Who is Jeysa Caridad?
Jeysa Caridad (she/her) is a first generation Cuban-Canadian theatre artist based in Toronto.
Jeysa works in physical theatre, voice acting, writing, producing, photography and visual arts.
Jeysa is an alumni of Humber’s Theatre Arts Performance Program. Jeysa is co-founder of J & A Collective, a devised theatre company. Jeysa is a Communications Manager for the Paprika Festival. She is a member of Crane Creations Theatre Company’s 2019 Summer Ensemble.
Jeysa’s Training
Jeysa is a graduate of Humber Theatre Arts Performance Program. She specializes in devised theatre.
Jeysa in an Artistic Director and Playwright
Jeysa has collectively devised and produced pieces such as F*cking Perfect, that was in Best of Toronto Fringe 2018, DiablaDivina that was produced in Caminos Festival 2019 and Aluna Theatre 2021 and most recently Not Your Mija (that was in the Paprika Festival 2021 and Caminos Festival 2021).
Jeysa is the co-founder of J& A collective
- J & A COLLECTIVE
J & A Collective is a Latinx theatre company, founded by multidisciplinary artists Jeysa Caridad and Adriana Moraes-Mendoza. They create and share original stories inspired by their heritage to engage audiences through female narratives. As a collective, they have been residents of Factory Theatre’s Foundry where they completed the first draft of their co-written play, DiablaDivina. Their piece was chosen to be part of Assembly Theatre’s 150 Workshop series, and continued on to be showcased in Aluna Theatre’s 2019 Caminos festival for new works.
What is Devised Theatre?
Devised theatre is a method of theatre-making, where a performance is created collectively by a group of artists or ensemble. Devising theatre is not easy. Jeysa is an expert in Devised theatre. An expert in devised theatre is able to do many things such as perform, write, produce, compose and design. Jeysa is proficient in acting, playwriting and producing among other skills. A person who is great at devising theatre also has the unique ability of being able to work with lots of people, who come from different backgrounds, and have different types of skill sets and knowledge. To be a good deviser, you have to be a great communicator which Jeysa is.
Jeysa is an Actor
Jeysa Caridad’s acting credits include The Nails by Jason Maghanoy, The Sea by Edward Bond, Tiresias by Kate Tempest, How to Build a Flying Machine, The Aristocrats by Brian Friel, Cherry Orchard and Three Sisters by Anton Chekov.
- WHAT IS AN ACTOR?
An actor or actress is a person who portrays a character in a performance. The actor performs in the theatre, film, radio, television, or digital media. The analogous Greek term is ὑποκριτής. The meaning translates to “one who answers”. - WHAT DOES AN ACTOR DO?
An actor doesn’t just memorize lines and look pretty. An actor has a fun but important role in creating a story. They are responsible for interpreting and embodying the character in a play, television series, or film. To do this well, many actors rehearse and train their bodies and voices regularly. They study their script and consult with the director and scene partners about their interpretation of the character. Their main concern should always be understanding what a character wants or needs and what they are is doing to achieve this action. A want or a need is often referred to as an Objective, or motivation. What an actor is doing is referred to an action or a tactic. An Actor Acts. A good actor makes many different and thoughtful choices about what the character is doing. A very good actor can make many creative out-of-the-box choices, and is always ready to change their actions on the fly. Actors sometimes require additional special skills. For example, an actor in a Broadway musical may also need to know how to sing and dance. An actor in a puppet show must know how to operate a puppet. Professional Improvisers need to know how to create a character and make up a story on the spot without any preparation. An actor in an action blockbuster film may also be trained in stage combat and martial arts.
Jeysa Caridad is one of the first Summer Ensemble members, from Crane Creations first Summer Ensemble in 2019.
What Is The Summer Ensemble?
The Summer Ensemble is an 8 week training program for theatre artists. In this paid working opportunity artists learn skills required to be a professional artist in Canada, and gain valuable insights into the theatre industry in Canada and abroad. To apply artists must be between 18 and 30 years of age.
Things participants learn in Summer Ensemble include:
Learn the basics of:
Budgeting for the live arts:
How do you even start preparing a Budget?
What different types of revenue does a not-for-profit theatre company earn? Which fees do I pay the artists, the director and the designers? These are things that you will discover with the help of Crane Creations Theatre Company Artistic Director Andreja Kovac.
Andreja has worked on projects with budgets over $5 million. She is an expert in project management, has the equivalent of an MFA in directing from her home country of Slovenia, and is also a graduate of Canada’s National Theatre School directing program.
Join us to understand the basics of what it takes to plan, create, and balance a budget for a performing arts project.
Fund your project: Learn the basics of how to write a grant. Then actually write one.
Come and learn about the ins and out of building a budget for a project;
Planning for professional fees (artists, directors, stage manager, designers, etc.)
Knowing how to make grants work together
What funding bodies exist in Canada?
How long should I plan my projects in advance?
Andreja Kovac is a successful theatre director from Slovenia who graduated from the National Theatre School’s Directing program. She is the founding Artistic Director of Crane Creations Theatre Company, and is committed to helping emerging artists transition into the professional field, and understand the business of theatre.
What you will gain:
- Artistic Skills: Explore classical and contemporary text, improvisation, theatre around the world and their relevance and impact on arts jobs and society today.
- Orientation in Arts Jobs: Honest insight into professional organizations, structures and systems in place and how to navigate them successfully
- Financial Skills: Budgeting and financial literacy delivered in a comprehensible and easy to understand way, tailored for theatre artists’ needs.
- Leadership: Debate complex questions and develop ideas and strategies how to build not only your career but theatre ecosystem in Canada and Internationally.
- Touring in the Arts: Discover how artists around the world use international touring as a source of income, and learn how to create shows that can allow you to participate in that market.
- Digital Skills: Discover how blog/content writing can earn you additional income, promote your work, while mastering WordPress, one of the most desired skills in todays job market.
Jeysa’s Experience in Summer Ensemble
This was Crane Creations First Annual Summer Ensemble and Jeysa’s addition as a member of the ensemble, helped make this year a memorable experience for everyone.
In the 2019 workshops of Romeo and Juliet, Jeysa plays the role of Lady Capulet. Jeysa also participated in many activities and projects with Crane Creations Theatre Company as a Summer Ensemble Member. She read through plays and assisted in workshops of new work. Sarah was part of important and lively discussion and debates about the Canadian theatre industry. Sarah learned about the industry of theatre and what it looks like to be a professional full time artist. She learned about theatre in Mississauga. With her fellow Summer Ensemble members she explored the arts outside of Canada as well, and conducted workshops and presentations of prominent International and Canadian artists and theatre companies.
Jeysa was an actor in the Summer Ensemble.
- WHAT IS AN ACTOR?
An actor or actress is a person who portrays a character in a performance. The actor performs in the theatre, film, radio, television, or digital media. The analogous Greek term is ὑποκριτής. The meaning translates to “one who answers”. - WHAT DOES AN ACTOR DO?
An actor doesn’t just memorize lines and look pretty. An actor has a fun but important role in creating a story. They are responsible for interpreting and embodying the character in a play, television series, or film. To do this well many actors rehearse and train their bodies and voices regularly. They study their script and consult with the director and scene partners about their interpretation of the character. The main concern of an actor should always be understanding what a character wants or needs and then what they are is doing to achieve this action. A want or a need is also called an objective, or motivation. What an actor is doing is referred to an action or a tactic. An Actor Acts. A good actor makes many different and thoughtful choices about what the character is doing. A very good actor can make many creative choices, and is always ready to change their actions on the fly. Actors sometimes require additional special skills. For example, an actor in a Broadway musical may also need to know how to sing and dance. An actor in a puppet show must know how to operate a puppet. Professional Improvisers need to know how to create a character and make up a story on the spot without any preparation. An actor in an action blockbuster film may also be trained in stage combat and martial arts.
“Overall, my experience with crane was a very positive and educational one. So appreciate the diversity of voices and bodies amongst the employees. Andreja, the project lead, was very open with project discussions but never compromised others safety. She made sure everyone was heard and listened to and very much cared for each individuals experience. Her approach to directing is highly respectable and challenging in the best ways. She challenges actors to make difficult choices and ask themselves questions to result in more compelling/interesting choices as actors.”
ROMEO AND JULIET
Jeysa Caridad is a Crane Creations Theatre Company 2019 Summer Ensemble Member. She is one of the cast members in the 2019 workshop of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare. Jeysa plays the role of Lady Capulet. Romeo and Juliet is one of Shakespeare’s most well known play. You may think of the classic balcony scene. Or the lines, “O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art though Romeo. Fun fact: Shakespeare never mentions a balcony in this scene.
Jeysa is an onstage mom and a mom in real life. No wonder why she can play mothers so well. Jeysa’s performance transforms Lady Capulet into a modern working woman. She brings Shakespeare into the 21st century. Jeysa’s version of Romeo and Juliet feels fresh and contemporary.
WORKSHOPS AND READINGS
Jeysa was part of multiple play readings and workshops. She was in a reading of Invasion! by Jonas Hassen Khemiri. Invasion! is about prejudice identity, race and language. She was in a workshop of Titanic, a one act comedy play by Christopher Durang, which was directed by Mackenzie Burton. She was in a reading Bambiland by Austrian playwright Elfriede Jelinek who won the noble prize for Literature in 2004. Jeysa was also in the first reading of the play Terror, which is now enjoying its Canadian premiere.
TERROR
Terror is a courtroom drama, written by one of the most successful German contemporary writers, Ferdinand von Schirach. The play questions the idea of a means justifying an end and warns against quantifying human life. The audience serves as a jury at the trial of a fighter jet pilot. He is accused of killing 164 passengers off a commercial airplane, hijacked by terrorists, heading towards a soccer stadium with 70,000 people. The end of the play depends on the verdict of the audience.
PANDORA’S BOX
Jeysa was also involved in the early of workshops of a new play in development, Pandora’s Box. Andreja Kovac is currently writing the play, Pandora’s Box. Andreja Kovac is the Artistic Director of Crane Creations Theatre Company. Pandora’s Box is about two childhood friends, Pandora and B. B goes off to War at 18. When he returns, he is haunted by his experiences, and wants to change the world. His friend Pandora also dreams of changing the world for the better. With the help of his friend Pandora as his campaign manager, B sets out on a political campaign to run for office. In the 2019 workshop, Jeysa played the role of Pandora’s step mother, Priscilla. Jeysa is a part of creating improvised scenes, with her fellow 2019 Summer Ensemble Members, which are now apart of this new play in development.
FUN FACT ABOUT JEYSA: A fun fact about Jeysa is that she is the proud mother of two Corgis (because one was not enough).
