Actor. Director. Feral Child.
ARISE ROCK
Actor. Director. Feral Child.
About
Arise always describes herself as a 'feral child'. Think Stitch from Lilo and Stitch, Scrat from Ice Age, or Mort from Madagascar. The sense of play and curiosity they have is the energy she strives to bring to every room she works in. She was born and raised in four different neighborhoods in Detroit, Michigan, which gives her the grit, hope, and spark of sass that make her a dynamic actress to watch on stage. She holds her BFA in acting from Western Michigan University, and most recently, she played Agnès Albans in The House That Will Not Stand.
With a rich background in Shakespearean classics and contemporary works by black playwrights like Marcus Gardley and Lynn Nottage, she is able to bring her perspective to a variety of stories. She hopes to use her voice to inspire hope in a world that desperately needs it, to bring new life and voice to classical texts, and to challenge the system that would seek to have her stay silent. She believes that theatre can be used to change the world, and that true human connection on a stage is an irreplaceable gift. When she's not lighting up the stage, you'll probably find her climbing a tree, dancing in the rain, or trying to adopt every stray cat she sees. Like seriously... every single one.
Sooo what's new, girl?
Currently, Arise is preparing for Aziza Houston in the Michigan premiere of Purpose at the Detroit Repertory Theatre in Detroit during Spring 2027!
Portfolio
"Arise Rock is an actress capable of a wide range of emotional states and notes."
​
"One reason for this shows success is the spirited, energetic performance of Arise Rock...throughout the show Rock's bright and uplifting narratives punctuate scenes of family strife, and racial tensions."
​
"Arise plays a brilliant Ariel in the Tempest, and she has fallen in love with the language the poetry, and visuals of Shakespeare- she has been a part of Shakespeare in Detroit's Conservatory since she was fourteen."
​
-WMUK, Bridge Detroit, and Western Herald Theatre reviews
Reel
timestamps: 0:07 'Succession' and 22:36 'Blackish'
Directing
There is nothing more beautiful than entering a room of artists, taking that first breath together, and beginning a journey that is completely dependent upon true collaboration, freedom, and discovery. When Arise was younger, she would dress her siblings up with sheets and Grandma's hats, cut castles and dragons from cardboard, and fashion together scripts writing in notebooks. Eventually, she was able to work professionally, with Western Michigan University, and Shakespeare in Detroit. Her love for directing has allowed her to collaborate with some of the most amazing designers and actors from all walks of life. Being able to create a strong ensemble and make a room where freedom and play are allowed is Arise's passion. Directing isn't just about her, it's about all of the people who come together to create moments of magic behind and on the stage for a world that desperately needs us.
The Company of Hamlet, Shakespeare in Detroit's Professional Youth Production, Directed by Arise Rock. Photo Credit: Arielle Mock
Hamlet
Am I Blue?
This Party Sucks
The Haunting of Hill House
Pipeline
Hamlet
'Hamlet' was the first professional show I directed with Shakespeare in Detroit's Youth Conservatory in the Summer of 2025. I focused on casting POC actors in inner city Detroit to tell this story about the emotional battle Hamlet and the people around him face between revenge and forgiveness. My process relies heavily on creating a space where the youth actors- some who had never acted before- could feel completely safe and empowered to be free and express themselves. The show was a huge success, and was professionally filmed. There are also a variety of testimonials from audience members included below:
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/eGRhpOwXyr0
Link to professionally filmed production of Hamlet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8sDCKm10Oo.
Evan Parrish as Hamlet, Serenity Earth as Ophelia, from rehearsals to production.
Am I Blue?
'Am I Blue?' was my first student directed show at Western Michigan University after I took the beginning and advanced directing classes there. I chose this piece because it centers a female character who is misunderstood, lonely, and relatable to people in my generation. I focused heavily on the technical aspects of the show, and learned what it's like to bring a production together from start to finish. I also created a strong ensemble for the price in order to assist in storytelling of a community in New Orleans. The sound design was a focus, as I built a jazz soundscape that played under the piece and assisted in the emotional storytelling. It was also my first show with a larger cast, which taught me how to manage a variety of personalities in the room and bring them together to create a unified story.
This Party Sucks
Who controls your life? This was the question I wanted to audience to wrestle with when they saw this show. ​They set the stage for the other questions that Cleo (the main character- wrestles with through the play. Can you exist outside of someone else’s shadow? Who decides what you can do with your body? I chose this play because it dove deep into reality of what women today are going through on a daily bass today: in a society that’s been built on patriarchal values. I wanted the audience to be able to see what women are going through; especially related to the larger issues of abortion and agency.
*music rehearsal with my actors- I composed the melody and choreography collaboratively with them!
The Haunting of Hill House
I was the assistant director for this show, which was produced at Western Michigan University during their 2024/2025 Season. With this process, I focused a lot on building a strong ensemble, I was in charge of several rehearsal exercises and bonding moments for the cast to be able to gel early on in the process. because it is a horror and thriller based show, I had them do trust games blindfolded, hide and seek in character (so much fun), sensory exercise with lights off, etc. they learned how to build fear into their body using breath and vocalization, and this helped immerse the audience in the world and help them relate to the characters. I also assisted in coming up with ideas to make it more immersive- having the advance enter through a non-traditional hallway entrance for spooky feelings, and having understudies and crew members create eerie sounds during pre show and under seating units. the show was received extremely well, and was a great opportunity for me to work on a larger scale.
Pipeline
I chose to do this piece because it focuses on the struggle of raising a young Black man in America, and that same young man's desire to feel seen and heard by his Mother. I focused on the love, pain, and fierce protection they feel for one another, and let it all come to a head in the scene. I cast the show with two Freshman actors because this allowed me to work in depth with them on how to develop a character, express their emotions, and fight for an objective within a scene. I also introduced them animal work (where they each chose an animal that represented their character and played with that in rehearsal to help physically and vocally). This changed their performance drastically, and allowed them to tap into the raw instincts and subtext of the scene. I also incorporated a great deal of improv technique into rehearsals once they understood their characters. This allowed them to play off of each other in the moment and listen better to one another.
Filmaking
Arise's love for filmmaking is centered around creating beautiful and compelling visuals that assist in the storytelling of topics that are oftentimes hard to discuss or underrepresented in modern day society. Showcasing queer, bodies POC, and women in a positive and affirming light is her goal with the majority of my film work. A lot of times, we see stories in film that are focused on the trauma, struggle, and hatred those groups face. And while that is unfortunately sometimes a reality, Arise wants her films to show the softer, everyday side of their lives that the media often doesn't portray. She wants to tell their stories with this perspective because she believes it'll dismantle negative stereotypes and open the door to conversations that may not have been had otherwise. She wants to tell these personal, romantic, and beautiful stories about minorities in order to help people with these identities to feel seen and heard.
Watch!
Find these and other films/videos on Arise's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@arizzyrock
"Both Are Infinite" A Queer short film about love and eternity.
"You Are Magical" The lessons and love a young Black mother imparts on her daughter.
"Love, Arise" A young woman's journey to self-love during High School.
"Ophelia" The story of the maiden from Hamlet, as told through her eyes.
"Dear Black Girl" A theatrical short film reminding Black girls to never let other people define you!
Writing
Writing
"It's really beautiful, isn't it? Out of all the people, all the stories, all the moments in the world- this is the one we're in. together. it's like all the worries and anxiety in the universe pause for just a second to make room for us."
-The Beautiful Now, by Arise Rock
Hazel and Harper
"Your eyes hold the universe
when you touched me
it felt like a little bit of starlight
planted itself inside me
and I breathed
for the first time
in a long time"​
​
Hazel and Harper are suitemates in their Sophomore year of college when they meet each other, and an unlikely yet beautiful bond forms between them.
Burnt Sugar and Bitter Scars
"william and i
lay beside each other
holdin' the pain
somewhere
between us both
there was no fear
in our hearts
only anguish
& rage
boilin' in our blood
​
Cora Lacey escapes from an Alabama Plantation in 1865, and travels with her husband William to the West, where they seek vengeance on their master, vowing to stop at nothing until he is dead.
The Beautiful Now
​
"Treasure every moment as if it's your last, and always remember, there is no time like the present."
​
Diego and Bianca meet by chance, and the nine hours and twenty-three minutes that follow will change their lives forever, as well as the people around them. This is a story about cherishing life's every moment- a reminder to let go of fear in order to live life to the fullest.
Zenith Soleil and the Summer of Stars
"I will never forget the first time I saw Zenith Soleil. she was the most interesting thing to happen in Aurora, Nevada in all the eighteen years I had lived there.
​
Ezra James Dawson is an 18 year old Black man living in the small desert town of Aurora, Nevada. He dreams of finding the courage to pursue becoming an artist. That's when he meets Zenith Soleil, an out-of-town girl who encourages him to live life without fear. Ezra is forced to make a choice- to do what his Father expects of him- or make his own destiny. Filled With love, adrenaline, and memories, this book follows one whirlwind of a Summer, and the story of a young man with a dream.
____
​
My writing has always been a way to express my soul onto a page, and share my dreams and secrets with others around me. Pieces of myself are always ingrained in every page. This work makes me a better actress, as it constantly forces me to reflect on my own growth and life experiences, and have empathy as I write others' stories.
​
To purchase or inquire about any of the novels, please reach out and contact me!
"My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style."
-Maya Angelou
