We are so excited for you to meet our Marketing and Development Coordinator — Emma Crawford! You’ll see her with the front of house crew, leading box office and more.
Tell us about yourself!
I was raised in Sterling, VA where I was involved with dance, theatre, and digital media all through my childhood. I have a degree in media studies from Radford University, where I also minored in theater! I always enjoyed marrying digital media and theatre, taking on projects like promotional photos & videos, documentaries, and headshots for the theatre and dance department. In the summers I taught dance classes at various dance studios and theater camps. I’m very excited to be joining the Encore family!
What made your decision to join Encore Stage & Studio?
I have a deep appreciation for the “by kids for kids” slogan. I grew up in the theatre (literally my mom was a drama teacher) and I admired how her focus was always on the fact that educational theatre is just what it is – educational. And teaching kids to embrace all elements of theatre: run crew, props, design, performance, ushering, box office, student directing, playwriting, improvisation, etc. is so important for kids to build important life skills, beyond just theatre. I’m proud to use my marketing & development skills to promote Encore Stage & Studio and make sure children in our community have a chance to participate in an art form that is so valuable to our culture.
What shows and projects are you looking forward to this season at Encore?
I am looking forward to all of them, obviously! I sat in in a read through for The Rabbit and the Moon which is a bilingual folktale. It is a beautifully written story by Daniel Mesta that strongly reflects our theme of this year, which is courage. It seamlessly blends English and Spanish together for audiences of all ages to enjoy.
Can you describe your favorite performing arts experience and what made it so memorable?
I think my favorite experiences had to be dance recitals growing up. I loved everything about the experience from being on stage to hanging out with other dancers in the dressing rooms. I even loved the drama of a quick change!
What’s your favorite play or musical as an audience member?
An amazing musical I saw earlier this year was Next to Normal at Roundhouse Theater in Bethesda, MD. I love supporting local theaters in the DMV. There’s a lot of talent around here and it’s a privilege to have as many theaters as we do. And this particular production used projections of videos in an innovative way that I loved as someone who always is looking for ways to combine digital media and theatre. It’s fascinating seeing how projections have been introduced into live theatre over the past decade.
Why do you think the performing arts are important for young people?
I think the most important thing to keep in mind is that performing arts for children are a great way to build community and learn how to participate in a project that’s bigger than them as individuals. Theatre teaches kids how to be respectful of each other, themselves, and the spaces they enter, how to meet deadlines, and how to think critically and develop strong media literacy skills. By learning stories about people with both shared and different experiences as them it also can teach them empathy for those around them. The arts is a great tool to build well rounded individuals. The way Encore centers kids in their practices is really inspiring.
What is your dream character role or dream production to work on and why?
In college I was cast in ‘night, Mother and it got cancelled after the second rehearsal because of the pandemic. I would love another chance to play Jessie Cates, preferably in a couple decades when I’m the appropriate age for the role. It would also be ideal if I could work with the same team I worked with originally, I feel like it was a passion project for all of us and it was difficult letting it go.
What theme day should Encore have at the office?
Pink Pony Club Day! It’s very inspiring to have a new pop star that values theatricality, and it would be great to see everyone at the office in their favorite pink sparkly outfit!
This season is about courage — what courageous experiences and lessons can we learn in the arts?
I think the most courageous thing a person can be is respectful. In the arts we thrive on a division of labor system and no job is more important than the rest. And when you have respect for the arts, respect for your team, and respect for yourself and the role you’re in, it makes everything run smoothly. Being respectful is courageous because we live in a country that prioritizes the individual over the collective, and it’s easy to put yourself first or on the opposite end of the spectrum – become a people pleaser. And the arts is a great tool to use to teach children these values at an early age, because no job is too small in the arts or in life. We’re all here for the same project and we all want it to be successful. And even if kids don’t pursue a career in the arts, they will take these values with them everywhere they go.