Taiga A. Christie
Education
Yale University School of Public Health, Master of Public Health, New Haven, CT, May 2019
· Designed interdisciplinary path of study focused on theater, health equity and community education
· Completed coursework at Yale School of Drama, Yale Law School and Yale School of Public Health
· Collaborated with health workers nationally and locally to create new play about trauma and resilience
Reed College, Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Theater and Anthropology, Portland, OR, May 2010
· Created unique interdisciplinary theatre/anthropology major focusing on ethics of interview-based theater
· Studied queer, political and community theater movements; maximized interdisciplinary study opportunities
· Wrote and directed interview-based performance about mental health care access for gender minorities
Training
Double Edge Theatre Winter Intensive
Student, January 2018
Double Edge Art and Survival Convening
Next Generation Participant, August 2018
Amani People’s Theatre
Theater of the Oppressed intern, June-July 2018
Dell’Arte Abroad Program: Bali, Indonesia
Student, February-March 2009
Cornerstone Theater Company Summer Institute
Lighting Design Student, 2008
Dell’Arte International School of Physical Theatre
Technical Intern, November-December 2007
Experience
Producing Artistic Director, Faultline Ensemble, Portland, OR, November 2013-present
· Founded and directed collective of health workers and artists creating theater for community health
· Secured grant and private funding, managed all communications, and developed full and diverse audiences
· Recruited and trained diverse researchers, writers, performers, designers and technical crew new to theater
· Facilitated safe rehearsal space for collaborators of underrepresented identities
Project Director, Brave Space, New Haven, CT, May 2018-present
· Initiated campaign to promote occupational safety and prevent sexual assault in the performing arts
· Prioritized voices of underrepresented artists in order to promote accessibility of creative process
· Presented at national gatherings and created nationwide partnerships across disciplines
· Focused on organizational and community culture shift in order to promote bodily autonomy and artist rights
Summer Theater Faculty, The Putney School, Putney, VT, June-August 2019
· Designed and taught three-week workshops for high school theater students
· Pioneered interdisciplinary collaboration with other faculty of intensive arts students
· Introduced students to devised, site-specific, antioppressive and political theater techniques
· Utilized limited time and resources to maximize student learning and creative inspiration
Production Supervisor, Yale Undergraduate Productions, September 2017-May 2019
· Managed logistics and safety concerns for undergraduate theatrical productions across the university
· Supported and collaborated with diverse producers, artists and local first responders
· Trained students and volunteers in fire code compliance, audience safety and emergency procedures
Associate Artist, Open Flame Theatre, Ashfield, MA, January 2014-May 2018
· Provided dramaturgy, lighting design and assistant direction to queer nonprofit theater ensemble
· Assisted with logistics of ambitious outdoor, mobile touring productions
· Maintained strong, collaborative team dynamics with diverse creative team on high-stakes projects
Artist in Residence, Seka Theatre and Ace Africa, Arusha, Tanzania, February-March 2017
· Studied with and assisted local artist creating interactive performances in rural Maasai villages
· Built Theater of the Oppressed curriculum for school-aged children in consultation with local artists
· Collaborated across language and translation barriers while maintaining humility and flexibility
Credits
Creator/Director, Counting Pebbles
Faultline Ensemble
Yale Cabaret, March 2019
Workshop at CoHo Productions, August 2016
Assistant Director, The Garden
Open Flame Theatre
Minneapolis, MN
June 2019 and June 2020
Director, Tony Kushner’s A Bright Room Called Day
Faultline Ensemble
Waterline Studio, October 2016
Lead Writer/Director, Holding onto the Sky
Faultline Ensemble
Peninsula Oddfellows, February 2016
Headwaters Theatre, November 2014
Creator/Director, Six Billion Utopias
AIDS Project of Southern Vermont
Off Center for the Performing Arts, January 2013
Sandglass Theatre, November 2012
Reed College, March 2010
Monologue to Dialogue in Community-Based Theater
Academic Thesis
Interdisciplinary Committee on Theatre/Anthropology
Reed College, May 2010
Freelance Lighting Design
Various Companies and Venues
Portland, OR, January 2010-August 2017
Scenic Carpenter and Painter
Reed College Theater
Portland, OR, January 2008-May 2010
Awards
New Haven Neighborhood Cultural Vitality Grant, for production of new play on trauma in first responders, 2019
Tsai City Innovation Grant, for masters thesis on theater and community health education, 2018
Network of Ensemble Theatres Travel Grant, for study of theater as trauma intervention in Kenya, 2018
MacMillan Program on Refugees and Humanitarian Response Grant, for research on vicarious trauma, 2018
Oregon Arts Commission Career Opportunity Grant, for study of theater and health education in Tanzania, 2017
Pollination Project Seed Grant, for documentary performance about health equity and disaster resilience, 2015
Skills
Strong team collaborator | Collective decision-making process design experience | Ten years experience in creation and direction of community-based theater | Grant writing | Eight years work in community health education for underserved populations | Emergency Medical Technician certification | De-escalation and trauma intervention skills.
Education
Yale University School of Public Health, Master of Public Health, New Haven, CT, May 2019
· Designed interdisciplinary path of study focused on theater, health equity and community education
· Completed coursework at Yale School of Drama, Yale Law School and Yale School of Public Health
· Collaborated with health workers nationally and locally to create new play about trauma and resilience
Reed College, Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Theater and Anthropology, Portland, OR, May 2010
· Created unique interdisciplinary theatre/anthropology major focusing on ethics of interview-based theater
· Studied queer, political and community theater movements; maximized interdisciplinary study opportunities
· Wrote and directed interview-based performance about mental health care access for gender minorities
Training
Double Edge Theatre Winter Intensive
Student, January 2018
Double Edge Art and Survival Convening
Next Generation Participant, August 2018
Amani People’s Theatre
Theater of the Oppressed intern, June-July 2018
Dell’Arte Abroad Program: Bali, Indonesia
Student, February-March 2009
Cornerstone Theater Company Summer Institute
Lighting Design Student, 2008
Dell’Arte International School of Physical Theatre
Technical Intern, November-December 2007
Experience
Producing Artistic Director, Faultline Ensemble, Portland, OR, November 2013-present
· Founded and directed collective of health workers and artists creating theater for community health
· Secured grant and private funding, managed all communications, and developed full and diverse audiences
· Recruited and trained diverse researchers, writers, performers, designers and technical crew new to theater
· Facilitated safe rehearsal space for collaborators of underrepresented identities
Project Director, Brave Space, New Haven, CT, May 2018-present
· Initiated campaign to promote occupational safety and prevent sexual assault in the performing arts
· Prioritized voices of underrepresented artists in order to promote accessibility of creative process
· Presented at national gatherings and created nationwide partnerships across disciplines
· Focused on organizational and community culture shift in order to promote bodily autonomy and artist rights
Summer Theater Faculty, The Putney School, Putney, VT, June-August 2019
· Designed and taught three-week workshops for high school theater students
· Pioneered interdisciplinary collaboration with other faculty of intensive arts students
· Introduced students to devised, site-specific, antioppressive and political theater techniques
· Utilized limited time and resources to maximize student learning and creative inspiration
Production Supervisor, Yale Undergraduate Productions, September 2017-May 2019
· Managed logistics and safety concerns for undergraduate theatrical productions across the university
· Supported and collaborated with diverse producers, artists and local first responders
· Trained students and volunteers in fire code compliance, audience safety and emergency procedures
Associate Artist, Open Flame Theatre, Ashfield, MA, January 2014-May 2018
· Provided dramaturgy, lighting design and assistant direction to queer nonprofit theater ensemble
· Assisted with logistics of ambitious outdoor, mobile touring productions
· Maintained strong, collaborative team dynamics with diverse creative team on high-stakes projects
Artist in Residence, Seka Theatre and Ace Africa, Arusha, Tanzania, February-March 2017
· Studied with and assisted local artist creating interactive performances in rural Maasai villages
· Built Theater of the Oppressed curriculum for school-aged children in consultation with local artists
· Collaborated across language and translation barriers while maintaining humility and flexibility
Credits
Creator/Director, Counting Pebbles
Faultline Ensemble
Yale Cabaret, March 2019
Workshop at CoHo Productions, August 2016
Assistant Director, The Garden
Open Flame Theatre
Minneapolis, MN
June 2019 and June 2020
Director, Tony Kushner’s A Bright Room Called Day
Faultline Ensemble
Waterline Studio, October 2016
Lead Writer/Director, Holding onto the Sky
Faultline Ensemble
Peninsula Oddfellows, February 2016
Headwaters Theatre, November 2014
Creator/Director, Six Billion Utopias
AIDS Project of Southern Vermont
Off Center for the Performing Arts, January 2013
Sandglass Theatre, November 2012
Reed College, March 2010
Monologue to Dialogue in Community-Based Theater
Academic Thesis
Interdisciplinary Committee on Theatre/Anthropology
Reed College, May 2010
Freelance Lighting Design
Various Companies and Venues
Portland, OR, January 2010-August 2017
Scenic Carpenter and Painter
Reed College Theater
Portland, OR, January 2008-May 2010
Awards
New Haven Neighborhood Cultural Vitality Grant, for production of new play on trauma in first responders, 2019
Tsai City Innovation Grant, for masters thesis on theater and community health education, 2018
Network of Ensemble Theatres Travel Grant, for study of theater as trauma intervention in Kenya, 2018
MacMillan Program on Refugees and Humanitarian Response Grant, for research on vicarious trauma, 2018
Oregon Arts Commission Career Opportunity Grant, for study of theater and health education in Tanzania, 2017
Pollination Project Seed Grant, for documentary performance about health equity and disaster resilience, 2015
Skills
Strong team collaborator | Collective decision-making process design experience | Ten years experience in creation and direction of community-based theater | Grant writing | Eight years work in community health education for underserved populations | Emergency Medical Technician certification | De-escalation and trauma intervention skills.