What are You? is an exploration on what it means to be multi racial in America today. What started as an installation project later grew in to a theatrical short film (during covid), a performance that was a part of Art on the Atlanta Beltline 2022 and continues to grow as more interviews are collected from various people of many different backgrounds. Nicolette started this piece inspired by their own experiences growing up as a Lumbee in the south and through interviews and collaboration has found common ground and clues to how racial identity can be a pathway to community or isolation.
What are You? (Theatrical Production) November 2024
ATLANTA—What Are You? is a theatrical exploration of what it means to be multi-racial in
America.
Creator Nicolette Emanuelle with ensemble–Meredith Gordon, Monica Martelly, Jacque Pritz and
Arthur McDonald–confront the relentless question “what are you?”, weaving together striking
and moving commonalities found in interviews with other multi-racial individuals, highlighting
their unique struggles and the beauty of their identities.
Co-produced with 7 Stages Theatre in Atlanta, GA.
What are You? Art on the Atlanta Beltline May 2022
This traveling iteration of What are You? brought the topic of multiracial identity to the folks on the Atlanta Beltline. Using satire, multimedia, live music and aerial arts to highlight the issues facing multiracial people in America today.
What are You? (trailer): A short film produced by Nicolette Emanuelle and 7 Stages. Premiered April 8, 2021
What are You? is an unflinching exploration of what it means to be mixed-race in America. This original, perspective-shifting film combines movement, original music, and a multitude of personal testimonies to highlight the beauty and expose the struggles of multi-racial people while honoring their resilience.
Interview Clips
This project wouldn’t exist without the people who were willing to lend their voices and their stories. To them I am eternally grateful.