In August of 2019 I was finishing an eight-week Intensive Outpatient Program for people needing extra treatment for things like depression, complicated PTSD, and anxiety. I felt like I was waiting for an opportunity to come along that would allow me to prove to myself and everyone else that I was in this world for a good reason. I mistook Uprising Theater Company’s audition camp for such an opportunity. Instead, through that two-week intensive, I found that I had already arrived as an artist and self-advocate in the Twin Cities theater scene. I had found a kind of home that wanted me and recognized what I had to offer. Before the intensive had ended, I was offered a role in Uprising’s fall production of In a Stand of Dying Trees.
I don’t actually remember how I heard about the acting intensive. It might have been on a facebook page, or I might have been aimlessly googling. But thank goodness I noticed a call for people–especially trans and nonbinary people–to participate in the process of forming a community of support, learning, and preparation for auditioning in the Twin Cities theater community. I took it as a great sign that my application for monetary support was answered within an hour of sending it, and I looked forward to the first day like I used to look forward to school starting.
Our first meeting was grounded with a land acknowledgment and ritual of recognition for ancestors and their wisdom. We set to work building trust among each other and setting goals and expectations for the process. Then we immediately jumped into mock auditions with local directors and professionals providing feedback. Throughout the process we had feedback and learning experiences with a broad range of professionals, including dancers, casting directors, and Shannon Kearns himself. Because of this experience, I now have an actual CV to submit when I audition anywhere!
Moving from the Uprising audition camp into an Uprising production was a great experience. I got to work with Emily England’s direction and Shannon’s words and insert myself into a play with a character who could have actually been written for me. In my previous experiences, except for once or twice, roles I have been auditioning for were stretched or interpreted as nonbinary or trans to allow my participation. This time, the show was really about me and people like me. I now feel like there is a possibility to see myself authentically onstage when I join new productions and groups. I feel like I can speak up for myself in a world that doesn’t always make space for trans people without outside prompting. Uprising Theater Company helped me find that confidence in myself, and gave me a concrete example of a world I thought I could only imagine.
Carey Morton is an actor and aspiring playwright living in Minneapolis. They loved working with Uprising Theater in their production of A Stand of Dying Trees in 2019, and are very excited to continue that relationship in the future. Carey trained at the actor training program at Steppenwolf Theater in Chicago before moving home to the Twin Cities in 2017, and hopes to continue learning and growing as an artist and professional here.