Aubrey Felty
We are so excited to welcome Aubrey Felty as Metro Theater Company’s new Teaching Artist Fellow!
Aubrey is from the Dallas, Texas area and recently graduated from Utah State University where she earned a BFA in Theatre Education and a minor in Family and Human Development. Aubrey has pursued several artistic endeavors such as assistant directing a USU main stage Theatre for Young Audiences production, facilitating several student-led devised theatre projects at public schools, and co-creating an on-campus immersive ghost tour experience. She has participated in undergraduate research that spans from contemporary practices in Theatre for Young Audiences to ethnodramatic devised theatre. Her latest creative research undertaking was her Honors Capstone project, titled Margin of Error, which resulted in a docudrama that elevates the voices of multiracial college students and promotes a better understanding of multiracial individuals. Aubrey has been named the Caine College of the Arts Scholar of the Year twice and the USU Talent of the Year in 2022.
We asked Aubrey a few questions about theater, teaching, the performing arts, and more! Read what she shared.
What is theatre for young audiences and how did you get interested in the field?
Theatre for Young Audiences is exactly what it sounds like! It is theatre that is intended and created for young people. I became interested in TYA through my undergraduate theatre education program. There, I learned about TYA and even participated in research about different contemporary TYA theatres in the US!
How is a teaching artist different from a teacher?
A teaching artist integrates their art form to teach in a variety of settings. They teach about the art and through the art. While a traditional teacher usually educates a group or many groups of students consistently throughout an academic year, a teaching artist travels to many classrooms in different schools and other settings to educate people of all ages. Teaching artists often partner with schoolteachers and the community.
How has theatre changed a part of your life or who you are?
I became involved in theatre in middle school. I started on the performance side but soon found a passion for directing. I knew early on that I wanted to pursue a career in theatre by becoming a teacher. It was not until entering college, however, that I realized that theatre could be used as a vehicle for social change. I love how this art fosters so many ways for people to express what they believe in, and I really believe in its power to shape the hearts and minds of young people.
Why are the performing arts important for young people?
The performing arts have the power to nurture passions and help young people pave new paths and foster lifelong relationships and skills. The performing arts can be essential in a young person's growth. It can be empowering and transformational as young people can express themselves creatively and share meaningful experiences with others.
What are you looking forward to as Teaching Artist Fellow?
I am looking forward to learning as much as I can! I am excited to have the opportunity to advance the educational goals at Metro and learn about the inner workings of a nonprofit TYA company! The flagship program, Building Community Through Drama, is one that I am especially excited to teach.
What are two fun facts about yourself?
I am biracial! I'm half Asian (Korean) and half Pacific Islander (Guamanian/Chammoro).
I once had to go to the ER during a dress rehearsal for Dracula. I was in full makeup!
We heard that you co-created an on-campus immersive ghost tour experience at Utah State University. Could you tell us more about that production?
In light of the evolving circumstances that the pandemic had presented to our theatre community, my friend and colleague, Jake Hogan, and I decided to devise an inventive and safe way for audiences to experience theatre. Over the summer of 2020, we developed an immersive theatre piece that is framed as a self-guided ghost tour inspired by local legends at USU and in Logan, UT. We completed the piece just in time for Halloween that year! During the tour, participants listened to an audio recording of the script as they traveled to different sites on the university campus.
What do you enjoy about working with young people?
I love being part of young people learning new things. It's exciting when they discover something interesting or learn something about themselves. Seeing young people make connections and make sense of the world around them is always something to be celebrated!
