About – TOCCARA CASTLEMAN

Artist’s Statement

I am an African American multidisciplinary artist, who is proudly from the South Side of Chicago. As an independent creative, my career has spanned two lanes—Corporate America by day to support myself financially, and artist by night to nourish my dreams. The through line that connects both paths is that I am a storyteller at my core. I produce work in a variety of mediums including theater, digital media (2020 Emmy® Winner Interactive Extension of a Linear Program, USA Network/Mr. Robot) and print journalism.

And while I love all my children equally, my proudest achievements thus far include: I Don’t Want to Play Myself (2024 Fillet of Solo Festival, 2024 Rhinofest (Chicago), The Tank (NYC)), Maybe a Mexican (stage) (2020, 2021 and 2024 Blue Ink Playwriting Award Semi-Finalist, Chicago, IL), Escaping Inward (stage) (Fade to Black Festival 2020, Houston, TX) and East Marquette Confessions (web).

I’m committed to having a sense of humor, speaking in the first person when asked to write fancy bios about myself; and creating stories where Black people and other marginalized – yet deeply and vastly beautiful – communities are always central to the narrative, nuanced and loved.