Check Out Christina Foltz’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Christina Foltz.

Hi Christina, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, you could tell our readers some of your backstory.
I have always been a storyteller. As a child, my grandfather encouraged my sister and me to tell our bedtime stories to build in our imaginations. This led me down the writing path and a never-ending journey of creating. It took some time for me to figure out what medium I was to use for my stories, but I settled on theatre. I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and an Associate of Art in Teaching from Southwest Baptist University in the spring of 2021. After a summer of repertory theatre in Indiana as an assistant stage manager, I moved to Kansas City. I grew up in Central Latin America and then in southern Missouri for high school before attending SBU. I started acting in my first show in high school. Once I started college, I discovered I loved being backstage and that the spotlight was not for me. Stage managing, directing, and design were much more well-suited. Here, I found my niche in absurdist drama and political theatre. I am thankful to have a job here in KC as a stagehand. I could not be happy if I were not in a theatre in some capacity. Last summer, I interned as the Community Engagement Apprentice at the Great River Shakespeare Festival and assistant stage managed for the Community Engaged show. I am taking a break from repertory theatre this summer and staying home to work on my projects.

We all face challenges, but would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It’s an uphill climb. I’m still very young and early in my career. People in my career might see my age as inexperienced. I also have new ideas on how to change old ways and reimagine how we might have seen the same production of a show. I think producers can get stuck in the “But this is how it’s always been” or “But this is what will make the most money” mindset instead of getting into a mindset of learning and teaching.

Thanks for sharing that. So, you could tell us a bit more about your work.
I am a director, educator, and playwright. I am still an early career professional, but I am starting to create some big projects that I am excited about. My passion is to create Theatre for Social Change. I believe theatre is meant to be used as a tool to shape the society around us, as well as create a better understanding of our common humanity. This can be seen through projects like a Theatre of the Oppressed Workshop and my most recent partnership with the Charlotte Street Foundation. I have also written a one-act play entitled “Mixed Feelings,” produced at the InterUrban ArtHouse in Overland Park, KS, for the ArtHeals exhibit featuring art themed around mental health. My next big project will be with the City Theatre of Independence as director of “9 to 5 the Musical.”

Networking and finding a mentor can positively impact one’s life and career. Any advice?
Meet everyone you can. Have coffee. Do not burn bridges unless necessary.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://foltzchristina.wixsite.com/website
• Instagram: christina.foltz.art

Image Credits
Hannah Brown