We recently had the chance to connect with Evin Rose Terranova and have shared our conversation below.
Good morning Evin Rose, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
I’m back on stage in a musical at my local community theater– for the first time in twenty years! I left musical theater after high school, as I didn’t feel that I was at a competitive enough level to pursue it professionally. In recent years, I’ve felt the itch to be part of a cast, to sing and dance and act onstage, and broke through my nerves to audition for this community production. It’s been so fun to be back in a rehearsal setting and gearing up for opening night!
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi! I’m Evin, the creator of Inner Child Theater Camp, San Diego’s first adult musical theater camp. I grew up a theater kid, finding my greatest joy and passion in musicals and plays. But as an adult who didn’t choose the path of pursuing theater as a career, I found myself missing the joy, community, and creativity that theater brought into my life. As I explored ways to reconnect and fulfill this part of myself, I realized how few opportunities there are for adults who haven’t been consistently training, or who don’t want to compete for roles or even have the time to be in a production. The world of musical theater can be intimidating, but I knew there were so many former theater kids like myself and even musical-lovers who never had a safe space to try, who were yearning for more than just belting out show tunes in the car.
So I created Inner Child Theater Camp! At camp, we invite grown-ups of all backgrounds– no experience needed– to spend a weekend singing, dancing, laughing, and reconnecting with the playful, expressive parts of themselves that often get buried in adult life. It’s part nostalgia, part creative outlet, and part personal growth experience, all wrapped in the magic of musical theater.
Our team includes a music director, a choreographer, a play/embodiment/improv guide, and myself as camp director and acting + self discovery guide. In addition to their expertise in their performing arts discipline, each of our team members has a background in personal growth and facilitation. This allows us to create a super safe, empowering space where our campers not only let loose for one of the most fun weekend’s of their year, but also discover new depths of self confidence, freedom of expression, and authenticity.
After back to back sold out camps here in San Diego, we are beginning to pop up in new cities– starting with Los Angeles in November!
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
I was unapologetically silly and free! As a kid, I directed and performed in countless “shows” in friends’ backyards and basements. I stood outside of restaurants singing and doing made up choreography. I went up to strangers at restaurants and asked if I could draw their portraits for them, and then proceeded to introduce the people I met to one another in hopes that they would become friends.
I sang and danced and performed because it was fun and joyful, without caring if I got the notes right or if anyone judged me.
I talked to strangers and invited connection amongst people out in the world, without questioning if it was “weird”
I was a goofball who lived to make myself and those around me laugh, without self-consciousness.
I relate to this as my inner child, my truest essence, and it’s been a lifelong journey to allow her to come out and be seen again.
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
My dad was my favorite person. He was the one who introduced me to musical theater, took me to shows, played cast albums, inspired my love of theater. When I was 7, he encouraged me to audition for my first show, “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” at our local youth theater. He was very much a part of the experience, chaperoning rehearsals and cheering me on.
Midway through that experience, he took his own life. His death was devastating and threw my whole world upside down. It took me a while to go back to school, but I insisted in going back to rehearsals right away and continuing to be a part of that show. The theater was a place of safety for me, where I could feel and express and be embraced by a loving community. I stayed connected to him over the years through this shared passion, and began healing through art therapy, many years of conversations with my mom, and eventually, through many types of therapeutic and healing modalities as an adult.
Almost thirty years later, there’s still a sense of missing a part of my heart, and yet my connection with my dad has grown stronger. His spirit is a huge part of Inner Child Theater Camp, and I carry him with me every day.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
Community! It’s the heartbeat of my life, and of Inner Child Theater Camp. In today’s world, so many of us feel isolated– even when we’re surrounded by people, the sense of true belonging can be hard to find. Our lives are increasingly happening online, and many offline spaces lend themselves to more surface level interactions.
Authentic connection is medicine. It’s the antidote to the loneliness and disconnection so many people silently carry. It serves as a mirror that reminds us that we’re enough, that we’re safe to be seen, that we’re worthy of love exactly as we are. It helps to lift the weight of the world, and of each of our struggles and responsibilities, off of our shoulders alone.
At Camp, we create a space where adults can drop the masks, be fully themselves, and connect in the most joyful and genuine way. That kind of community, where you’re celebrated just for showing up as you are, and where so many continue to connect beyond camp weekends, is rare. It’s what keeps people coming back!
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. Are you tap dancing to work? Have you been that level of excited at any point in your career? If so, please tell us about those days.
This is how I feel about Inner Child Theater Camp! I am working a LOT as this company grows and expands, and yet I wake up with genuine excitement to dive into it every day. Sure, there are times I get bogged down in tedious tasks or frustrating tech challenges, but it’s overwhelmingly energizing to work with such a creative, collaborative team, to welcome new campers into our world every day, to prepare all of the pieces of camp- from our custom tie-dye t-shirts to the camp games- and to explore where this company wants to go next. It very much feels like it has a life force of it’s own, and I’m just along for the ride!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://love.evinrosecoaching.com/ictc-links
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/innerchildtheatercamp
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575202247156
- Other: Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/1116868742
Image Credits
Somos Volt
