“…because he wants to live…he stands in great peril and must find, with speed, a ‘thing,’ a gimmick, to lift him out, to start on his way.”

  • James Baldwin, Fire Next Time

INSPIRE. PERMIT. REDEFINE.

Can’t Keep Me Down Theatre & Film Productions is a creative practice for emerging and established performers, writers, educators, and organizations  interested in what theatre and storytelling can make possible.

We cannot control everything happening around us.

But we can develop ways of thinking, imagining, questioning, creating, and connecting that keep the world from determining the limits of who we become.

SERVICES

  • D.C.D.S. is a youth Acting and Literary Arts program. I provide private coaching, audition preparation, self-tapes, scene study, improvisation, and performance development for kids and teens.

    Developing Character, Developing Self uses acting not only to strengthen performance skills, but to build communication, adaptability, confidence, self-awareness, and creative courage.

  • T.E.L.L. develops youth leadership and civic engagement experiences that strengthen communication, creative problem-solving, youth-adult partnership, research skills, in pursuit of shared decision-making.

  • S.H.O.W. Working with adults AND COMMUNITY orgs, and community organizers interested in exploring and addressing a local issue through theatre, providing writing and creative development, including ghostwriting

  • School Residency

  • College readiness, writing,

THE PRACTICE

RADICAL ACCEPTANCE + LOVE

Creative growth does not begin with pretending to be somebody else.

It begins by bringing more of yourself into the room.

DISCIPLINE

Talent matters. Curiosity matters.

But so does returning to the work, trying again, revising, rehearsing, listening, and getting better.

SELF-DETERMINATION

Learning to make choices about your work, your voice, your story, and the artist—and person—you want to become.

My Story

My Story

I fell in love wiht writing in 3rd grade and have committed myself to a daily journaling practice where I express my thoughts, ideas, Nand questions.

I began doing improv theatre and joined the dance team in high schoo. I was a very quite girl with a wild imagination who found theatre as not only a creative outlet but also space where i cold let go and explore what life was like outside my own but ironcially not goint too far,staying in my body but using my imagination to lift me up and out of my sadness and insqeurities.

Throughout college, I did theatre performing across campus and I earned a PhD in Dramam and cirital Theor with an emphasis/specialization in the areas of Childhood Studies, Community Theatrre, and Civic Engagement.

After a 10 year careeer in higher-ed a both faculty and administrator, I reazlized working behing a desk all day or stadning behind a podium is how I want to spend the next couple of ten years of my life.

So, I decided to return to what made me feel/return that that/listen to my inner voice and follow my gift and passion for helping youth express themselves to gain and practice communication skills and build respect for acting, writing, each other and themselves.

View Project

  • "Tezeru always simplified the readings to make everyone else in the class understand the material better. I really liked how she would pick out specific parts of the readings and made us read it aloud in class. This allowed me to see other people's perspectives and understanding of the material and it also demonstrated her outside preparation for the section."

    — UCSD Undergrad

  • "Tezeru is exceptional at leading discussions. She always has something constructive to add to the conversation, and she's great at asking the group questions that lead to deep analysis of what we read."

    — UCSD Undergrad

  • "Am amazing professor overall. Cares very much about student success, always willing to make time for students. Encourages participation during class, makes students feel very comfortable and excited to comment and ask questions during lecture. Topics discussed in class are always very interesting, and the learning takeaway from this course has far exceeded my expectations- -I did not expect that I would learn so much valuable information from a film class, and I am very happy that I took this course. Thank you, professor! :D"

    — UCSD Undergrad

  • "The professor was amazing. The course stimulated my interest because she was so passionate. I loved the embodiment portion."

    — CSUSM Undergrad

  • "Tezeru is exceptional at leading discussions. She always has something constructive to add to the conversation, and she's great at asking the group questions that lead to deep analysis of what we read."

    — UCSD Undergrad

  • "She is a very positive and energetic professor who always wants the class to learn and take away something from each lecture. She always wants the class to, whenever they see any form of modern day media, view it with skepticism and ask whether or not it conveys any sort of stereotypes."

    —UCSD Undergrad

  • "Very safe space to discuss and learn more about African-American Theatre and surrounding culture."

    — CSUSM Undergrad, Intro to African-American

  • "Tezeru is a great teacher and mentor. She has a wealth of knowledge and experience that cannot be all appreciated in just the classroom. She learns with you and teaches you at the same time. And she does it all with a smile."

    — UCSD Undergrad

  • "She is very enthusiastic and knowledgeable about this course, and is well prepared for each lecture. She promotes interesting questions and discussions to the students. Hope to see her continue teaching this class."

    — UCSD Undergrad

  • "Tezeru's greatest strength is her ability to either spark intrigue in a student or to develop a deeper understanding of the subject at hand. She is brilliant at making connections and allowing the student(s) to discover the material for themselves."

    — UCSD Undergrad

  • "Please please please let this class return so that other students get the chance to experience and learn from it."

    — CSUSM Undergrad

  • "A vibrant and enthusiastic educator with a deep passion for and understanding of the material. She begins each class with stretching, asks engaging and thought-provoking questions, learns students’ names to build genuine relationships, fosters a strong sense of community, and shows sincere interest in students’ perspectives and well-being."

    — UCSD Undergrad

Let’s Work Together

If you're interested in working with us, complete the form with a few details about your project. We'll review your message and get back to you within 48 hours.