[Image description: A black-and-white headshot of Aimee, an Asian woman in a dark dress with a serious expression and medium-long wavy hair over one shoulder.]
We’re excited to introduce another member to our staff, Public Relations Manager Aimee Chou. Aimee has been a part of Sound Theatre Company since 2019. Our interview questions are in bold text and Aimee’s responses are in plain text.
What do you do at Sound Theatre?
I coordinate public/press relations at Sound Theatre. In the “before times”, that meant getting physical butts in physical seats, writing press releases, pitching stories to press and reviewers, coordinating comp tickets, strategizing with our marketing team, and so forth.
With the pandemic upending so many theatre traditions, there are digital pivots and programming and organizational shifts to communicate to a world that’s equally anxious to find the pulse of this strange new world. I enjoy writing, so I also work on grant writing projects with our fabulous grants consultant. This is such an interesting, eye-opening time to leap into that realm as theatre funding models evolve in response to COVID-19.
How did you get started working with Sound Theatre?
I showed up at a Sound Theatre general audition for Deaf and Disabled Actors a couple years back. My resume mentioned I have degrees in journalism and business, which kickstarted a conversation with Teresa about PR-related work.
Can you tell me about what you do outside of Sound Theatre?
I’m a pandemic parent wrangling two children while attempting to be a theatre artist. The year 2021 has me donning more hats than I ever imagined possible: I did my directorial debut (an ASL reading of TIGER STYLE! for Huntington Theatre), had my script (PLUMB CRAZY PIPE DREAM) produced virtually for Deaf Spotlight’s Short Play Festival, collaborated on a devised script (about bears and Thoreau) for an Ars Nova virtual residency. Recently, I was in the cast of Monique Holt’s ASL-based “Please UNTranslate Me” for IRT Theatre (streaming June 25-30, 2021).
This summer, I’ll perform live (yes, live!) in a production of CHILDREN OF A LESSER GOD at Hope Summer Repertory College.
What makes you passionate about theatre/the arts?
Theatre was an integral part of my journey as a Deaf person who grew up without an opportunity to meet other deaf people, use sign language, or access entertainment. My childhood consisted of many lonely hours watching un-captioned TV shows without any clue what the characters were saying – which is why, in my adulthood, I treasure the kinship of theatre: the endless laughter, the “aha!” moments from problem-solving an English-ASL translation or blocking a scene.
And two, my fascination with peoples’ real-life stories is what got me into studying journalism in college. To me, playwriting is an extension of that.
What’s a personal/professional accomplishment that you are most proud of?
If I get through the rest of this pandemic w/ my sanity and health intact, that’s going to be the “the fish was THIS BIG” tale I tell my grandkids. And the fish really is this big.
About Aimee:
Aimee Chou is a skilled storyteller and our public relations manager. This year, Aimee brought her sharp wit and writing skills to the grant and development side of Sound Theatre in the midst much art-making and children-wrangling.
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