Collaboraction, an ethno-diverse social justice organization that uses theater and performance to incite social change in Chicago, announces The Light, a radical new program dedicated to recruiting, mentoring, introducing and inspiring exceptional Chicago youth artists and activists over the course of a full year.
The Light is Collaboration’s debut of its youth education program, focused on outstanding youth artists and change-makers of exceptional message, skill and craft who are eager to be immersed in a deep artistic and scholarly mentorship as part of a year-long, paid creation and performance mentorship program.
Meet The Light (from left): Ella Rae, Ava Lynn Trpeski, Kyra Pierce, Phallon Pierce, Marcus Jackson and Nate Buescher. Credit: Joel Maisonet
The Light, Class of 2020-21, includes Nate Buescher, 13, a talented young TV and stage actor, singer and dancer, and a member of the Chicago Bulls, Bulls’ Kidz for five years, from Lincoln Park High School, whose social justice focus is celebrating our differences; Marcus Jackson, 17, a southside student from Lindblom focusing on community apathy and acting; identical twins Phallon and Kyra Pierce, 14, from Bolingbrook, who have a bill on the Illinois House Floor, called The Pierce Twins Law, that would ensure K-12 curriculums throughout Illinois will include books written by diverse authors; Ella Rae, 18, a singer/storyteller from Wicker Park named a Rising Star of Chicago by the City of Chicago in 2019, who is focused on mental health awareness; and Ava Lynn Trpeski, 15, from Crown Heights, Indiana, whose focus is body positivity and confronting the stigma of what a dancer should look like.
The Light (from left): Ella Rae, Ava Lynn Trpeski, Kyra Pierce, Phallon Pierce, Marcus Jackson and Nate Buescher. Credit: Joel Maisonet
“These six outstanding young people have the potential to impact generational shifts in attitude and behavior around critical social issues,” said Anthony Moseley, Artistic Director, Collaboraction. “Our plan is to invest heavily into their development so they will illuminate social change in Chicago with their talent and activism, while inspiring their fellow youth to find their own voices as well.”
This project is partially supported by the Marc and Jeanne Malnati Family Foundation, The Illinois Arts Council, a state agency, Chicago Park District’s Night Out in the Parks and sponsored by Toyota, USA.
“Collaboraction is a unique change agent, located in the city of Chicago, that inspires and provokes independent thinking and creativity in the arts community,” says Alva Adams-Mason, Group Manager, Multicultural Business Strategy and Dealer Relations for Toyota Motor North America. “Toyota Motor North America recognizes the exceptional students thriving in the many diverse neighborhoods of the Chicagoland area and seeks to support the elevation of those creative voices, by expanding access to opportunities to strengthen those communities with the artists and activists of tomorrow.”
The Light will premiere their new works August 19-21, 2021, with free, live, outdoor performances on three consecutive nights at three Chicago Park District locations around the city: Thursday, August 19 at 6 p.m. at Douglass Park, 1401 S. Sacramento in North Lawndale; Friday, August 20 at 5 p.m. at LaFollette Park, 1333 N. Laramie in Austin; and Saturday, August 21at 5 p.m. at Hamilton Park, 513 W. 72nd St. in Englewood (followed by a free movie). Collaboraction’s world premiere performances of The Light are presented as part of the Chicago Park District’s Night Out in the Parks program.
In keeping with Collaboraction’s Equitable Pay for All policy, all six members of The Light will be fully compensated for their time, including creation, mentorship, rehearsal, and performances.
For more information on The Light and all of Collaboraction’s social change work, visit collaboraction.org.
Collaboraction
The Light
Class of 2021-22 Biographies
Nate Buescher
Age 13
Mentored by TehRay “HayWyre” Hale Jr.
Social justice focus: Celebrating our differences, erasing stereotypes and supporting Black Lives Matter
“I believe I can change people's perspective to embrace people's differences, differences should be celebrated.” - Nate Buescher
Nate Buescher is a busy actor with TV shows/pilots for ABC, FOX, NBC and Amazon. He is also a stage actor and has performed at Goodman, Paramount and Drury Lane. He has danced for the Chicago Bulls as a member of Bulls Kidz for four years and he looks forward to the upcoming season. Nate is also a company member at Xtreme Dance Force where he has been dancing for nine years. He studies voice at Your True Voice Studio Chicago. In his free time, Nate is an active volunteer at the Honeycomb Project, which puts kids at the forefront of social change by mobilizing whole families to build strong and connected communities through public service. He resides in Chicago’s Wicker Park neighborhood and is a freshman at Lincoln Park High School pursuing a Drama Major. He also is on the track and cross-country team and is a lacrosse player. When not acting, dancing or playing sports, Nate is a great chef, loves taking his dogs to the beach and is always ready to compete in an obstacle course race. Follow Nate on Instagram at Nate_Buescher.
Nate Buescher
Marcus Jackson
Age 17
Mentored by Willie Round
Social justice focus: Bringing Christ back to the streets and community empathy
Marcus Jackson is his name, and he’s here to reign and entertain. Marcus is the child of educators. He has been acting since age five, starting with plays at his church before signing with an agent and since acting in a number of TV shows. He lives with his family on the southside of Chicago and is a senior at Lindblom Math and Science Academy. In his free time he enjoys acting, running track, lifeguarding, producing, filming and editing. Follow Marcus on instagram @marcusx_8.
Marcus Jackson
Phallon and Kyra Pierce, aka The Pierce Twins
Ages 14
Mentored by Dana N. Anderson
Social justice focus: Representation, equity and justice for all
“We fight for what’s right! Representation, equity and justice for all!” - Phallon and Kyra Pierce
Identical twins Phallon and Kyra Pierce, aka The Pierce Twins, are artists, athletes and activists. They have appeared in print, on camera and on stage and have studied theater and dance for over nine years. They are also all around athletes as nationally ranked competitive dancers and they have also received top awards in cheerleading and basketball. They currently train at Kids W.A.Y. Acting Academy in Chicago and Freedom of Movement Dance Company in Naperville. The Pierce Twins are honor students who have received local, regional and national recognition for their academic achievements. Phallon and Kyra currently have a bill on the Illinois House Floor called The Pierce Twins Law. If passed, it will ensure K-12 curriculums throughout the state of Illinois will include books written by diverse authors. The creation and attention for the bill was sparked after the girls led a state-wide campaign after noticing racially insensitive books and a lack of multicultural authors on their assigned 8th grade summer reading list. They have since created their own multicultural reading list for schools and founded their own non-profit, Positive Change Charities Inc. Their mission is to help kids in need, promote literacy and diversity in literary curriculums. In addition to working toward getting legislation passed at state and federal levels, their goal is also to provide 10,000 books to underfunded school libraries across the country. In June, the girls partnered with Chicago Public Schools and provided more than 800 books to CPS school libraries and their literacy program. In their free time, Phallon and Kyra love to read, write short stories, watch movies and spend time with family, friends and their puppy Blu. They live in Bolingbrook and are freshmen at Bolingbrook High School. For more, visit thepiercetwins.com and follow them on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook @thepiercetwins.
Phallon (front) and Kyra Pierce
Ella Rae
Age 18
Social justice focus: Mental health awareness
Mentored by Joy Smith
“You can’t see it, but it’s happening.” - Ella Rae
Ella Rae is a singer, songwriter and actress. She has been singing since she can remember, and acting since the age of six. Ella got her start performing in the Chicago Children’s Choir and in annual musicals at Pritzker Elementary. She also participated in Collaboraction’s Peacemakers Youth Ensemble, has performed at Collaboraction’s Utopian Ball, and was a featured performer in Collaboraction’s first The Light Youth Festival, when she wowed crowds in front of The Bean in Millennium Park performing her original song “Happy Place.” In 2019, Ella Rae was named a Rising Star of Chicago by the City of Chicago, the city’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) and First Lady Amy Eshleman. She lives in Wicker Park and is a freshman at Columbia College Chicago. Follow her on Instagram at @ellarae.p.
Ella Rae
Ava Lynn Trpeski
Age 15
Mentored by Carolyn Hoerdemann
Social justice cause: Body positivity
Born with a natural talent for dance, Ava first fell in love with performing on stage at the age of four at her home church. From there her passion grew and led her to competition dance for school and studio. Currently, she trains with Indiana Youth Ballet and at Ruth Page Center for the Arts in ballet, modern and various other forms of dance. Because of her own experiences, Ava strives to bring awareness to the stereotype of what a dancer should look like. She believes emphasis should be placed on the skills and abilities of a dancer, not their race, body size or sexual orientation. This has led her to share her story and advocate for others who feel the same way. Ava is a resident of Crown Point, Indiana, and is a sophomore at Connections Academy. In her free time, she enjoys baking and shopping at thrift stores. Follow Ava on Instagram at @ava.trpeski.
Ava Lynn Trpeski
Collaboraction
The Light 2021-22 Mentors
Dana N. Anderson
The Light mentees: Phallon and Kyra Pierce, aka The Pierce Twins
Dana N. Anderson is a Chicago-based performing artist, writer and producer. Her experience spans on-camera, stage, voiceover and dance. She is dedicated to creating and performing in work that sparks dialogue and action for the betterment of society. In 2018 she wrote and performed Soul in Suburbia, a short play about a black family settling in 1980s suburban Chicago as part of Collaboraction’s Encounter Festival. The short made such a buzz that she developed it into a full-length show for Collaboraction’s 2019 season. In March 2021, Dana released her debut poetry ensemble, the book “Cries From Quarantine: Poems About Love,” and its spoken word companion album “CFQ: The Gallery Remixes.” Alongside her artistic endeavors, Dana is founder and president of Concrete Runway, Inc., a boutique multicultural branding agency. Learn more at danananderson.com, concreterunway.com, or on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook @theycallmedna.
Dana N. Anderson flanked by her Light mentees, The Pierce Twins
TehRay “HayWyre” Hale Jr.
The Light mentee: Nate Buescher
Teh’Ray “HayWyre” Hale Jr. is a hip-hop/animation dancer who strives to be the embodiment of a combination of music and Ideas. Since 2012, he has grown his art from a humble start as a street performer into a blossoming career as a professional dancer. Although he’s mostly self-taught, he trained classically in jazz and ballet through Chicago’s Gallery 37 arts program. He has worked with several companies including T-Mobile and Nike, performed at Collaboraction’s 25th Anniversary Moonrise Sunset celebration, and is now acting and dancing in FOX Entertainment’s The Big Leap. Teh’Ray continues to dance with the mission to inspire, improve, and entertain those who watch through his movements. Find him on Instagram and Tik Tok at @that_kidd_haywyre and on YouTube, HayWyre16.
Nate Buescher with a virtual representation of his Light mentor, Teh’Ray “HayWyre” Hale Jr.
Carolyn Hoerdemann
The Light mentee: Ava Lynn Trpeski
“I can accept failure but I cant accept not trying” - Carolyn Hoerdemann
Carolyn Hoerdemann holds a BFA from The Theatre School at DePaul University and an MAAE from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Carolyn teaches for The Theatre School at DePaul. She has performed at ASOLO Rep., Collaboraction, Chicago Shakespeare, European Repertory Company, American Players Theatre, Prop Theater, the Goodman and Court Theatre. Her film and TV credits include Chicago Fire, Empire and the independent films Pilgrim, Alien Brides and Home.
Carolyn Hoerdemann with her Light mentee, Ava Lynn Trpeski
Willie Round
The Light mentee: Marcus Jackson
Willie “Mudlife Roc” Round is a songwriter, playwright, videographer, mentor, and hip-hop artist hailing from the west side of Chicago. He has performed across the country and opened for Grammy Award-winning artist Lil Wayne as well as Gucci Mane. He is one of Collaboraction’s newest company members, joining the ensemble in June 2021. His play Broke Down Drone, co-written with G. Riley Mills, premiered during Collaboraction’s 2019 Peacebook Festival, and went on to its Off Broadway premiere this summer at the Chain Theatre One-Act Festival. They also co-wrote Lift Every Voice, which premiered at Encounter Englewood in January 2020. He holds a B.A. in Communications, Radio, and Television Broadcasting from Central State University.
The Light's Marcus Jackson with a virtual representation of his mentor, Willie Round
Joy Smith
The Light mentee: Ella Rae
“I believe in myself which gives me the strength, courage, and know how to trust in the brilliance of my mentee Ella Rae, to develop her thoughts into another heartfelt song with lyrics that bring awareness to mental health and the challenges teens face.” - Joy Smith
Joy Smith is a percussionist, teaching artist and producer of the podcast Tru Chat, which lets voices from the community be heard un-interrupted and uncut, straight from the streets of Englewood. Smith is also renowned for creating an unforgettable fusion of sound and extremely rich percussion music meant to heal the world. Smith is featured in Collaboraction’s 2021 Encounter Englewood virtual video festival. Collaboraction’s crew captured a unique, soul-healing, percussive, outdoor gathering hosted by Smith in Englewood this past May. Learn more at joyfulsoundz.com.
Joy Smith with her Light mentee Ella Rae
About Collaboraction
Collaboraction is an ethno-diverse social justice organization that uses theater and performance to incite social change in Chicago. Since its founding in 1996, Collaboraction has pushed artistic boundaries working with more than 3,000 artists to bring more than 60 productions and events to over 150,000 audience members. Collaboraction partnered with the Chicago Park District for seven straight years cultivating relationships and theater in Englewood, Austin and Hermosa. For more information on The Light and all of Collaboraction’s social change work, visit collaboraction.org, or follow the company on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or YouTube.
About Night Out in the Parks
The Light debut performances in August are presented as part of the Chicago Park District’s Night Out in the Parks series, supported by the Mayor’s Office and Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events. Now in its 9th year, the 2021 Night Out in the Parks program presents cultural events year-round in neighborhood parks throughout the city. The Chicago Park District in partnership with over 100 local artists and organizations, presents engaging events and performances that enhance quality of life across Chicago and amplify the artistic and cultural vibrancy in every neighborhood. Through multiple disciplines, which include theater, music, movies, dance, site-specific work, nature programs, and community festivals, the series aims to support Chicago-based artists, facilitate community-based partnerships and programs, cultivate civic engagement, and ensure equity in access to the arts for all Chicagoans. To further extend the reach of these cultural, arts and nature experiences, the Chicago Park District has mounted a virtual platform to spotlight the diversity of Chicago’s artistic offerings and provide equitable access to some of these performances for all Chicagoans and visitors alike.
Night Out in the Park events hosted in a Chicago Park District location must adhere to the City of Chicago's guidelines for park use, which state that all park users should continue to wear face coverings and practice social distancing when in a crowd. Patrons who are exhibiting any symptoms of COVID-19 are asked to stay home and join us for an event when symptoms subside. For more information on Night Outupdates on health and safety guidelines, visit nightoutintheparks.com.