strides in the news

“They wanted to make a space for emerging theater artists to explore and create in a way that allowed risk-taking...The response from the community as a whole has been extremely welcoming, and the Strides Collective hopes to be a long-lasting member of the Philly theater community.”

“Not only do Edmondson and his colleagues want to center queer stories, they strive to estrange themselves from stereotypical themes that portray the LGBTQ community through a narrow lens, like plays based on traumatic coming out experiences or the HIV crisis. ”

“We are thrilled to be producing a brand new queer play in Philadelphia. I will never forget the energy I felt during our first read-through; it was a room full of queer artists working on a queer story, feeling extremely safe to explore the themes in the show. We need more of these rooms and these stories.”

“It is so important to keep developing work for and by queer artists, for queer artists, and to give them a space to safely create...”

“I am a vehement supporter of this company. They always produce amazing, engaging, and thought-provoking work, and Ignite is no exception, [with its] stunning turns, excitement, and complex relationships. This blossoming company, helmed by Jonathan Edmonson, never ceases to amaze me with its commitment to diversity and inclusion.”

“[Ignite is] the latest work from The Strides Collective, an emerging, LGBTQ-focused theater company comprised of young Philadelphia artists. The creators encourage listeners to consume the story in a linear fashion or create their own adventure.”

“Having not yet established a following, with effectively just one production under its belt, the collective had to immediately pivot for the pandemic. The company started making online work, developing [Ignite], a non-linear, multi-media website that told a story of a group of students, all of whom are somehow connected to the arson burning of their school library.”

“Ultimately, the piece presented a universe completely fleshed out and detailed, as vivid as any college campus might be expected to be. This detail is exactly what keeps the piece firmly situated in the realm of immersive, albeit individual, theater.

Further still, the audio-heavy presentation helps alleviate the screen fatigue and computer burnout we all feel more and more as the pandemic keeps us tethered to our devices. Being able to wrap myself in a story for an evening even as I stepped away from my laptop for a few minutes at a time felt like a luxury, one neatly packaged in IGNITE.”

“Although you can’t always see each actor’s face during the recorded phone calls, you can hear the motivation and intention behind each character’s voice...The technical side of this production was also well-done, and audio itself was incredibly detailed, with background noise in each phone call hinting at the intended location.”

“I truly believe that [Whirlpool] is universal in its language. It shows moments of awkwardness, love and hope that transcend sexuality and gender.”