Yael Biegon-Citron is the Assistant Artistic Director at the Med Tech Youth Theater outside Tel Aviv. The youth theatre is part of an arts complex made up of six different establishments including a design museum, digital arts center and a media library.
This Summer Yael will participate in a summer exchange with Atlanta’s 7Stages theatre. She will not only teach, but will accompany a select group of young Israeli actors in the program.
Yael spoke with us about the path that lead her to Atlanta, her hopes and fears about teaching American kids and why she works with youth.
1. What exactly will you be doing at 7stages?
Let me go back to how it came to be. I was asked by our artistic director to look up a place he was interested in and a random Google search brought me to 7stages. We started talking. I started talking to the director Dell Hamilton and Heidi Howard who is currently the assistant director. We found that we have a lot in common in terms of how we see theater’s role in young audiences’ lives and our artistic goals and beliefs. I was on a trip in New York last September and I called up Heidi and said how about I come to ATL and talk. And I did. They showed me around the theatre and city and that’s when I met Yonit Stern at the (Israeli) consulate. We had this strong connection and felt we had to do things together. We wanted to make these two places that have so many things in common collaborate in so many ways. The first part was discovering (7stages) had a youth program in the summer and we have a youth ensemble that studies theater throughout the year. We said, why not have some sort of exchange? We tried to see how to start this relationship. Heidi said how about you come over as a teacher and bring a few students with you. Our students were very excited.
2. Why do you work with kids?
I’m happy to say that I was drawn to what I do now for artistic reasons. I came to the theatre through being the artistic director for director Roni Pinkovitch. The theatre asked Roni to be its director. Roni said he would come, but would not sacrifice anything he does in the adult theatre. So, at first, I was drawn to the quality of the theatre. I couldn’t find anything that matched it in adult theatre. Soon I came to realize the importance of the youth theatre. I realized the importance of providing kids with what I like to call “nutritional culture.” Once I realized that this theatre is something that can affect these children’s lives in a healthy and positive way it became very important to me.
3. What experiences do you hope to bring from Israel to Atlanta?
I personally grew up half and half – half in Israel and half in the United States. The difference between kids is something I always felt. Israeli kids often encounter things before they’re ready. We’re more cynical. We grow up a little faster. There’s an edge to Israelis. I remember meeting American kids and bringing that edge with me. I remember being afraid I wouldn’t make any friends, but the American kids accepted me. This meeting between two cultures is exciting. It’s always good for kids coming from a culture where serious questions are always asked to be able to creatively answer these questions – to be able to approach these questions with an artistic point of view. This leads to the most interesting answers. Whenever you see kids from all over gathering around an artistic cause it’s easier to answer these tough questions creatively.
4. What challenges do you foresee during your time teaching at 7stages?
I think they are the same as my last answer. A creative dialogue is challenging because when you bring your passion about a subject into a new culture there is always fear your idea won’t sound cool enough. But, it’s worth taking the risk and giving yourself to it. When the students have a chance to try their ideas in a group they don’t know how their ideas will be received. There will be difficulties, but it’s part of why this is going to be a most memorable experience. My students are so excited to come to Atlanta. These kinds of experiences are the ones you remember for life.