When I began my internship with National Queer Theater, I wasn’t entirely sure what leadership would look like for me in the performing arts or advocacy fields. As the Assistant Stage Manager on FrikiNation, I hesitated at first, unsure of how to approach the stage manager and worried that offering help might interrupt rather than support. Over time, though, I learned that effective leadership doesn’t always mean being the loudest or most visible voice. It can also mean noticing where support is needed, stepping in quietly, and making space for others to do their best work. My definition of leadership has grown into something more collaborative, rooted in listening and trust. What changed most dramatically from the beginning to the end was my confidence in the impact of this work. By the beginning of my experience, I had begun to question whether pursuing a career in the arts had the true potential to change lives, or if that way of thinking was too hopeful or even self-indulgent. However, by the end, I realized that art will always take on the life you give it, and we had given it a strong voice that spoke loudly and clearly to every audience member who needed to hear it most. Sometimes activism isn’t just about disturbing the comfortable, but comforting the disturbed. The most rewarding moment of the entire internship was watching queer couples hold their partner’s arms during the most vulnerable moments in a production, not only hearing the voice of the show, but hearing their own interwoven with it. It was in these moments that I knew I had chosen the correct path for this summer, and possibly even the correct path for my career.

Pictures (including flowers the FrikiNation cast gave me, my co-interns and I, and cast bows).