In this episode Rachael unpacks the true story of our fall production, 13 Suits: A Mother's Monologues, and her personal connection with it. This episode is our Season 1 Finale! We'll miss chatting with you in this way each week, but are excited to pour all our energy into 13 Suits and be back for Season 2 in January. Buy your 13 Suits Tickets: https://www.raventheatre.com/stage/13suits/   Email us your Call to Action Answers at podcast@outerlooptheater.org Follow The Outer Loop on Social Media - https://linktr.ee/infoatouterloop The Outer Loop's Website - https://www.outerlooptheater.org/ Join our Mailing List - https://www.outerlooptheater.org/contact-us Theme Music by Destry Hergert

In this episode, Sarah Slight - Artistic Director of Raven Theatre (home of Talk Hard Chicago & 13 Suits) - unpacks her purpose, both personally, and as it pertains to the company. She shares about dramaturgy, motherhood, and purpose and how they all feed into creating a (mostly) balanced life. Apologies for some audio difficulties in this episode, but the conversation was too good to keep from you. Dramaturgy Definition: Dramaturgs are experts in the study of plays, musicals, or operas. It is their job to provide the cast and crew with vital knowledge, research, and interpretation about the theatrical work in question so that they are—in turn—better equipped to do their jobs.   RSVP for Talk Hard on November 4th - ⁠https://www.raventheatre.com/stage/talkhard/⁠ PAAL (Parent Artist Advocacy League) - ⁠https://www.paaltheatre.com/⁠ Raven Theatre - ⁠https://www.raventheatre.com/⁠ See Ironbound at Raven - ⁠https://www.raventheatre.com/stage/IRONBOUND/⁠ Follow Raven on Instagram - ⁠@raven_theatre⁠ See Little Women at Northlight - ⁠https://northlight.org/series/little-women/⁠   Email us your Call to Action Answers at ⁠podcast@outerlooptheater.org⁠ Follow The Outer Loop on Social Media - ⁠https://linktr.ee/infoatouterloop⁠ The Outer Loop's Website - ⁠https://www.outerlooptheater.org/⁠ Join our Mailing List - ⁠https://www.outerlooptheater.org/contact-us⁠ Theme Music by Destry Hergert

In this episode, Michael and Melissa talk about the value they hold individually and as a company in providing career opportunities for young and emerging artists. Melissa shares her perspective as someone who has directly benefited from this value, while Michael gives us the origins of this mission.   Email us your Call to Action Answers at podcast@outerlooptheater.org Follow The Outer Loop on Social Media - https://linktr.ee/infoatouterloop The Outer Loop's Website - https://www.outerlooptheater.org/ Join our Mailing List - https://www.outerlooptheater.org/contact-us Theme Music by Destry Hergert

In this episode, Melissa and Rachael unpack experiences throughout their lives when their perspectives were broadened. They take this in to art as well as general life; personal stories, and things that have expanded their national and global perspectives. What's one way in which your perspective has been broadened?   Email us your Call to Action Answers at podcast@outerlooptheater.org Follow The Outer Loop on Social Media - https://linktr.ee/infoatouterloop The Outer Loop's Website - https://www.outerlooptheater.org/ Join our Mailing List - https://www.outerlooptheater.org/contact-us Theme Music by Destry Hergert

Jackson - a partner with us since day one of The Humanity Project - shares his story and purpose with us. As an artist living in an extremely different culture, what of his experiences are the same and what are different from yours?  Email us your Call to Action Answers at podcast@outerlooptheater.org Follow The Outer Loop on Social Media - https://linktr.ee/infoatouterloop The Outer Loop's Website - https://www.outerlooptheater.org/ Join our Mailing List - https://www.outerlooptheater.org/contact-us Theme Music by Destry Hergert

KD McTeigue is a current Inner Enso member and part of the cast for both our 2023 and 2024 productions of 13 Suits! She joins us today to talk about her journey as an artist, specifically as it has, over the last several years, been dictated by her experience with chronic pain. She shares the experiences that brought her, and the realization of the intense ableism around her - both in the theater industry and our culture at large. She and Michael bond over their excitement for the upcoming production of 13 Suits, and their love of bringing laughter to life’s hardest moments.   Follow KD on Instagram - @kdmcteigue Trailer for Empire Waist - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFnZU_dl250 Email us your Call to Action Answers at podcast@outerlooptheater.org Follow The Outer Loop on Social Media - https://linktr.ee/infoatouterloop The Outer Loop's Website - https://www.outerlooptheater.org/ Join our Mailing List - https://www.outerlooptheater.org/contact-us Theme Music by Destry Hergert

Erin FM - current Inner Enso writer, stand up comedian, playwright, mother, musician, and overall wonderful artist joins us for today's episode. She shares about growing up doing arts in a struggling household, her time as a single mom in a foreign country, and how her art has saved her in many different ways. Stay till the end for a snippet of Erin's play Temporarium! Follow Erin on Instagram - ⁠@erinfmcomedy⁠ Follow Erin on TikTok - ⁠@erinfmcomedy⁠ Follow Erin on New Play Exchange - ⁠https://newplayexchange.org/users/59423/erin-fm⁠ Email us your Call to Action Answers at ⁠podcast@outerlooptheater.org⁠ Follow The Outer Loop on Social Media - ⁠https://linktr.ee/infoatouterloop⁠ The Outer Loop's Website - ⁠https://www.outerlooptheater.org/⁠ Join our Mailing List - ⁠https://www.outerlooptheater.org/contact-us⁠ Theme Music by Destry Hergert

Tiffany and Charles are the filmmakers behind the phenomenal Humanity Project Documentary coming soon to a screen near you! Listen to them share bits of their stories, their experiences in Tanzania, and about the documentary process. A bonus for anyone who took French in high school - Tiffany and Charles are from France so we get a sweet mix of languages in this episode. Follow Tiffany on Instagram - @tiffany__henne Follow Charles on Instagram - @arrigoniprod Email us your Call to Action Answers at podcast@outerlooptheater.org Follow The Outer Loop on Social Media - https://linktr.ee/infoatouterloop The Outer Loop's Website - https://www.outerlooptheater.org/ Join our Mailing List - https://www.outerlooptheater.org/contact-us Theme Music by Destry Hergert

Terilyn came to our Talk Hard event in June at the last minute and absolutely thrived! Hear her talk about her experience at the event as well as parts of her life story including grief, pregnancy, and the monologue that brought us together. Follow Terilyn on Instagram - @terilyn___ Follow Terilyn on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/terilyneisenhauer/ Follow Foundling Daughter on Instagram - @foundlingdaughters Website (To be Launched Soon) - http://helloterilyn.com/ Email us your Call to Action Answers at podcast@outerlooptheater.org Follow The Outer Loop on Social Media - https://linktr.ee/infoatouterloop The Outer Loop's Website - https://www.outerlooptheater.org/ Join our Mailing List - https://www.outerlooptheater.org/contact-us Theme Music by Destry Hergert

In this episode, Michael, Rachael, & Melissa unpack this year's trip to Tanzania for The Humanity Project. Different from past years, they weren't focused on a specific building project and were instead filming a documentary! Similar to past years, they devised a piece of theater, helped the communities of Mloka and Msona, and connected with as many people as possible. Donate to the Msona Arts Group Transportation Fund on our website by going to the Donate Page and adding "Transportation Fund" in the memo!   Email us your Call to Action Answers at podcast@outerlooptheater.org Follow The Outer Loop on Social Media - https://linktr.ee/infoatouterloop The Outer Loop's Website - https://www.outerlooptheater.org/ Join our Mailing List - https://www.outerlooptheater.org/contact-us Theme Music by Destry Hergert

In this episode, Inner Enso member Sarai Ford shares with us her passion for Theater for Social Justice. The phrases "social justice" and "social change" get tossed around a lot, but she digs deep into her experiences and interests to get at the truth. Sarai also has a high value on wellness and rest as she works with this difficult material and is a certified yoga coach. She ends the episode by walking us through a short, but relaxing meditation. Follow The Outer Loop on Social Media - ⁠https://linktr.ee/infoatouterloop⁠ The Outer Loop's Website - ⁠https://www.outerlooptheater.org/⁠ Join our Mailing List - ⁠https://www.outerlooptheater.org/contact-us⁠ Theme Music by Destry Hergert

In this episode, we get to hear from Samwel Ludamila - The Humanity Project Director, Tanzania Operations. Beyond being the only reason our work in Tanzania is so successful, Samwel is also a dear friend and brother. We're excited to share his story with you all and hope that you learn to love him as much as we do. Check out the website for Samwel's company, Supreme Tanzania Safaris - https://supremetanzaniasafaris.com/ Follow Supreme Tanzania Safaris on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/supremesafaristz/  Email us your Call to Action Answers at podcast@outerlooptheater.org Follow The Outer Loop on Social Media - https://linktr.ee/infoatouterloop The Outer Loop's Website - https://www.outerlooptheater.org/ Join our Mailing List - https://www.outerlooptheater.org/contact-us Theme Music by Destry Hergert

In this episode, Rachael and Melissa unpack listening and why we struggle with it so much as a culture. Different types of listening, how to listen better, what makes us stop listening, and so much more are covered in this episode as we seek to understand one another.   Email us your Call to Action Answers at ⁠podcast@outerlooptheater.org⁠! Follow The Outer Loop on Social Media - ⁠https://linktr.ee/infoatouterloop⁠ The Outer Loop's Website - ⁠https://www.outerlooptheater.org/⁠ Join our Mailing List - ⁠https://www.outerlooptheater.org/contact-us⁠ Theme Music by Destry Hergert

From pandemic Zoom theater to now, what is The Empathy Project and what is its purpose? The Empathy Project aims to bring us into the shoes of others through theater and other art forms by sharing human stories. We're currently working on Volume III of this project, and so excited for what is in store!   Email us your Call to Action Answers at podcast@outerlooptheater.org! Follow The Outer Loop on Social Media - ⁠https://linktr.ee/infoatouterloop The Outer Loop's Website - ⁠https://www.outerlooptheater.org/⁠ Join our Mailing List - ⁠https://www.outerlooptheater.org/contact-us⁠ Theme Music by Destry Hergert

You got Michael's version, but now we dive into Rachael's perspective on The Humanity Project and our work in Tanzania. What a welcoming and caring culture we have the privilege of stepping into.   Email us your Call to Action Answers at podcast@outerlooptheater.org! Follow The Outer Loop on Social Media - ⁠https://linktr.ee/infoatouterloop⁠ The Outer Loop's Website - ⁠https://www.outerlooptheater.org/⁠ Join our Mailing List - ⁠https://www.outerlooptheater.org/contact-us⁠ Theme Music by Destry Hergert

Inner Enso member Alyssa Pichette joins us to share how she went from hating to loving her gender through a love of dance. You won't want to miss out on this joyful, fresh perspective on femininity and life.   Follow Alyssa on Instagram - ⁠@digilyss417 Email us your Call to Action answers at podcast@outerlooptheater.org!⁠ Follow The Outer Loop on Social Media - https://linktr.ee/infoatouterloop The Outer Loop's Website - https://www.outerlooptheater.org/ Join our Mailing List - https://www.outerlooptheater.org/contact-us Theme Music by Destry Hergert

From homeschool theater to life now, Melissa's through line is her people. Listen in to hear the stories that have made her who she is today, and how each part of life has fed into her purpose.   Email us your Call to Action Answers at podcast@outerlooptheater.org! Follow The Outer Loop on Social Media - https://linktr.ee/infoatouterloop The Outer Loop's Website - https://www.outerlooptheater.org/ Join our Mailing List - https://www.outerlooptheater.org/contact-us Theme Music by Destry Hergert

Phrases like "Theater for Social Change" and "Artistic Responsibility" get thrown around a lot nowadays. We thought it would be helpful to share a bit about each piece of our 2024 - 25 season (which includes plays, open mic nights, & a documentary) and hone in on how they feed into our overall mission of creating Art That Matters. We are intentional that each piece we create as a company leave the world a better place than we found it, and we share with you in this episode how that's done! The Outer Loop Theater Experience Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.outerlooptheater.org/⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠ Stream @matters on Other Platforms: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/matters_podcast⁠ ⁠ Follow The Outer Loop on Social Media: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/infoatouterloop⁠⁠⁠⁠

In Episode 9 Michael and Rachael take time to unpack this concept - what is our responsibility as artists? Why do artists have a responsibility? How are they personally and we as The Outer Loop holding that charge with its due weight? This is a concept that is near and dear to our hearts as a company as it serves to filter and guide everything that we do. The Outer Loop Theater Experience Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.outerlooptheater.org/⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠ Stream @matters on Other Platforms: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/matters_podcast⁠ ⁠ Follow The Outer Loop on Social Media: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/infoatouterloop⁠⁠⁠  

Aspen Cullen, recent graduate of Eastern Washington University, with their double major in Theatre and Gender, Women's, & Sexuality Studies with a minor in Political Science joins us this episode to share a wealth of knowledge and passion. From the paper that started it all to winning a KCACTF Essay Award to a Queer Musical Theater showcase as their degree capstone, Aspen is the perfect person to help bring conversations on Feminism & Queerness into the public eye and our ears here at @matters. We also get a special treat from Aspen as they share an original song called Trial. This is the first of our Talk Hard inspired episodes where we not only get to hear from the experience of another artist, but get to sample a piece of their art as well. Follow Aspen on Social Media: ⁠https://linktr.ee/aspenanneka?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=0e829a58-3549-4890-9eae-b8d09d848d69⁠ The Outer Loop Theater Experience Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.outerlooptheater.org/⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠ Stream @matters on Other Platforms: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/matters_podcast⁠ ⁠ Follow The Outer Loop on Social Media: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/infoatouterloop⁠⁠⁠