Lackland Theatre Company’s Founder and Artistic Director, Hadassah Bird
We believe that at the core of Theatre lies the emotional art of Empathy. Empathy is the bridge between the actor and the character; the character and the audience; and the audience and the wider world. Empathy drives our awareness of others, our awareness of ourselves, and our ability to connect our feelings with the feelings of others.
At Lackland, we create Theatre because it offers, to every person involved, a moment in time to self-reflect, to relate to others, and to process the complex emotions and struggles that all humans face. Theatre offers a shared experience with people you might otherwise look past. We work to create an emotional and artistic space which exists, in those moments, for everyone present to it. From the actor to the usher to the audience to the sound technician, each person is enfolded in a place that we create and experience together. Our Theatre is dynamic, it is moveable, it is adaptable. It holds a mirror up to you and asks you who you are, and why. It asks you to see and hear and understand others. It asks you to engage, collaborate, build, explore, feel, and be present with us.
We are so excited to welcome the incomparable Isabel Webb as a Lackland Drama Instructor and our Administrative Assistant! Isabel has been acting since she was 7 years old and has a passion for the arts and storytelling. She received her BFA in Musical Theatre in May 2021 and has since been teaching at Lackland and in private lessons for students. She believes that anyone can be an actor if they commit to learning and believing in themselves. Alongside acting, Isabel grew up as a session singer in Nashville, and has been taking dance lessons since she was young. She believes that any form of art can inspire empathy and move people to understand and love each other a little better. She is excited to continue to help young actors grow into storytellers that will inspire and change the world.