Why “a big eyed fish”? I believe in iterative processes, and find myself continually applying one set of learnings to the next set of circumstances. This can leave me feeling like a goldfish exploring new parts of their bowl, eyes wide. And so I navigate the waters of the world propelled by curiosity, wonder, and a love of learning. I hope to always be discovering, reflecting, changing, and growing.
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Taking the Casting Conversations from personal to structural
The focus on specific producing theatres, plays, artists, and management staff keeps our conversations about racism and white supremacy culture in the theatre industry on the “personal” level instead looking to the “systemic.” If we make it about whether we can/not cast one particular play a specific way, whether these artists made a bad… Read more
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Waiting to Exhale (and retain)
The summer solstice is this week. Hooray! The summer solstice is the day of the year with the longest period of daylight (except in the polar regions). On June 21, 2018, the Earth’s axis (on either the Northern or Southern Hemispheres) is inclined the most toward the Sun as it rotates around it. It’s balanced… Read more
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TCG EDI Institute vs. ATM Me Too Response
I’m a Lucky One I consider myself to be truly, unbelievably lucky that I haven’t been the victim of sexual assault. A person is sexually assaulted every 98 seconds in the U.S. (that’s 570 experiencers of sexual violence daily). The chances of me being a possible target were strong. But, so far, I haven’t. I… Read more
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Dive into make believe, don’t act like you are
I recent supported San Diego REP in developing the first ever adaption (by an independent playwright) of dog & pony dc’s signature show Beertown. This was a “letter from the rehearsal room” I wrote for an email to the REP’s subscribers. Learn about REP’s Beachtown here and here. Suspension of disbelief vs. Investment in make believe At first… Read more
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College-age Cultural Appropriation Tattoo
I now have three tattoos. I refer to my tattoo #1 as my “college-age cultural appropriation tattoo.” Yes, I’m one of the hordes of Americans to get foreign-language characters permanently inked on their bodies. In my case, Chinese. I am not Chinese nor is anyone in my immediately family. I didn’t study Chinese, and I… Read more
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Don’t Worry, Start Growing
When I started working closely with artists and audiences who were Deaf, I was confronted head-on with my identity as Hearing. I also was confronted with a world that is auditory-centered. I then realised I carried a boat-load of prejudices, misunderstandings, or simply lies about people who audiologically speaking do not hear. Like anyone who comes… Read more
Rachel Grossman - A Big Eyed Fish 