Here’s another look at the other side of the TV! This time we’re talking to Brianne Mueller, who directed our promo video (see here).
Tell us a bit about yourself.
I am a Theatre Arts major and Psychology minor from Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin and has been living and working as a freelance production manager/director in New York City since graduating in 2007. I worked for 3 years as the Lawrence University theatre department assistant, as well as working with Milwaukee’s First Stage Theatre during the summers as a teacher’s assistant for Movement and Shakespeare classes. I have been lucky enough to work with some amazing organizations and theatre companies in New York and am glad to be currently working as Managing Director for Manhattan Theatre Mission.
How are you involved with Tulpa, or Anne&Me?
Sara went to college with my best friend, who was the one who told me about Sara’s need for a someone to do video for the project. I went to the website and read about it and became intrigued, and ended up offering to help with a promotional video in order to help them fund raise for the show.
What made you want to work on Tulpa?
During my time at Lawrence University I was lucky enough work with the campus’s VDay organization. Subsequently, I became directly involved in their annual production of The Vagina Monologues for all 4 years of my undergraduate studies. It deeply affected me and I became an advocate of women’s rights, sexual health & education, as well as gaining passion about all forms of gender/transgender issues and rights.
My senior year of undergraduate study, I took a class entitled History of Women’s Rights in America and learned of the disparity in the history between the women’s rights movement and the civil rights movement. Historically, they have been fighting for the same thing: equality and understanding, but somehow have ended up in opposition to each other. It’s as if equality is in limited supply and both parties have taken a ‘winner takes all’ kind of approach. I believe that all genders and all races should be able to work together for a common goal and not in competition with each other - I felt that Tulpa was able to illustrate this juxtaposition very accurately while allowing for a very open and honest dialogue about the subject. The first step towards understanding is knowledge and an open floor for discussion is the way to obtain it.
Why should people come see Tulpa?
People should see Tulpa because it provides a platform for discussion on the historically sensitive subjects of sexuality and race. I think an important part of discussing culturally sensitive subjects is allowing oneself an objective viewpoint on a given topic. This show allows you to become entranced with the characters and the situations they experience on stage, while allowing you to view their actions and feelings separate from your own. They characters do not threaten or criticize you, but you are allowed as an educated individual to evaluate their actions in context, socially, politically and ethically. It’s a superb educational and cathartic tool, which should be utilized far more often in the theatre.
Besides, “Did you like the show?” what question(s) would you like to ask the audience?
I would ask:
- ”Do you know/Have you ever known someone who was in a romantic relationship where race was an issue? What happened?”
- “Do you identify with your race? How so? How does that effect the decisions you make in your personal and professional life?”
- “Have you ever fallen in love with someone unexpected? How did that effect yourself, your friends and your family?”
Thank you, Brianne!
Check back often to keep posted on Tulpa’s journey from page to stage. In the meantime, follow us on Facebook and Twitter (@Afrodyke) for up-to-the-minute updates on what’s going on with Tulpa, or Anne&Me, as well as to get a peek inside the mind of the main character. You may find that she has some … interesting things happening to her.
