The Buzz Intro Interview | Rya - Atlanta Fringe Festival

Respondent: Rya
Show Title: The Evolution of Consciousness

“Each day I had to constantly affirm I was good enough and what I was creating was interesting and valid! That first draft pushed me so outside my comfort zone.”

1. Why should people see your show?

I’ve never heard of anything like it! I coined the term a one woman music opera as it has original music (including my voice looped) with intriguing costumes and it talks about the universe and emotional healing.

What about festivals intrigues you? And why the Atlanta Fringe?

I love that most Fringes are lottery based so anyone with any batsh!t crazy idea is given the opportunity to create. Well, Atlanta is driving distance from FL (LOL) but I like that it’s a smaller festival so you have the opportunity to connect with the other artists and be able to see the majority of the other shows.

What inspired you to create this?

I wanted to create something that incorporated the many things that I do; singing/dancing, writing, music (had been an untapped potential before this project) and my wearable art (fashions). I think I also knew I had a unique voice in terms of my own spiritual journey.

Life has been weird the last few years, to say the least. How has the “real world” affected the art you’re creating?

Actually covid life (and post) allowed me to focus on my own emotional healing which in turn has paved the way for me to create more meaningful and vulnerable work!

What have you learned from working on your show so far?

Wow, so much. I wrote the preliminary version of the show last year and really only finished a week or two before I opened so I had no idea how it was going to go over. Each day I had to constantly affirm I was good enough and what I was creating was interesting and valid! That first draft pushed me so outside my comfort zone. Coming back to re-haul it with more confidence now has been amazing. I’ve learned more about my process and how to balance it with real life so I don’t burn myself out.

A mysterious stranger asks to meet you and your cast and crew after loving your show. In your WILDEST DREAMS, who is it? (Bonus points if your mysterious stranger is an Atlanta celeb.)

Love this question! Umm Grace Jones, Bjork, Rupaul

[Ed. note: this is a good group, but we’re really hoping it’s Grace Jones.]

1. Fringes are the place to really push the boundaries so we gotta ask: are you inviting your family to this show are “Hey, maybe sit this one out you guys…”

I would if they lived locally! They have gotten used to my creative shenanigans 😉

Will your show change the world?

Honestly, it’s the direction I hope art will go as it addresses healing and spiritual topics and I hope to leave the viewer uplifted and empowered.

AI: the death of our art form or just a new tool to create?

Creative AI is a bit of a double edged sword but if speaking specifically of theater and performance nothing will ever replace the live experience! I definitely believe the accessibility in certain creative realms (say images/illustrations for example) can hinder people in that field but using it as a tool to enhance a performance or empower a creator I think it can be good. For example, I produced all the music for this show and do not currently have the means to hire musicians to record. The program I am using offers a variety of “Drummers” that you can manipulate at will. It has really allowed me to get as close to my vision for the music as possible and put it out into the world but someday hope to be able to hire people to do every part professionally.