By Celia Richardson
Whether it be to sing, dance, play instruments or even recite a community living agreement over a soulful acoustic melody, everyone was welcome to perform at the Kreativity Open Mic Night on Friday in the Morris & Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation Theatre on Nov. 8.
The audience was a group of about 20 people who played an active role in the night, with multiple performers asking or polling the audience to help them decide which acts should perform.
“It was a lot of fun,” said the Kreativity Diversity Troupe co-artistic director Diallo Adams, a senior theatre major. “It felt like we were all just hanging out, and I think the intimacy was the best part from last night, for sure.”
Ava Jacoby, a freshman criminology major, told the story of one of her friendships at the open mic, and said she enjoyed the “chill vibe” of the event.
“I felt like everyone got to show off their own talent and be themselves, which was really nice,” Jacoby said.
This was Jacoby’s first time going to a Kreativity Open Mic Night, and she said she would “for sure” go to another one.
Kreativity holds open mics two times per semester. Adams said their objective is to “give everyone an opportunity to share whatever they have.”
“We understand that not everyone has the time to commit to a show of ours, but we want to give the greater campus community a place to really share their art and have a creative outlet,” said senior theatre major Denisse Peñaflor, the other co-artistic director of Kreativity. “It’s nice seeing people who you wouldn’t think would be seen on stage come up and be able to share what they have artistically.”
In addition to “appreciating the wide pool of talent that there is on campus,” Peñaflor added that the open mic is also a way to scout out potential new Kreativity members.
Kreativity Diversity Troupe, known affectionately as ‘Krea’ to its members and those familiar with the group, is celebrating its 25th year after Scot Reese, a professor in the School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies, founded the group in 1995, Adams said.
“The main objective of it back then was to have more performing opportunities for African-American students,” said Adams, who explained that those students had difficulty being cast in the mainstage shows. “Now we take people from all different majors, all different backgrounds, with all different talents and skill sets.”
“We are a lovely, kind, creative and diverse bunch,” said Peñaflor.
“It’s a great opportunity to try something different that you might not have thought to do before,” Adams said. “I auditioned for Kreativity as a saxophone player, but I haven’t picked up a saxophone since. I even danced in something. I’m not a dancer— I’ll never do it again, but now I know.”
In addition to open mics, Kreativity also puts on a show at the end of every semester. Peñaflor explained that the show will feature a variety of different performances including dances and skits. Even though the different pieces “don’t talk to each other,” she said, they unite under a common theme. The theme for this semester’s show is “resilience.”
Kreativity’s next open mic will take place early in the spring semester.