Sunset Baby at Arena Players Inc.

When I think about all that I gained from this show, I believe the greatest gift was my connection to the cast. To be seen, felt, loved, and admired for being my authentic self is something I’ll never take for granted. It proves that you can walk into any room, with your history attached to your waist, and the people who are supposed to receive you will.

THE CALL

I remember the call from my friend like it was yesterday. It was a random Tuesday when she reached out to let me know about the auditions. She said it was a play coming up, directed by none other than Mari Andrea Travis, whom I just finished a Shakespeare play with, and that it would take place at the oldest Black theater in the United States, the Arena Players, Inc.

She explained to me that it was an opportunity she would have liked to explore, but she couldn’t move forward with auditions due to the production dates. So, knowing that I had been searching for acting work outside my current career in media production, she threw the ball my way. Little did she know this play was going to change my life.

I was first introduced to Dominique Morisseau in my final year of undergrad, when I played Chelle Poindexter in Detroit ‘67. Up until that point, I predominantly received roles that spoke to the earlier American history of Black people in this country, slavery, and Jim Crow. Side note: I enjoyed playing significant figures in American history, but I was upset because I felt like my school didn’t see my potential beyond those kinds of stories. Later, I found out the chosen plays were actually tied to a web of politics and money.

But, being familiar with Morisseau’s work, I didn’t hesitate to jump on the opportunity. I immediately signed up for auditions, and within a week, I met with Mari and was cast. Following the news, I thought to myself, “This is it. My comeback into acting!”.

This production was the first outside of undergrad where I was able to truly stretch my wings. I found myself showing up for work in new ways. Morisseau is an exceptionally talented writer, so I thought to myself, what more could I add to the story that she hasn’t already touched on? I leaned into the music and culture. I learned in three to six minutes of a Nina Simone song what hours of research couldn’t.

More to come…