Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Gracie Everett. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Gracie thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

The battle I fight almost every day when it comes to my creative work is getting– and staying– out of my own head. With acting and singing, it can be visually evident when a performer is thinking too much, and I know this is true for me. However, it surprised me to learn how intense of a process playwriting can be! When I first moved to Chicago and started my playwriting degree, I had only ever written plays in a very regimented, planned way. Before starting any project, I’d plan every detail and stick to my prepared outline during the drafting and editing process. As a part of the playwriting program’s curriculum, I learned, alongside my cohort, how to break out of the trap of planning everything and allow myself to be surprised by the things I create. It’s still a struggle more often than not to relinquish control, and to write things just for the sake of experimentation, without keeping the final product in mind, but some of my best work has come from that method, so I continue to start writing all my plays with a similar ‘methodless method’ and allow them to take shape organically, rather than forcing them into boxes they might not fit into in the first place.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Gracie Everett, I’m an actress / singer / playwright originally from Texas and currently based in Chicago. I’m a recent graduate of DePaul University, with a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts in Playwriting from The Theatre School, and a certification in Disability Studies. I’m also a proud autistic self-advocate with a passion for arts accessibility and creating a more inclusive industry! Both in my writing and performance, I love to tell complex, morally challenging stories with flawed characters and problems that don’t have easy solutions… just like most things in real life. The plays I write tend to focus on girlhood / young womanhood and follow young female characters, whether it be one teenage protagonist or a diverse ensemble cast of teen girls.

Currently, I’m honored to have a playwriting fellowship at Chicago’s Raven Theatre, where I am continuing development on one of the full-length plays I wrote during my time at DePaul. I also have quite a few other exciting things in the works, updates to come!

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

Most importantly, in my opinion, I think it’s crucial for professional creatives, hobbyists, and non-creatives alike to recognize the necessity of humanity in the creation of art. Artificial Intelligence has a place in modern society, of course, but to protect the integrity of art and artists, we need to leave the creation to the creators. An algorithm can generate a word (or image) salad that can pass for human-made, but any ‘art’ made by a computer will inherently lack the depth that compels us to engage. The beauty of art is in the hard work and labor it requires, and in its ability to bring people together. So don’t be afraid to make bad art, because if your human experiences influence the art you’re creating, you’ve already won!

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

I’m someone who struggles to enjoy the process of creation at times, as much as I do love it. It’s challenging to be an artist while also being results-oriented, so I often have to remind myself to enjoy the process rather than getting caught up in the final product. However, there’s something undeniably magical about the moment all the pieces fall into place and I finally start to see what the story is that I’m telling. Since my writing process especially can be very freeform and unstructured until quite a ways down the line, I often don’t know the plot or core conflict of a play I’m writing until I’m already knee-deep in it, and the moments when the realization hits is always such a satisfying lightbulb moment.
Of course, I also love knowing I’m impacting others with my writing and performance skills, and hearing people share how my work made them feel is an irreplaceable part of being an artist for me. My biggest goal as a creative is to make waves in the world, so it’s always especially rewarding to know I’ve succeeded at what I view as my most important goal.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://GracieEverett.com
• Instagram: @GraceEverett
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gracieeverettcrone/
• Other: TikTok: @gracie.everett

Image Credits

Liz Stenholt, CenterStage Theatre Works, Blue Demon Theatre