At Brooklyn Acting Lab, we’re speaking to past and present BAL Teaching Artists about their dreams, artistic passions, and work in the field of teaching and theatre.
Here’s Pyeng Threadgill, who worked with us as a voice/vocal coach!
What are you up to now?
Nowadays I teach voice/vocal coaching and the Alexander Technique privately to adults and in small groups at my studio in Brooklyn. Additionally, I am on faculty at the Balance Arts Center in Manhattan where I teach Alexander Technique, and I also perform solo and with several groups/dance companies.
Nowadays I teach voice/vocal coaching and the Alexander Technique privately to adults and in small groups at my studio in Brooklyn. Additionally, I am on faculty at the Balance Arts Center in Manhattan where I teach Alexander Technique, and I also perform solo and with several groups/dance companies.
What’s your favorite way to create?
Hmm, good question. These days I have been enjoying writing poetry/prose and I am developing a multi media video installation on Black hair and identity. But everyday I am always a singer. I love dancing around my house and singing.
Hmm, good question. These days I have been enjoying writing poetry/prose and I am developing a multi media video installation on Black hair and identity. But everyday I am always a singer. I love dancing around my house and singing.
What’s your favorite project you’ve ever worked on?
Whoa! Well, it’s been a while but I really love my old band. It featured Tyler Woods (piano/organ), John Shannon (guitar), Derek Nievergelt (bass), Kevin Louis (corner/percussion) and Evan Pazner (drums). My last recorded album, Portholes To A Whole, took a whole lot of love, and everyone in that band was invested and gave their own special flair. We spent so much time developing those songs that I wrote. Having a band is like playing a team sport. There are so many fun things that happen, and in addition you are all making music together.
Whoa! Well, it’s been a while but I really love my old band. It featured Tyler Woods (piano/organ), John Shannon (guitar), Derek Nievergelt (bass), Kevin Louis (corner/percussion) and Evan Pazner (drums). My last recorded album, Portholes To A Whole, took a whole lot of love, and everyone in that band was invested and gave their own special flair. We spent so much time developing those songs that I wrote. Having a band is like playing a team sport. There are so many fun things that happen, and in addition you are all making music together.
If you could talk to your ten-year-old self, what would you tell them?
You will always love music. Stay with it and always always remind yourself of when the music and your voice feels right. Also, keep writing and don’t try and edit so soon. Just let it out first.
You will always love music. Stay with it and always always remind yourself of when the music and your voice feels right. Also, keep writing and don’t try and edit so soon. Just let it out first.
If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
To have endless energy. Like to be the energizer bunny for real. Ha!
What advice do you have for young artists?
Loving art and being an artist is one of the best things in the world. But also you need a team. So you want to start building a team for yourself. Your team has to include great teachers/mentors but also family and friends who love you. A wonderful performance is never as good without those you love there to share it with you. Also art is one part of your life. So remember to enjoy all parts of life (sports, reading, movies, writing, family, etc.) because they make you a complete person and will come through in your art as well.
Loving art and being an artist is one of the best things in the world. But also you need a team. So you want to start building a team for yourself. Your team has to include great teachers/mentors but also family and friends who love you. A wonderful performance is never as good without those you love there to share it with you. Also art is one part of your life. So remember to enjoy all parts of life (sports, reading, movies, writing, family, etc.) because they make you a complete person and will come through in your art as well.
What advice do you have for all artists?
If you really want to make a life as an artist, I think it’s never too early to start dreaming of what that could look like. Share your dream with only the people you really trust so they can support you… and you can support them. Make sure that your dream is a well rounded life… not just the stuff we see in movies. When I was growing up I thought my life would only be music and being well known, but I was looking at life through one small lens. Also, make sure that your art always stays fun. It’s going to be challenging, but when you are only dreading it, you know something is wrong.
If you really want to make a life as an artist, I think it’s never too early to start dreaming of what that could look like. Share your dream with only the people you really trust so they can support you… and you can support them. Make sure that your dream is a well rounded life… not just the stuff we see in movies. When I was growing up I thought my life would only be music and being well known, but I was looking at life through one small lens. Also, make sure that your art always stays fun. It’s going to be challenging, but when you are only dreading it, you know something is wrong.
At Brooklyn Acting Lab, we’re speaking to past and present BAL Teaching Artists about their dreams, artistic passions, and work in the field of teaching and theatre.
Here’s Naren Weiss, who worked with BAL in our summer intensives and Play in a Day.
What are you up to now?
I just finished working on a Rajiv Joseph premiere at the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles, called Guards at the Taj. I’m always writing something or the other, and I’ve now just begun work on a new piece that I’m quickly falling in love with.
What’s your favorite way to create?
In a room, with a bunch of similarly crazy, passionate people.
What’s your favorite project you’ve ever worked on?
I never had a younger sister. Growing up, it was a dream to tell the story of a man who goes to the ends of the earth for his little sister. As time went on, I kind of let that go.
Earlier in 2015, I got to do my dream role; the role of Musa in Rajiv Joseph’s Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo. I got to tell the story of a man who lost his sister and, even after her removal from his life, had no choice but to continue attempting to live on – for her. The story is dark and twisted and was a dream come true for me as an actor for two reasons: one, because I got to work on Rajiv Joseph’s material for the first time and I feel a very intimate connection with his writing (perhaps because of our identical ethnic mixes); and, two, because the role itself transitioned me from boy to man, and from aspirant to actor.
There are many experiences that have been ‘favorites’, but this one will always stand out.
If you could talk to your ten-year-old self, what would you tell them?
Hey, you know that crazy dream you have for yourself and your life? Don’t change a thing. It’s going to come true.
If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
Shapeshifting. And, honestly, I think that’s why I act.
What advice do you have for young artists?
Leave your ego at the door. The second you acknowledge that you’ve stopped learning, you’ve stopped growing. And that’s a dangerous thing for both an artist and a human being.
What advice do you have for all artists?
It’s not about how far you travel in life, it’s about how much you learn along the way.
At Brooklyn Acting Lab, we’re speaking to past and present BAL Teaching Artists about their dreams, artistic passions, and work in the field of teaching and theatre.
Here’s Naren Weiss, who worked with BAL in our summer intensives and Play in a Day.
What are you up to now?
I just finished working on a Rajiv Joseph premiere at the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles, called Guards at the Taj. I’m always writing something or the other, and I’ve now just begun work on a new piece that I’m quickly falling in love with.
What’s your favorite way to create?
In a room, with a bunch of similarly crazy, passionate people.
What’s your favorite project you’ve ever worked on?
I never had a younger sister. Growing up, it was a dream to tell the story of a man who goes to the ends of the earth for his little sister. As time went on, I kind of let that go.
Earlier in 2015, I got to do my dream role; the role of Musa in Rajiv Joseph’s Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo. I got to tell the story of a man who lost his sister and, even after her removal from his life, had no choice but to continue attempting to live on – for her. The story is dark and twisted and was a dream come true for me as an actor for two reasons: one, because I got to work on Rajiv Joseph’s material for the first time and I feel a very intimate connection with his writing (perhaps because of our identical ethnic mixes); and, two, because the role itself transitioned me from boy to man, and from aspirant to actor.
There are many experiences that have been ‘favorites’, but this one will always stand out.
If you could talk to your ten-year-old self, what would you tell them?
Hey, you know that crazy dream you have for yourself and your life? Don’t change a thing. It’s going to come true.
If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
Shapeshifting. And, honestly, I think that’s why I act.
What advice do you have for young artists?
Leave your ego at the door. The second you acknowledge that you’ve stopped learning, you’ve stopped growing. And that’s a dangerous thing for both an artist and a human being.
What advice do you have for all artists?
It’s not about how far you travel in life, it’s about how much you learn along the way.