SPOTLIGHT | Trisha Henson | Stage Manager

How can performing this story create change?
I think just creating a space where these issues can be brought up and talked about will begin to make change. Sweeping things under the rug never helped anything, and this is a story about standing up and challenging hatred and intolerance. Putting this story and others like it out into the world is the first step.

How has homophobia in the black church impacted your or other life of folks around you?
A friend of mine tells me the story of when he first came up against homophobia in the black church. It was just as shocking to him as it is to the main character in this play. He felt betrayed by the people who were teaching him to love his neighbor, and he felt like religion had lost its place in his life. It messed him up for a long time.

When you first saw the announcement for the show, what caught your eye?
I was looking for work and this show just seemed to be one that would embrace me as a human being and not 'that girl who sleeps with girls.' I've been there before, and I don't like it. It's hard to go to work and do your job well when you're always looking over your shoulder or watching what you say. I wanted to work in an environment of acceptance and I knew from the announcement that this would be just that.

Trisha Henson has been working in stage managment since graduating from Southern Methodist University in 2004. She worked with the Undermain Theater in Dallas on Sarah Kane's Blasted and Fred Curchack's Golden Buddha Beach. She also worked on Undermain's New York production of Jeffery Jones' A Man's Best Friend. Her acting credits include "Rooster" in Waking Up(Spring Theater), "Babe" in the film version of Adam Rapp's Blackbird, and "Gina" in Empty City.