Today we’d like to introduce you to Addae Moon
Hi Addae , thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I first came to Atlanta in 1989 to attend Clark Atlanta University where I majored in theatre and film. Prior to that I was at Douglas Anderson School of the Arts in Jacksonville, Florida where my focus was theatre and visual art. Because I was a fairly good natured weird artist kid, my parents pretty much let me be me. After Clark I bounced back and forth between Atlanta, Chicago and NY moving between acting, directing and playwriting. I eventually received an MFA in Playwriting from Ohio University and when I returned to Atlanta I decided to focus on playwriting, dramaturgy and directing.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Of course not. Thankfully, I was blessed to have two amazing mentors who were also working theatre artists, Carol Mitchell- Leon and Gary Yates. There were never any delusions about the challenges I would face trying to create work as a Black theatre artist in a region that didn’t have much arts funding. The decision to go to graduate school was grounded in the awareness that an MFA would give me more opportunities to make a living creating art and telling stories than if I was simply auditioning and submitting work to theatres. I began to self-produce while I was in undergrad. Graduate school gave me more time to sharpen that skill set, while also giving me room to create (and “rooms” to create in). I was also an apprentice with a company called Barking Dog Theatre. The founders were a few years older than me and it provided a great opportunity to apply what I’d been learning in classroom and studio environments into practice. It also reinforced the importance of cultivating a creative community. Centering my independence as a theatre artists while also investing energy shaping community, are at the core of my practice.
We’ve been impressed with Theatrical Outfit, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Theatrical Outfit was founded in 1977 and our current mission is to “produce world class theatre that starts the conversations that matter.” What drew me to TO’s work was the company’s commitment to Atlanta based artists. I’ve lived and worked in a few places, and the thing that keeps bringing me back to Atlanta is its rich history and ever evolving culture. One of the reasons that we created our LAUNCHPAD: A “Made In Atlanta” Festival (on stage March 11 – 23, 2025) was to support Atlanta based artists by providing them with space and a small stipend to create, produce and showcase new work … THEIR work. A city’s creative ecosystem is only strong if the artists in that ecosystem are empowered to tell their own stories.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
Risk is unavoidable if you have chosen to pursue a life as an artist. There is nothing “safe” or “stable” about this path. Embracing the risks allows us the freedom to be fully ourselves and craft something powerful and impactful without apology.
Pricing:
- Tickets To All Shows Start As Low As $15
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.theatricaloutfit.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theatricaloutfit/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheatOutfit/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/theatrical-outfit/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCL8ZezlYG81Duf983zVHAvQ?view_as=subscriber
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/show/3NbpSqIeCD1pfZPBb4MJIl
Image Credits
CLYDES – Geoffrey Williams in CLYDE’S – Photo Credit: Casey G Ford
FLEX – The Cast of FLEX – Photo Credit: Casey G Ford
Gala – Addae Moon at Annual Gala – Photo Credit: Theatrical Outfit
RAISIN – Amari Cheatom & Jen Harper in A RAISIN IN THE SUN – Photo Credit: Casey G Ford
REMEMBER – Andrew Benator in REMEMBER THIS: THE LESSON OF JAN KARSKI – Photo Credit: Casey G Ford
WOLF – Matt Mercurio & Maria Rodriguez-Sager in THE WOLF AT THE END OF THE BLOCK – Photo Credit: Casey G Ford
YJL1 – The Creatives of YOUNG JOHN LEWIS – Workshop Photo Credit: Casey G Ford
YJL2 – Michael Bahsil in YOUNG JOHN LEWIS – Workshop Photo Credit: Casey G Ford
