Marian Brickner (Photographer)
Marian is Uppity's resident photographer, documenting most of our work.
Her photographs have appeared in numerous publications, including the
Annals of Internal Medicine, International Journal of Arts Medicine,
Swedish Society of Gerris remigis (water striders), Civitas, Institute
of Noetic Sciences, Laboratory Primate Newsletter, Missouri Conservation
Magazine, Symphony Orchestra Playbills, Saint Louis Review, Saint Louis
Magazine, West End Word, Jewish Light, Suburban Journals, and Saint
Louis Post Dispatch.
She has done voluntary photography work for the Saint Louis Neurological
Aid Project, Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya; Stella Maris
Child Center; Buttons and Bows Child Care Center; Uppity Theatre;
and Make a Wish Foundation. Marian also has a book pending on bonobo
children with a forward written by Jane Goodall. She has contributed
book reviews for Care Management Journals ÒJournal of Case
Kevin Chestnut (Assistant Administrative Director)
Kevin Chestnut has a B.A. in Psychology and Sociology from the University of Kansas. He does online academic proofreading and is a nonviolence activist who has worked for full community inclusion ever since arriving in St. Louis through VISTA in 1978. He founded the diverse Leader Support Groups program in the city and conducted its sessions for many years. He has done funding development for Missouri’s phone relay for the deaf and hearing-impaired, for the Lewis and Clark Institute’s summer youth programs, and for the St. Louis Association of Community Organizations, where he was a northside neighborhood organizer for 10 years. Kevin also served several years on the board of RAVEN to work against domestic violence.
Bob Horner (Sound Technician)
Bob has a B.A. in Communications, with an Audio Specialization, as
well as a B.A. in Business, from Webster University. Bob has extensive
light and sound experience, working in all kinds of venues. He
works with a diverse client base, including the JCCA, various religious
institutions, MO Historical Society, St. Louis Blues' Society,
the St. Louis County Park System, Blueberry Hill, and Chuck Berry,
among others. He founded his own company, Ironman Sound Industries
(ISI). As the principal for ISI, Bob has worked with Uppity on
sound design, trouble shooting, equipment repair, and running sound
for many of our shows.
Jessica Laney (Artistic Associate)
Jessica Laney is the Co-Founder and Co-Artistic Director of SLIGHTLYaskew
Art Collective based out of NYC and holds a BFA from New York University's
Tisch School of the Arts in theatre. Productions include Death
of the Last Black Man in the Whole Entire World by Suzan-Lori Parks
(NYU) Troilus and Cressida by William Shakespeare (SLIGHTLYaskew
) Henry VIII by William Shakespeare (Royal Academy of the Dramatic
Arts, London). She was also featured in the music video "Esmerelda" by
hip-hop artist Speech. Jessica has taught Augusto Boal technique
at Yale University, deconstruction and Shakespeare analysis at
Rocky River Community Theater in Cleveland and is teaching an Oral
History and Poetry in Performance weekend workshop in the inner-city
of Pittsburgh in late September, 2007.
Joan Lipkin (Artistic Director)
Joan Lipkin is the Founder and Producing Artistic Director of That
Uppity Theatre Company in St. Louis, Missouri. Her company founded
the nationally acclaimed Alternate Currents/Direct Currents Series,
The DisAbility Project, Diverse Works and the Louies. A strong
proponent of collaboration, she also co-founded Women CenterStage!
with the Center of Contemporary Arts, the Nadadada Festival at
The Forum for Contemporary Art, Democracy on Stage with the American
Civil Liberties Union of Eastern Missouri, and the Mid-Sized Arts
Cooperative.
Joan specializes in creating works with socially relevant themes
and underserved populations. Her company has received numerous commissions
from various organizations. She has worked extensively with people
with disabilities, women with cancer, GLBTQ youth and adults, people
with early stage dementia and Alzheimer's and at risk youth.
A playwright, director, activist, educator, and social critic, her
award-winning work has been published and produced throughout the
United States, Canada, Great Britain, Ireland, Europe, Australia,
and Asia. She has been featured on network television, National Public
Radio, the BBC and the Associated Press and in a number of theatrical
journals.
Aarya Sara Locker (Associate Director)
Aarya Sara Locker is a former Cirque du Soleil clown, a vegetarian and a yoga instructor. As a career actress, she has appeared in dozens of shows in numerous cities across the globe and holds a B.A. in acting from Washington University. Aarya had the grace to become a part of Theatre Of Inclusion, an Indianapolis-based inclusive theatre group and from that work launched herself into the experiences of working with a wonderful autistic boy and with an incredible blind actress. These encounters led Aarya to perceive the world differently and to seek out projects that include individuals with different abilities. Aarya loves a grand adventure!
Joel Snider (Associate Director)
Joel Snider is a performance artist and disability advocate with performance credits that include the Hill Playhouse in Virginia, Allenberry Playhouse and Mohrsville Theater in Pennsylvania, Stray Dog Theater, Goldenrod Showboat, and Team Eleven in St. Louis. He graduated in 1999 from the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York. Recently he has performed Songs For A New World with Stray Dog Theater Company and Joe Hardy in Damn Yankees with Kirkwood Theater Guild.
Joel founded "Yoga For Everybody" in Webster Groves to make Yoga accessible to all people regardless of ability or body type. He also runs “It’s All For Fun”, an organization which helps children and young adults with developmental disability and challenging behavior to get outdoors and experience the St. Louis community. Working with St. Louis Arc, Joel helped to create and organize an annual variety show featuring multi-genre presentations by people with disabilities, and has offered both yoga and drumming classes for people with disabilities in St. Louis.
