No. 78: Vanessa Becker Weig & Rylie Sudduth - Reclamation

Vanessa Becker Weig, co-founder and Executive Artistic Director of Voices Amplified, and Rylie Sudduth, rising senior at the University of Evansville and Associate Producer, discuss the ambitious first Voices Heard Women’s Theatre Festival in Lexington, themed “Reclamation.” Vanessa explains the festival's origins, its mission to reclaim and amplify women’s stories, and provides an in-depth look at events including the comedic musical Disenchanted, the multicultural TikTok Short Play Festival, and the workshopping of Borden, a new musical centered on Lizzie and Emma Borden. She details community partnerships, the festival's inclusive approach, and the importance of local engagement to the festival’s sustainability. Rylie  shares her own journey from Girl Project participant to assistant director, reflecting on the empowering impact of combining theater with activism and the challenges and rewards of collaborative, non-profit theater making. Both guests highlight the vital role of the arts as agents of change, and the unique energy, connection, and joy sparked by this bold new festival.For more and to connect with us, visit https://www.artsconnectlex.org/art-throb-podcast.html