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Watch Theatre Arts Alumna Jana Schmieding’s BE Indigenous Joy talk here: https://www.instagram.com/tv/ClknRFUIrR9/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Jana is a Theatre Arts alum and has a great reflection on her time with TA (see the 41 minute mark of the video). During her time with the Theatre Arts Department, Jana was involved in many productions (both Pocket and mainstage), and was among those who founded Absolut Improv. Her talk was amazing we encourage you to watch it as soon as you can and covers topics about how to make visible Native narratives in popular media, and be an Indigenous writer, actor and content creator.

Jana Schmieding is known for her breakout role as “Reagan,” opposite Ed Helms on Peacock’s groundbreaking comedy series, RUTHERFORD FALLS. The Lakota Native comedian, writer, and fat-positive content creator is also a writer on the series. She has been featured in various publications including, New York Magazine’s Vulture, NPR, Paste, Bustle, Bon Appétit and Vanity Fair, where she describes her trajectory from struggling artist to her co-lead role on the series in her op-ed, Jana Schmieding on the Native Joy of Rutherford Falls. Jana performed improv, sketch and solo comedy in New York City for ten years before moving to Los Angeles. She directed over 30 sketch and solo shows and collaborated in several different indie writers rooms. Jana is a vocal advocate of Indigenous visibility and social justice and she discusses these issues regularly in her comedy and writing.