Meet Taysha Canales
After graduating from Arcadia University, Taysha made the decision to stay in Philadelphia to start her career as an actor and teaching artist. In 2018, Taysha was awarded the 2018 F. Otto Haas Award for Emerging Philadelphia Theatre Artist.
How and when did you first meet Epic?
I met Epic in 2003 at Talent Unlimited High School. Epic led the freshman class in a residency with Ms. Kamin’s English class where we worked on The Orestia
Tell us about an Epic memory that sticks with you.
There are many Epic memories that have impacted me: Participating in a two-week residency in Maine as a teaching assistant working with high school students on an adaptation of An Enemy of the People (I still feel guilty for all the famous restaurants we couldn’t eat at because seafood was too adventurous for me at the time!). Working with Amy Redford on Susan Lori Park’s 365 Plays. Devising a piece about the importance of Voting as a part of Epic Next’s inaugural year. Watching Teri Lamm, one of our teaching artists, stomp across the stage in character wearing a dainty, white dress and giant, thick-soled boots giving one of the most captivating and inspiring performances I’ve ever seen. But the one memory that resonates with me the most is the poem I created with three other girls in Ms. Kamin’s class about Elektra. Our group even created a movement piece for the poem, including moments of choral work. I don’t remember much of the poem, but I can still remember the electricity, strength, and excitement I had as a 9th grader, creating a piece of art for the first time that we were all extremely proud of. Melissa even asked us to perform the poem at several special events. It was empowering.
Catch us up a bit about where you are now
After graduating from Arcadia University in 2011 with a BFA in Acting, I made the decision to stay in Philadelphia to start my career. I’ve spent the last seven years freelancing as an actor and teaching artist. I’ve been a member of the Wilma Theater’s Hot House Company of actors since its beginning in 2015. In this year’s Barrymore Awards, I was awarded the 2018 F. Otto Haas Award for Emerging Philadelphia Theatre Artist. In two weeks, I will begin rehearsals at the Wilma Theater for Romeo and Juliet. where I will be playing the titular role!
How has Epic influenced you in your life/career choices?
I’ve worked with Epic throughout my entire high school career. During that time, Epic taught me what it means to be a citizen artist. A citizen artist provokes their audiences and evokes change within their community. I have continued to carry this principle with me in every piece of art I create. As artists, we have a responsibility to our communities. Identity and representation are two driving forces that fuel my work. Every production and theater I have worked with thus far, especially the work we focus on at the Wilma Theater, is purposeful and challenging to both audience and artist alike. The citizen artist is in constant search of truth and growth. Epic taught me very early in my career that we should always be intentional with our art.
What advice would you give to a current student involved with Epic’s programs?
Keep creating. Take risks and always look for opportunities to challenge yourself. Take advantage of the programs that Epic offers- these opportunities are super rare and incredibly valuable. I’ve gone on to work with several teaching artists who taught me at TU years later as a working professional, and those collaborations have been the most rewarding. Even if you go on to do other things in your life, always carry the principles of the citizen artist. You have the power to influence and make change.
What’s the first word or words you would use to describe your Epic experience?
Empowering
Quick Round:
Favorite play:
It would be impossible to choose just one! Though, two of the most memorable performances of my career was working on the world premieres of James Ijames’ The Most Spectacularly Lamentable Trial of Miz Martha Washington (2014) and Christopher Chen’sPassage (2018).
Favorite class during college:
My favorite theatre course at Arcadia was Children’s Theatre, taught by Kathryn Petersen. My favorite non-theatre course was African Americans in the Media, taught by Dr. Laury.