Artistic Statement
Here’s a tidbit I learned from my psych classes: we humans are such natural mimics that when we see something done, our neurons fire as if we were doing that thing ourselves, pausing only at that thin, shadowed canyon which separates thinking from doing.
That is what makes art essential. When we witness someone’s work, we don’t simply watch the stories of heroes. Rather, for a brief moment, we experience those stories and become heroes. Art doesn’t “show” us; art makes us: lovers, poets, friends, and fighters.
My art is everyone I have met and everyone I have yet to meet. I stand for making art which empowers people to be braver and kinder, to examine the mysteries of our world and be receptive to its wonders. My work will not do this by itself, but it will contribute to an ecosystem of the works of countless other brilliant creators, appearing together in the technicolor threads we weave our lives from.
Bio
I started doing theater in eighth grade after a childhood sweetheart of mine told me I might enjoy it, and joined chorus that year for much the same reason. This flight of fancy, I'm very happy to say, deepened into a love for the arts which has persisted well past my initial crush.
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I have explored new play development since the eighth grade, and have taken the perspective of a writer, a director, an actor, and more in such processes. I remember late nights with my best friends, huddled in a basement, exhausted enough to pass out except we couldn't bring ourselves to let our heads touch a couch pillow until we finished the next scene in our script. I remember standing outside the door late nights after production week rehearsals because I couldn't stop talking about the piece with my peers. I remember the electric sensation I got when I was on the tenth draft of a labor of love and every disparate fragment snapped into place.
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These experiences of love drove me to attend Ithaca College for Theatre Studies and Psychology, and my passion challenged me to explore my various capabilities throughout this experience. I enter the professional realm as a creator, an organizer, a teacher, and a collaborator, fascinated by the potential of both stage and screen and eager to bring to life my stories and the stories of my peers.
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Now, I work freelance as an artist and an educator—I’m eager to continue taking on work which challenges me and deepens my connections to my communities.
What People are Saying:
Mentors
"Rarely have I encountered a student with his maturity, critical analysis skills, and respect for education.
"I can confidently assert that Mr. Tricca displays exceptional abilities in dramatic criticism [...] Based on his combined artistic and academic experiences, as well as his affable demeanor and desire to learn more about every aspect of theatre creation, I highly recommend Michael Tricca [...] I strongly believe that hiring Michael Tricca will result in a mutually rewarding experience."
-Chrystyna Dail, Associate Professor of Theatre Studies at Ithaca College
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"His final project - a stage adaptation of an episode of Avatar: The Last Airbender - demonstrated his creativity and his skill in adapting a popular material specifically for the theatrical form."
-Walter Byongsok Chon, Associate Professor of Theatre Studies at Ithaca College
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"...his work in the second level of directing raised the bar, even for students who were years ahead of Michael in the program.
"Michael is sought after by his peers as a collaborator [...] Michael understands the industry's standard expectations for ADs and would be a valuable asset for any professional director."
-Wendy Dann, Professor and Chair of Theatre Studies at Ithaca College
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"Michael knows who he is. Riding your bike to school may or may not be cool [...] Ok, it's not cool. But Michael Tricca doesn't care about cool [...] Michael Tricca is defining the new cool."
-Michael Towers, Artistic Director of the Summer School for the Performing Arts
Current Projects
I'm proud to share my short film, The Last True Fan, made it as a Quarterfinalist in both the Big Break Screenwriting Contest and the Outstanding Screenplays Shorts Competition, as well as making the Top 20 of September 2024 in its category!
Humble accolades, I know--but exciting momentum for my efforts. Given this exciting new, of course, there's only one thing to do: keep writing.
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September 2024
