Dan Ozminkowski was the 2020 recipient of the USITT International Travel Grant. He details his trip to Uganda below. Learn about his adventure, and apply for the 2025 grant to start planning your own!

"The 2020 USITT International Travel Grant afforded me the opportunity to collaborate with director Adong Lucy Judith on the premiere of 'Niqabi Ninja' at the Uganda National Theatre.  The provocative production, staged across the street from the Parliament of Uganda, confronted themes of sexism and misogyny while challenging accepted boundaries at the edge of political acceptance.  During each evening's talkback session, audience members of all types expressed shock as they reflected on their role in perpetuating violence through traditional social structures.  It was an honor to be a member of the design team and to learn about the craft of producing theater in Uganda."  

"The ingenuity of the crew was awe-inspiring.  From the hand-sewn rope composing the textural cityscape on the backdrop to the endless hours spent rewiring and manipulating striplights to accept locally sourced lamps (less than a 12-hour bus ride away), each day was a new lesson.  It is so easy to take for granted how privileged we are to produce theater in environments of abundant supply."

Photos by Zahara Abdul