Author: Gretchen Massey

What years did you attend WAA?

I attended WAA from 2008-2014.

What program(s) did you participate in at WAA?

I participated in theatre camps/programs and dance.

How did WAA make a lasting impression and impact on you?

One way WAA made an impact on me was simply by being a space where I could pursue my artistic interests. Through the programs I participated in, I learned two important lessons that I still carry with me today:

1. Life is a performance and the world is a stage.
2. You have to fake it ’til you make it.

While these may sound like cliches, I have found them incredibly powerful in helping me overcome any obstacle I encounter, feel confident in myself, and learn to see the joy and humor in life. Moreover, being in a space like WAA, where I was surrounded by people practicing different types of art all the time, really demonstrated to me the significance of art. WAA taught me that art was not only something that I could do, but was also a powerful tool to think critically, learn about myself and understand the dynamism of the broader world. And for this I am incredibly grateful for WAA. 

What areas of study did you pursue after your time at WAA?

After my time at WAA, I continued performing in Sterling High School theatre productions, speech and group interpretation. I was a Rotary Youth Exchange Student to South Korea. I then went on to study Global Studies and East Asian Languages and Cultures at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. 

What are your current arts related job/career?

I am currently a sociology PhD Candidate at the University of Southern California. 

Do you feel that your time at WAA is a direct reflection on your current position/career path?

WAA introduced me to worlds outside of the Sauk Valley. From the global art that was displayed in the hallway gallery to the global sounds and rhythms that I was introduced to on the stage and through dance, I can proudly say that WAA ignited my desire to learn about and explore the world. This passion for exploration and learning motivated me to pursue academic research. As a sociologist, I use dramaturgy and performance as an analytical lens to make sense of and understand everyday social situations. Additionally, WAA taught me that art is a medium for understanding broader social phenomena and I heavily incorporate art into the classes I teach and within my research. 

What years did you attend WAA?

I was a part of multiple Woodlawn Arts Academy productions from 2009-2017.

What program(s) did you participate in at WAA?

I participated in six junior musicals, a Shakespeare in the Park production, and two musicals performed on the outdoor stage at Woodlawn Arts Academy. I also took voice lessons.

How did WAA make a lasting impression and impact on you?

Woodlawn Arts Academy helped me grow both as a performer and an individual. As an 11-year-old who thought he might be interested in theatre, I was able to work with amazing educators and directors who helped me explore this passion and make incredible memories on stage. They helped me find my voice (literally and figuratively), taught me valuable lessons about performing on a stage, and encouraged me to continue working and improving – all while creating a genuinely fun and welcoming environment.

Aside from being on stage, my time at Woodlawn Arts Academy helped me learn valuable skills in working as a team, building trust and relationships with others, and responsibility. My directors worked hard to make sure our cast would make genuine connections and look forward to working together. We learned that every cast member had an important role to play, and that by coming together we can create an amazing product. It was our responsibility to learn lines, choreography, and music so that when we all ended up on that stage together, we would trust each other to come together and put on the best show we could.

What areas of study did you pursue after your time at WAA?

After my time at Woodlawn, I received my undergraduate degree in communication studies and English, with a minor in journalism. After that, I received my master’s degree in communication studies. Though these areas may not be directly associated with singing on stage, the skills I learned at Woodlawn Arts Academy are still present: public speaking, being able to absorb the necessary information for meetings and projects, and working with others to accomplish a shared goal.

What are your current arts related job/career?

I am the Digital Marketing Specialist for Hitachi Global Air Power, based out of Chicago. I create content for their social media platforms, as well as create and manage our digital advertising efforts.

Do you feel that your time at WAA is a direct reflection on your current position/career path?

I absolutely feel that my time at Woodlawn Arts Academy played a role in my current position. When working on digital advertisements or social media content, creativity and curiosity are a must. What will customers respond to, and how can we stand out? The educators and directors at Woodlawn Arts Academy always encouraged us to let our creativity and curiosity guide us in making character choices and discovering how we can make the most of our space to create strong performances. They listened to ideas, suggestions, and encouraged us to keep finding new approaches. The creativity encouraged at Woodlawn also benefits me in directing photography and videography necessary for our marketing efforts.

On top of that, my time at Woodlawn Arts Academy helped build my confidence in public speaking, leadership, and being able to successfully take on tasks. My directors handed an 11-year-old Evan a script and said to memorize all my lines before our show in a few months – that was pretty daunting at the time! But with their encouragement and trust in my ability, I was able to learn how I work most effectively and know that I can handle different responsibilities thrown my way.

Now, when I’m asked to create a report to present to an executive, I have more confidence that I can take on this task and find a way to succeed. When it comes to these presentations, my time on stage at Woodlawn helps me feel more comfortable in my ability to effectively communicate my strategies, achievements, and thoughts about how the marketing team can operate in the future.

What years did you attend WAA?

I attended WAA from around the ages of 5-11 (K-5). 

What program(s) did you participate in at WAA?

Theatre, sewing, book club (spy club), baking, piano and writing. 

How did WAA make a lasting impression and impact on you?

WAA impacted me through the realization that a well-centered education relies on the arts. More specifically, that art-related skills apply to all subjects. WAA encouraged me to always be pursuing some sort of artistic venture because that was instilled in me while growing up at WAA. While I may be a substitute teacher right now, I am actively making personal art, selling personal art, and preparing lessons for next year as an art educator!

What areas of study did you pursue after your time at WAA?

After Woodlawn, I continued my studies, making it a priority to focus on art. In high school, I attended WACC and took digital media classes with Mr. Mennie. After graduating, I went on to pursue my Associate’s in Fine Arts at SVCC with Glenn Bodish. And finally, I attended UIC to achieve my Bachelor’s degree in Art Education and I graduated this spring.

What are your current arts related job/career?

I am currently the full-time substitute at Polo School District, subbing for all classes and ages, but specifically being able to put my knowledge to use in classes like art, music and English. Additionally, I will now be working at Woodlawn to continue my focus on art education! I am so excited to teach art at the place that allowed me to fall in love with the power of creativity. 

Do you feel that your time at WAA is a direct reflection on your current position/career path?

100%! Seeing Woodlawn’s educators proved to me that you CAN center a career around the arts, despite the overwhelming notion that art is not as important as other ventures. I think that Woodlawn is an incredible resource for the surrounding communities. It is important now more than ever to provide kids with a space where they can come to express their creativity and critical thinking within a community that actively fosters it. 

What years did you attend WAA?

2006-2015

What program(s) did you participate in at WAA?

I did the theatre camps/programs, private lessons for oboe and piano, some art classes, and cooking classes. 

How did WAA make a lasting impression and impact on you? 

Woodlawn served as the foundation for the way I interact with art. The people and classes there fostered such an incredible, welcoming environment for learning and experimentation, while teaching foundations in life skills I still use to this day, and I feel incredibly privileged to have grown up with such a supportive artistic space in my life. It taught me that it’s always possible and important to make time for art in your life, whatever form that might take, whether that’s theatre, or sewing, or dance, or whatever you may be drawn to. 

What areas of study did you pursue after your time at WAA?

I pursued an undergraduate degree in journalism and history, with a minor in sound design (and a ton of student theatre), and then returned for a master’s in sound arts and industries to further pursue sound design and engineering. 

What is your current arts related job/career?

I currently work as the head of sound at the Metropolis Performing Arts Center in Arlington Heights. I also freelance as a sound designer for theatre, film and audio fiction, as well as a producer, director and editor for my audio fiction podcast “Tales From The Singing Porch.” Recently, I won a “Behind the Scenes Brilliance” award from the International Women’s Podcast Awards for my sound design and production of this podcast. Our production company, Talefolk Productions, won second place in a shorts competition, and that short has since been featured in three international audio fiction festivals as well, winning second in the Leipzig Horspielsommer Festival in Germany. You can check us out at Talefolk.com!

Do you feel that your time at WAA is a direct reflection on your current position/career path?

Pretty clearly, yes! My full-time job is in theatre, and all of my side projects are straightforward reflections of the lovely artistic folks surrounding me throughout my time in Woodlawn and the Sterling High School theatre program. 

What years did you attend WAA?

I started with dance at the age of 4 and my last submission in the Student/Teacher Art Show my senior year in high school.

What program(s) did you participate in at WAA?

I took art classes, summer classes, dance, piano, theatre, submitted art for the art shows, and ran in the color runs. 

How did WAA make a lasting impression and impact on you? 

Woodlawn Arts Academy helped shape the foundation for everything I’m pursuing now. Studying visual art, theatre and dance gave me a strong sense of creativity, presentation and storytelling, which are all essential in the fashion industry. Visual art taught me how to think critically about design and aesthetics. Theatre gave me confidence in public speaking and presenting ideas, while dance helped me understand movement, flow and the body, which connects directly to how clothing fits and moves.

Now that I’m pursuing a degree in Fashion Merchandising with minors in Business and Graphic Design, I see how much those early experiences continue to influence me. The academy gave me creative discipline and a visual eye, but also taught me how to collaborate, take direction, and think outside the box. It’s helped me merge artistic vision with strategy, exactly what I need to succeed in fashion.

What is your current arts-related job?

I am currently working at a boutique in retail which includes some modeling, freelance graphic design, and for a creative agency that serves predominantly nonprofit organizations.