot reading, Michael generously shares his hopes and dreams for his son in this tender conversation with the cards. When it comes to structure, the melodious dialogue between Will and Michael sustains a rejection of rigidity in favor of astute suppleness.
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)