Today on the podcast, I meet with Briyana D. Clarel, co-curator of this season’s DG (JAM) a Directors Gathering. This year brings together black directors to connect and collaborate in a one-day virtual event. Here is my interview with Briyana D. Clarel. 

ABOUT BRIYANA D. CLAREL

Briyana D. Clarel – is a Black queer theatre artist, writer, and educator passionate about musical theatre, mangoes, and memoirs. Briyana is the host of A Very Virgo Virtual Show and the founder of The Starfruit Project, a platform supporting radical healing and brilliant growth through creativity. Briyana’s poetry and prose are published in TAYO Literary Magazine, cavity, Black Youth Project, MELANINzine, and print anthologies. As a director, performer, and playwright, they have brought stories to life with the Painted Bride Art Center, Shoe Box Theatre Collective, Theatre Evolve, Dixon Place, Broad Views on Broadway, Cabernet Cabaret ATX, Philly Free Fringe, and more. Their solo show unboxed: a healing debuted at the 2018 OUTsider Festival. Briyana is a 2016 recipient of the Acts of Greatness LGBTQ Youth Community Award, a 2020-2021 Core Playwright with InterAct Theatre Company, and a 2020 Leeway Foundation Arts and Change Grantee. They are one-fourth of Philly sketch comedy team The Rhubarbs and a member of Ring of Keys. Born and raised in South Jersey, Briyana earned an AB in Sociology from Princeton University. They love sleep, ferns, and taro bubble tea. Keep up with their adventures at briyanaclarel.com and @briyanaclarel.

ABOUT DIRECTORS GATHERING and JAM

Directors Gathering serves directors to serve the theatre.

Directors Gathering (DG) is a membership organization that through the power of community consistently provides development, connections, and process-based opportunities for regional theatre directors.

(DG) is committed to creating anti-racist, inclusive, equitable, safe, accessible, and transparent spaces in all facets of our gathering.

JAM is a new approach to JAM.  It's not just about the process of the director it's about directing as an experience. Directors can at times feel isolated so JAM this year is about bringing directors together to JAM! We've been affectionately calling JAM a mini residency this year.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: http://directorsgathering.com  

Twitter: @DirectorsGather

Instagram: @DirectorsGather