The Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) artists will be paid for newly-launched six-week program
Saint Paul, Minnesota (June 22, 2022) — The Ordway Center for the Performing Arts today named 10 artistic fellows to its inaugural GreenRoom musical theater training fellowship created by and for BIPOC artists. The new program—which will operate out of the Ordway’s spaces in downtown Saint Paul—received more than 60 applications.
The six-week program will run July 7 through Aug. 18. This first-of-its-kind fellowship in Minnesota is made possible by support from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.
The 10 GreenRoom artistic fellows are:
Latanya Boone, Minneapolis
Julia Diaz, Eagan
Cortney Gilliam, Minneapolis
Melody Her, Little Canada
Dominique Jones, Saint Paul
Sisloob Lo, White Bear Lake
Shanice Mason, Minneapolis
Mariana Petersen, St. Anthony
Minika Warden, Minneapolis
Pagnia Xiong, Woodbury
“We are thrilled to welcome this tenacious, talented group of artists to the GreenRoom experience,” said Ordway Director of Arts, Learning and Community Engagement Maia Maiden, who leads GreenRoom. “Investing in Minnesota artists not only helps retain top talent in our state, but also strengthens our local arts ecosystem that relies on them.”
Fellows include BIPOC actors, dancers and singers who are 18 years or older and have less than three years of experience as a professional musical theater performer beyond high school or college. They will be paid $2,250 each for their participation in the program, which will cover a wide range of topics that will serve artists throughout their careers – from acting and movement to public speaking and wellness.
GreenRoom will be led by seven core faculty members, who will develop program curriculum: Denzel Belin, Rush Benson, Aimee K. Bryant, Tiffany Cooper, Jared Miller, Nora Montañez Patterson and Natalia Romero Arbeláez. Guest speakers and teaching artists will also participate.
“Cultivating the next generation of great artists takes significant and intentional investment, and we are grateful for the Knight Foundation’s generous support,” said Ordway President and CEO Chris Harrington. “I can’t wait for our community to see how these artists take their talents to the next level.”