Help Mahlet Attend The Yale Summer Conservatory For Actors

Hello all, my name is Mahlet Gebreyesus, a rising senior BFA Musical Theatre major at the Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts at Howard University. I’m reaching out to ask for your support for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to attend the prestigious Yale Summer Conservatory for Actors.

As a first-generation college student and the daughter of a single mother who immigrated to the United States from Ethiopia, my path to the arts hasn’t been easy or conventional. When I first arrived at Howard, I didn’t know what a monologue was or even what a song cut meant in auditions. I came in with passion but no foundation. I had never been trained, never stood on a stage with confidence, and had no idea how to navigate the professional world of acting. But Howard saw something in me. Through dedicated mentorship, rigorous training, and a community that poured into me, Howard cultivated the artist I am today.

Since then, I’ve been cast in a show every semester since sophomore year, such as Black Nativity, Big White Fog, and For Colored Girls, deepening my connection to Black theatrical traditions and storytelling. I have also had opportunities to work professionally in the show The Sensational Sea-Minkettes as an understudy at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, and train at the Stella Adler Musical Theatre Intensive in New York City. I’ve done this all while maintaining a strong academic standing, being actively involved in campus organizations such as Jewels Incorporated, while working in order to support myself and my family.

Now, I’ve been allowed to take everything I’ve learned and apply it in a new, challenging, and prestigious environment: the Yale Summer Conservatory for Actors.

This five-week intensive program will help me sharpen my skills, provide a space for experimentation, risk-taking, and personalized mentorship, which is exactly the kind of growth I need at this stage in my journey. The total cost to fund my experience is $15,000, which covers tuition, housing, meals, and transportation. I believe this investment will not only empower me as an artist but also reflect the values of legacy, leadership, and excellence that Howard instills in its students.

This opportunity is more than just a program. It is a bridge between where I’ve been and where I’m going, not just in my career, but in my purpose as an artist. I want to carry forward the legacy of artists like Angela Bassett, Lupita Nyong’o, and Winston Duke, Yale alumni, whose work has helped shape Black narratives in theatre and film. I hope to return to Yale one day for my MFA in Acting, and this summer is a vital step toward that dream.

This is bigger than just me. It is about breaking generational cycles, creating new possibilities, and making space for young, Black, first-generation artists to thrive. Your support, whether financial, a share, or even a word of encouragement, means more than you know. I promise to carry your belief in me into every audition room, rehearsal, and performance for years to come.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story. Please feel free to reach out if you'd like to know more about the program, my goals, or my journey. I’m incredibly grateful for any support you can offer.

With love and gratitude,

Mahlet Gebreyesus