I'm a writer, French-to-English translator, and theater maker.

My work shines a light on unsung heroes and revolutionary ideas.

I believe in the power of art to spark change.

Art & Culture Features

Photography in Protest

In Redeat Wondemu’s new handmade photographic print, ​“Ulim,” natural lighting kisses a woman whose face is free of makeup, her hair styled in traditional Albaso braids, and a small tattoo resting on her neck. Her regal pose reels viewers into a conversation about the often overlooked intersection of patriarchy, imperialism and religious culture that Ethiopian women manage. Donning nothing underneath her orthodox garb, the woman’s beauty and nonconformity center her autonomy while underscoring h...

Mel Manuel hopes to unseat ultra-conservative Rep. Steve Scalise – Scalawag

When Katie Darling suggested Mel Manuel run against Steve Scalise in the 2024 congressional race for Louisiana's 1st District, Manuel laughed. They were standing outside the Covington Library in Covington, Louisiana, following a library board meeting. At that point, Manuel had been steadily expanding their reach as a progressive activist in St. Tammany Parish, a notoriously conservative region of the state, since moving back to their hometown in 2021. At the time, they were still a private perso...
Person receives a haircut in front of a round mirror

The New Orleans Hair Salon Where Customers Fly In for Appointments

Hair holds power, especially for members of the LGBTQ+ community, for whom a good haircut can be life changing. Not only is hair a tool for self expression and gender presentation, but an outlet for creativity and self care. New Orleans, a city with an abundance of queer pride, has one of the few places in the country where you can get a gorgeous gender-affirming cut and gossip openly about your love life, whatever it looks like: Bandit Hair Company.

Theater Journalism

On Translating Nobel Laureate Jon Fosse’s Works for American Audiences

Sarah Cameron Sunde is an interdisciplinary artist and director working at the intersection of performance, video, and public art. Her current practice, rooted in the visual arts, explores deep time, embodiment, and ecological crisis, and it is informed by her decades of experience as a theatremaker, director, and translator. Amelia Parenteau is a writer, translator, and theatremaker who has translated fifteen plays from French into English.

Eva Doumbia and Chef Alexandre Bella Ola Interviewed

I first met Eva Doumbia while she was on a research trip to New Orleans. I was enthralled by her explanation of the show she was creating which used elements of documentary theater and religious ceremony to address food history, its connections to the transatlantic slave trade, and colonialism. I was honored when she asked me to translate the show from French into English and produce its United States tour.

Amelia’s translation work is meticulous, punctual and well-researched. She communicates clearly any questions she might have about the work itself or the workflow. She clearly loves her work and it shows in the way she approaches projects.

Taras Lesiuk & Annick Sheedy McLellan, Gambade Films

Translation

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