Filmmaker John Cameron Mitchell Offers Lessons on Art, Identity, and Taking Risks

Award-winning filmmaker, actor, and writer John Cameron Mitchell spoke to aspiring Emerson College Musical Theatre students about storytelling, performance, and the evolving role of art in society in a masterclass on Wednesday, March 19. 

Known for his groundbreaking work on Hedwig and the Angry Inch and Shortbus, Mitchell captivated students with his candid reflections on identity, creative resilience, and the necessity of embracing discomfort in artistic growth.

In Performing Arts Assistant Professor Ilana Ransom Toeplitz’s class, Mitchell began by emphasizing the importance of resisting labels, both in life and in art. 

“None of us are one thing, we are always evolving and we are always changing,” said Mitchell. “If you want to be hired, keep exploring other creative outlets. Stay engaged in different forms of expression.”

Drawing from his childhood in a military family that moved frequently across different regions and cultures, Mitchell shared how adaptation became second nature to him. 

“I was always aware of how things change every few miles, and I loved it – but I also had to keep adapting wherever I was,” said Mitchell. “Sometimes, I even had to change my accent. Those odd skills of adjusting to new environments ultimately helped me as an actor.”

He went on to describe how coming out became a pivotal moment in his personal and artistic growth.

“When I came out as gay, it opened me up to art,” Mitchell said. “Once I stopped hiding a part of myself, I found it much easier to embrace new experiences.”

His breakthrough role in the stage and film musical Hedwig and the Angry Inch, which he directed, co-wrote,  and starred in, was particularly transformative, helping him embrace different aspects of himself. 

“Playing Hedwig made me feel comfortable with my feminine side and realize that it’s natural,” he said. “You have things you might call ‘masculine,’ things you might call ‘feminine,’ but call them what you will, we all have those energies. All of us are androgynous, or non-binary if you must use the term. Nobody is purely one thing.”

Mitchell recognized that finding one’s identity can be difficult and challenged the students to push past fear and embrace the “messiness of life,” arguing that growth only comes from engaging with discomfort. 

“You have to get into the room to make things happen,” he urged. “That’s the only way you grow. It feels uncomfortable, but conflict moves you forward. We live in a world where we have to be ready for conflict and understand that we’re going to be triggered at every moment. I’m not someone who believes in constant trigger warnings because I see art as a way to prepare us for real life.”

Following the talk, some students were given the opportunity to perform for Mitchell and receive his feedback. For Asa Dupras ’25, the moment felt like a full-circle experience. 

“I discovered Hedwig and the Angry Inch in high school and it has stuck with me since then,” said Dupras. “I have looked up to John Cameron Mitchell as a creative for a long time. Initially, I was nervous about him coming in, but I was quickly calmed as he began the conversation. It was gratifying to know that someone I admired so much was just as cool in-person as I had hoped.” 

For Dupras, performing for Mitchell was both an exciting and reassuring experience.

“His feedback was lovely,” said Dupras. “I was kind of surprised that he worked similarly to other professors in the Musical Theatre program. It was grounding to hear familiar words and it reinforced the four years of training I have gotten at Emerson.”

For Maggie Cavanaugh ’25, another student who performed, Mitchell’s advice encouraged a new way to approach performance.

“He said to put hyper specific images of what you are seeing when you’re singing the song in front of you, and then allow your body to react naturally as you would if that image was really right in front of you,” said Cavanaugh. “He said that your acting would then come naturally, and your voice will follow. I found this especially helpful because I am also a very visual person, and having hyper specific images of what I’m singing about will help me to increase specificity in my song.”

Mitchell’s visit left a lasting impression on students, not just for his insights on performance and artistry, but for the way he engaged with them as equals.

“I found the way he interacted with students to be incredibly engaging,” said Cavanaugh. “He spoke to us not necessarily as students, but as fellow artists. Hearing his stories about his upbringing and how he came to be the artist he is was really interesting, as I love hearing stories about how artists I look up to came to be.”