Join SCA Creative Fellows in this collaborative performance experience with storyteller and theater-maker Julie Ganey (2024) and music therapist Caila Conklin (2025). The “Takeover” will include “Michiganderish,” a 45 minute show created by Julie Ganey during her SCA Fellowship. Stay tuned for a casual talk-back with Julie about creating this show and working with Caila Conklin to compose music, and some additional music from Caila. Experience this creative collaboration and kick off the Hempy Series in the Lobby at the SCA!
Michiganderish, by Julie Ganey
Julie and her husband find a little place to get away from it all and relax in the Great Lakes State. Cue chainsaws and chipmunks! A show about the irrepressibility of nature, reaping what we sow, and striving to untangle oneself in Pure Michigan.
About The Artists
Julie Ganey
Julie Ganey is a multi-disciplinary artist and educator whose work encompasses writing, storytelling, theatre, and improvisation. Her projects reflect a deep belief in the power of stories and collaborative artmaking to build community and break down barriers between individuals and groups. She is happy to now call both Chicago and Michigan home. As a professional actor, Julie has appeared on numerous Chicago stages over many years, and her three original solo plays, The Half-Life of Magic, Love Thy Neighbor…till it hurts, and Good Enough have been produced throughout the Midwest. As part of the award-winning comedy ensemble Wavelength, Julie spent years performing all over the U.S. and leading workshops for teachers and executives on conflict resolution and improvisation. She is an active member of the Chicago live lit storytelling scene and is a company member at 2nd Story. Julie is a tenacious advocate of arts education and has served in leadership positions at theatres of various sizes where she creates performance pieces with collaborators ages 3 to 93. Julie is an adjunct professor at The Theatre School at DePaul, and a long-time teaching artist at the Goodman Theatre. (AEA/SAG-AFTRA)
Caila Conklin
Caila Conklin, MT-BC (she/her/hers) is a board certified music therapist and interdisciplinary creative, passionate about the process of meeting people where they are. In her work as a music therapist, Caila strives to build adaptive music-based experiences through which people of all backgrounds, abilities, and life stages can thrive. Over the years of developing her style as a music therapist, Caila has honed her practice rooted in the belief that music holds power to unite and alchemize us.
After completing her undergraduate studies in Music Therapy and Psychology at Western Michigan University (Kalamazoo, MI), Caila placed roots in Lansing where she has served as a music therapist in various community and healthcare-based organizations. Currently, she provides music therapy services for Corewell Health’s Cancer Care program at Lemmen Holton Cancer Pavilion in Grand Rapids and Corewell’s regional cancer centers throughout West Michigan. Outside of her work as a music therapist, Caila performs locally and is an active volunteer with various theatre organizations, as well as having served as a chorus member of Sistrum, Lansing’s Women’s Chorus.