Announcing our 2023-2025 Jungle Cohort

We are excited to announce our 2023-2025 Artistic Cohort! Please help us welcome Katie Ka Vang and Isabella Star LaBlanc.

Katie Ka Vang (she/they) is a Hmong American playwright based in the Twin Cities whose work was most recently produced by Theater Mu (AGAIN). Isabella Star LaBlanc (she/her) is a film and stage actor, and writer who has been seen on the Jungle stage for several years (THE WOLVES, LITTLE WOMEN, IS EDWARD SNOWDEN SINGLE?).

Both artists have a passion for storytelling and using theater to connect with others.

FROM ISABELLA STAR LABLANC:

“I do this work because the Dakota way of life can be described by our most concise prayer, Mitakuye Oyasin, meaning simply “We are all related.” I am an actor because I understand this definition most tangibly through storytelling. We are related not only to each other, but to our stories, and we relate to each other through story. I find regional theater in particular the most fruitful ground for this work, because of its inherent relationship to land and community. I see my work in theater here in Minnesota, as a conduit for reckoning with the history that has come before me, and to make space for the generations of those who were given none, as well as for the generations to come.”

FROM KATIE KA VANG:

“I write plays to seek joy, healing, and move beyond limiting beliefs. As a first generation Hmong American, I'm interested in moving beyond survival- to be my full self- I write so I can practice being more fully myself, and dream; and in that, I hope to inspire others to fully be themselves and live in their own truths. To me, theater is the one place outside of church that allows space to be shared by strangers, to contemplate together by listening to stories, become a community, and inspire action.”

We can’t wait to see what Isabella and Katie will bring to the Jungle Theater and the Twin Cities Theater Community during their time on our cohort.

We were overwhelmed by the enthusiasm we received from you all and inspired by how many passionate creators we are surrounded by here in the Twin Cities. We hope continued support of this program will allow us to include more Cohort artists in the years to come.