April Cleveland, Artistic and Executive Director of The Exodus Ensemble, lit up the room on May 16th with a powerful and deeply personal talk. She drew a vivid line between her ten-year-old, theater-obsessed self and the visionary artist she is today—an artist who helped land Exodus on the cover of American Theatre Magazine. “I am looking for transcendence,” she told us. “Boredom is too commonplace in theater today.”

April shared how she and her ensemble are rewriting the rules, crafting immersive performances that challenge convention while welcoming audiences into bold, intimate experiences. It’s theater as you’ve never felt it before—radical, up close, and alive.

April doesn’t just make art—she demands something from it. And her story challenged us to do the same: to remember our childhood passions, dive headfirst into our obsessions, and keep the flame of creativity burning. Step into your own revival. Know yourself. Renew yourself. Huge thanks to April and the Exodus Ensemble for sharing their unforgettable authenticity and creative fire with us!

We also opened the floor to our community for :30 Second Pitches and wow did you deliver! Special thanks to Baked & Brew and CrashMurderBusiness for the fabulous breakfast spread and to all of our amazing partners who make our events so great.

What is the event like? CreativeMornings is about community and inspiration. Come for both! Doors open at 8:30am, and we’ll have coffee, and a light breakfast ready for you. Coffee time is great for meeting the other CreativeMornings attendees. The talk will start at 8:55 followed by Q&A. We like giving hugs and high-fives.Check out our Flickr albums to catch the vibe… or come see for yourself at our next event!