Meet the Creative Visionary Behind Actors Theatre of Louisville
We're pulling back the curtain to give you a peek at the life of Amelia Acosta Powell, the artistic director and driving creative force of Kentuckyβs official state theatre.Β Image: Philip Allgeier
Once a theatre-loving child, Amelia Acosta Powell turned her passion for plays into a thriving career as artistic director of the Actors Theatre of Louisville, Kentuckyβs official state theatre. This Denver native expertly handles the business side of the nonprofit, managing finances and operations, while using her creative vision to determine which stories get told and how they will be brought to life. Get to know the woman behind the scenes!
βWhatβs a typical day like in your shoes?
βOne of my favorite things about working in theatre is that no two days are alike. The work can be challenging at times, but it is never boring! My days can range from rehearsals in the theatre to figuring out how to stage a swimming scene without any available water, to working through project budgets, to meeting with other nonprofit leaders around the city to discuss how we can partner.
I frequently have the pleasure of ending the evening seeing a play, whether thatβs at Actors Theatre or elsewhere.
βWhat led you to this line of work?
I fell in love with theatre at a young age. In fourth grade, my entire class put on a play. All the parents said I was good, so I flattered myself into believing I was an amazing actor β but in reality, I just have a loud voice and was probably the only kid that the parents could hear at the back of the auditorium.
And now youβre the creative visionary of Actors Theatre! Tell us a little more about your theatrical journey.
βIβve also been the associate artistic director at the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, the line producer at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, and the artistic associate and casting director at Arena Stage.
My Actors Theatre of Louisville directing credits include A Christmas Carol, Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins, Loving and Loving, La Egoista, and Every Brilliant Thing. My other recent directing includes August: Osage County and The Gradient at The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis.
Iβm a steering committee member of the Latinx Theatre Commons, a member of the Casting Society of America, an inaugural grantee of TCGβs Rising Leaders of Color, and a proud alumna of the Allen Lee Hughes Fellowship, and Iβve taught as adjunct faculty at Webster University Conservatory of Theatre Arts.
If life had taken you in a different direction, what do you think youβd be doing instead?
I had every intention of my life taking another direction. I pursued undergraduate and graduate studies in Spanish Linguistics at Georgetown University, and upon completing my Masterβs degree, I had a job lined up teaching English abroad. But the universe brought me back to theatre, and I ended up becoming the Casting Director at Arena Stage in Washington, D.C., right before I would have gotten on the plane.
Are there any common misconceptions or myths about your industry that youβd like to debunk?
βPerhaps one of the biggest myths in the entertainment industry is the βtortured genius.β I have profound respect for artists who are willing to be vulnerable, take painful experiences from their lives, and explore them through creative expression.
That said, I would like to debunk the idea that great art must be born of misery β especially misery that is inflicted on collaborators. I find that the best art comes from working with people who demonstrate empathy and take good care of themselves and each other.β
Whatβs one thing people are surprised to learn about you?
βIβm slowly working my way through every U.S. National Park. Iβve visited 24 of 63 so far. Thereβs nothing like spending time in nature to reset my perspective, which is probably why Iβm drawn to theatre, too. Both are ways of stepping into something larger than yourself.
βIf you could host one person at an Actors Theatre show, who would it be and why?
βI would have to choose my grandmother. She no longer travels and has never seen a play Iβve directed. As a lifelong patron of the arts, I think she would really enjoy the work weβre doing at Actors Theatre.
βWhat are your favorite spots to eat, shop, and play around Louisville?
A few of my favorite spots to eat include Heart and Soy, Ramsiβs Cafe on the World, HaiFry, Kebab House, and Perso. And I love to drink delicious tea from KIWA.
I admit that I donβt shop very much, except for books. Carmichaelβs should just take a chunk of my paycheck.
Actors Theatre of Louisville is my favorite place for a play! (Just kidding, bad pun.) My go-to stops for exploring are Cherokee Park, Cave Hill Cemetery, and Bernheim Forest.
βAny other hidden Louisville gems that youβd like to share?
I was just introduced to Our Place at Ben Washer Park by Heather Lowe, executive director of the Louisville Free Public Library. Itβs such a wonderful spot offering delicious breakfast and lunch, as well as locally made artisan goods!
What is the best advice youβve ever given or received?
The best advice Iβve ever received is to ask questions more often than I answer them, and to always stay curious. It has come from many sources and is a big part of Jewish culture. Itβs something my parents reinforced regularly as lifelong learners and avid readers, and itβs something my theatre mentors have also emphasized in terms of how to deconstruct stories and make them legible to an audience.
**********
Discover more Louisville stories worth sharing.Β Follow us on Instagram!
Lennie Omalza
Originally from Hawaii, Lennie Omalza is a Louisville-based freelance writer of over 18 years. Lennie is a yoga-loving foodie who travels as often as she can and enjoys writing about food, homes, and weddings. You can find more of Lennie's work at Eater, Hawaii Home & Remodeling, and The Louisville Courier-Journal.