It's Not That Simple Program

Event Overview: Join Grey Box Collective at Third Street Theater in Phoenix Center for the Arts on April 26th to celebrate all ten seasons! For A Decade in the Grey, we've got the premiere of our documentary film, an encore performance, and a new coloring book release. ​ ​ 6:30p Doors Open  6:45p Pre-show  7:00p Encore Performance of Finger Painting [for grown-ups]  Intermission  8:00p Documentary Film Screening  8:45p  Q&A with Performers, Filmmakers & Creatives of GBC  Event concludes around 9:15pm

Grey Box Collective would not have made it to season ten if it wasn't for the nearly 200 creatives who have poured their creativity into the company and on stage each season - thank you to every individual who has contributed their time and energy to ten years of playing in the grey! Our tenth season is made possible in part due to support from Phoenix Arts & Culture, City of Tempe, and the Arizona Commission on the Arts. Additionally, thank you to our board (Delia and Jose) and volunteers (Jasmin, Coley, Hailey and Natalee) for rehearsal support, event prep, and feeding us. Thank you to Phoenix Center for the Arts for their support in graciously allowing us to be in the Third St. Theater. Thank you Esteban for tech support. Thank you Luisa, Gayle, and Wes for the documentary film! Thank you to Jamie for capturing our process and performance in photos. And thank you to the creatives of Finger Painting [for grown-ups] Adam, Micah, Lauren, and Ashley for the joy and play.

Dear Audience, Thank you so much for joining us for today’s performance, especially with the weight of the “normalized” hustle culture that is imposed on us to survive in today’s construct of livelihood. Finger Painting [for grown-ups] is almost old enough to be a grown-up itself. The 2014 iteration - in this same building over a decade ago was a revisitation of past work. Oh, how it's grown! We came together this week to shed the old script, flip it, and reverse it, all the while preserving and transforming the timeless struggle of persisting in joy midst a world that values efficiency over whimsy. We are eager to share the work we have been creating in the space together for the last 6 months, and more interested in hearing all your thoughts/takeaways from what you see today. As a child we come into this world free of assumptions and full of curiosity, wonder and the innate desire to connect and understand. As we grow we are taught to suppress, assume, defend and present a certain way and it’s often a burden that we carry far too long. We hope this piece sheds a layer or two of that burden and reignite the spirit of our youth to keep our hearts connected and joy (in Pokémon and all other wonders) primed. Please take moments to breathe, recenter, and appreciate to where you are today in the present. For you deserve to be uplifted for what you have overcame, persevered and uplifted through to create the human you are today. Thank you for existing, for simply being: a human being. Joyfully, The Creatives of Finger Painting [for grown-ups]

Adam Mendez received his BA in Theatre (Acting Concentration) from Arizona State University in 2016, carving his artistic path into Phoenix, Los Angeles, Montana and the Bay Area. Adam worked in Educational Theater & in Film, TV & Commercial for 8 years while living in Los Angeles. Adam is currently represented by Marla Dell Talent Agency in SF, along with operating as the Education & Community Programs Coordinator for American Conservatory Theater. Over the last 10 years, Adam has been focused on developing his musical skill sets, focusing on his strengths as an artist and seeking opportunities to strengthening the community around him. Some of Adam's past theatre credits include: Chicano in the Sun (Teatro Bravo; autobiographical one person show), Tomas in Tomas and the Library Lady, Abel in Children of Eden (Grandstreet Theater), CLopin in Hunchback of Notre Dame (South Bay Encore Theatre), Henry Reyna in Zoot Suit (Shakespeare Orange County Co.), Angel in The Password (stage & short film; Telly Award Silver Winner), Alex in Suenos (Las Positas) and Sebastian in The Tempest (Marin Shakespeare Co.). Lastly, Adam would like to thank his family, El Vaquero Taqueria, his partner No'eau (cats Jasper & Penny) and most importantly YOU for sharing your time & energy with us today. The arts would cease to exist without your continual support! @adammendezjr Micah Jondel DeShazer (he/him) is an award-winning actor, director, vocalist and conductor from the US, now based in Canada since 2021. Most recently serving as Artistic Director of TACTICS Theatre Group for two seasons, he now works as a freelance director, performer, educator and arts administrator, collaborating with institutions such as OCT, NTS, Shaw, Company of Fools, TUTS, GCTC, serves as a board member for Orpheus Musical Theatre and Blackout Arts Society. Amidst the contract work he is also endeavoring to establish a new rep theatre in Canada’s capital: Unexpected Theatre. He is deeply committed to developing and normalizing the voices of disabled and BIPOC creatives, and he mentors under Nina Lee Aquino, focusing on bold artistic leadership and direction. His work is tailored towards bridging gaps across cultures, highlighting universal experiences whilst maintaining cultural respect, and always striving to dismantle prejudice through storytelling that reflects the shared essence of humanity. With an emphasis on musicals, contemporary works, developing new plays, his passion is rooted in curating and creating inclusive, thought-provoking theatre. Micah strives to maintain an artistic innovative platform where excellence, creativity, empathy, and cultural respect are at the forefront of every effort. micahjondel.com Lauren Scott is a Phoenix-based music educator and dance maker. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Music from Arizona State University in 2016, and later returned there to complete her Master of Music in Music Learning and Teaching in 2021. During that time, Lauren has grown the band program at Kyrene Traditional Academy in the Kyrene School District, where she still works today. Lauren began wiggling and shaking with Grey Box Collective during the 2014 iteration of Finger Painting [for grown-ups]. She has also had the privilege of performing with many area ensembles including The Academy Drum and Bugle Corps, Desert Echoes Flute Choir, and BOOM! Percussion Entertainment. Groups she has choreographed for include Breakthrough Indoor Percussion, Phenom Drum and Bugle Corps, and many valley high schools. Lauren is passionate about providing creative outlets for young performers. Outside of the arts, Lauren is an active endgame raider of a certain critically acclaimed MMORPG with an award-winning expansion, amateur motorcyclist, and avid consumer of noodles. She would like to thank her roommate, bearded dragon, and future husband for all being unwilling, yet supportive, audience members to her living room “squidward dancing” practice. Ashley Gamba is a costume designer, maker, and costume crafts artisan. Recent designs include Book of Will, Always… Patsy Cline (The Phoenix Theatre Company), Eddie & Vinnie (Childsplay), Safe At Home (ASU), You Can’t Take It With You, Concord Floral, Welcome Home Jenny Sutter, Mr. Burns: A Post Electric Play (MCC), and Lucky Stiff (Arizona Broadway Theatre). Ashley has also worked extensively as a crafts artisan and design assistant at South Coast Repertory, Pasadena Playhouse, Geffen Playhouse and Childsplay. Ashley has taught costume construction at both Arizona State and Mesa Community College. She has a special interest in working with unconventional materials, and creating hats and headdresses. Ashley received her MFA from UC Irvine and her BFA from Penn State. Luisa Santos Martinez is a multimedia artist, creative strategist, and advocate with a B.A. in Film from Arizona State University, where she focused on documentary storytelling. Rooted in her Colombian heritage and deeply engaged in local communities, Luisa explores the intersections of film, design, and narrative to elevate stories that often go unheard. With extensive experience in videography, digital communications, and project management, Luisa has led campaigns and creative initiatives across the arts, advocacy, and nonprofit sectors. Her work spans from managing nationwide communications strategies to directing creative cultural programming and producing bilingual content for diverse audiences. Luisa collaborates with numerous arts and youth-focused organizations, sharpening her commitment to using media as a bridge for collective healing, visibility, and change. Born in the Southwest, from New Mexico to Arizona, Jamie Olguin discovered her perspective of life through the camera lens. Specializing in portraits, weddings, and events, her work is rooted in capturing the light in others. Through photography, she is devoted to honoring stories and finding connection and purpose within community. Jamie is currently developing a project that amplifies the adversity and resilience of femininity in Arizona, centered around the Salt River. Passionate about connecting with her community and state in ways she never could before, this journey has opened doors for growth—shaping her as an artist, individual, and storyteller. Please check out my new website for more info! Erika Valdez is an Arizona-based visual artist and illustrator. She is a lifelong lover of books, drawing, and painting, and looks to combine these three interests as often as possible. Erika expands the confines of the canvas to bring a storybook nature to her fine artwork. She works with oils, acrylics, colored pencils, graphite, and ink. Furthermore, she enjoys using textiles, embroidery, and other creative additions to make multi-media, dynamic pieces.  Erika graduated from Arizona State University with her BFA in Art (Painting and Drawing) in 2024. She is a library employee, a member of the Society of Children's Books Writers and Illustrators, and  a member of the Arizona Artists Guild. Erika hopes to work extensively in the fields of children's literature, exhibitions, art education, and public art. Gayle Tomimbang is a filmmaker and interdisciplinary media artist. Born in Manila, Philippines and raised in Phoenix, Arizona, Gayle's work explores themes of identity, memory, and cultural displacement. Gayle holds a BA in Film and Media Production from Arizona State University and works full time as a videographer for her alma mater. Wes Branch is a multidisciplinary artist and video editor based in the valley. Molly W. Schenck is a multi-hyphenated artist and somatic practitioner who is fascinated with human movement and what interrupts its full expression. She specializes in the intersection of creativity and trauma. She is the author of Trauma-Informed Teaching Practices for Dance Educators. She has presented workshops and trainings for individuals, organizations, and arts leaders locally, nationally, and internationally including San Francisco Opera, Actors Equity Association, and the Association of Theatre Movement Educators. She is also a ISMETA Registered Somatic Movement Therapist and Educator. For more information visit mollywschenck.com

Encore Performance: Finger Painting [for grown-ups] (approx. 50 minutes) As our daily reality becomes an onslaught of information and change that produces collective overwhelm, Finger Painting [for grown-ups] offers a space of dark humor for moving through these seemingly never-ending unprecedented times. This performance blends child-like wonder with the jadedness of adulthood — somewhere between cynical and whimsical. ​ Show History: Finger Painting [for grown-ups] was originally written by Molly W. Schenck in 2009. In 2014, it was restaged and produced by Binary Theater Company, and the ensemble from that production inspired the formation of Grey Box Collective. The April 26th encore is drawn from the October 2025 iteration, devised without the previous script. It features creatives from the 2014 production alongside individuals who have contributed substantially to shaping Grey Box Collective over the past ten years. ​ What to expect: Honestly - and we recognize this probably isn't super helpful - expect the unexpected. As with any Grey Box show, it's about the journey, not the destination. Be as present as possible and enjoy the semi-organized, chaotic ride. If you're seated on stage, you'll likely be asked to hold things (budgets are tight, so we appreciate the extra hands) and read things aloud with others (you can always say no or just pretend). No matter where you sit, performers will talk to you. Don't be alarmed; they're just highly caffeinated extroverts seeking human connection. We also recommend warming up your singing voice and brushing up on your Pokémon knowledge to fully engage with the show. ​ We also understand that burnout is real, being a human is hard, and this show can be a lot. If you just want to sit and hang out the whole time, that's cool too. To summarize: expect an unusual performance, moments you won't fully understand, and getting a little lost … along with play, joy, laughter, maybe some tears, at the absurdity of "normal" life.   Documentary Film: A Decade in the Grey (approx. 40 minutes) A Decade in the Grey chronicles ten years of Grey Box Collective's bold, multidisciplinary artistry, highlighting their Trauma-Informed Creative Practices and the transformative power of creating during messy, ambiguous, uncertain, and overwhelming times. ​ The film follows GBC's unique approach to navigating complex, often uncomfortable topics through art. At its heart are the voices of founder Molly W. Schenck and a diverse group of collaborators, whose stories intertwine to reveal the evolution of the company's work and impact. Beginning with Grey Box's founding against the backdrop of Arizona's evolving arts scene, the film traces the growth of their devising process through key performances and projects weaving archival footage, behind-the-scenes rehearsal glimpses, and interviews with creatives. As it progresses, the documentary examines the challenges and triumphs of sustaining a small, grassroots organization while prioritizing wellness, inclusivity, and innovation. The film crescendos with the creation of a new iteration of Finger Painting [for grown-ups]  a fitting metaphor for Grey Box's ethos: messy, vibrant, and deeply human. ​ A Decade in the Grey is an inspiring testament to the power of creating difficult art during difficult times.   Q&A with Performers, Filmmakers & Creatives of GBC Following the performance and film premiere, the creatives behind these projects will open the floor for questions and dialogue about the creative process, the themes of the evening, and anything else related to the events of the night.

About the Producing Company: Grey Box Collective (GBC) devises interdisciplinary, experimental, and post-dramatic performances about social-emotional wellbeing (i.e. we make weird art about tough stuff). We work primarily at the intersection of performing arts, visual arts, educational psychology, and feminist theory. We aim to explore new forms of expression and make choices to rebel against the “norms”. Our work prioritizes investigating broad ideas and typically steps away from traditional plot lines or characters. GBC is a trauma-informed arts organization committed to holding compassionate spaces for ourselves and others. We embody multiple truths, we center taking care of ourselves, we get uncomfortable, and ensure sustainable practices are embedded in all that we do. We believe this work leads to a just society. We value honesty, transparency, and quality over quantity. Through our actions, reflections, and art-making, we aim to challenge and re-shape the status quo in our organization, in our bodies, and our communities. Our vision is to usher in the future of the performing arts in the way we create work, the performances we make, and how we operate the organization as a whole. Trauma-Informed Creative Practices is the catalyst for this vision of the future. Grey Box Collective was founded in 2016 by Molly W. Schenck. In 2022, the non-profit branch of the company was formed to allow our work to continue to expand and support a thriving ecosystem for artists and our community. Our tenth season is partially supported by the City of Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture, Arizona Commission on the Arts, and City of Tempe.

This is our final event for season ten! Sign-up for our newsletter to stay updated on what season 11 has in store.

Call for Leadership! Letters will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the team is complete. ​ As GBC continues to evolve, we are in search for a larger leadership team to be the guardians of grey box and stewards of the next chapter of making weird art about tough stuff.   Local, national, and international individuals are welcomed to submit a letter of interest here. ​ Want to know more before submitting? Watch the replay of our tea time where we discuss what the future of GBC. You can access the replay through this digital download. DONATE to GBC Ten years of creating in the grey Of making weird work in a world that frays. A decade of sparks we’ve carried through, Where messy magic becomes something true In a time when the arts are under attack, With shrinking budgets and pressure pushing back, If you believe in the raw, the odd, the true, We’re asking for support from folks like you. Donate now to help our company grow - and stay tuned to see how far we’ll go. ​ Thank you for supporting the arts!

NAMI Valley of the Sun - https://www.nami.org/affiliate/arizona/nami-valley-of-the-sun/ Offers support groups (virtual and in-person), education, resources, and advocacy on mental health Crisis Text Line - National Suicide Text Hotline A free, 24/7 support for those in crisis. Crisis Response Network - Crisisnetwork.org 24/7 - Hotline 800-631-1314 (local organization). The Trevor Project - https://www.thetrevorproject.org The leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) young people ages 13–24. Trans Queer Pueblo - https://www.facebook.com/transqueerpueblo/ An autonomous LGBTQ+ migrant community of color working to create cycles of mutual support that cultivate leadership. Trans Lifeline - https://www.translifeline.org/ (877) 565-8860 Additional links to resources for native and indigenous communities and these US crisis lines and international numbers.