Artist of the Month: July 2024

**Performer, Director, Producer and Creator**
Based in Edmonton, Alberta

Andrés Moreno is a proud Colombian artist and creator and an immigrant based out of Treaty 6 who has always loved how sharing stories and lived experiences can heal and connect with the community around you. Their work as a performer has taken them all over the world performing in stages from Whitehorse to Dublin, and their favourite part of being an artist is connecting with other artists and sharing knowledge and lived experiences through collaboration. Most recently, Andrés has been focusing on increasing accountability, reflectivity, and agency through their work with Azimuth Theatre and Theatre Alberta.

Photo Credits: Marc Chalifoux Photography

Could you share your unique experiences at Azimuth Theatre and Theatre Alberta? What aspects of your roles do you find particularly enjoyable?

I am fortunate to currently serve as a part-time associate co-producer at Azimuth Theatre. This journey began in 2021 when I expressed my interest in exploring multimedia, an area the company had not yet ventured into. Through grant funding, we established a program that spanned about a year and a half. Subsequently, we embraced a less hierarchical leadership model and I was brought on board to assist Morgan Yamada and Sue Goberdhan, the CO producers of Azimuth Theatre. Since then, I have been associated as a co-producer with them. Our program has undergone strategic planning, and we aspire to sustain it beyond this year, seeking the necessary funding for its continuation. Working at Azimuth has been a rewarding experience, as the theatre prioritizes accessibility, particularly economic and program accessibility. This work has prompted me to deeply contemplate the true meaning of accessibility and my accountability as an associate co-producer to ensure its realization.

I am also working with Theatre Alberta as an outreach partnership coordinator, representing the 35//50 Initiative. My role involves consolidating statistics amassed by the community over the past five years to discern patterns in hiring practices within the theatre industry. This endeavor aims to extract meaningful insights from the gathered data, illuminating the underlying narrative of these statistics.

How do you balance your roles with Theatre Alberta, Azimuth Theatre, the 35//50 Initiative, and your work as a performer and director? What drives your necessity to engage in multiple projects simultaneously?

In both of my roles, I find fulfillment in the blend of leadership and creative autonomy. This setup allows me to explore my artistic passions while embracing my nerdy side. For instance, working with statistics has been an enriching experience as it allows me to decipher compelling narratives from numbers. I appreciate the dynamic interplay between creativity and analytical thinking.

Moreover, my time at Azimuth has been pivotal for my growth as an artist and administrator. The mentorship I received has provided invaluable insights into company operations, grant applications, and fostering artist empowerment. Azimuth's emphasis on prioritizing artists over process, and process over product, resonates deeply with me. This approach ensures that artists are supported, enabling them to produce their best work without the undue pressure often associated with the theatre industry.

The pandemic, albeit challenging, has opened new avenues for me. Transitioning from a touring artist to exploring alternative creative spaces has been a transformative journey. It has allowed me to carve out a platform for myself and advocate for fellow artists, creating a space for artistic expression beyond traditional performance tours.

Balancing both of my roles is indeed a juggling act, but I'm grateful that I had the agency to express my desire to maintain my artistic pursuits alongside my professional responsibilities. Both of my jobs have been accommodating, allowing me the flexibility to adjust my work hours and take time off when needed, without compromising on my artistic endeavors. This mutual trust and flexibility have been essential in balancing my commitments effectively.

At Azimuth, the shared understanding that we are artists first and administrators second has been a guiding principle. This ethos fosters a collaborative leadership dynamic, ensuring that tasks are managed seamlessly even when one team member needs to step away. This collaborative approach is crucial in enabling me to navigate these multiple roles effectively. Without this understanding and support, managing all three roles would have been significantly more challenging.

How has your involvement with Theatre Alberta contributed to the arts sector in fostering accountability and agency?

Regarding Theatre Alberta, my involvement traces back to my role as an original contributor to the 35//50 Initiative. This initiative involved sending out a letter to theatre companies in Calgary and Edmonton, urging them to track their hiring practices with the use of statistics and commit to doing so for a five-year period. The goal was to analyze and synthesize this data, comparing it with the demographics of the cities in the upcoming census. The aim was to assess the representation of our city's population and communities in both front- and back-facing roles within the theatre industry.

After partnering with Theatre Alberta, my colleague Jesse Del Fierro and I realized there was a significant amount of unpaid labor involved. We sought a structure that could remunerate the individuals for the work we wanted to accomplish. Subsequently, following the partnership, interviews and discussions took place, leading to our involvement in Theatre Alberta in 2021. Initially intended as a three-month commitment, our roles as 35//50 contributors evolved into that of partnership and outreach coordinators. What was meant to be a temporary engagement gradually extended, and we found ourselves splitting our time between 35//50 initiative work and assisting the office, supporting the team, and attending events.

I appreciate Theatre Alberta's commitment to making theater and scripts accessible, breaking barriers, and providing resources on directing and acting. Their programs, like Emerge for recent graduates to audition for local theater companies and Artstrek, a theater camp for kids, are particularly commendable. These initiatives resonate with my interests, allowing me to engage in diverse projects as a satellite employee. Working with Theatre Alberta offers me the opportunity to be involved in various stimulating and dynamic endeavors, ensuring that there's never a dull moment.

How has mentorship supported you in your professional arts career?

I discovered Theatre in highschool in Red Deer where Melissa Mayville gave me a chance to be a part of an ensemble for the first time and I was able to stretch myself and my comfort zone and find my true self. Theatre has given me passion, community, mentors and stability when I didn't think I would find it again. Through my schooling I picked up new mentors and was pushed to truly imagine a life where I built a career for myself. As a professional I have had the pleasure to work with Workplays, a school program championing workers rights. Since the pandemic, I have been working at Azimuth Theatre and Theatre Alberta and been growing in my role as a leader of rooms and processes and learning to improve daily. I believe the arts deserve more protections for workers and that together we can grow and learn from our shortcomings and I hope to be able to continue making space for other marginalized artists to find space and agency to share their stories with the rest of our community.

The joy of performing on stage and embodying diverse characters is a true passion of mine in theater. However, I'm also deeply grateful for the chance to work on projects that aim to make a positive difference and foster inclusivity. Throughout my career, I've been fortunate to have been supported by numerous remarkable women who have provided me with opportunities. It's my belief that part of my role in the community is to pay it forward by creating space and opportunities for emerging artists. I strive to ensure that Alberta remains a place where new talents are welcomed and nurtured, encouraging them to flourish and contribute to our vibrant artistic community.

My journey traces back to the incredible women who have created opportunities for me. Initially, my passion for musical theater led me to pursue tap dancing and theatrical training. However, it was through my work, particularly with Gina Puntil at Work Plays, that I gained invaluable insights beyond just performing. I had the opportunity to delve into the CTA guidelines, equity rules, and workers' rights, which broadened my perspective on the industry. Over the years, Gina and my former instructors have been pivotal mentors, offering me guidance that goes beyond what one can learn from books. Their wisdom has been instrumental in navigating the challenges of sustaining a career as an actor.

Mentorship has been pivotal in sustaining my career. I vividly recall my instructor, Tanya Ryga, at RDC, who candidly advised me after graduation. Her insight that it would take about a decade for my career to stabilize was a defining moment for me. It helped me realize that success wouldn't come overnight and that I needed to be patient, resilient, and open to continuous learning. This perspective shift enabled me to focus on building a sustainable and enduring career for myself, rather than seeking instant recognition.

At this stage, I feel that 'stabilized' may not be the perfect term, but I do have a steady income and fulfilling jobs while still pursuing my own gigs. I aim to impart this experience to newer and emerging artists, especially those from diverse cultures who may feel underrepresented. I encourage them to explore alternative paths and options, assuring them that their careers may take unexpected turns but perseverance and leveraging their skills can lead to a rewarding and fulfilling career. It's crucial to find joy in the journey and embrace the potential for growth and success.

For me the opportunity to collaborate and share experiences and knowledge between artists and create lasting connections is my passion. I believe that making space for others to share their stories is a way of paying forward the amazing artists that have paved the way for me to be able to work in this industry.

Find your people, and say hello! We want to know if you're out there looking for opportunities and I specifically welcome anyone who is an immigrant and hoping to set themselves up as an artist in Alberta.

What are some of the exciting ongoing projects you are currently involved in?

I'm thrilled to have multiple projects underway, each with its own unique focus. The statistical analysis we're currently engaged in is particularly intriguing to me. I'm eager to delve into the insights revealed by the data because while narratives and stories can be manipulated, numbers and hard facts cannot. Exploring the actual trends in our hiring practices through statistical analysis is immensely valuable, providing us with genuine insights into our processes at Theatre Alberta.

I'm really excited about the exploration of tri-leadership with Azimuth. It's amazing to see that some companies have started to take notice of our work and are interested in learning from us to develop their own model of tri-leadership. This growing interest is just the beginning, and it's incredibly thrilling for me. Admittedly, we're often figuring things out as we go, but the feedback and advice we're receiving from others are invaluable, and we're constantly improving. I truly believe that tri-leadership is something that theater needs. We often let the fear of financial constraints hold us back, but it's time to shift our mindset from scarcity to abundance. Investing in exploring this new approach may come with costs, but the potential rewards and opportunities it offers far outweigh the initial investment. It's about looking beyond immediate financial concerns and embracing the larger possibilities that tri-leadership can bring to the theater community.

Honestly, I'm really enjoying my current gigs. Right now, I'm involved in a show called "Anthem of Life" with Theatre Prospero, and I have the summer off before I start rehearsals for "A Streetcar Named Desire" at the Citadel Theatre. I'm truly relishing this phase. The gigs are spaced out, and I no longer have those in-between moments where I worry about making ends meet because I have other work to rely on. It's these diverse experiences that continue to drive me, and I don't see my job and my acting gigs as separate - they are all interconnected parts of who I am as an artist.

For me, being an artist is all about building relationships and connecting with people. I'm always eager to support other artists in any way I can. It's the driving force behind everything I do.

I'm currently looking for more opportunities in Direction, and looking to work alongside more established directors in the industry to expand my practice in leading rooms and creating spaces where artists feel the agency to take control of their work.

In the next few months, I'm hoping to do more reading, and reconnect myself with my body through movement and dance. As a Latino artist, dancing is such an integral part to feeling connected to my home and I hope to be able to find time to go back to dance as a form of storytelling.

Follow Andrés:

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Artist of the Month: July 2024

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