"Aelin is imaginative, possessed of an inherently theatrical sensibility, and brings a genuinely positive energy to any collaborative group." - Monica French, Visiting Assistant Professor, Pomona College
ABOUT ME
I am a Los Angeles-based multi-hyphenate artist, performer, and scholar with a passion for storytelling and a deep-seated love for learning.
I hold a B.A. in Theatre from The Claremont Colleges. Since committing to theatre full-time in 2023, I have dedicated myself to training in a wide range of modalities from acting and directing to production management and technical direction. I believe that, in an art form that holds collaboration at its core, it was not enough to simply work with other artists but to study what it took to do their job. And along the way, I found myself falling in love with every aspect of production. My unique position as a "jack of all trades" has taught me a deep compassion for my collaborators and enhanced my skill set as an artist.
As a scholar and artist, I specialize in Queer Pedagogy, Black Heritage, Greek Mythology, Ritual, Social Activism, and Public Health. I am fascinated by the adaptation of classical stories for a modern audience, casting Queer, BIPOC actors in roles typically cast for non-poc actors, and art that reflects the lived experience. What does it mean to have a Black, Trans Prior in Angels in America? What does it mean to have a Black Elphaba in Wicked? My work is shaped by my experiences as a Black, Queer, Transwoman, and often lives at the intersection of the personal and political.
As a scholar and artist, I specialize in Queer Pedagogy, Black Heritage, Greek Mythology, Ritual, Social Activism, and Public Health. I am fascinated by the adaptation of classical stories for a modern audience, casting Queer, BIPOC actors in roles typically cast for non-poc actors, and art that reflects the lived experience. What does it mean to have a Black, Trans Prior in Angels in America? What does it mean to have a Black Elphaba in Wicked? My work is shaped by my experiences as a Black, Queer, Transwoman, and often lives at the intersection of the personal and political.
As a person of intersectional identities, I make it a focus in my artistry to break away from exclusionary theatre practices and build spaces that are open, brave, consent-forward, and human-forward. Outside of traditional theatre spaces, I've worked with organizations like the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn), National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC), and Philly Youth Power (PHYLP).
In 2022, I was awarded the prestigious Bill Gates Scholarship. In 2023, I won Pomona College's Virginia Princehouse Allen Newcomer Award for the greatest contributions to production and performance work. In 2024, I also won Pomona's Jesse Swan Scholarship, which awards a full year of tuition to the recipient.
Select credits include New Works Festival (Conundrum Theatre Co.; Victory Theatre), Hair (Conundrum Theatre Co.; The Broadwater Mainstage), Mediocre Heterosexual Sex (Pomona College; Large Studio), Reason To Be (Pomona College; Large Studio), The Moors (Pomona College; Allen Theatre), Venn Diagram (Playground SF; Portrero Stage), The Play That Goes Wrong (Pomona College; Seaver Theatre), HAUS (Scripps College; Garrison Theatre)
