Meet Nevaeh Riddle | Actor & Teaching Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Nevaeh Riddle and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nevaeh, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
Pursuing the arts, theatre specifically, was the only thing I could imagine myself doing. I tried to picture a future doing anything else, and I kept coming back to theatre. I hadn’t shown interest in performance until I was in high school, which, if you know any other artists, seems late in the game to start, but I really loved it. I found myself seeking every opportunity to be involved, and it eventually became my ‘thing.’ I never had a dream job or something I felt drawn to until I fully immersed myself in this world. When I decided to pursue it as a career, everything changed for me in a way that is difficult to describe other than the feeling that things clicked into place. Something I think is important about my decision is that it never felt scary to commit to; I knew it was what I should be doing. It is common to hear that pursuing the arts is challenging and risky, which can be discouraging, but it is also beyond rewarding and joyful. It is a remarkable thing to find such an immense amount of delight in the work we do as artists, and being able to pursue it is a gift that I do not take for granted. Above everything else, I knew that even if I wasn’t what other people would call successful, I knew that pursuing this professionally would make me happy.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My journey has been and will always be ‘learn as you go.’ I think what sets me apart from others is my eagerness to learn. I have adopted the title of a lifelong learner, and I believe that picking up information wherever you can get it is crucial to success in this industry. There is a laundry list of things that I had no idea about, or even any interest in, that have sculpted my understanding of this business and all that goes into it. Much of this happens at Oglethorpe University, where I will be going into my senior year in the fall. I am constantly encouraged (and sometimes required) by faculty to do things I have never done before and to MAKE MISTAKES. If you’re not failing, you’re not taking enough risks, which is not an easy pill to swallow, but makes the work so much more worth it.

I started in musical theatre, where my truest passions will always lie, and I will always be excited about an opportunity to be onstage. Without fail, the second an overture starts, I get goosebumps, and I will always cry at a ballad, it’s just in my nature! Most recently, I was lucky enough to perform with my peers as Kira in Xanadu at Oglethorpe, directed by Lauren Morris, the performance I am most proud of to date. The entire cast and crew led with love and light to make art and create joy, which was an incredible gift. AND we were all decked out on rollerskates and in our brightest 80s garb, which only added to the fun. Outside of acting, I also do costume design and have found a great passion for teaching. I’ll be spending my summer costume designing A Respectable Wedding by Bertolt Brecht at Oglethorpe and working as a teaching artist for the Alliance Theatre summer camps! Having all kinds of outlets for my creativity is incredibly important for growing in my craft, and I’m so fortunate to be able to pursue them all!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
The FIRST place we’re going is Little Five Points! There is something for everyone, and it is a great place to go and walk around for a day. Java Lords is one of my favorite coffee spots, and Clothing Warehouse is great for all your vintage clothing needs. One time, I was in Little 5 with my friends just to walk around, and spontaneous tattoos and piercings ensued. You cannot possibly be bored with a space so full of eccentricity and art!

For eats, we’re going to the Colony Square food hall in Midtown. They have all types of cuisine, but I LOVE the tuna melt at Zaddy’s Sandwich Shop; I think about it often.

Colony Square is just a short walk from the High Museum of Art, which is a wonderful place to walk your lunch off. They constantly have new art, and I could easily spend all day walking through the exhibits.

For some night fun, I am taking you to a show! Out Front Theatre is a great place to see and support queer stories and you are guaranteed to have a blast. The entire team over there is fantastic, and I always see a familiar face after the show. They make great art!

Then, you have to round the day out with a late-night trip to Cook Out. I know it’s not an Atlanta staple, but there’s something about a place where chicken nuggets are a side and not the entree. AND their milkshakes are top tier. Not to mention, waiting in the drive-thru with friends and blasting music always makes for a fun time.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Above everyone else, I have to give credit to my incredible parents. They have never been less than supportive of every path I’ve wanted to try, from my one-year stint as a competition cheerleader to pursuing a degree and career in the arts. I can say without a doubt that without their unwavering belief in me and love for me, I would not be who and where I am today. Next would have to be my wonderful circle of friends. I have had such luck to be surrounded by kind, supportive, and talented people who are there at a moment’s notice to listen to my audition cut for the hundredth time or to decompress after a long day. They truly ground me.

I would also love to give a special shout-out to Jessica DeMaria, who took a chance on me as a freshman in college, still wildly unsure of myself and my ability to pursue theatre, and directed me in my first professional musical. She is such a gem of a human being and a true embodiment of what it means to be an artist. She is bold, intelligent, and has a heart of gold. I am so lucky to know her and to have been directed by her.

Finally, all the other artists in my life, from my peers at Oglethorpe to the incredible education team at the Alliance Theatre, and everyone I’ve ever had the honor of sharing the stage with, deserve immense recognition. Being around other artists makes you a better artist. It is such a privilege to learn and grow alongside so many of them daily.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/riddlenevaeh?igsh=MWprdnJraTFnaGlnbA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nevaeh-riddle/

Image Credits
Saturn Blu Productions (Brian Wallenberg)
Casey Gardner Ford
Barrett Carico