Theater Latte Da's At Home Series: Kelli Foster Warder

Reprinted with the permission of Theater Latté Da

Our At Home with...Series this week features Kelli Foster Warder, who has choreographed many shows with Theater Latté Da throughout the years. Recently, you may have seen her beautiful work in Bernarda Alba, Chicago, Once, Five Points, and Ragtime among others.

Q:  Do you have a daily ritual that's keeping you grounded these days?

A:  I don’t. I hear it is helpful to have a schedule. But that is not my strength. I thrive on creativity and flexibility. Which is a good thing because I have a full-time job (Kelli is the Director of Education and Producing Associate at the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts), freelance work, 2 teenagers and a toddler, a dog and a partner working in the other room. Flexibility is our routine. :)

Q:  What are you reading?

A:  By my nightstand:

Bossypants by Tina Fey

Margaret and Marguerita by Lynn Reiser - a wonderful bilingual Spanish/English children’s book.

We Were Eight Years in Power by Ta-Nehisi Coates

(More time for reading is one of the positive outcomes of this current situation.)

Q:  Which work of art - book, poem, painting, piece of music--provides some solace for you?

A:  It is remarkable to see the arts giving the peace, solace and engagement the world needs right now. Well - the arts always have done that, but it is uniquely poignant and relevant in these times. A couple of special pieces for me right now:

Maya Angelou - always. Her poem Alone speaks to what we are experiencing now.

Sara Groves is a beautiful singer song-writer based in St. Paul. This song of Sara’s, Add to the Beauty, is my heart.

Q:  What's your go-to, binge-watching TV series?

A:  My almost-13-year old son and I are working our way through some good old teenage angst/end of the world epics - Marvel's Runaways and The 100.

My daughter and my husband binge Survivor.

The whole family watches Black-ish together.

For me - I enjoyed Star Trek: Picard, and can’t wait to start Mrs. America.

Q:  If you could throw a Fantasy Dinner Party (since that’s the only kind of dinner party we can throw right now!) who would be on the guest list?

A:  I would love to bring friends together from around the world to eat and laugh and love. But full fantasy? A conversation about the arts with those who have inspired me by giving advice, hope and encouragement would be the best. Tell me what to do Prince, Debbie Allen, Gregory Hines, Gene Kelly, Maya Angelou, Diana Ross, Geoffrey Holder, George C Wolfe, August Wilson, Terrence McNally, Alvin Ailey, Sammy Davis, Jr and Lin Manuel Miranda. Throw in Peter Rothstein, Jamil Jude, Crystal Manich, Shelley Quiala, Maureen Sherman-Mendez, Elissa Adams, Torrie Allen and my late daddy, Billy Foster, and we could change the world. Anyone want in? I keep thinking of more names. I’ll get a bigger table.

Q:  What are you doing to feel creative or productive during this time?

A:  At the Ordway, I oversee our education programs. I have been so grateful to repurpose some contracts with artists to create online educational lessons focused on musical theater for the close to 60,000 students and teachers the Ordway serves every year. Not a plug - just the facts. ;) You will see some familiar Latté Da faces at ordway.org/education/.

I have been so encouraged by the time spent with my own kids supporting their artistic pursuits in dance, drums and guitar.

And, I am going way out on a dream and starting a 4-week playwriting class next week!

Q:  What's a theater production you've seen that you wish you could stream right now?

A:  I like it live. I can wait for it. Plus, when theater is filmed, they rarely shoot the choreography well. They’ll do a close-up on a face while beautiful movement is happening all around that is not in the shot! I need the full view. :)

Q:  Are you cooking? Do you have a favorite recipe to share?

A:  Haha. I have 3-4 staples that I can make and we all can agree to eat it. I have other gifts. :)

Q:  Of the shows you've worked on at Theater Latté Da, which is your favorite?

A:  Of the 11 or so Latté Da productions I have had the privilege to work on I would say - Bernarda Alba has my heart, Once has my mind and Ragtime has my soul.

If you insist on one - it is Ragtime. When Peter entrusted me with this opportunity it quite literally changed my life.

Q:  Would you share a quote that's especially meaningful to you?

A:  Here’s something I am thinking about a lot right now. We have a chance to examine, re-set, renew, in the midst of these difficulties. I don’t want to squander it.

“I used to be afraid of failing at something that really mattered to me, but now I'm more afraid of succeeding at things that don't matter.”

― Bob Goff, author

Q:  Since this is the At Home with...Series, do you have a favorite spot in your home? Would you be willing to take a picture of it that we could share?

A:  This is in my favorite spot of our house. A 3-season porch that has comfy couches and a pretty view of the sunset each day.

Also - this picture - an amazing feat for my flexible fam! Lia, David, Mama, Mark, Skylar and Will.