Linda McDaniel

 What can I say about myself? I don't think being a cis hetero white woman is the best look right now, but that is a part of my story. I have privilege. I am consistently seeking an education on how to 'do no harm' and how to use my privilege to lift up those around me. I believe that only happens if we all stay in dialogue with each other. Let's go theater!

My intersectionality is addiction, size discrimination, and several experiences in different socioeconomic backgrounds. Without blowing up my families entire history, I am no stranger to abuse and trauma. I am also not a stranger to loving parents, and I believe I have a unique compassion and empathy for all kinds of walks in life because of the many trajectories my own life could have had and the bravery of the loved ones I know sharing their incredible struggles with me.

I think I’m an artist who, in another life, would be a psychologist/counselor. I love exploring human behavior in all its forms. I find myself leaning towards Determinism in my approaches. I'm frequently asking how much free will do we have?

I think people enter a bad system thinking that their will power will withstand the bad system and then, for the majority, the bad system grinds them all into the same meat. Then those on the outside of the bad system lament the moral failings of the meat, and not the grinder. 

We can't control the small amount of will power that people have day to day (especially when they are  overworked and underpaid) but we can change the bad systems that grind will power into the same bad decisions we lament. Theater looks at this on the micro level. It  both, holds the mirror, and smashes with a hammer, bad systems.