Tika McLean is Building Community in Art and Every Day
About This Episode:
This week on Stageworthy, Phil Rickaby is joined by the vibrant and multifaceted Tika McLean. In a conversation that is as funny as it is profound, Tika reflects on her journey from a self-described "shy kid" who once froze during a church solo to becoming a bold, multidisciplinary artist who uses her voice to challenge the status quo.
In this episode:
- The "General Creative" Philosophy: Why Tika refuses to choose just one lane between acting, dancing, and painting.
- Art as Social Commentary: Using satire to address racism and the "distraction economy."
- Navigating the Industry with Disability: The reality of chronic pain, healthcare "sensitivity," and accessibility on stage.
- The K-Pop Connection: How global fandoms and the South Korean idol system inspired her new musical project.
- And much more!
Guest: 🎭 Tika McLean
Tika McLean is a performer who uses acting, singing, dancing & painting as creative outlets to express her performance abilities to her audience. She created her one woman (for now) production company, Beyond A Productions, and shares her comedy skits, cover songs and dances on her YouTube channel TIKA! (@tikacreates), & LOVES to perform live! Tika strives to build mutual aid networks in her community through her work with various organizations as an outreach worker for people experiencing homelessness, hosting clothing drives and a portable soup kitchen, and handing out Covid fun packages for people in isolation. She continues to volunteer in her community by mentoring youth & young adults to create their own community initiatives & achieve their career goals. She also is the proud creator of GIVE ‘EM LOVE, an art fundraiser platforming communities experiencing oppression due to stigma, to finally have the opportunity to tell their stories to the world. Tika wants you to know that mutual aid networks are key to creating positive change in our communities.
Connect with Tika:
📸 Instagram: @angry_black_womban 🎥 TikTok: @angry_black_woman 📺 YouTube: @TikaCreates
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