Fresh Talk: Frida in Theater and Art

Fresh Talk: Frida in Theater and Art

Monday, October 5, 2026, 6:30–8:30 p.m. 

In collaboration with the Shakespeare Theatre Company (STC), NMWA is holding a talk  about Frida Kahlo’s impact and lasting influence on art, culture, and theater.

Frida Kahlo’s influence extends beyond the canvas, shaping art, culture, and theater across generations. This conversation explores her legacy through the lens of the Shakespeare Theatre Company’s production of Frida…A Self Portrait (October 8 to November 8), examining why and how the artist remains culturally relevant and impactful across mediums.

Set on the eve of Kahlo’s death, Frida…A Self Portrait offers an imaginative portrait of the artist’s life and cultural impact. Writer and performer Vanessa Severo will discuss her interpretation of Kahlo and the cultural zeitgeist of this significant artist. Director Joanie Schultz will share how the production translates Kahlo’s mythology and cultural significance into a theatrical experience. This conversation will be moderated by Dr. Sarah Powers, curator of the exhibition Frida: Beyond the Myth (April 5 to September 28, 2025) at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.

A salon-style cocktail reception will follow the discussion. $25 general; $22 students/seniors/DC residents; $20 members. Reservations required.

About Shakespeare Theatre Company

Shakespeare Theatre Company creates world-class Shakespeare productions and innovative contemporary work, addressing the most urgent questions with scale and audacity.

About the feature speakers 

About Vanessa Severo, Writer and Performer: STC: Debut. REGIONAL: Frida...A Self Portrait: Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, Writer's Theatre, Indiana Repertory Theatre, Pittsburgh Public Theatre, GEVA Theatre Center, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Portland Center Stage, Kansas City Repertory Theatre. Shane (Movement Director): Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Dallas Theatre Center, Guthrie Theatre, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park. Dracula (writer/director) Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Kansas City Repertory Theatre. Rubik (writer/movement director): Spinning Tree Theatre. Louisa May Alcott's Little Women (Movement Director) Portland Center Stage & Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park. Once (choreographer) Kansas City Repertory Theatre. INTERNATIONAL: Frida...A Self Portrait, Rio de Janeiro, World Theatre Day 2025. AFFILIATIONS/AWARDS: Recipient of the 11th Round of the Fox Foundation Resident Actor Fellowships 2017; 2025 Joseph Jefferson Nomination for Best Solo Play; 2024 NEA New Work Grant Recipient for Rubik; 2020 Kilroys List for Frida...A Self Portrait; 2021 Artist in Residence for City of Carlsbad, California; 2025 Artist in Residence city of Peoria, Arizona. Certified in Suzuki Method and Viewpoints under the instruction of Ellen Lauren of the SITI company. AEA Member. SDC member. WEBSITE: VanessaSevero.com.

About Joanie Schultz, Director: STC: Debut. REGIONAL: Studio Theatre: Hand to God, Cry It Out, 2.5 Minute Ride; Everyman Theatre: A Doll's House; Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park: Mrs. Christie, Louisa May Alcott's Little Women, Birthday Candles, Vietgone, Origin Story, Frida...A Self Portrait; Frida...A Self Portrait: Writer's Theatre, Indiana Repertory Theatre, Pittsburgh Public Theatre, GEVA Theatre Center, Portland Center Stage, Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, Kansas City Repertory Theatre; The Goodman Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre, Quantum Theatre. INTERNATIONAL: Frida...A Self Portrait, Rio de Janeiro, World Theatre Day 2025. AWARDS: 2025 Zelda Fichandler Award; TCG Leadership U; 3Arts Make A Wave Award; Drama League Fellow; Helen Hayes and Joseph Jefferson Award nominated. TRAINING: Northwestern University, MFA; Columbia College Chicago, BA. Joanieschultz.com.