Winning this award gives me the resources to explore sound design and composition deeper, allowing me to explore the technical aspects of sound creation for theater. While my sound design and composition career is still developing it feels really validating and lovely to have the chance to spend time just learning more about my craft!
Riel Reddick-Stevens
Bio: Riel Reddick-Stevens (she/her) is a multidisciplinary artist and performer currently based in Toronto, with strong ties to Montreal and Nova Scotia.
Alongside acting, Riel works as a composer, playwright and arts educator.
She and collaborator Aaron Jan, were the inaugural recipients of Highland art theatre’s Rita Joe Playwriting award for their musical LAYUP. Riel is also the founder of Roots of Creation; a collective dedicated to providing Black Nova Scotian youth with accessible artistic training and experiences.
Riel is interested in creating art that centers the Black and Queer experiences; with themes of coming of age, and identity. She is also interested in discovering how different mediums like music, dance, film and written text can intertwine with each other to tell compelling stories.
Coming from a background of performing in musical theatre and acting she has training experience from Randolph College, and National Theatre school’s acting program.
What piece of art, by a Black artist, inspires you?
Atlanta (Donald Glover), I love how it uses magic realism and comedy to speak to real social and political issues and how sound and music are used to alienate the viewer and pull us into the various worlds!!!!
What does it mean for you to receive this award?
Winning this award gives me the resources to explore sound design and composition deeper, allowing me to explore the technical aspects of sound creation for theater. While my sound design and composition career is still developing it feels really validating and lovely to have the chance to spend time just learning more about my craft!