ABOUT
GENERAL / PERFORMANCE – Ilasiea Gray is a multi-hyphenate social practice artist (actress, educator, writer, director, creator) and proud recipient of a True West Award for her impactful work in the arts and arts education. She has been featured in several media publications (including Colorado Public Radio, Denver Westword, Voyage Magazine, etc.) discussing the intersection of artistry, equity, social justice, and youth advocacy. She was also named the Arvada Center’s first ever Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Access Coordinator. Ilasiea has a BFA in Theatre, Film & Television, and recently graduated from an inaugural MFA in Social & Environmental Arts Practice program, created/led by Black Lives Matter co-founder Patrisse Cullors.
Ilasiea is passionate about socially engaged projects ranging from on-camera work, stage, educational theatre, and theatre for young audiences. She made history in Colorado playing the title role of Sleeping Beauty (Denver Children’s Theatre) as a Black actress and her original piece ACTING WHILE BLACK was a finalist in the national Breath Project Festival, with another version appearing in the award-winning Amplify series (Arvada Center).
She is currently performing in the Regional Premiere of THE MINUTES (Curious Theatre Company) which features an all Curious Company Member cast. She also has many on-camera projects out and other recent stage shows include the world premiere of CALAMITOUS AFFAIR… in Washington D.C., and touring Black. With a Capital B. (Curious Theatre Company), where she performed and facilitated post-show conversations around race and understanding for six years. Ilasiea was a co-creator and performer for CO2020 (BETC), a social commentary docu-theatre/documentary which was featured in American Theatre Magazine. In addition to her activism and advocacy in the arts, she has served in many actor-educator/facilitator positions by way of professional development for law enforcement, lawyers, medical students, and educators (arts-integration, SEL, trauma-sensitive approaches, etc). Ilasiea is an Artistic Company Member for Curious Theatre Company and an Associate Artist for Local Theater Company.
TEACHING – Ilasiea teaches in many capacities nationally ranging from theatres, arts organizations, schools, and runs her own acting programming for kids. She specializes in arts-integration, devising, SEL, trauma-sensitive approaches, culturally responsive, and critically conscious education methods. As an all-around educator (teaching artist, acting coach, children’s theatre director, facilitator), she is passionate about empowering young people in the arts. Her internationally published Why Are There No “Great” Kids of Color in Performing Arts? examines inequity in the performing arts for kids of color (and educators of color), and she speaks/facilitates workshops around it at conferences nationwide – including South by Southwest (SXSW) Education Conference, Woodruff Arts Center Educator Conference, the Hunt Institute’s Race & Education Panel, and headlining the Colorado Thespians Teacher Conference.
Her programming, Lae Lae’s Acting Jam, serves students from many backgrounds, with several of the students she coaches having professional stage, commercial, T.V. and film credits. Additionally, she has partnerships with organizations, libraries, talent agencies, schools, and has directed and devised 30+ youth productions. As a Guest Artist, Ilasiea has been on several education panels, including the American Alliance for Theatre & Education, discussing equity and anti-racism in theatre spaces for young people. She was featured in My Black Colorado’s “100 Black Educators” Edition and over the summer of 2020, was Creative Director for Outspoken: A Listening Project – Youth Voices of BLM. See “Teaching” tab for more information (credits, current offerings, and recent engagements).
TEACHING – Ilasiea teaches in many capacities nationally ranging from schools, arts organizations, theatres, and runs her own acting programming for kids. As an all-around educator (teaching artist, acting coach, children’s theatre director), she is passionate about youth advocacy. Her internationally published Why Are There No “Great” Kids of Color in Performing Arts Spaces? examines inequity in the performing arts for kids of color (and educators of color), and she recently spoke about it at the South by Southwest (SXSW) Education Conference this spring. She will also speak at the Woodruff Arts Center’s Education conference, and headlined the Colorado Thespians Teacher Conference facilitating a workshop around the essay and performing.
Her programming, Lae Lae’s Acting Jam, serves students from many backgrounds, with several of the students she coaches having professional stage, commercial, T.V. and film credits. Additionally, she has partnerships with organizations, libraries, talent agencies, schools, and has directed and devised 30+ youth productions. As a Guest Artist, Ilasiea has been on several panels, including the American Alliance for Theatre & Education, discussing anti-racism and anti-oppression in theatre spaces for young people. Over the summer of 2020, Ilasiea was Creative Director for Outspoken: A Listening Project – Youth Voices of BLM. See “Teaching” tab for current offerings and recent engagements.
ADDITIONAL ARTISTIC ENDEAVORS – Ilasiea can be found working in many capacities in the arts. In addition to being named the first ever Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, & Access (IDEA) Coordinator for the Arvada Center for the Arts & Humanities, she has been a writer and co-creator on several projects, including CO2020, and the world premiere of One Way-Back Day. Additionally, she has an extensive background as a Casting Associate with credits on feature films, commercials, industrials, and theatre.
“Black. With a Capital B.” pictured.
Please see “Upcoming Tab” for recent projects
