Students Write the Next Chapter for Storytellers

As actors rehearse lines, technicians adjust lighting cues and directors offer feedback inside University of Houston-Clear Lake's Bayou Theater, every creative decision is being made by students.

That's exactly how they intended it.

Just one year ago, the future of Storytellers was uncertain following the departure of founding faculty advisor Dr. Andrea Baldwin. Rather than allowing the creative organization she established to come to an end, students stepped forward, transforming Storytellers into a thriving student-led organization that continues to expand opportunities for writing, theater, film and creative collaboration across campus.

For UHCL alumna and staff member Nadia Jasso ('25) and current student Eden Wilkinson, preserving Storytellers was never simply about producing another play. It was about creating opportunities for students to lead, create and build something that would continue long after they graduate.

When Jasso joined Storytellers in 2023 while pursuing her Bachelor of Arts in Literature, she was immediately drawn to its approach. Rather than simply staging well-known productions, Storytellers encouraged students to create original works and reinterpret familiar stories through contemporary perspectives.

"I realized the whole basis of Storytellers was to either adapt previous works into a different lens or create something original," Jasso said. "I thought that was neat and something I wanted to be a part of."

That opportunity soon became a responsibility.

Following Baldwin's departure, Jasso found herself preparing to direct her original play, By Reason of Insanity, without the faculty mentor who had originally planned to lead the production.

"There was definitely concern," Jasso said. "It was going to be left up to me and Eden to keep it all together."

Neither Jasso nor Wilkinson had ever managed a theatrical production of that scale. Producing a show required much more than directing actors. They suddenly found themselves learning lighting, sound, production logistics, marketing, scheduling rehearsals and everything else required to bring a performance to life.

"It was a learning experience," Jasso said. "I really had to figure out how the production side of things worked."

Working alongside Bayou Theater staff, the students learned as they went. In the process, they successfully staged the production while establishing officers, securing faculty advisor Michael Brims and formally transitioning Storytellers into an official student organization.

For Wilkinson, who now serves as president, the experience reshaped how she thinks about leadership.

"It really was just chance," Wilkinson said. "I wanted to turn this into something that is more sustainable for students, so they have a space to do performing arts and create different things."

Today, Storytellers has grown well beyond its theatrical roots.

While stage productions remain central to the organization, students are also exploring filmmaking, improv and multimedia storytelling. Plans for writing workshops, storytelling festivals and additional creative programming continue to broaden opportunities for students interested in directing, acting, production, lighting, documentaries, social media and other forms of artistic expression.

"We just want to hear what you have to offer," Wilkinson said. "Come in and contribute in your own way."

That openness has attracted students with a wide range of creative interests, many of whom had never participated in theater before.

For some, Storytellers became an opportunity to discover a new passion.

For others, it became something equally valuable: a place to find community.

As a commuter university, many UHCL students balance coursework with careers, military service and family responsibilities, often leaving campus as soon as classes end. Jasso and Wilkinson believe Storytellers offers a reason to stay, connect and create alongside others who share similar interests.

"It's important to have a place where you can just show up," Wilkinson said. "As long as you're sharing interests, that's what brings you together."

Jasso has seen that transformation firsthand.

Students who joined simply to "try something new" have continued performing, moved into directing or production roles, and even begun writing original works of their own.

"I've seen people embrace the arts and figure out something they're really passionate about," she said.

That sense of belonging is something both leaders hope continues to define Storytellers as the organization grows.

On Nov. 13–14, Storytellers will present Dakota Gray at UHCL's Bayou Theater. The production, a contemporary adaptation of The Picture of Dorian Gray set in the early-2000s modeling industry, represents more than another performance for Wilkinson. It reflects what students can accomplish when they are trusted to lead.

She envisions Storytellers continuing to evolve as a creative community where students can write, perform, direct, film and share stories in whatever medium inspires them.

"Storytelling is for everyone," Wilkinson said. "If you have something to express, there's a place for it."

In many ways, that idea has become Storytellers' greatest success.

What began as a faculty-led creative initiative has become something larger: a student-led community where creativity sparks leadership, collaboration builds confidence and each new generation of Hawks is empowered to write the next chapter for those who follow.