The Divine Experience

"You can only have a divine experience if you recognize aspects of yourself that maybe you can't reveal," Viola Davis.

Watching an interview with Ms. Viola Davis and Mr. Denzel Washington about Fences by August Wilson on Broadway reminded me of the beauty that is felt each time I am on stage or even in the audition space. It reminded me of the power of words and how a great script shows vulnerability and the imperfections that make up this tapestry that we call life. One of my students just asked me who I considered to be amazing actors. And I found myself making excuses and fumbling over my response because so many of the scripts that we see on the screen are simply snapshots and glimpses into the actual three-dimensional aspects of humanity. They are not always the vehicles for actors to truly flex their acting muscles.

The stage is a bit a different. It is not for the meek. It is for those who are able to sustain, stretch, fall, and rise without the assistance of editing or great background shots. And it must be repeated and rediscovered with your partners on stage 7 to 8 times per week and twice on Wednesday and Saturday. The willingness to be as Viola said, "emotionally naked as possible." Is not easy for all of us.

For African American women, those opportunities are few and far in between. When I watch the actors on Scandal who have always been relegated to the one liners or smaller roles for most of their careers (Khandi Alexander and Joe Morton), I am excited to see them be fully utilized. Yet, this still represents less than 6% of the available roles. I embrace my sassy black woman one-liners or scene stealing moments on film and stage. But, I live and die for those rare three-dimensional, messy, emotional, and stretchy roles that literally I can count on one hand and a few fingers. The same goes for music and a book that challenges you beyond type and your own safe parameters.

So please (new, undiscovered, and striving playwrights/screenwriters) keep writing and having those staged readings for those of us who are always seeking the Divine Experience.