Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachel Tibbetts.
Hi Rachel, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve been doing theatre all my life. As a child, my parents took me to plays, and I fell in love. I was the kid who reenacted moments from everything I consumed – everything from the movie Annie to the musical Starlight Express. My dad was in the Air Force, and I’m an only child, so as we were moving around, one of the only constants was the things I loved to watch, listen to, and dance to, and I was almost always recreating those things on my own. When I was in middle school, we moved to Enid, Oklahoma, and I was able to join a drama program for the first time. I had a great teacher and felt I had finally met my people. The friendships I formed (and still form) making plays have been some of my life’s most long-lasting and solid.
I continued with theatre through high school, where I had another fantastic teacher, Mrs. Johnston. She was so encouraging. My parents, too. With that encouragement, I decided to major in theatre at Oklahoma State University. I was also interested in teaching but realized that a traditional classroom setting was similar to not what I sought. Because of that, friends recommended that I apply for internships with education departments at theatre companies. I was lucky to get one with the Delaware Theatre Company (DTC) in Wilmington, Delaware. On my first day with them, I went into a level 5 juvenile correctional facility with the Director of Education at DTC to teach an acting class. I stayed with DTC for three years and was promoted to Assistant Director of Education.
I moved to St. Louis in 2003 and found work with Young Audiences of St. Louis. I met amazing friends and colleagues there and was first introduced to Agnes Wilcox and Prison Performing Arts (PPA). The two organizations partnered on a program called the Hip Hop Poetry Project, a project that PPA continued through 2019. In 2005, I was hired at PPA in a part-time position, but I taught myself to write grants fairly quickly and was promoted to full-time within a year. Over the years, I have held many titles at PPA, the most recent being Artistic Director, which I was encouraged to do in 2021.
Alright, let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
It’s not always a smooth road but almost always rewarding. My most recent struggle has been finding that work-life/motherhood balance. I had a daughter in 2019. My work schedule is pretty demanding, and I travel 2-3 days a week to our facilities. But I have a fantastic partner who is also a great dad, and we are making it work the best we can. Laughter helps a lot. I also have amazing colleagues at PPA who are very supportive and understanding when life pulls me away from work. This is a gift, and I know this isn’t always the case in work environments.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might need to become more familiar with what you do, what can you tell them about what you do?
Prison Performing Arts is a multi-discipline, literacy, and performing arts program dedicated to enriching the lives of youth and adults in Missouri’s criminal and juvenile justice systems. We foster individual and social change by providing incarcerated adults, system-impacted youth, and returning citizens opportunities to participate in the arts as artists, students, and audience members. Participants learn creative and constructive ways to express emotions, build trust, and work in collaboration with one another.
Our programs aim to improve literacy and communication skills, instill responsibility to self and others, and promote non-violent expression of emotion. PPA works in three Missouri state prisons, three juvenile facilities, and one transition center with probation & parole. We also have a company for individuals who have been released from prison and are returning home to their communities. I’m most proud of all the folks who participate in PPA’s programming their dedication, talent, tenacity, commitment to the artistic process, commitment to each other, and the overall care put into everything they do. My work extends beyond PPA. I’m also a co-producer for a theatre company called SATE, where we tell new and established stories in innovative ways, while championing the work of women in various artistic roles. I also work as a freelance actor, director, and intimacy coordinator. In 2023, I was honored to receive the St. Louis Theatre Circle Award for Outstanding Supporting Performer and the Saint Louis Visionary Award for Community Impact Artist. These recognitions are a testament to the importance of community building through creativity and collaboration.
Have you learned any exciting or essential lessons due to the COVID-19 crisis?
At PPA, we have created an environment where people are always put first. That became a priority for me after the height of the COVID-19 crisis. The “show” doesn’t have to constantly “go on.” People are essential, which is why we do our work. We must always prioritize the overall well-being of those we work with. I’m no longer willing to sacrifice people’s health and well-being for the job. The work is valuable, of course, but not at the expense of people doing the work.
Contact Info:
- Website: prisonperformingarts.org
- Instagram: @prisonperformingarts
- Facebook: @prisonperformingarts
Image Credits
Nan Rochberg, Ray Bay, Creates Urban Style Photography
