An Evening of Affinity Space Actor Training

Learn about the artistry, camaraderie, and joy that can be unlocked when actor training takes place in an affinity space.

Co-presented by Celebration Barn, Encompass Collective, and the Visit

For the past three years, Celebration Barn, a nonprofit theater center in Western Maine, has hosted two workshops for artists of the global majority: The Encompass Collective Summer Retreat, led by members of the collective, and the Visit, led by Dr. Budi Miller. 

Each workshop is distinct, but they are aligned in their commitment to advancing the artistry of global majority actors; giving actors the opportunity to work on scenes that speak directly to their lived experience, identity, or heritage; and preparing actors to navigate a field that is still dominated by primarily white institutions. 

Over the past three years, the results have been remarkable. Many students claim that the workshops marked a turning point in their professional practice. Some have gone on to win admission to the top graduate programs or landed roles in major productions in theater, film, or television. 

This evening gives artists, teachers, and audience members a chance to learn more about the role of affinity space actor training, what it can achieve, and why it is critical against the backdrop of widespread efforts to end—even punish—initiatives for diversity, equity, and inclusion. 

The evening will feature presentations from the workshop leaders, live rehearsals with alumni of the workshops, and a discussion, followed by a Q&A. 

To learn more about the Encompass Collective Summer Retreat, visit celebrationbarn.com/encompass. 

To learn more about the Visit, visit celebrationbarn.com/the-visit.

***

Dr. Taylor Barfield

Taylor Barfield is a dramaturg, writer, and theater artist from Baltimore, MD. He served as the Acting Literary Manager at Yale Repertory Theatre in New Haven, CT and the Literary Manager at Two River Theater in Red Bank, NJ. Before that he served as the Associate Artistic Director at Collaboraction Theatre Company in Chicago, IL. Select freelance dramaturgy credits include A Raisin in the Sun (Guthrie), Nothing to Lose (But Our Chains) (Second City/Woolly Mammoth), Electra (Court Theatre), Cymbeline (Yale Repertory Theatre), and Barbecue (Strawdog). Taylor also served as assistant director for the world premiere productions of Cadillac Crew (Yale Repertory Theatre), Man in the Ring (Court Theatre), and War (Yale Repertory Theatre); the Midwest premiere of Paradise Blue (Timeline Theatre); and the east coast premiere of Native Son (Yale Repertory Theatre). He received his B.A. in Molecular/Cellular Biology and English Literature from Johns Hopkins University and is a graduate of the Yale School of Drama, where he earned his M.F.A. and D.F.A. in Dramaturgy and Dramatic Criticism. His scholarly work explores how contemporary Black American playwrights re-imagine and re-stage Black theater history. His writing has been published in Vulture, TDF Stages, and the Marginalia Review of Books.

Jenelle Chu

Jenelle Chu is an actor and teaching artist.  As an actor she has worked on Broadway in Junk (Lincoln Center Theater) and Bernhardt/Hamlet (Roundabout) and at regional theaters across the country including the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Oklahoma City Rep, People’s Light Theatre, Shakespeare & Company, American Conservatory Theater, Papermill Playhouse, and Bucks County Playhouse.  TV credits include Prodigal Son, New Amsterdam, Madam Secretary, Instinct, and Elementary. She is a co-founder and co-leader of Encompass Collective, an acting training collective for and by people of the Global Majority.  She has taught workshops and classes at The New School, Yale University, The Kennedy Center, The Trinity College/La MaMa Program, NYU Tisch’s All Asian Arts Alliance, The Theatre Gap Initiative, Studio Theater, Webster University, and Developing Artists. Jenelle holds a BM in Vocal Performance from the University of Missouri-Kansas City and MFA from the Yale School of Drama.

Chalia La Tour

Chalia La Tour is an actor, educator and creator. A 2020 Tony Award nominee for Best Featured Actress in a Play for Slave Play by Jeremy O. Harris. Theatre credits include: Slave Play (original Broadway cast & West End), Cadillac Crew by Tori Sampson (Yale Repertory Theatre), The Review or How to Eat Your Opposition by Donnetta Lavinia Grays (Women's Theatre Project). TV Credits include: The Good Fight , The Code and Elementary on CBS. Film credits include: The Future is Bright, The Year Between and Mother Melancholia. The Future is Bright screened at the inaugural African American Smithsonian Film Festival. Mother Melancholia is in collaboration with Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch. She maintains a commitment to storytelling that asks the questions of humanity with the fullness of humanity. She has also worked with the anti-racism organization Broadway Advocacy Coalition as a consultant for their Artivism Fellowship. She is a leader at Encompass Collective, a training collective for and by Global Majority artists. La Tour received an MFA in Acting from the Yale School of Drama. She is also a graduate of the British American Dramatic Academy- Summer in Oxford program. Theatrical Technical Design from CSU East Bay. All Social Media: @chalialatour.

Julian Elijah Martinez

Julian Elijah Martinez is a teaching artist based out of New York. He received his MFA from the Yale School of Drama and his BFA from Elon University. He was seen on Broadway in Network & Off-Broadway in This Land Was Made  (Vineyard Theatre); Sanctuary City (New York Theater Workshop); and Anatomy of A Suicide (Atlantic Theater Company). Regionally he appeared in The Salvagers (Yale Rep), King Lear (Shakespeare Theater Company and The International Arts and Ideas Festival); Father Comes Home From The Wars Part 1, 2, 3 (co-production Yale Rep and A.C.T); and 9 Circles (Forum Theatre, Helen Hayes nomination).  On television Julian was seen in Wu-tang: An American Saga; Law and Order: SVU; Prodigal Son; and Elementary. He is a company member of The Acting Company, a broad member of Developing Artist, and a co-founder of the Encompass Collective. julianelijahmartinez.com

Dr. Budi Miller

Dr. Budi Miller, the groundbreaking head of acting at the Victorian College of the Arts, University of Melbourne, Australia for seven years, holds the distinction of being the first Black person to occupy this esteemed position among Australia’s top three drama schools. As the co-artistic director of the Theatre of Others, director of advanced training at the Fitzmaurice Voice Institute, and a lead teacher of Fitzmaurice Voicework, he is a certified integrative studies practitioner and an UNESCO designated master teacher of mask work. His innovative approach to acting encompasses Balinese Performing Art Training (BPAT), mask work, Fitzmaurice Voicework, Michael Chekhov, clown, Viewpoints, and Grotowski. As an actor-director-writer-teacher-producer, spanning diverse international stages in the United States, Australia, Singapore, Germany, Denmark, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Taipei, Vietnam, Malaysia, India, Dubai, and Indonesia. Since 1992, he has, notably, introduced Fitzmaurice Voicework to Denmark, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taipei, Malaysia, China, and Indonesia. Learn more at budimiller.com.

About Celebration Barn (David Bruin, Executive Artistic Director)

Located in South Paris, Maine, Celebration Barn creates opportunities for physical theater artists to hone their craft and share their work. Each summer, we offer a series of workshops in physical theater, clowning, mime, and experimental theater and performance. In addition, we present a season of live theatrical productions for local audience members. Throughout the year, we bring programming to schools in Western Maine, and we produce workshops and shows in New York City, Las Vegas, and elsewhere. Learn more at celebrationbarn.com.

About Encompass Collective

Encompass Collective is a community engaged in principled struggle for a liberated actor practice. We cultivate a better future for Global Majority storytellers in the theater, film, and television industries. We offer affinity space actor training that is brave and revolutionary at accessible prices for Global Majority artists. Learn more at encompasscollectivenyc.com.

Image: Students in the Visit, 2023. Photo courtesy of Celebration Barn.