Why does art matter?
If you’ve experienced American Stage over the past year, the answers lie in punk-fueled power ballads, biting satire, a kiss in the rain, and so much more. Those moments bring to life why art matters to us, the audiences, but why does art matter to the performers on stage?
On the tail-end of her American Stage debut in Paula Vogel’s Indecent, Emma Friedman reflects on the theatre’s role in her artistic journey.
For Friedman, American Stage is a homecoming and a rite of passage. As a Tampa native, she grew up attending the annual shows in Demens Landing each year with her siblings, who – fun fact – are also professional actors. Her brother, David, appeared in American Stage’s 2014 production of The Chosen, and her twin, Noa, recently performed in a staged reading of Eyes and Teeth for Creative Pinellas and American Stage’s Fresh Ink series.
The support of Friedman’s family, mentors, and educators paved the path for her future career. Friedman was a graduate of Blake High School’s magnet theatre program. She went on to get her degree in theatre, and then took a brief hiatus.
That ended when American Stage called to offer her “Chana” in Indecent.
“I think the break was necessary. It made me realize how much I actually really do love it. Because I can’t live without it in my life.”
Today, Friedman has returned to Tampa and the stages that sparked a lifelong passion.
“It feels like I’m coming home to what I love,” Friedman remarked.
Art matters to Emma Friedman because it gives her the profession she always dreamt of.
It’s not just locals who thank American Stage for being a part of their journey. Chicago-based artist, Alexandria Crawford, considers Tampa – and American Stage – her theatrical home.
“I always knew that I wanted to be an actor, “ Alexandria says, recounting early living room performances of CATS as Grisabella, her older brother taking on the role of Rum-Tum Tugger.
A St. Pete native, Alexandria was first introduced to American Stage’s education program as a child in Southside Fundamental Middle School. It was her experiences with her drama club, led by teaching artists – that solidified the dream.
“If it wasn’t for this theatre company and what I saw as a child and learned in its classrooms, I wouldn’t be who I am today,” she says.
Years later, Crawford would join the company as an acting and production apprentice. During that time, Alexandria played “Martha Pentecost” in Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, “Pink” in America: A Mosaic and “Ann Eliza Hammond” in a staged reading of Prudence.
After completing her apprenticeship, Alexandria was accepted into the inaugural cohort of the M.F.A. in Acting program at Northwestern University. There, she studied under Tony Award-winning director, Anna D. Shapiro. Today, she continues to work as a professional actor and teaching artist who mentors young BIPOC artists.
Art matters to Alexandria Crawford because it gave her the educational foundation to pursue her dream of being an actress.
Like Friedman and Crawford, Bryce Bayer was immersed in art from a young age – though some would say his foray into theatre had a little more fresh air. It was less contained, and more unorthodox.
As a St. Louis native, Bayer grew up around the prestigious MUNY, America’s oldest and largest outdoor musical theatre. It didn’t take long for the bright lights and applause to attract him. He was selected to join the company’s youth troupe and performed in thirteen shows.
For Bayer, Art is community. He would find his when he was cast in American Stage’s 2022 Production of Footloose:
“To be able to be in this new city, and to audition for American Stage knowing that they’re doing this big production in the park, I knew I wanted to be part of something like that,” Bayer says of the experience.
Footloose marked the first park show since the onset of the COVID pandemic. He would also play in last season’s award-winning production of Green Day’s American Idiot. “Doing Footloose and then American Idiot immediately after really helped me gain my identity as an artist,” he says.
When not performing in musicals across the region, Bayer can be seen anywhere from the control booth (he ran lighting for 2023’s The Colored Museum) to the box office.
“American Stage set a foundation for me to continue what I’m doing today,” he says.
Art matters to Bryce because it gives him the community he has always searched for.
So why does art matter?
For us (the audience) art might matter because it gives us something to think about. It might be a social outing with friends. It might be something that inspires us to strive for more in our own lives.
For the artists that walk through American Stage’s doors, art matters because American Stage matters.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Donate today to help ensure other emerging artists have opportunities for professional growth and development in our community.
Donate here: americanstage.org/art-matters