TARA RICASA
Theatermaker and Teaching Artist
Artist statement
I BELIEVE THEATER CONNECTS US. IT INVITES US TO SEE OURSELVES IN OTHERS ONSTAGE, TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR COMMON HUMAN EXPERIENCE. IT IS BOTH AN ESCAPE AND A RECKONING. FOR EACH PROJECT, I ALWAYS BEGIN BY ASKING, "WHAT MAKES THIS STORY UNIQUELY THEATRICAL?"
SAYS THE THEATERMAKER
I BELIEVE THAT THE PROCESS OF MAKING AND EXPERIENCING LIVE THEATER CAN BUILD HEALTHY COMMUNITIES AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL LIFE SKILLS. BY ENGAGING IN THEATER-MAKING, PARTICIPANTS LEARN HOW TO COMMUNICATE, COLLABORATE, AND CREATE.
SAYS THE TEACHING ARTIST
ABOUT
If you want to know more about me, you can can ask my mom... or just keep reading:
I am a Filipina-Norwegian American who speaks Spanish and plays capoeira.
I was born and raised in San Diego, CA.
I have a big brother who is 12 years older than I am and was a former BMX state champ (Guess who taught me to ride a bike).
I graduated from UCLA's School of Theater, Film, and Television.
I've worked as a private tutor, accounting associate, theme park stage area supervisor, and swashbuckler, among other things.
I like to travel and have been to Morocco, Brazil, the Philippines, Norway, Spain, Mexico, Italy, Germany, France, Portugal, England, Canada, and Ireland.
I built and operated puppets named Sunny and Louise, who now reside with a friend in Boston.
After living and working in New York for several years, I now work as a theatermaker and teaching artist in Southern California.
