LEANNA GIANOUTSOS OLIVEIRA

     “I’m one of those regular weird people” said blues rock icon Janis Joplin when describing herself. My Nana introduced me to Janis Joplin when I was a very small child, and that is where my love and appreciation of art began. Like my Nana, Janis was brave, innovative and compelling - and of course, a little bit rock ‘n roll. That is the kind of theatre I am determined to create; theatre that is brave and allows us to be brave; theatre that is innovative and encourages us to think in new ways; theatre that is compelling and thought-provoking, that inspires all of us to question and study the world around us. 

    My goal is to create and tell stories that focus on female, femme, and non-binary characters, how they interact with and affect the world around them, and the mental health implications that come with being who they are. I desire theatre that feels epic and otherworldly, while taking roots in reality. I am drawn to stories that center on relationships and connections that can occur between people and groups and allow us to explore those parts of our own lives through rock 'n roll lens.

     Rock ‘N Roll is more than a genre or an attitude. Rock ‘N Roll embodies the belief that the “weird” people who think outside of the box are the ones to look up to. That those who don't always fit in a "box" are the artists who create and teach us about ourselves and the world that we live in. That all people of every race, class and background deserve to create and to have their voices be celebrated. The kind of theatre that I like to be a part of mirrors the rock ‘n roll philosophy because it celebrates the weird, the supernatural, the peculiar and most importantly, the diverse.

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Janis, my nana and myself have a few things in common, but the most important thing that connects all three of us is our love of art that is brave, compelling and a little bit rock ‘n roll.