In celebration of International Workers' Day this year, Flying Leap Productions had the honor of collaborating with SEIU (Service Employees International Union) on a vibrant, community-centered project for May Day Rallies in Chicago and Seattle. Our team was commissioned to lead workshops and build large-scale puppets that would march alongside workers, activists, and community members, bringing artistic expression to these powerful demonstrations of solidarity.
We're thrilled to introduce the remarkable teaching artists who made this collaboration possible, each bringing their own expertise in education, facilitation, and community engagement to support this important work.
The Teaching Artists
Divya Rajan
I am an inter- & multi-disciplinary performance artist, storyteller, ritualist, and an educator. I have an MFA in Theatre Arts. I am the founder & creator at Epiphany Sutra through which I offer creative ritual experiences.
Gabriela Osiris Cuen
Osiris "Pinky" Cuen is a Disabled, Mexican Indigenous (Mayo/Yoreme), QT2 Spirit Performance Artist, who goes by many names and uses Ki/Kin pronouns. You may have seen kin performing drag for kids as Cuentinflas or doing adult drag as Mari Nero. Chicago credits include Lizard y El Sol (Goodman Theatre), Skyflint pt 1 (Haven Theatre), Rebirth of Osiris (Haven Theatre), 2023 SPARK! Artist in Residence (Filament Theatre). Arizona credits are as follows American Mariachi (Arizona Theatre Company), Alice's Adventures...Wonderland, The Yellow Boat , Smartest Girl in the World, Girls Who Wear Glasses, Super Cowgirl and Mighty Miracle (Childsplay). You may have seen kin as a background actor on The Bear, Chicago Med, and Dark Matter.
Anthony Michael Stokes
Anthony-Michael Stokes is a Chicago based multidisciplinary teaching artist, puppeteer and award-winning educator. Originally from Texas. He holds B.F.A's in music theatre and dance and a Master's in Education. He has have has trained as a puppeteer with the Jim Henson Company and the Sesame Street Puppeteer workshop and was awarded a 2023 Production Grant, a 2022 Workshop Grant and the 2023 O'Neill Residency from The Jim Henson Foundation for his work The Scarecrow. He is currently a 2025 Chicago Puppet Lap Artist with the Chicago International Puppetry Festival. He loves to package a thoroughly entertaining story that when you least expect it, hits you with a deep moment that can change your entire perspective and wants his work to enlighten, empower and entertain while using puppetry, music and theatre to connect everything.
Rocio Giovanna Cabrera
Rocio "Chio" Cabrera, is a puppetry artist from Humboldt Park, Chicago. She is a Mexican-American artist who uses puppetry to bring audiences into new worlds. Those worlds may be historical, in the future, or even other worldly - afterall, everything is possible with puppetry. Her work explores latine folklore, history, nature, and identity. Chio's original stories, which she was written, directed, and starred in, have been performed at Chopin Theater, the Fine Arts Building, Links Hall, and the Greenline Performing Arts Center. In addition, Chio has worked with the Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival, Free Street Theater, Rough House Theater, Strawdog Theatre, Jabberwocky Marionettes. She is the Co-Director of Opera-Matic and the Co-Founder of the People's Puppet Fest. Chio uses her artistry to speak for Chicago's Latinx-American communities and she educates next generation of puppetry artists.
Susanna Brock
Susanna Brock is a Swedish, New York-based theater maker, performer, director, administrator and educator who creates multi-sensory and interactive theater with and for young audiences. She aims to create spaces where young people can dream and play and critically reflect and comment on our world.
For the past 14 years, she has had the opportunity to work in many different parts of the world including Stockholm, Paris, Kampala, Nairobi and New York where she has facilitated and performed in school and community-based programs. In addition to her work at Flying Leap, Susanna is an ensemble member and administrator at the award-winning company Spellbound Theatre and has been a teaching artist and led professional development and trainings at places like ArtsConnection, The Children's Museum of Manhattan, Brooklyn Conservatory of Music, Brooklyn College, Bank Street College of Education and NYU. In 2020 she graduated with a Master's of Applied Theater from CUNY School of Professional Studies.
Daniela Kriedler
Daniela Kreidler (She/Her) Chicago-based Latinx actor, comedian and writer. She is the Lead Artist and Director of FELT UP! A dating show where there are no strings attached. She has been part of the cast of Juana and the Missing Mayan Book; where her love of puppetry began. Daniela also performs with Zahaha; where puppetry, pizza and chaos meet. Daniela is an improviser and has worked with various groups including Art By Artist and Salsation Theatre Company. Daniela is proud to work with Playmakers Laboratory as their company manager & teaching artist where she enjoys working with children and empowering them by way of creative writing.
Kyleigh Archer
Kyleigh Archer is a director, playwright, designer, and theater teaching artist. With B.F.A in Theatre, in both the acting and technical realms; they have spent the last decade working with school districts and non-profits to bring the joys of theater, story telling, and improv to students. They are currently the director and designer for Seattle Opera’s Youth Project and a teaching artist at STG, Seattle Children's Theatre, and Seattle Rep. Serving over 500 greater-area Puget Sound students annually, these programs are trauma-sensitive and inclusive. With a passion for new works, Archer consistently connects nonprofit organizations to shows for fundraising and raising awareness. Drama should not only create access for people with little-to-no-support systems to see themselves on stage, but to have those plays generate tangible opportunities for community members to learn and benefit from. At risk youth and carbon-reduced design are top priorities in Archer’s art on stage.
With Gratitude
Flying Leap Productions extends our deepest thanks to this extraordinary team of teaching artists whose creativity, skill, and dedication brought our May Day collaboration with SEIU to life. Their contributions not only facilitated meaningful engagement with union members and the broader community, but also created educational experiences that enriched the project.
The integration of education, art, and activism has long been a powerful force for social change, and we're proud to have worked with these teaching artists who understand the importance of engaging communities in movements for immigrant and worker justice. We look forward to future collaborations that continue to bridge education, art, and advocacy, creating work that resonates with communities and supports movements for positive change.