Behind the Curtain: My Week as a PS21 Teen Ambassador

Behind the Curtain: My Week as a PS21 Teen Ambassador

Last week, I had the incredible honor of serving as a Teen Ambassador with PS21 in Chatham, NY, as part of The Dark festival — and it was truly one of the most inspiring weeks I’ve experienced.

The Teen Ambassador Program for The Dark is a collaborative initiative led by PS21 in partnership with Mammalian Diving Reflex and Hudson Hall’s Workforce Development Program, in collaboration with Operation Unite NY. Designed as both an educational and professional development opportunity, the program expands access to the arts for local youth through a paid, week-long immersive introduction to the performing arts.

What makes this program so powerful is that it doesn’t treat young people as passive observers — it centers youth as active participants. We were given full behind-the-scenes access to the festival: attending world-class performances, engaging directly with artists, and contributing hands-on to real artistic and production processes. It wasn’t just about watching performances; it was about understanding how they come to life.

From day one, the experience felt meaningful. We began the week at The People’s Pub in Chatham, where we met artists, organizers, and donors. Being welcomed into that space as Teen Ambassadors — as VIP guests — was surreal. It immediately set the tone for the week: we were not outsiders — we were part of something.

Throughout the week, we experienced an incredible lineup of performances across Chatham, Hudson, and surrounding areas:

Arone Dyer / Droneschoir — Lode — The Masonic — Chatham, NY

Autumn Knight — Nothing #62: a bluff — Pocketbook — Hudson, NY

Sarah Hennies & Tristan Kasten-Krause — Prisoner’s Cinema — The Masonic — Chatham, NY

Phil Kline — Force of Nature (February) (World Premiere) — PS21 Grounds — Chatham, NY

Okwui Okpokwasili & Peter Born — sweat variant: my tongue is a blade (US Premiere) — Hudson Hall — Hudson, NY

John Fitzgerald — The Vivid Unknown: Cloudqatsi (US Premiere) — PS21 Animal Barn — Chatham, NY

Andrew Schneider — NOWISWHENWEARE (the stars) — PS21 Black Box Theater — Chatham, NY

Ant Hampton with Tim Etchells — Not to Scale (US Premiere) — Creative Legion — Hudson, NY

Sister Sylvester — Shadowtime — Creative Legion — Hudson, NY

Sophia Brous — Songs for the Dark (World Premiere) — Art Omi Barn — Ghent, NY

Each performance was unique — pushing creative boundaries in different ways. Some were intimate and reflective; others were immersive and experimental. Experiencing such a wide range of artistic expression in just one week challenged me to think differently about what performance art can be and how storytelling can take many forms. It reminded me that art doesn’t fit into one definition — it evolves through risk, vulnerability, and imagination.

Beyond the performances, one of the most impactful parts of the week was speaking with members of the tech crew. Hearing how shows are built from the ground up — lighting design, sound engineering, staging, timing, and all the fine details audiences don’t even consciously notice — gave me a whole new appreciation for what happens behind the curtain. It showed me how much collaboration, precision, and creativity go into every production. There is an entire world of creative careers operating quietly in the background, and getting that insider perspective was eye-opening.

We also had the opportunity to meet many of the artists, and what stood out to me was how included we felt. They didn’t treat us as “just students.” They listened to our thoughts, answered our questions seriously, and engaged in real conversations about their work, the meaning behind it, and their creative journeys.

One moment that really stood out was with Autumn Knight and her piece Nothing #62: a bluff. We got to see her a few hours before the performance and watch part of the preparation process. Being there before the show — seeing the behind-the-scenes energy and focus — made the performance even more powerful later that night. We were joking during our conversation, and what made it unforgettable was that she incorporated some of those jokes into the actual performance. Sitting there and realizing that something we said became part of the live show was surreal. It made us feel seen and included in a way that you don’t usually experience as an audience member.

From My Perspective — As Xavier

From my perspective — as Xavier, one of the Teen Ambassadors — what I loved most was how immersive the entire week felt. We weren’t just sitting in seats watching something unfold; we were stepping into the world of the artists, producers, and creative teams. Our voices were heard during debriefs and discussions. Our opinions mattered. That alone was powerful.

At the beginning of the week, I was excited but also unsure of what to expect. I didn’t know everyone yet. I didn’t know how comfortable I would feel speaking up in conversations with professional artists. There’s always that quiet question in your mind: Do my thoughts really belong in this space?

But as the days went on, something shifted. I found myself becoming more confident — asking deeper questions, offering honest reactions, and engaging in conversations that felt meaningful and respected. That growth surprised me. It wasn’t loud or dramatic; it happened gradually, through shared experiences and reflection.

What stood out most was how seriously our thoughts were taken. When we spoke, the artists listened. When we reflected on performances, our interpretations were valued. That validation made me realize that being young does not mean your perspective is less important. In many ways, it’s essential. Youth perspectives bring honesty, curiosity, and fresh interpretation — and that matters in creative spaces.

I also began to think differently about what working in the arts can look like. Before this week, I mostly thought about performers as the center of everything. But after speaking with the tech crew and organizers, I began to see the entire ecosystem behind each production. Lighting designers, sound engineers, stage managers, curators, directors — all collaborating to bring a vision to life. It made me appreciate the scale of teamwork and intentionality behind every single performance we saw.

Socially, this week meant a lot to me as well. At the beginning, we were all a little quiet. We didn’t know each other. But through the performances, discussions, long days, and shared reactions, we bonded. By the end of the week, we weren’t just a group of students — we were friends. That sense of connection made the experience even more meaningful.

The debrief sessions gave us space to think critically and reflect. It was powerful to see how differently each of us interpreted the same performance. That reminded me that art is not one-dimensional — it lives through the people experiencing it. No two interpretations are identical, and that diversity of thought is what keeps art alive.

Programs like this matter. They open doors. They show young people that the arts are not just something to watch — they are something you can participate in. They show that our voices, ideas, and perspectives have value. They build confidence in ways that go beyond the stage.

By the end of the week, I didn’t just feel inspired — I felt empowered. This was more than a festival. It was a reminder that growth happens when you are invited into spaces that challenge you and trust you at the same time.

I’m beyond grateful to have been one of this year’s Teen Ambassadors. This was more than just a week of performances — it was a week of growth, connection, and inspiration that I will carry with me moving forward.

If you’re interested in learning more about PS21, Hudson Hall, Mammalian Diving Reflex, or Operation Unite NY, I encourage you to explore their work and support them — whether by attending events, donating, sharing their mission, or getting involved in any way. Their information will be listed at the bottom of this page.

Special Thanks

A special thank you to the incredible leaders who made this experience possible:

From Hudson Hall — Adam Weinert and Sage Carter.

From PS21 — Vallejo Gantner and Ivey Lowe.

From Mammalian Diving Reflex — Ngawang Luding and Marie Minimo.

And from Operation Unite NY — Elena Mosley.

I am incredibly grateful to the donors, sponsors, foundations, and community supporters whose generosity made this program possible. Because of your support, young people like me are given access to opportunities that expand our confidence, creativity, and perspective.

Your commitment to investing in youth and the arts created a space where I could grow, reflect, and feel genuinely valued. This experience will stay with me long after the festival ends.