Alumni Spotlight and new play with AlterTheater
Joelle Joyner Wong graduated as a Theatre Studies major in 2021. She debuted her senior project Ask Her Out! during the 2021 Senior Project Festival.
Since graduating, Joelle has had a journey to discovering her path post-graduation and in the midst of COVID-19. She has since found her place with Berkeley Repertory Theater and with AlterTheater as a Production Associate, assisting with their new production–Pueblo Revolt.
We were able to ask Joelle some questions and you can read her responses below.
What has life been like post-graduation?
Well for starters, working in theatre in the post-graduation life was very tough. I graduated in the midst of the pandemic in 2021, and I felt lost. Not many theatre's were open and the economy was all over the place. I didn't know what to do, and had to work jobs not related to my degree. I tried to get back into writing, but work was making me busy.
In August 2021, I went to the first Screenwriter's Salon hosted by Bay Area artist, Daveed Diggs and Rafael Casal. It was a mixer to connect emerging Bay Area screenwriter's. It made me realize what my true passion will always be. As time went on, 2022 started and I decided to get back into the theatre world, and gain my creative mindset back. I started reaching out to local theatre's in the Bay Area. I got a lot of rejections, which is how this business works. As time went on, a local theatre in San Jose called San Jose Stage Company needed a house manager for their last show of the season. I took the gig, and saw it as my first introduction to working in a theatre. Likewise, I got introduced to AlterTheater on Linkedin, when they needed a Stage Manager for their show Pure Native. I interviewed, and they saw I have House Managing experience. They offered me the position for House Managing, and I also got to learn entry level Box Office experience. After Pure Native ended, I needed another job. I then was interested in Berkeley Repertory Theater. They saw I had House Managing Experience and the supervisor there hired me on the spot as a leadership position. Likewise, Jeanette, AlterTheater's Artist Director was impressed with my work on Pure Native, and introduced me to the Production Associate role for Pueblo Revolt. I currently work at Berkeley Rep as the Front of the House Manager and AlterTheater as the Production Associate.
Likewise, this also brought me back to my dream career in playwriting. This past year, I wrote my first play since College called Post Grad Life. It follows the story of Harlow, who just graduates college and does not know how to get into the working world. This play really highlights what an undergraduate student went through while graduating in a pandemic. I submitted it to a non-profit theatre in Castro Valley called Plethos Productions and they helped me get a public table read. Looking back, I went from graduating college in a pandemic, working jobs unrelated to theatre, to getting back into theatre and connecting with three different theatre's in the Bay Area (San Jose Stage Company, AlterTheater and Berkeley Rep), to now working in two theatre's and having my first table read for a play.
How did Sonoma State's Department of Theatre Arts & Dance prepare you for your career post-graduation?
Sonoma State prepared me a lot for this. When I first started at Sonoma State, I was very shy. I didn't like public speaking or putting myself out there. Sonoma State really showed me that at the end of the day, everyone is there for support, no matter what. I do huddles and speak on a microphone for the House Manager announcement at Berkeley Rep.
Freshman and Sophomore year of College Joelle would not have done that. Also, at the Screenwriter's Salon I mentioned earlier, I went up to Daveed Diggs and introduced myself. On my second day of Berkeley Rep, he came to the premiere for a show called Goddess, and remembered me. Since his event was the first industry related event, and seeing him at my job made me realize this is where I belong. Sonoma State got me out of my shell. I can really thank my professors and peers for making me realize to not be afraid to express yourself. Likewise, since I studied playwriting at Sonoma State and participated in new works festivals, I am excited to see how all the skills I did on my Senior Project, Ask Her Out!, and incorporate them in the table read process. I am already reaching out to some friends for potential actors and creating a rehearsal schedule in Google Calendars. I loved partaking in Powerlines, and I can't wait to move those skills to a professional setting.
Can you tell us about AlterTheater?
AlterTheater is a small theatre started in Marin county. Our mission is focused on supporting historically marginalized artists, with a recent emphasis on Native voices. One of the things that really stood out me when working on Pure Native last year was how AlterTheater does not have a set place where they perform. For Pure Native, we performed at a
little stage at California Shakespeare Theatre, and a park in Marin. For Pueblo Revolt we are performing in a classroom at UC Berkeley. I think the whole goal for that is to prove that you can tell a story anywhere, not just a stage. It really reminds me how stories were told back in the day. That part of AlterTheater is what makes it special. I am really grateful to experience this.
Can you tell us about Pueblo Revolt
Pueblo Revolt
at the ARC at UC Berkeley
Now through February 2nd-12th.
at Art Works Downtown in San Rafael
February 16th-26th
Pueblo Revolt follows the story of a gay Pueblo teen prepares for the Uprising with his older brother, while dealing with a really pesky (and totally inconvenient) crush on the Spanish baker's son. When history is in the making, what do ordinary people do? It's a really powerful piece and I feel the younger generation will enjoy it with diversity, inclusion and the modern language that we can all relate too. I joined the team earlier this month, and from reading the script and watching the performances, it's really fascinating to see how a play gets developed in a professional setting. We are performing at UC Berkeley these next few weeks and later in the month starting on the 16th, we will see be at the Art Works in San Rafael. I really hope to see some Sonoma State students there and hope they see this wonderful show. If I have any advice for them, it will be to never give up. Don't be afraid to put yourself out there.
I want to make a huge shout out to the Sonoma State Theater department and huge thank you! You guys are the reason I stuck with theatre. I hope to connect soon!
