Aves + Autta + Ino + Mel spotlight: Cherrye J. Davis

For our final spotlight of the creative team for Aves – Autta + Ino + Mel, we were thrilled to chat with Cherrye J. Davis, who last graced Flux stages as Cori in Metra: A Climate Revolution Play with Songs (podcast dropping soon). We asked Cherrye a few questions based on Rebecca Ana Peña’s powerful new play, which you can learn more about here.

Let’s say you decide to establish a new religion: what or who would you put at the center?

I think core elements of a new religion would be to learn from what already works. For example, empathy, collective action, and environmental sustainability sit within many belief systems, and would benefit all humans, not just it’s followers. Centering these elements naturally encourages healthier food and environments, equitable access to human rights, problem solving within communities, and a sense of belonging.

What do you do when you need to express some rage?

I’ve been writing poetry for 20+ years, and I personally get a lot out of writing through rage: I think some of the most meaningful art can start from a righteous demand for justice, repair, and/or healing, etc. Rage can be one of the most direct signals that change is needed, be it personal or communal. I find that rage lights up my imagination, and allows me to grieve and see solutions I would have never considered otherwise. 10/10, highly recommend:)

Tell me something wonderful about girlhood (either from experience, or observation).

Girlhood is damp soil and scalding August concrete. It’s the burn in thigh muscles while chasing an ice cream truck. It’s the last time I remember thinking “my legs are strong enough to catch that truck because I am powerful”. It’s before the thoughts and whispers of “my legs are too jiggly” got too loud. It’s caring less about what attracts others, but what feels right for the girl. It’s not knowing yet that the world will soon come to eat you. Girlhood is also not remembering a time when the world wasn’t coming to eat you. It’s a space deserved and oft cut short or denied to too many. Girlhood is sacred, and a lynchpin of society that benefits everyone when protected and lifted.

Anything coming up you want to tell us about?

I will be stage managing The PIT’s “That’s Our Show!” performance on Thursday, May 22nd at 9:15pm, which is a variety spectacular in the form of sketch comedy.

Cherrye J. Davis (she/her) AEA*. NY Theater: …The Cotillion (ART-NY), Metra (Flux Theater Ensemble), The Bad in Each Other (The Tank), Sweet Chariot (Under the Radar) I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (NYCT), Best Life (Jack,) Spoiled (LaMaMa). How to Mourn an American, (Little Island. 2019), The Loophole (The Public Theater), And She Would Stand Like This (TMTC).. Film: Covered (2020), Spoiled (The Hess Collective), Extra Room (2019), For Flow (2011 HBO Black Film Fest. Finalist), Scribbles (NYC Indie Film Fest). Music: Tony and the Kiki (vocals). Coming up: Cherrye joins the directorial team of Heaux Church, premiering at Ars Nova in Fall 2025. Follow her moves at www.CherryeJDavis.com.

Follow Cherrye: 

On Instagram: @CherryeisfuerzaJ

Website: Cherryejdavis.com