Rising Stars: Meet Briana Boden of Cary

Today we’d like to introduce you to Briana Boden

Hi Briana, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started out as an Art major. All my life I have always loved art and found a safe space in art. During my senior year of high school I decided to try a theatre class, then that led to me auditioning for a play. I ended up getting a pretty big role and that made my confidence go up for sure. But it also sparked something in me. After that I tried out for the improv team and got that, helped out with painting set pieces, and just getting more involved in the theatre world. I still loved art but the spark was definitely hit.

From there I just kind of stopped thinking about theatre but had it on the back burner just simmering a bit. I went to university as an art major. I knew I wanted to peruse art as a passion but wasn’t sure what I wanted to do with it. When the first year started to come to an end, all of us were starting to think about what we would concentrate in. So, then the theatre part of me was simmering a bit more. I had taken an into class already but I still wanted to learn more. I started tossing around the idea of making art for the background of performances and sculpture. I transferred schools (I transferred twice so this was the first time) and thought and while I was transferring was curious about what it would take to change majors, so that I wasn’t a broke artist. I wanted to use my skills somehow, not just for my enjoyment.

So then I started going down the path of learning more about technical theatre as well as art.

At my last school (the second transfer) I was told about a thesis project and wasn’t quite sure what I wanted to do. I knew I loved art, theatre, and the environment and wanted to start spreading more awareness about that. But, I wasn’t quite sure how to do that. We started tossing around ideas and my first idea was to make a like handbook that tells you how to be eco-friendly in the theatre and art world. My professor was like, that’s a lot to try and accomplish. That is more like a graduate level moment. So I started thinking more.

My school had an arboretum and around the time that I was trying to come up with an idea they were doing tours of the arboretum. My professor and I were pondering ideas.

And then the gears started turning. We came up with a way that would combine all of my passions.

Creating monologues for a couple trees in the arboretum, with Papier-mâché masks that highlighted the problems the monologue were highlighting, recording these monologues, and making an immersive experience where I lead a group through the arboretum to hear the stories of the trees

Thus, the project of “The Soliloquies of The Trees” began

From that project I started my business, recreated a new version of my production, and I am making a documentary to record the whole process to go along with it.

There will be another showing on the 10th of August at 10:30 am and 7:30 pm (19:30).

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?
Simple answer is no hahaha

But, I have been told by many people and professors that I am not good enough, that it’s never going to work. I just continued to be myself by reaching out to people, get involved in anything that I could, and be honest about my skill set. By doing this it opened up opportunities to meet new people and find new passions. For example, I got my camera equipment for my company to make a documentary, but I ended up volunteered to record the fundraising event for “Go Conscious Earth.” Volunteering my equipment and skills for the event opened up the door for me to make new connections and to find a new passion for recording events.

To be corny, I never stopped believing in myself. Instead of stopping, I took that as a sign to put 110% percent of myself into what I had a passion for in my business, while also making money. I have always had a passion for learning new things and in that I reach out to people to expose myself to these things.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I have always had a passion for combining my love for art, theatre, and the environment. I create unique and environmentally conscious immersive productions, art from up-cycled materials, and have a company that spreads the word called BriEco Productions. Its like Bree-Eco but all one word is how you pronounce it. I am trying to spread eco freindly ideas in theatre and art world because I know we need to start doing better in that aspect.

Here is the link to my video promoting my company and explaining a bit:

I am better at visually explaining things

also, here is my linktree with everything~ https://linktr.ee/briecoproductions

How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
They can collaborate with me on another production, on art pieces, recording events/live events, mural or theatre designs.

They can support me by following me on youtube, instagram, facebook, and following along on my blog and website.

People can donate to my company as well here: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=9YQ5VUFAXUN9W

I am fiscally sponsored so you can donate through them! I have been doing all of the work with the money that I earn working my theatre jobs. So, every donation helps a bit and is very much appreciated!

I also am starting to offer classes like how to make a Papier- Mâche mask out of recycled paper.

Pricing:

• 0$ for the show! It is a free event, but people are welcome to donate anything to it and any supplies as well!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://briecoproductions.wixsite.com/briecoproductions
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/briecoproductions
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Bri-Eco-Productions/61556713593334/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwUI9sstLJfuB5-Q4SWEhDw
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/brieco-productions-cary
• Other: https://sportzgirl113.wixsite.com/briecoart113