“Joy Cunningham knows that theatre saves lives. She’s been creating original theatre for 20 years and working with young people all her life. She also knows folks want to have fun so her one-woman shows and workshops for youth are fun and funny.” – from Joy’s online bio.

Joy has worked as an actor, singer, director, producer, writer, manager, and teacher across the country. An Austin talent agent dubbed Joy a “self-contained theatrical unit.” She has played over 60 stage roles, and done film, commercials, print and voiceover work.

Scoop and I met Joy at the ACTLab 2019 festival, where she was workshopping an excerpt from her new show, “Welcome to Blackstone.” Our recording of that excerpt follows our interview. In it, she reflects the heart of the zeitgeist through a rural American lens.

Our interview with Joy is considers how we find and make meaning, and struggle to manifest our analog human being in the world.