Centering Black Femme Voices: A Conversation with Two Strikes Theatre Collective Aladrian Wetzel & Christen Cromwell

Welcome to "The Truth in This Art" podcast with your host, Rob Lee! In this episode, we are delighted to have Aladrian Wetzel and Christen Cromwell from the Two Strikes Theater Collective. Two Strikes Theatre Collective is a Baltimore-based theater company the empowers and uplifts Black womxn's voices. Two Strikes' mission is to create art that is unapologetically Black femme centric, to upset the White patriarchal status quo, and to provide creative outlets for Black womxn in the Baltimore community to express themselves through art.

Aladrian Wetzel is the Executive Director of the Two Strikes Theater Collective. She is also the communications manager and a playwright. Aladrian is passionate about creating art that centers around black women and challenges the white patriarchal status quo.

Christen Cromwell is the Director of Play Development at the Two Strikes Theater Collective. She is also an English teacher and a theater artist. Christen is dedicated to supporting black actors, directors, and playwrights and providing them with opportunities in the Baltimore theater community.

Today's episode uncovers:

• The mission of the Two Strikes Theater Collective, as they strive to create art that centers around black women and challenges the white patriarchal status quo.
• Explore the elements that make a good play, focusing on the importance of three-dimensional characters that feel real and relatable.
• Hear from Aladrian and Christen about their earliest experiences with theater and how these shaped their profound passion for the arts, leading them to support black artists.
• Delve into the state of the Baltimore theater scene, as the collective addresses the need for more diversity and representation, prioritizing black women's voices and stories in their transformative work.

Join us as we explore the empowering world of black femme-centric art and the impact of challenging the status quo in the Baltimore theater community. Get ready for an inspiring conversation on creativity, representation, and the art of theater. In this episode, Rob Lee interviews Aladrian Wetzel and Christen Cromwell from the Two Strikes Theater Collective. They discuss the mission of the company, which is to create art that is unapologetically black femme-centric, challenge the white patriarchal status quo, and provide creative outlets for black women in the Baltimore community. Aladrian and Christen share their perspectives on what makes a good play, their earliest experiences with theater, and their favorite black women protagonists in film and television. They also talk about the Baltimore theater scene and the need for more diversity and representation.

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Host: Rob Lee
Music: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis.
Production:

• Produced by Rob Lee & Daniel Alexis
• Edited by Daniel Alexis
• Show Notes courtesy of Rob Lee and Transistor

Photos:

• Rob Lee photos by Vicente Martin for The Truth In This Art and Contrarian Aquarian Media.
• Guest photos courtesy of the guest, unless otherwise noted.

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