This Girl is on Fire
by Samantha Taylor
Three years ago, in our Fall 2017 issue, we brought you the story of Blayze Teicher, a graduate of Lake Mary High School who’s making a name for herself in the theater world as a director/producer in New York City. Since that story, Blayze’s career has continued to blossom. She’s directed a number of film and stage projects that have earned rave reviews in numerous film festivals and across dozens of theaters in New York, including off-Broadway. Blayze is even making her presence known online as director of the popular Web series Interested In.
Now, she’s taking the next big step in her career. Blayze was recently named one of only four National Director Fellows. The honor earns her a spot in a prestigious 18-month program featuring a collaboration between The Eugene O’Neill Theater Center, National New Play Network, the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival, and the Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation.
The four fellows are chosen from across the country, and Blayze is the only New York-based director in the group. She’ll spend the next year and a half making connections with writers, theaters, and producers across the country in the career-making program.
Typically, the program is completed in person, involving travel and theater hopping across America. This year, though, COVID-19 has changed things. The program is occurring virtually for the foreseeable future.
“I would have been at The Kennedy Center last month,” says Blayze. “But that’s OK – they are making a conscious effort to make this fellowship just as worthwhile. Because this is an exceptional year, they are working really hard with us.”
As part of the program, Blayze recently participated in a Zoom call with famed composer Stephen Sondheim. Blayze had the opportunity to ask him about the Black Lives Matter movement and how playwrights could work to make language more sensitive and inclusive.
Before the end of the 18-month fellowship, Blayze hopes she can start some of the in-person meetings that are such an important part of the experience.
“I hope that the theater industry is back up and running soon in a safe and equitable way,” she says. “In a year, I’d love to be directing a full production or associate directing on Broadway, and I hope to continue production of our postponed Web series.”
While Blayze’s regular gigs are on pause, she’s extremely optimistic about the future.
“It’s definitely strange to be this indefinitely on hold,” she explains. “It meant a lot to get this fellowship, and I knew that I needed to be flexible with the virtual format. It was a little sad, but it felt wonderful to be able to dedicate time to something. I feel connected to my industry. While we are on pause, I get to meet with the three other fellows who are all set to change the industry in general because of who they are and how they look at art. I’m excited to have different conversations with them. I haven’t stopped working, it just looks different.”