Today we’d like to introduce you to Ayun Haliday.
Hi Ayun, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I’m a writer, theatermaker, zinemaker, occasional illustrator. I was launched on this path by virtue of being an unathletic only child with little skill or ability in STEM, as it’s now called.
I majored in theater at Northwestern University, and shortly thereafter joined the NeoFuturists in advance of their first anniversary. Our show, Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind (30 Plays in 60 Minutes) positioned me to learn a lot about writing, comedy, mining personal experience for an audience of strangers, and low budget guerilla marketeering.
I’ve tried to leverage those skills in my zine, The East Village Inky, as well as my books and plays.
I’m unashamed to say that I’m a small potato… most of the time, anyway.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
We’ve all got our struggles, no? Mine are largely informed by the fact that I’ve got no infrastructure, and unlikely to find one this late in the game. I’m just making it all up as I go along.
The school I attended taught us a lot about Shakespeare and Chekhov, but not so much about playing the game. Others come by that naturally. Not me, and I get more clueless with every passing year.
I admit. that a bit of a grasshopper, full of ideas and festivity, but not so keen when it comes to putting in ant-time.
On the other hand, the weird little stuff I’ve managed to create exists almost entirely because of my effort and initiative, and it’s really gratifying to hear from the people who do respond to it, seeing how it’s all a pretty pure expression of self.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
The title of one of my most recent books pretty much sums it up: CREATIVE, NOT FAMOUS: The Small Potato Manifesto.
Although I have been published by other people, and cast in shows I didn’t produce, I’m really known for the stuff I make myself … the stuff that bears unmistakable evidence of my very messy human hand at every stage of the process. My inner child holds a lot of sway.
I’m not particularly sophisticated, but my taste falls outside the mainstream. I strive to create what I want to see or read.
Improvised bluegrass musicals…a one person show in which Juliet’s NURSE corrects the record on the greatest love story e’er told…a variety show that’s based on an old book no one has ever heard of…a handwritten, hand illustrated zine whose theme changes from issue to issue…. I am the Queen of the Tough Sell!
From the outside, I look pretty happy go lucky, bouncing around to the beat of my own drummer, but I confess that I have my Little Red Hen moments, especially when I’m providing opportunities for other artists who don’t share my mania for social media self-promotion.
I am fairly certain that AI will never be able to replicate my tone…
That’s a fair trade, as I will never get the hang of letting AI do stuff for me.
For better or worse, I am a paper loyalist, a lover of small + weird, and a monster of my own making.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
That I didn’t used to go out of my way to share embarrassing experiences or draw attention to my failures. Quite the opposite, in fact.
Also, I used to hate singing in public.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ayunhalliday.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ayun_halliday/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AyunHalliday/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ayun-halliday-20317728/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AyunHalliday
- Other: https://www.theater-of-the-apes.com/
Image Credits
India Kotis
Marty Ingber