A New Chapter of Education and Engagement

As the Education & Engagement Associate, and before that as a 2050 Administrative Fellow, I found writing for the NYTW Blog an incredibly inspiring aspect of my time at the Workshop. Creating posts to document the history of Mind the Gap or solo performances at NYTW made me feel proud—they were opportunities to celebrate the work of our intergenerational participants and engage with a legacy of diverse and iconic artists. Interviewing community partners and sharing their stories reminded me of why I love doing what I do. And illustrating the impact of our shows, events, and collaborations affirmed my own long-term interests in theatre: to always make bold, new work that is issue-oriented and community-created.

Marty teaching a game during Mind the Gap in London (Photo by Andy Henry)

These writings and reflections, along with my work on our programming here at NYTW, are what inspired me to think about my next steps as a theatremaker. It’s with (bittersweet) excitement that I share that I am moving on from the Workshop to pursue my MFA in Dramaturgy and Dramatic Criticism at the David Geffen School of Drama at Yale University. But I know I’ll carry with me into my graduate studies everything I’ve learned at NYTW: how to collaborate with intergenerational groups in different communities (whether in the Berkshires or big cities), how to devise powerful theatre with young people like our Youth Artistic Instigators, and so much more.

The Blog and the work of Education & Community Engagement will continue in earnest through two new staff members dedicated to its mission: our new Education & Community Engagement Associate Emma Yaniger, and Community Engagement Coordinator Dylin Taylor. So for now, I’ll say farewell to you all here at the NYTW Blog and pass the reins to Emma and Dylin to introduce themselves.

—Marty Chandler

As the incoming Education & Engagement Associate, cultivating the NYTW Blog is something I’m especially excited about. I feel privileged to uplift the work and voices of our collaborating artists, the NYTW staff, and our community members, and to forever expand our community by spreading the good word about our enriching events.

While I initially came into theatre as a performer, my meaningful experiences as a teaching artist illuminated that theatre education and engagement are the great loves of my career. To me, theatre education’s power to develop both individual artistry and communal collaboration is unmatched, and I’ve devoted my career to empowering others through theatre.

This fall marks a decade of my living in NYC, and in that time, I’ve engaged in a kaleidoscope of theatre-making experiences and roles. From devising to stage management to costume design and much more, I want to take part however I can. I’m also passionate about developing new work, as illustrated through my years with emerging NYC theatre companies like Soft Brain Theatre Company, a commedia dell’arte and clowning musical troupe, and Pocket Ghost Productions, an innovator of site-specific and immersive theatre. My artistic identity revolves around making sense of the profound through the playful: I aim to create work that embraces heavy yet essential stories with absurdity and bold theatricality.

Outside of theatre, you can find me scouring every thrift store in the city, singing with Brooklyn Choir Project, doing yoga, or learning fiber arts. Until next time!

—Emma Yaniger

Hi! I’m Dylin Taylor—a director, visual artist, and arts administrator who has worked at organizations such as Park Avenue Armory, Williamstown Theatre Festival, and the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council. Though I’ve just started in my role as Community Engagement Coordinator at NYTW, I’m no stranger to the Workshop—I’ve been an Usher and Box Office Associate for NYTW productions since Fall 2022. I’m so excited to be more involved with developing the Workshop’s one-of-a-kind cultural and community life.

In my artistic practice, I seek to create work that celebrates the nuance, rarity, and contradiction that people hold, and how that influences the way we love one another. Some of my favorite pieces of theatre include Dark Noon, untitled fck mss s**gon play, and this house is not a home. I’m also particularly inspired by directors Ping Chong, Thomas Ostermeier, and Dustin Wills.

Beyond the theater, I love to explore new restaurants and areas of New York City, paint, and invent games to play with my friends in my tiny apartment.

Hope to see you at one of our community gatherings soon!

—Dylin Taylor

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Categories: Education. Tags: Dylin Taylor, Education & Engagement, Emma Yaniger, and Marty Chandler.