Palefsky Collision Project Alumni
“It’s been 20 years and I’ve never lost the sense of joy and inspiration that I found on that stage.”
“My career and life were completely changed by Collision, and I couldn’t be more grateful.”
“I found a passion for transformative justice and art for social change because of Collison.”
Where are they now?
California, Canada, England, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New York, Scotland, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington DC
What are they up to?
Post Secondary students at: Concordia University, Eckard College, Georgia State University, Kennesaw State University, Louisiana State University, New York University, University of Central Florida, University of Georgia, University of Wisconsin – Madison
Employed by: Agnes Scott College, Alliance Theatre, Black Entertainment Television (BET), City of Atlanta, Covenant House Georgia, Episcopal High School, Flexport, GableStage, Georgia Tech, Global Village Project, Kansas Department of Children and Families, Marvel Studios, People Store Talent Agency, Purple Strategies, Self-Employed (Actor, Artist, Consultant, Playwright/Screenwriter), Starbucks, University of Virginia, WPP London
Collision Alumni Share Its Impact…
My family was in the audience, including someone very special who is no longer with us: my uncle, Jimmy. He was visiting from Kentucky and I was especially nervous to perform in front of him. When I heard his full-belly laughter, I heard it over the entire audience. I’d never made him laugh like that before, and I hadn’t known until then how much it meant to me. That moment remains one of the proudest of my life.
There is a confidence in youth that I often look back on — this time when a huge regional theatre supported me and gave me resources and told me they were interested in what I had to say. I remember performing. I remember how proud I was to feel some kind of “ownership” of the performance space and how the rehearsal space began to feel like home.
For me, the people were what really made The Collision Project so special. Rosemary brought a positive light and energy that made you want to give nothing less than one hundred percent. I also got to work with an amazing group of peers, many of whom I am still connected with through social media.
I remember being on the stage with Oyamo and I was dancing as he played the drums. It was such a wonderful experience. I had a bit of solo performance, and I am so thankful for this opportunity! (Thanks, Rosemary Newcott)
The text that we worked with demanded a kind of brutal honesty and boldness. I had always been someone who shied away from discomfort and differing opinions, and I remember Collision Project as being the first time that someone (our teaching artist) suggested that all of us lean into that discomfort to find out what was on the other side of it.
I never thought of myself as a creator or writer and being a part of the Collision projects opened up my eyes to what I really wanted to do in my life. It also allowed me to open up my shell and meet people from all walks of life.
I think a lot of times when you’re a teen and you find yourself in a new environment, you end up trying to “play it cool” and feel out the situation before really engaging. But because we immediately grappled with topics of race, gender, and class, we all bonded right off the bat.
One of the many skills I developed during the Collision Project was giving and receiving notes on my work. Sometimes art can appear like an individual undertaking, but in actuality, it’s a great collaboration. Everyone wants to see your work turn into the best that it can be. Together, you work towards this goal by lifting each other up through giving and receiving constructive notes.
I had just graduated college and was going to start teaching high school theatre. My fondest memory is at the end of the week- the students giving me a blank notebook with notes of encouragement for my future career.
We utilized contact improv to create shapes, to physicalize memories, reflections. I don’t know how, but I have a distinct memory of us ending up in the shape of a tree. What made this moment so unforgettable wasn’t the shape itself. It was how we could reflect on our differences, economically, socially, racially, and utilize those differences to create work, new work that reflected us, not what others wanted. We could all be branches of the same tree.
I’m actually working with the Alliance now! I’m a staff production assistant. I love running shows and being a part of all the elements coming together to form what we see on stage. I have learned so much and am still working towards the future.
Participating in the Collision Project inspired me to crave collaboration with my art and music, as I learned the importance and value of the minds and skills of others. I’ve also carried this with me through other aspects of my life. This idea of togetherness, collaboration–it’s so important. While we may be great alone, together, we are better. Not just in art, but in life. We humans have made it this far because we work together. We need each other, whether we want to or not. Collision was more than just an artistic journey for me. It was also a spiritual one and has inspired me in countless ways over the past decade.
My fondest memories from Collision are the Soul Train lines when coming back from lunch – best way to release a burst of energy and get back into the headspace of teamwork, collaboration, and improvisation.
Collision gave me the ability to network and get comfortable with practically anyone. The ability to ride MARTA like a pro. The ability to blend in, be invisible, stand out, and to step away. I have memories of moments of being the center of attention, as well as choreographing a flashmob that the other participants performed at lunch. I remember watching them lovingly perform.
I believe this program installed confidence in me and my abilities. It showed me the importance of being authentic to yourself. It emphasizes the gravity of being honest and true in every aspect of life. I believe these skills and tools have enabled me to be a brave world traveler and to work hard to succeed.
The biggest takeaway from Collision was a quote from Director Patrick McColery. He advised me to “fill the space.” I take that approach with me everywhere I go, and it has helped to define not only my presence but my purpose.
Collision taught me to listen and to pay attention to the talent of those around me. It taught me that art (or any collaborative process) is much bigger than just what you see in your head. Learning to appreciate those around me has been a huge help in both my career and my interpersonal relationships.
In a quieter moment in the black box… only a few were lingering, [and] we all held our flowers up to the lights and yelled SPLAT – a piece of our time with Mama YeYe, a call of love. [It was a totally] uncoordinated, spontaneous moment of togetherness at the end of the project.
Collision is all about the family teamwork, everyone had to show up on time, be present and give 100% in order for us to have successful performance. Collision also taught me that I am responsible for what I bring to the table. Being an accountable team player is an important part of being on the team.
Collision taught me that all art is political. Art is not made in a vacuum of “art for art’s sake” but instead is political because of its existence.
My development would be in my voice. Not only getting over the nerves of singing in front of others, but also the development of knowing that my voice matters. I know that I matter, and I shouldn’t undermine what I want to say.
My fondest memory was the interconnectedness felt when we touched the stage. We became one. I was too young to notice that rehearsals were my safe space. I felt strong being vulnerable.
After Collision, I went to my university and helped in completely rebuilding the theater department and bringing in more diverse pieces to instill love and joy, instead of trauma, in the arts.
The fondest memory I have from the 2017 Collision Project is performing for Civil Rights activist, John Lewis, and getting to hug him after weeks of creating this play based on all he went through. The energy in the room was unmatched!
I gained the confidence to do what I love without hesitation. This experience also gave me the knowledge and affirmation to fight for what’s right.
My focus is storytelling across many media platforms. I won a grant to produce my original play in 2018 with my friend Justin Hall, who I met in Collision. I’ve produced numerous video journalism pieces on activism & black artistry within the Athens area.
The Collision project gave me hope. I’d forgotten the true power of my dreams, and I’d forgotten how to hold on to hope. Collision taught me that every day that we are alive and trying, we take one step towards victory and joy. You can make it out of your darkest times if you continue to hold your dreams and values close to your heart. Collision taught me to never stop pushing forward, no matter what that may look like.
My fondest memory of Collision is the surprise of having John Lewis visit us during our rehearsal and watch the show later that evening. It’s a blessing having met a hero in real life.
Our performance wasn’t polished or extensively rehearsed but it was raw, real, and important. Collision taught me that my voice matters, and that type of encouragement is incredibly important when you’re 16 and consistently told that your opinions aren’t worthwhile.
I learned to trust my ensemble, not just on a stage or on a set, but in life. Trusting my team and the people I choose to surround myself with, has led me to become a stronger actor and a better person.
Collision invited us to experience our town, Atlanta, for ourselves and then be able to write and devise our own words and our own stories. That experience taught me to have ownership of my words, experiences, and art I make. I am forever thankful for the community I got out of this project.
The Collision Project helped me with my confidence as an artist. In an environment so supportive, it feels okay to make mistakes and accept them in your journey to better artistry. Having done so, I have gained the confidence to cultivate a career for myself that isn’t anchored by fear of over-ambitiousness but rather driven by endless possibility.
I learned that the world is only going to get better if I and others begin to use our own tools to better it. I learned that everyone is the same, in which, we are all just trying to decipher the meaning to this world of clues, within ourselves and others. I learned how to better observe and feel how other people feel.
The most significant memory that I remember from Collision was our day with Lauri Stallings and the entire glo ATL team. I vividly remember the beginning of our workshop when all of us were looking around like, “What is happening?”. We were all incredibly thrown out of our comfort zone. There were uncomfortable laughs and a few trips, but by the end we were all seamlessly working with one another.
I can honestly say that Collision allowed me to feel safe enough to be honest with myself. This project really helped me to not hide as much from myself.
We were one of the first to attack virtual theatre and just everything surrounding it. The bonds I created were definitely memorable…we all felt the same about the process, so we clicked really well.
The Alliance Theatre Collision Project prepared me for college by strengthening my collaboration skills and pushing me out of my comfort zone. At the end of those three weeks, I left with a stronger sense of who I was.
My fondest memory of participating in the Collision Project was showing off my talents with my peers. I developed the skills of creative writing. I have been making stories of my own during my personal time.
My fondest memories from collision are the moments when Mrs. Pearl Cleage would just speak. I would cling to every sentence! I had my notebook beside me, ready to write down the gems that came from her mouth. And it made me smile the biggest when she complimented my Afro EVERY morning on zoom.
Since our collision happened in 2020 during the pandemic, our entire project was online. My fondest memory was collaborating and making great friends with everyone online and feeling really connected to everyone, despite not ever seeing them in person.
Collision was such a confidence boost when I most needed one and has definitely given me the guts to consider myself as an artist and to reach for further opportunities in writing, music, and theatre. Moreover, I got to see where people my age could be. When I am struggling artistically, I still aspire to be a bit more like my various cast mates.
Come Curious. Leave Changed.
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