MEET: Tara Cheyenne Friedenberg
Every convocation at 51社区黑料we like to celebrate new alumni from the graduating cohort. We're very happy to share this set of responses to our "exit interview" questionnaire from the smart, resourceful, prolific, and hilarious Tara Cheyenne Friedenberg. As the bio from her lists, Friedenberg is an "actor, dancer, director, writer, choreographer, drag artist, educator, and ... the Artistic Director of Tara Cheyenne Performance," the company that houses her diversity and eclecticism. We'd also add , too! So, please 鈥� meet Tara Cheyenne!
How did you end up choosing the SCA for your studies?
I had been thinking about do ing my MFA for decades really. There never seemed to be the time with my performing, choreography, parenting. But then my dear friend started the MFA at SCA. She was having a really good time and it almost sounded like an art-vacation or a residency with super smart artists. I also really wanted to have time to think, read, write about my practice outside of the endless grant writing that makes up way too much of my life.
Please tell us about your time at the SCA.
It sure went by fast! My cohort was very small and all queer, femme folks. We really fell in art-love with each other. What a priviledge to exchange ideas, time, and creating with these fabulous beings!
Any outstanding memories from your time at the SCA and SFU?
One of my favourite parts of the degree was my directed study with Assistant Professor . First, he is brilliant and very funny, second we spent the summer semester reading fabulous books by amazing thinkers/artists, talking about what we'd read and then I would write about my experience and thoughts around the readings and our conversations. So luxurious to have that time.
What are your plans (both non-academic and maybe academic)?
Plans? I'm working on a live late-night style talk show called The Talking Shit Show. Keep and eye out, it gonna be huge! I'm also touring my show , which started as my final MFA project. I really love performing the work and I'm excited about sharing it with more folks. Academic-wise...sometimes I have delusions of a PHD but then I come to my senses. I am super excited to be coming on a Lecturer in SCA's Theatre & Performance area this coming year. I love teaching.
Finally, what advice might you give to prospective SCA students?
Think of the time as an artist residency. Its such a luxury to have access to the spaces, classmates, faculty and other artists who are as excited about talking and thinking about weird art-making shit as you are-that doesn't happen everyday. Stay weird.
FCAT: Ceremony E
Please join Tara Cheyenne Friedenberg and all of the other graduands in the Faculty of Communication, Art and Technology, our institutional home-base at SFU, for the June Convocation Ceremony on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, starting at 2:30 PM in Convocation Mall at SFU Burnaby (8888 University Dr W, Burnaby). More HERE. All FCAT graduates (and family and friends) are also invited to the FCAT Reception, immediately following the ceremony and running to 6:00 PM, outside at the SW corner of the Academic Quadrangle near the Reflection Pond. .