“To see everyone turn to the creative arts to get them through quarantine and then turn around and suggest artists just find another line of work, is insulting beyond words.”

“I feel like I am being left behind while my community is propelling itself forward into something else; that they are able to adapt and I can’t.”

“Artists often have a crazy amount of commitments. It can be difficult to set aside time for our own health and well-being. But here’s the conclusion it’s taken me a long time to arrive at: we deserve it. “

“I’ve heard you scoff at my plea to save the arts. Roll your eyes at me trying to explain why they are worth saving. Yet you watched Hamilton on Disney+ this month, you’ve seen recorded performances, from concerts to sing-a-longs to dance productions. And you exclaimed, ‘thank goodness for these outlets! I’ve been so bored during the quarantine.’”

“Food has to be put on the table, rent needs to be paid and life has to go on. We all have to make choices out of necessity especially when it’s a matter of survival. What irks me is when non-creatives shake their head at us, throw their arms up and say, ‘well, you shouldn’t have picked such a hard industry.’“

“Conversations with my theater community during the pandemic have overwhelmingly revolved around the hope that theater will return; more importantly, the hope that it returns differently. The truth is that the Broadway theater model was not working for most of the artists in New York for a myriad of reasons, from cost to accessibility to content being too safe or commercial. Throughout the last few years, the complaint about theater by theater artists themselves was that it was catered too much to tourists and not to the community.”

“When thinking about how to tie this into her love for performance, Kumala reflected back on the power in the knowledge of global issues and advocacy. “I felt like I really wanted to tell these stories because if only people understood and learned about the world outside of their own bubble, they would be able to make more empathetic decisions in their business practices, government positions, and in their daily lives,” said Kumala.”

For actors, directors, and writers alike, the process of creating and pursuing a creative career can often feel like a daunting and isolating way of life. Then, if you are fortunate, you find a group that envelops you in support, acceptance, and understanding. It is the most sought after commodity; it is your tribe.