Queer VOICES Theater Project
“A Green Bird On Orange Trees” | Fall 2022
Cast & Crew of the Queer VOICES Theater Project | Photography by Susannah McLeod
VOICES and TACAW were so proud to present three successful performances of The Queer VOICES Theater Project! This original work of theater was created by nine local queer artists. Using movement, live music, spoken word, and the power of myth and imagination, this ensemble weaves together personal stories of queerness and the complexities of knowing, loving, and being oneself in a world of external pressures and expectations.
Participating Artists included
ENSEMBLE MEMBERS included Bryan Alvarez-Terrazas, Dani Rivera, Hattie Rensberry, Quentin Farris, Travis Wilson, Micha Schoepe, Kat Taylor, Jeanette Adams, and Art Williams. DESIGN ELEMENTS by Gabriela Mejia. STAGE MANAGEMENT by Betsy Zaubler. ARTISTIC DIRECTION by Cassidy Willey and Art Williams.
Watch Excerpts Of A Green Bird On Orange Trees!
Original video content was captured by our partner TACAW and compiled and edited by Jem Moore.
The Cast & Crew
DIRECTOR & ENSEMBLE | ART WILLIAMS (he/they) is an interdisciplinary artist (music/sound, theatre, writing) and teaching artist. Art has spent much of their short time on spaceship earth exploring the relationship of work and play and has come to the conclusion that both are - or should be - one and the same. At the center of Art’s work in diverse mediums lies “story” - story in history, ancestry and land, story in body-mind and trauma, story in limiting and empowering beliefs, story in societal norms and stigma, and story in collective imagination. Art has a background in classical piano, singing, and composition as well as classical acting study from Grand Canyon University and is currently pursuing a certificate in dance-based intermodal expressive art therapy through the Tamalpa Institute and finding new tools to play with. Art hopes that our stories shared in community will foster language to learn to love ourselves and understand one another more fully.
ENSEMBLE | HATTIE RENSBERRY (she/her) is thrilled to be performing in VOICES’ queer production. Her time not spent in the theater is as a photographer, graphic designer; and with her many, many animals. Some of her previous performances include: Margaret Leavitt in Silent Sky, Suzanne/The Countess in Picasso at the Lapin Agile. She would like to thank everyone in attendance for their support of VOICES and the queer community, and for their love of the arts. Especially her family and fiancé in their unflinching support for her endeavors.
ENSEMBLE | DANI RIVERA (she/her) is so excited to be performing in VOICES’ Queer Theater Project. As a RFV local she has been working with VOICES' since 2018, originally joining the Youth VOICES Theater Project in the cast of “Loving Monsters.” She extends gratitude to the founders Renee and Barbara for creating such incredible stories. Some of her previous performances include: Youth Voices productions, the Aspen Ideas Festival and many poetry slam communities in the RFV. She would like to thank everyone in attendance for their support of VOICES and the queer community and extends love and gratitude for all of the queer people who will hear a part of their own stories on stage.
ENSEMBLE | JEANETTE ADAMS (she/her) is a multi-instrumental musician from the upper peninsula of Michigan originally, and is now a proud resident of Carbondale. She’s a graduate of the Lawrence University and Conservatory where she completed her Bachelor of Music degree in Double Bass Performance. She has a wide breadth of musical experience in classical, contemporary, jazz, and folk styles. Currently, she performs regularly with the classical chamber orchestra, High Country Sinfonia, and the bluegrass folk band, The Red Hill Rollers. In addition to performing, Jeanette is a passionate educator, cultivating a private studio of students and recently served as an ArtistYear Fellow, an Americorps program that pairs teaching-artists with low-income schools. Jeanette is excited and honored to be performing in this production of Queer Voices!
DIRECTOR | CASSIDY WILLEY (she/her) is an actor, director, educator, writer, and mother. She is a Roaring Fork Valley native and has been a theater artist all of her life. Cassidy is a founding member of Consensual Improv, and has performed locally with Thunder River Theatre Company (TRTC), Sopris Theatre Company, Defiance Community Players, and more. Cassidy was an ensemble member in the 2019 Women’s Voices Project. Her original play, “As Close As I Can”, premiered at TRTC in 2021. Cassidy has taught theater and improv for several years and is currently a Program Developer and the Lead Teaching Artist for VOICES. This is her third time directing an original theater project with VOICES.
ENSEMBLE | TRAVIS WILSON (he/him) is honored to be performing with VOICES for a project that will bring awareness and understanding to our LGBTQ+ community. A graduate of CMC’s Theatre and Sustainability programs, Travis has performed in various shows across the valley including Sopris Theatre Company having previously performed in shows such as (Picasso at the Lapin Agile (Sagot), One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (Billy Bibbit), Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are Dead (Alfred), and Rogue's Gallery (The Clerical Line). Travis has also performed with other theatre companies in the valley including Thunder River Theatre Company's Bluenose (Spatt) as well as Defiance Theatre Company's You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown (Charlie Brown) and All Together Now (Magical Performer). Aside from his theatre work, you have probably seen Travis at one of his various jobs, working with one of the several council boards he serves on, or teaching kids the joys of performing arts. Travis is beyond grateful for all the support from his loving family and friends, to see you all here, and once again being able to enjoy the beauty of live theatre.
ENSEMBLE | QUENTIN FARRIS (He/Him) & (He/They) is a fifth generation local from the Crystal River Valley. He has been working with Voices since 2018, originally joining the Youth Voices project in his first performance in the cast of “Loving Monsters.” Self described as a “modern day bard,” he has performed many pieces of original poetry with Voices since joining the team. One of the many parts of Voices that he loves is how participants “leap and build their wings in the air.” Voices has also watched Quentin on his own personal queer journey. Meeting him pre-transition and only just discovering his identity, to proudly celebrating when he came out as a trans man. The Voices team has been family to him since the first day he joined.
Quentin has applied everything he’s learned and gained through Voices to achieve many more accomplishments that he credits to his beautiful support system. From writing an article about false allyship in Psychology Today, to performing in campus poetry slams. His main focus is and will always be a strong community, which he has helped build not only around himself, but within the Valley as well. He is bolstered by the strong connections he has with Voices, and the strong connections that Voices brings to others. Quentin is proud to be a member of such a wonderful team, and is looking forward to bringing Queer Voices to life on stage.
ENSEMBLE | BRYAN ALVAREZ-TERRAZAS (he/they) was born in Glenwood Springs and has been living in the valley for the majority of their life. Bryan is the Manager of the Equity Action Project at MANAUS, an anti-racism and race equity and inclusion training. Bryan has also taken up being a drag queen and co-created the Roaring Divas to further LGBTQ+ visibility and community within the valley.
ENSEMBLE | MICHA SCHOEPE (he/him) studied Musical Theatre Performance in Leipzig, Germany. He played roles in diverse state theatre productions before touring internationally with a-cappella group, vocaldente. One tour led to Colorado, where he met his husband, Paul. Micha runs a charming Airbnb, is the worship leader at Snowmass Chapel and locally active as a singer, actor and director. Micha also teaches private voice lessons: www.michaelschoepe.com - Thanks to the Voices team for the opportunity to take part in this marvelous adventure!
ENSEMBLE | KAT DRESSMAN (they/her), new to the valley from many different homes, has been overjoyed to be involved in the Queer VOICES Theater Project. Kat has artistic roots mainly in music and creative writing with a touch of backstage theater work at the School for Creative and Performing Arts in Lexington, Kentucky. They grew as an advocate in the queer community in Kentucky and soon after in Japan in their various educator positions. They are excited to try more active and creative outlets, and what better way than to join a VOICES project and connect with their identity in an artistic way.
STAGE MANAGER | BETSY ZAUBLER (she/her) is excited to stage manage the Queer Voices production. Originally from Montclair, NJ, Betsy moved to the Valley last year and is a resident teaching artist at Basalt Middle School through ArtistYear, an AmeriCorps program. She is an educator and theater artist who is particularly interested in the intersection of theater, equity, and justice. Betsy graduated from Wesleyan University with a Bachelor’s Degree in American Studies and theater.
DESIGN ELEMENTS | GABRIELA MEJIA (she/her) is a renaissance woman who dedicates her life to being a fine artist, musician, and Polynesian dancer. She began her love of music and art in Honduras at 5 years old upon introduction to a mini keyboard. Following her passions she has successfully grown and established her artistic business, GEMArt, as a professional fine artist, muralist, teacher, illustrator, and graphic designer throughout the US. If she's not painting or expressing her love for Polynesia, catch her touring and playing music with Sweet Root in the Roaring Fork Valley! She also serves as a teaching artists for VOICES in school programming.
