Maridee Slater was born in a desert surrounded by mountains, which she believes influences her constant thirst and tendency to look up and climb. Her name means "of the sea" despite being from the desert. As a director, she ensures every aspect of a production reaches its full potential by cultivating an atmosphere of honesty, trust, and rigor. She embraces contradictions and believes in knowing the rules but also breaking them, maintaining that a single word can change the world.

1. Maridee
Slater
Artistic
Statement
I
was
born
in
a
desert
surrounded
by
mountains.
Perhaps
this
is
why
I
am
always
thirsty.
Perhaps
this
is
why
I
am
always
looking
up,
prepared
to
climb.
“Maridee”
means
“of
the
sea”.
From
the
desert.
Of
the
sea.
This
irony
is
not
lost
on
me.
Or
wasted.
When
telling
a
story,
in
any
manner,
I
ask
myself
“What
about
this
story
scares
you,
Maridee?”
and
I
start
from
there.
I
dive
into
fear
and
the
unknown.
I
approach
collaboration
under
the
assumption
that
everyone
else
in
the
room
is
smarter
than
me.
I
try
to
work
beyond
assumption.
I
realize
this
contradiction.
I
embrace
contradictions.
As
a
director,
I
am
present
to
ensure
that
every
aspect
of
a
production
is
breathing
its
full
potential.
It
is
my
job
to
facilitate
an
environment
where
this
is
possible
for
everyone
and
everything.
I
am
present
to
cultivate
an
atmosphere
of
honesty,
trust,
and
rigor.
I
believe
in
knowing
the
rules,
and
breaking
the
rules.
I
maintain
that
a
single
word
written
on
a
piece
of
paper
can
change
the
world.
It
has,
and
it
will
again.
I’m
in
pursuit
of
that.
-­‐Maridee
Slater
For
more,
visit
http://www.marideeslater.com/portfolio.html