Leeanne G-Bowley
Who are you and what significant contributions have you made to the organization?
I am a dance and theater artist. I’m an educator. I'm a founder of a professional dance company based in Queens, a director and choreographer, a mentor, an activist, and New Yorker for Dance. I served on CPTG's executive board my sophomore year. I performed in a few Cabarets. Primarily, I directed, produced, and choreographed a number of different productions and pieces. This included the mainstage production of Pippin in 2003. I'm also the founder of the Dance Concert at St. John's which first premiered in 2002. I am honored to be a member of Alpha Psi Omega.
When I started with the Chappell Players there were the two mainstage shows (musical in the Fall and straight play in the Spring) and the Cabaret for Charity. We changed that. I remember just wanting to create as much as possible. That hasn't changed much. While I was in CPTG I helped steward a number of new ventures like the One Acts. After I graduated the Dance Concert was revived and I came back to direct a few times before I passed the dance concert on to current students to direct. I’m so very proud of those who continue to produce this show annually!
How did CPTG evolve from a club to an artistic training ground? Here is my summation:
Having a number of very well trained, dedicated artists in CPTG at the same time allowed us to create our own theatre laboratory. This was a place to learn from one another and press each other to strive for excellence. If you were driven, you could learn everything. Lighting design, scenic work, costume design, sound design, marketing, producing. We taught each other and learned all we could in order to create the best theatre and performing arts possible. As a group, we also cared deeply about craft, diversity, philosophy, and social justice. It made for a very magical (yet, not always peaceful) time. There are a number of working artists who came up in the same era at CPTG (the early to mid aughts.) I'm so proud of us all! I truly believe part of the reason so many artists from CPTG have continued to work is the intellectual and artistic rigor we held up for one another.
How was the transition from college to the real world? How was life after graduation?
After graduation I was very focused on survival: paying my rent, getting a masters so I could get a job that would help me pay off my loans, navigating post-9-11 NYC and USA, building my career in the midst of the great recession. It was not easy. But the next chapter of this story is a joyful one! As my journey has continued I have accomplished more than I'd ever dreamed. I've made a positive impact on individuals. I have helped to create systematic change in the arts, education, philanthropy, and retail real estate.And now, every day I am doing work that feeds my soul and impacts education, the arts, and my Queens community.
Dear current CPTG members → You all are looking down the barrel of an uncertain future. This can be a hopeful time! Time to craft a more equitable, just, and beautiful society for all humans! You can do it! Build a support system you can trust and that gives to you as much as you give it! Continually assess your values, priorities, and goals! And don’t let others, tradition, or man made systems tell you what you can and can not do! If humans made it...humans can it better or start again and make something new!
When I graduated I thought I knew a few things for sure: I wanted to make positive change in the world, I wanted to keep creating, I wanted a role in shaping education in NYC and beyond. The road from graduation to my life right now was not a typical one. It continues to be an amazing journey. I learn from what I do and adjust accordingly. My goals have evolved since graduating. I will continue to contribute to positive change in the world. I want to keep creating. I am interested in securing my health, relationships, and happiness whenever possible, but not at cost to others' health, relationships, and security. I will continue to impact education, arts, retail real estate, politics, and more in Queens, NYC, and beyond. The mix of growing, excelling, failing, getting back at it, and continually evaluating one's goals and path is success to celebrate! I’ve also been very lucky to have a partner in this effort, my husband and soulmate Clive, who I met at St. John’s! We help each other build toward a shared vision of success!
Did being involved in the Chappell Players prepare you for life after college? How so
Certain values were a great help in getting me this far and will be even more vital now as we move forward into uncharted territory: 1 - Innovate and don't accept the status quo. 2 - Immerse yourself in community...including the responsibilities of showing up, giving back, fighting for justice and equity for all. 3 - Continue to improve at your craft(s) and expose yourself to everything available to you. 4 - Work hard and be prepared to act on opportunities as they present themselves. 5 – Collaborate. Here’s how my involvement in the Chappell Players contributed to my development of these values.
1 - Innovate and Don't Accept the Status Quo
CPTG was completely student run when I was at St. John’s. We had advisors and a budget (and very limited rehearsal/performance space.) That was it. This meant we were able to build the organization we wanted to create. We were allowed a great deal of freedom and permission to try new things (as long as stage directions did not offend The Church.) The freedom to innovate led to a lot of really great, fulfilling projects that taught me a lot. My ease with innovation and creating something from scratch has served me very well throughout my career.
2 - Immerse Yourself in Community...including the responsibilities of showing up, giving back, and fighting for justice and equity for all.
One of the main reasons I chose to attend St. John's was its mission of service. I was really EXCITED about service learning! (I still believe in the power of service learning!). I deeply believe in one's responsibility to seek good for all, to help those we can, build communities of support and equity, and reject injustice anywhere. I was also excited to attend the most diverse Catholic college and one of the most diverse Universities anywhere. I believed that in a melting pot we had a true opportunity to achieve intersectional justice. I came to realize there is A LOT more to creating the environment for positive social change. I learned a lot at CPTG and St. John's. Including what it truly means to be an ally, that good intentions can cause harm, that diversity does not equal equity, and the importance of knowing the strings attached to your funding before accepting it. I have been lucky to be immersed in strong community culture throughout my life. My time with CPTG helped me appreciate community building and the responsibilities that come with that.
3 - Continue to improve at your craft(s) and expose yourself to everything available
I learned more in my time with CPTG than I did in my regular classes...and I learned A LOT in my degree programs. In the Chappell Players I had the opportunity to self-direct my learning. I came to understand that one is never done improving one's craft and artistry. I learned one's critics can sometimes teach you very important lessons that you won't get from anyone who loves you. I saw the success that can occur when one does not worry whether everyone likes them or not. Unfortunately, that lesson is even more important for women in today’s workplace! I appreciate a multitude of different art forms, disciplines, and genres. I am not beholden to one theory, methodology, or technique. My work's originality comes out of a training process so very different from many others in my field. I believe this is because no one person was directing what we learned or what we created in CPTG. Our direction came from people with diverse perspectives who sought out more smart and talented people to involve who could challenge our preconceptions. I continue to grow as an artist because of everything that took place in the laboratory we called the Little Theatre. I don't miss a chance to learn, think about my learning, and get feedback from peers, elders, and audiences.
4 - Work Hard and Be Prepared to act on opportunities as they present themselves
The other side to our freedom as a student directed organization was that we had to do everything ourselves. If we wanted a set, we had to design and build it. If we wanted an audience, we had to go out and get it. Extra money for better costumes? We had to raise it! This hard work kept us close to the creation of every component of the show. It also demonstrated to me that I am only limited by my imagination and work ethic.Understanding the importance of innovation and hard work served me well when I started a dance company that proudly states it is based in Queens. It meant I was ready when an after school program contacted me out of the blue. A call which led to one of the most fulfilling projects I've ever completed. Also, on the "day job" front, I've gotten to lead projects because opportunities presented themselves and I just decided to do it. Leading these projects meant longer hours, extra work, and not always the recognition I deserved. But at the end of the day these projects have had a significant impact in NYC and around the world.
5 - Collaborate
My best work has always included a great deal of collaboration. I think the idea of the solitary genius artist is a myth….or at least is a once in a lifetime rarity. Having diverse voices around a table--a tech table, production table, boardroom table--leads to great things. Having the right mix of confidence and humility is essential to a good collaboration, something I learned in my work at CPTG. Understanding this early in my career has proven incredibly helpful!
What is your favorite CPTG memory or performance?
I have two. First, was the opportunity to welcome women from a local women's shelter to the first dance concert. The very first dance concert raised money for the Allen Women's Resource Center in Jamaica. It was an honor meeting these women, welcoming them (privately for their safety) to the Little Theatre, and dedicating my work to them. Second, was directing and choreographing Pippin as the country debated going to war in Iraq. What a time to share "War is a Science" and "Glory" with my fellow students. I also cast the two leads opposite their "type" and they shined!
Have you been able to remain involved with theatre as much as you hoped/wanted?
Yes and no. I definitely went through a number of years resenting the fact that I couldn't afford to "just be an artist." What I realized later was that it was actually my choice. Myself and my incredible husband (We met thanks to CPTG superstar, Dan Conti. They were roommates their freshman year.) want to create a life that includes financial stability. I didn't want to be a "starving artist." So I have built a dual career. Finding success both in the arts and in the fields of philanthropy and education. This means that I don't get to spend all day, every day in the studio. BUT I get to create the work I choose to create. I work with artists whom I enjoy collaborating with and I don't have to chase grants. As of right now, I'm set up to continue to make new work straight out of quarantine. A blessing I am grateful to achieve. Again, a mix of luck, privilege, and hard work. This drives me to create something great while giving back to the many communities where I am gratefully included. I create on my own terms and my unique perspective allows me to create art that is outside the norms or trends I see across the field. In the end, that is worth much more to me than any days I miss in the theatre or studio. So the true answer to the question is YES. It just looks different from what I had imagined sitting outside of Hollis Hall!
Do you have any advice for Chappell Players going through college or those who have recently graduated?
Find your values, what drives you, and hone them. Commit to your goals. Always revisit those goals and see if they continue to serve you. Remember, you have to take good care of yourself before you can help others. Create the artistic practice that helps you achieve your goals. Don't defer to a typical path or the usual way an artist works. Spend time and energy on your relationships. Your relationships with friends and chosen family (blood or otherwise) are what life is about. These relationships will get you through the hard times that you will experience in your adult life! The people I’m speaking to the most during this pandemic--dear friends I met through CPTG! Remember how much POWER you have. Sometimes it might feel that you have no power, resources, or choices. That’s a good time to call a dear friend or trusted mentor and talk things out. It’s very likely you do have options. If not, it is likely you need help of some sort. If you do not feel like you have anyone that you can turn to--always feel free to contact me, tell me you are a CPTG’er and we’ll find you resources together. The folks at CPTG or Nick Caccavo should have a way to reach me. Just let them know I told you to reach out to me! You all are on a precipice of GREAT CHANGE in our country. But the change can go either way. We can sprint toward democracy and justice. Or our country can go down a path that continues to hurt people and put $$ ahead of humans. YOU have the power to change that. Commit to making the world better no matter your chosen path through life...and you can live an incredibly happy and fulfilling life!
I am a dance and theater artist. I’m an educator. I'm a founder of a professional dance company based in Queens, a director and choreographer, a mentor, an activist, and New Yorker for Dance. I served on CPTG's executive board my sophomore year. I performed in a few Cabarets. Primarily, I directed, produced, and choreographed a number of different productions and pieces. This included the mainstage production of Pippin in 2003. I'm also the founder of the Dance Concert at St. John's which first premiered in 2002. I am honored to be a member of Alpha Psi Omega.
When I started with the Chappell Players there were the two mainstage shows (musical in the Fall and straight play in the Spring) and the Cabaret for Charity. We changed that. I remember just wanting to create as much as possible. That hasn't changed much. While I was in CPTG I helped steward a number of new ventures like the One Acts. After I graduated the Dance Concert was revived and I came back to direct a few times before I passed the dance concert on to current students to direct. I’m so very proud of those who continue to produce this show annually!
How did CPTG evolve from a club to an artistic training ground? Here is my summation:
Having a number of very well trained, dedicated artists in CPTG at the same time allowed us to create our own theatre laboratory. This was a place to learn from one another and press each other to strive for excellence. If you were driven, you could learn everything. Lighting design, scenic work, costume design, sound design, marketing, producing. We taught each other and learned all we could in order to create the best theatre and performing arts possible. As a group, we also cared deeply about craft, diversity, philosophy, and social justice. It made for a very magical (yet, not always peaceful) time. There are a number of working artists who came up in the same era at CPTG (the early to mid aughts.) I'm so proud of us all! I truly believe part of the reason so many artists from CPTG have continued to work is the intellectual and artistic rigor we held up for one another.
How was the transition from college to the real world? How was life after graduation?
After graduation I was very focused on survival: paying my rent, getting a masters so I could get a job that would help me pay off my loans, navigating post-9-11 NYC and USA, building my career in the midst of the great recession. It was not easy. But the next chapter of this story is a joyful one! As my journey has continued I have accomplished more than I'd ever dreamed. I've made a positive impact on individuals. I have helped to create systematic change in the arts, education, philanthropy, and retail real estate.And now, every day I am doing work that feeds my soul and impacts education, the arts, and my Queens community.
Dear current CPTG members → You all are looking down the barrel of an uncertain future. This can be a hopeful time! Time to craft a more equitable, just, and beautiful society for all humans! You can do it! Build a support system you can trust and that gives to you as much as you give it! Continually assess your values, priorities, and goals! And don’t let others, tradition, or man made systems tell you what you can and can not do! If humans made it...humans can it better or start again and make something new!
When I graduated I thought I knew a few things for sure: I wanted to make positive change in the world, I wanted to keep creating, I wanted a role in shaping education in NYC and beyond. The road from graduation to my life right now was not a typical one. It continues to be an amazing journey. I learn from what I do and adjust accordingly. My goals have evolved since graduating. I will continue to contribute to positive change in the world. I want to keep creating. I am interested in securing my health, relationships, and happiness whenever possible, but not at cost to others' health, relationships, and security. I will continue to impact education, arts, retail real estate, politics, and more in Queens, NYC, and beyond. The mix of growing, excelling, failing, getting back at it, and continually evaluating one's goals and path is success to celebrate! I’ve also been very lucky to have a partner in this effort, my husband and soulmate Clive, who I met at St. John’s! We help each other build toward a shared vision of success!
Did being involved in the Chappell Players prepare you for life after college? How so
Certain values were a great help in getting me this far and will be even more vital now as we move forward into uncharted territory: 1 - Innovate and don't accept the status quo. 2 - Immerse yourself in community...including the responsibilities of showing up, giving back, fighting for justice and equity for all. 3 - Continue to improve at your craft(s) and expose yourself to everything available to you. 4 - Work hard and be prepared to act on opportunities as they present themselves. 5 – Collaborate. Here’s how my involvement in the Chappell Players contributed to my development of these values.
1 - Innovate and Don't Accept the Status Quo
CPTG was completely student run when I was at St. John’s. We had advisors and a budget (and very limited rehearsal/performance space.) That was it. This meant we were able to build the organization we wanted to create. We were allowed a great deal of freedom and permission to try new things (as long as stage directions did not offend The Church.) The freedom to innovate led to a lot of really great, fulfilling projects that taught me a lot. My ease with innovation and creating something from scratch has served me very well throughout my career.
2 - Immerse Yourself in Community...including the responsibilities of showing up, giving back, and fighting for justice and equity for all.
One of the main reasons I chose to attend St. John's was its mission of service. I was really EXCITED about service learning! (I still believe in the power of service learning!). I deeply believe in one's responsibility to seek good for all, to help those we can, build communities of support and equity, and reject injustice anywhere. I was also excited to attend the most diverse Catholic college and one of the most diverse Universities anywhere. I believed that in a melting pot we had a true opportunity to achieve intersectional justice. I came to realize there is A LOT more to creating the environment for positive social change. I learned a lot at CPTG and St. John's. Including what it truly means to be an ally, that good intentions can cause harm, that diversity does not equal equity, and the importance of knowing the strings attached to your funding before accepting it. I have been lucky to be immersed in strong community culture throughout my life. My time with CPTG helped me appreciate community building and the responsibilities that come with that.
3 - Continue to improve at your craft(s) and expose yourself to everything available
I learned more in my time with CPTG than I did in my regular classes...and I learned A LOT in my degree programs. In the Chappell Players I had the opportunity to self-direct my learning. I came to understand that one is never done improving one's craft and artistry. I learned one's critics can sometimes teach you very important lessons that you won't get from anyone who loves you. I saw the success that can occur when one does not worry whether everyone likes them or not. Unfortunately, that lesson is even more important for women in today’s workplace! I appreciate a multitude of different art forms, disciplines, and genres. I am not beholden to one theory, methodology, or technique. My work's originality comes out of a training process so very different from many others in my field. I believe this is because no one person was directing what we learned or what we created in CPTG. Our direction came from people with diverse perspectives who sought out more smart and talented people to involve who could challenge our preconceptions. I continue to grow as an artist because of everything that took place in the laboratory we called the Little Theatre. I don't miss a chance to learn, think about my learning, and get feedback from peers, elders, and audiences.
4 - Work Hard and Be Prepared to act on opportunities as they present themselves
The other side to our freedom as a student directed organization was that we had to do everything ourselves. If we wanted a set, we had to design and build it. If we wanted an audience, we had to go out and get it. Extra money for better costumes? We had to raise it! This hard work kept us close to the creation of every component of the show. It also demonstrated to me that I am only limited by my imagination and work ethic.Understanding the importance of innovation and hard work served me well when I started a dance company that proudly states it is based in Queens. It meant I was ready when an after school program contacted me out of the blue. A call which led to one of the most fulfilling projects I've ever completed. Also, on the "day job" front, I've gotten to lead projects because opportunities presented themselves and I just decided to do it. Leading these projects meant longer hours, extra work, and not always the recognition I deserved. But at the end of the day these projects have had a significant impact in NYC and around the world.
5 - Collaborate
My best work has always included a great deal of collaboration. I think the idea of the solitary genius artist is a myth….or at least is a once in a lifetime rarity. Having diverse voices around a table--a tech table, production table, boardroom table--leads to great things. Having the right mix of confidence and humility is essential to a good collaboration, something I learned in my work at CPTG. Understanding this early in my career has proven incredibly helpful!
What is your favorite CPTG memory or performance?
I have two. First, was the opportunity to welcome women from a local women's shelter to the first dance concert. The very first dance concert raised money for the Allen Women's Resource Center in Jamaica. It was an honor meeting these women, welcoming them (privately for their safety) to the Little Theatre, and dedicating my work to them. Second, was directing and choreographing Pippin as the country debated going to war in Iraq. What a time to share "War is a Science" and "Glory" with my fellow students. I also cast the two leads opposite their "type" and they shined!
Have you been able to remain involved with theatre as much as you hoped/wanted?
Yes and no. I definitely went through a number of years resenting the fact that I couldn't afford to "just be an artist." What I realized later was that it was actually my choice. Myself and my incredible husband (We met thanks to CPTG superstar, Dan Conti. They were roommates their freshman year.) want to create a life that includes financial stability. I didn't want to be a "starving artist." So I have built a dual career. Finding success both in the arts and in the fields of philanthropy and education. This means that I don't get to spend all day, every day in the studio. BUT I get to create the work I choose to create. I work with artists whom I enjoy collaborating with and I don't have to chase grants. As of right now, I'm set up to continue to make new work straight out of quarantine. A blessing I am grateful to achieve. Again, a mix of luck, privilege, and hard work. This drives me to create something great while giving back to the many communities where I am gratefully included. I create on my own terms and my unique perspective allows me to create art that is outside the norms or trends I see across the field. In the end, that is worth much more to me than any days I miss in the theatre or studio. So the true answer to the question is YES. It just looks different from what I had imagined sitting outside of Hollis Hall!
Do you have any advice for Chappell Players going through college or those who have recently graduated?
Find your values, what drives you, and hone them. Commit to your goals. Always revisit those goals and see if they continue to serve you. Remember, you have to take good care of yourself before you can help others. Create the artistic practice that helps you achieve your goals. Don't defer to a typical path or the usual way an artist works. Spend time and energy on your relationships. Your relationships with friends and chosen family (blood or otherwise) are what life is about. These relationships will get you through the hard times that you will experience in your adult life! The people I’m speaking to the most during this pandemic--dear friends I met through CPTG! Remember how much POWER you have. Sometimes it might feel that you have no power, resources, or choices. That’s a good time to call a dear friend or trusted mentor and talk things out. It’s very likely you do have options. If not, it is likely you need help of some sort. If you do not feel like you have anyone that you can turn to--always feel free to contact me, tell me you are a CPTG’er and we’ll find you resources together. The folks at CPTG or Nick Caccavo should have a way to reach me. Just let them know I told you to reach out to me! You all are on a precipice of GREAT CHANGE in our country. But the change can go either way. We can sprint toward democracy and justice. Or our country can go down a path that continues to hurt people and put $$ ahead of humans. YOU have the power to change that. Commit to making the world better no matter your chosen path through life...and you can live an incredibly happy and fulfilling life!
