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

Mayah Lourdes, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

I’d been directing people around before I knew what directing was – I was always put in leadership positions in school, the head of projects and clubs, and an assistant teacher in the dance studio I grew up in by the time I was 13. In those positions, I was always kind and led with a deep need for connection and mutual belonging – and I think that has bled into the work I do to this day. But pursuing theater and directing in a career-forward lens was such a gamble and a very different world than what I was used to. I had the talent as a foundation and even the warmth that sets me apart, but there is an entrepreneurial nature to directing, the “business side” if you will, that I really had to grow into. My theater education was well-rounded but not directing-focused, adn I didn’t go to a big name school AND I graduated on Zoom in the pandemic so I learned a lot in what my partner likes to call “the school of hard-knocks”, that is to say, learning as I experienced the work, learning on the job, after getting into the bigger rooms. There are etiquette-related things that people learn in school that I don’t think I learned until already “doing it wrong” or “my way,” but those are some of the things I think set me apart from everyone else, things that made applications and work in the room tend to stand out from the crowd and I really have grown to appreciate my unique experience and upbringing and graduation into this field.

Mayah Lourdes, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am a Theater Director and Intimacy Coordinator based in NYC with a focus on actor wellness, collaboration, and devising as an integral part of the rehearsal process. I’m dedicated to uplifting artists who are finding their footing in the industry, because I know how transformative it was when others took chances on me. I value linear leadership over hierarchy, seeing the role of director as facilitator, guide, and supporter. My responsibility is to ensure the final product is cohesive and honors both the storytelling and the needs of the script, while also celebrating the unique gifts each artist brings to the room. I believe it’s vital to create space for individuality rather than forcing artists into boxes. My process is deeply process-oriented, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. By allowing actors to lead, I encourage them to have autonomy in their bodies and choices, which grounds their work in truth and honesty and ultimately leads to the most powerful performances.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

Main video that I come back to is Uta Hagen’s Respect for Acting masterclass. You can find it on YouTube. Truly one of my favorite videos to come back to because she is able to take such small shifts that have major impacts on the actors and these are things that link back to every day behaviors. One of my favorite things is when she gives an actor some business to do in a scene but it was just buttoning her coat as she talked. Small shifts with really big impact to bring out the truth. She also has a way with them – very direct but still loving – that releases the actors from whatever they felt stuck about. I hope to be like her, I hope actors feel that way when I talk to them.

I also love the Artist Way, Julia Cameron. Its a workbook that my friend shared with me to really reset your mind in how you think about the work you do and the intentions you have/how you talk about yourself as a creative. And really encouraging your values to be strong as you go into the next phase (before the 12 weeks and then after) and honestly just a good reset. I did it when I quit my job last year and thought it was so so excellent.

If people are looking for classes, The Barrow Group has some excellent ones! There are workshops that are really helpful and thoughtful.

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

We as artists need to stop waiting for other people to pass us the baton and honestly start making stuff we want to see. In the digital age everyone wants to do things the fastest way possible and compares our every day lives to people’s highlight reel. I think it is integral that we stop comparing and talking and really push ourselves to DO. It is hard because the weight of the world these days is making everything feel next to impossible but we have to keep pushing. And we have to SHOW UP for each other. That one is hard too, but I deeply believe in the power of community, the synergy that takes place is just so impactful and important.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.mayahlourdesburke.com
• Instagram: mayahlourdes

Image Credits

Anna Glen Sparks, Annie Brown, Saniya Selby, Sarah Hasson