Interview by AFA Intern Mackenzie Timbrell in Spring of 2024
Q: Who are you?
Allison: I am an actor, a wife, and a mom. I am somebody who was raised by a nurse and a firefighter/construction worker, so I find that doing performance and theater is my way of helping people through entertainment and emotion. I think storytelling, play, and safe spaces are their own kind of healing spaces, so I enjoy encouraging those spaces to exist and thrive. I was a summer camp counselor during college, so through that, I found a real joy in acting and being expressive.
Q: How did you first get involved in theatre?
Allison: I was definitely born a theater person. I remember my parents going to the show Les Mis and bringing home the cast recording on cassette tapes, and I would go into our basement and fully act out every song that played. After that, whenever I could get my hands on any musical tape, I would go into the basement and just sing and act.
Q: What is your educational background?
Allison: I have a bachelors in theater from Syracuse University, and I was there from 2000–2004. I had applied to many different programs but was specifically accepted to the acting program, which was great because that was really the training I needed. I performed around the country doing regional theater, and I did one off-broadway show. Then, I got my master’s in applied theater from the CUNY School of Professional Studies. I just finished that program in the spring.
Q: What drew you to Arts For All? What are some of the projects you have been working on with students so far?
Allison: One of the other teaching artists, Marcela, told me about Arts For All while we were doing our Masters together. I had not worked as a teaching artist before, and she told me about their mission and just made it seem like even if you don’t have a ton of experience in the classroom, I could do assistant positions for a bit, which I did this fall. As for projects, this is my first teaching artist job, so I have been trying my best to just have fun and try to help the kids get movement during the day. They sit at their desks most of the day, so I have been trying to find ways to help them get exercise and movement in the limited space they have within the classroom. Due to the small nature of the classroom, the students have really been working on teamwork to try and create a safe and fun space for everyone.
Q: How do the children you work with inspire you to continue being a teaching artist?
Allison: There were a few kids when I first entered the classroom where I noticed they were not respecting other people’s boundaries or were being disrespectful to others. By having the opportunity to see them again and again every week, we have been able to build a relationship where they trust and enjoy our time together. Every child is entitled to have a bad day, but we can be the people who get them through their bad days and keep them feeling good about themselves when sometimes the classroom experience is really hard on them.
Q: What is one of the main takeaways you hope the students gain from your classes?
Allison: I hope they know that how they feel is fine. Even if that means they are giving me the stink eye or whatnot, it is okay because I really try to validate whatever they are feeling. I want children to feel that their feelings are valid. They are trying to figure their emotions out, just like adults, and I try to be really respectful of that when engaging with the students. I also think it is important for the children to hear adults apologize for messing up and to know that adults aren’t perfect. When things go wrong, it is not always because of the kids, and I think it is really impactful for them to know that not everything that goes wrong in a classroom setting is their fault.
Q: Do you have any favorite in-classroom moments working with students?
Allison: In the first and second grades, there are a lot of really good visual artists. The first day I worked with them, I asked them to draw something or write something that would give me an idea of who they were, just so I could get to know them a bit more. Some of the things I saw were really impressive and amazing. Some of the kids struggle with emotional or behavioral issues, and seeing those moments where they are able to interact with their peers in a fun and safe way through some of our projects is so rewarding and awesome to see.
Q: What does art mean to you?
Allison: Art for me is how I process all of the things that I think and all of the things that I feel, combined with all the things I believe, etc. I think it is a strong tool for emotional regulation and just creating this sense of calm in my life. Whatever kind of media it is, I feel that it helps me to center myself back to a place where I can enjoy and love life.
