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Talking to Closeted Trump Supporters—Why Theater Must Try



What if the conversations we avoid in theater… are the ones we most need to have?


In this season finale of Inclusive Stages, I sit down with my friend Julie D'Alessandro for a dialogue many of us have never dared to attempt in rehearsal rooms: talking openly with a closeted Trump supporter about politics, art, and belonging.



Julie is a Boston-based voice teacher, performer, and writer who has spent her career helping students find their authentic voices. But for years, she felt she couldn’t share her own political identity in theater spaces. After the 2024 election, when arts funding and diversity programs were once again under fire, Julie reached out, and that one message changed everything.


Together, we step into the heart of a question our field can’t afford to ignore: How do we keep building inclusive theater when our own community isn’t politically aligned?


Here’s what we cover:

  • Why assuming everyone in a rehearsal room thinks alike keeps us stuck in division

  • How to hear conservative voices in the arts without losing sight of equity and inclusion

  • What it takes to move past shame and silence into curiosity and dialogue

  • The real impact of arts funding cuts and political polarization on creative spaces

  • Why diversity and inclusion in the arts must mean more than numbers—it has to mean respect and authentic connection


This conversation is not easy. It’s layered, emotional, and at times uncomfortable. But it’s also hopeful, because when we let go of certainty and choose to listen, we discover how much ground we still share.


Whether you’re an actor, director, producer, or educator, I invite you to listen with compassion. I hope this episode challenges you to reconsider how you hold space for difference. You’ll hear why diversity and inclusion in the arts must mean making space for different perspectives, even when they challenge us, and how courage in dialogue might just be the rehearsal we all need for a stronger, more connected future.


Thanks for being here. And remember: silence doesn’t build trust. Courageous conversations do. Real progress in our industry will come not from shutting doors, but from opening them...even when it feels risky.



More About Julie D'Alessandro

Julie is the owner of D’Alessandro Vocal Studio, located in Boston. She is a certified voice teacher. Currently authoring a book titled “How to Become a Voice Teacher: Advice from Someone Who Ignored Everyone Else’s Advice and Had Tremendous Success."


Mentioned Link


Connect with Julie


Connect with Kira


Thanks for joining me on this episode of Inclusive STAGES! If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review on Apple or Spotify to help me reach even more theater makers, theater artists, and theater lovers who want to make our industry a better place for everyone.


Thanks to our music composer, Zachary McConnell, and our producer, Leah Bryant.


More about the Inclusive STAGES Podcast


Inclusive STAGES™ Building Healthy Arts Spaces is the podcast for theater makers, creatives, and arts leaders who believe we can build a better industry—one brave, emotionally intelligent, and trauma-informed space at a time. Hosted by Kira Troilo, founder of Art & Soul Consulting, each episode explores what it really takes to create inclusive, healthy creative environments in today’s rapidly changing performing arts landscape.


Whether you're a theater artist, an arts administrator, an educator, a creative leader, or a producer, this show will help you answer big questions like:


What is inclusive leadership in the arts, and how do I practice it?


How can performing arts organizations promote diversity and inclusion?


What does “representation matters” mean in theater and beyond?


How can venues make performances more accessible?


What tools do I need to lead with care—and still make bold, brilliant work?


Through honest conversations, industry insights, and practical tools, Inclusive STAGES™ empowers you to reduce burnout, dismantle harmful norms, and build the kinds of creative spaces where everyone can thrive.


New episodes every week. Follow now and join the movement toward healthier, more sustainable arts spaces. 

 
 
 

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