Meet Emily Abrams, Storytelling Coach
An Interview with Shenny De Los Angeles
Q: As artists, especially from underrepresented communities, a part of our work is affirming others in a shared lived experience. That’s a part of what makes representation in art a radical form of healing, as it’s an invitation to help people witness themselves. When was the first time you witnessed yourself in a body of work or through someone else’s story, and how did that ignite you to tell your story?
A: The first time I saw myself in a story was when I read DeTransition Baby by Torrey Peters. It was the first time that I ever underlined in a book, and I felt almost embarrassed when I learned that other people had read this book and were talking about it. Like, “Hey — you can’t read my diary!” But once the embarrassment wore off, I allowed the book to really affect me. It validated that other people also had the same inner monologues that I did, and it helped to dissolve some of the shame I had when I judged myself for feeling a specific feeling or thinking a specific thought.
Q: In learning how to strengthen your voice as an artist, what was a piece of feedback and/or advice that you received from a great mentor/coach that really stayed with you and not only made your artistic work expand but it also deepened your growth as a person?
A: I was told by two of my mentors to make everything I do in life a piece of art. This advice changed my life. Prior, I was always trying to write, “The Perfect Cover-Letter” — a mythical five-paragraph essay that would unlock the job of my dreams. Every time I applied for a job and got rejected, I felt like I had put on my best dress and was told that I didn’t qualify for the beauty pageant. But I realized that I wasn’t being myself. I was writing what I thought other people wanted to read. After getting this advice, I began writing short plays to submit instead. It got all the same info across — AND it filled me artistically and made me feel like I was showing my authentic self — instead of some fake polished myth of a person I was pretending to be. This advice landed me a job that changed my career, and also helped me to stay artistically active. And, now, I actually enjoy sending out applications.
Q: Thinking about the world we’re living in, and how much of the focus is centered on the pain of life, it can feel very challenging to want to keep going and source our stories from a place of joy, curiosity, and wonder. In honoring your lived experience, what affirms you in this life? What keeps the drive and momentum in your body and soul? Even when the world hurts you, how do you believe enough in yourself to choose to live the life you know you deserve?
A: I had a magical day a few months back. I met two lovely Queer people and we spontaneously decided to grab dinner together, the three of us. Over dinner, we had such sincere, open, and enthralling conversation. One of the things we talked about was “The Queer Nod.” Allow me to share the wisdom I learned that day. The Queer Nod is a cranial gesture that one gives or receives when recognizing another Queer person in a space. This affirmed me so much, and finally gave me a fun-flirty word to associate with a thing I experience. When the world is giving me a hard time, and I am eating in a restaurant and see a person I read to be Queer on the waitstaff (maybe they’re wearing Doc Martens?), and they see me (maybe I’m wearing overalls) and… we do the nod. Those moments of silent connection make me feel so safe, seen, and empowered.
Emily Abrams (she/her) is a Storytelling Coach with Life Jacket and a director based out of NYC. She has worked for Broadway, Off-Broadway, and Regional Theatres including: Ars Nova, Manhattan Theatre Club, New York Theatre Workshop, Roundabout, The New Group, Asolo Rep, People’s Light, and The Kimmel Center. Emily studied at The University of the Arts, The National Theatre Institute’s Advanced Directing program, and the SDC Foundation. Emily has told stories at story-slams hosted by First Person Arts and The Moth. Emily has also developed and produced new works independently, and often assists playwrights in revising their scripts. When Emily isn’t telling stories you can find her competing in Rubik’s cube competitions or talking to strangers in the park while walking her dog.
Shenny De Los Angeles (she/they) is a Resident Storytelling Artist with Life Jacket. Shenny is a Dominican-American interdisciplinary performing artist and writer who centralizes Black and Brown femmes in their stories, affirming the beauty of being alive. Shenny’s work has been featured at Mabou Mines Theatre, Latina Magazine, Blackstar Film Festival, Latinx Playwright Circle, and Caribbean Writers to name a few! Currently, Shenny is a WaterWorks Emerging Artist at Harlem Stage, where she is developing a ritual play, Sisters by Water, which explores the intimacy and nuance of sisterhood between Haitian & Dominican-American femmes. www.ShennyDeLosAngeles.com
Learn more about Life Jacket Theatre Company and The Storytelling Project.
