Confessions of a Single Parent (Actress)

This lovely business that we call acting is a marathon not a race. And at times, with all the auditions, meetings, and travel you can become spiritually, emotionally, and physically exhausted. How can you return to the joy that made you pursue this crazy life in the first place? You must return to the source. Earlier this year, I decided to actually look at the piles and piles of music and monologues that I had never learned or considered. And, I discovered some new energy in those pages. New characters, new melodies, and something to stretch me as a artist. I found a coach to help me rediscover the fun and free in the audition room. Later, I created some marketing tools to boost my career options. I also rediscovered a social existence and time with family. If you burn the candle at the both ends and your finances are questionable you forget about living. This means more movies, more dinners, and more quality time with my daughter and friends (near and far). I also remembered to...

At a writer's retreat this spilled out... I see images of individuals and events that I am usually avoiding. Yes! Me, the one who loves to partake wants to retreat. I see stories in my mind but rarely see myself in them. And that is okay because it allows me to keep my distance. The room feels cold and very strict. Like a classroom that I can longer be in, or else I will never manifest my destiny. Enough of that. I stand in the room and I feel invisible. And it feels good. Because I am exhausted. Never enough rest. Always on the move. Because dreams do not simply become reality without discipline and consistency. Find my voice in the silence, the invisible, the loud, and the soft. Because it exists right beyond the fear to do. I never understood fear because it is my long time companion. It carries me over into new pages and new entries willing itself to defy and stop me. And with laughter or grit, I simply take it with me on a writer's trip. A trip where my voice is not ...

Lately, I have been back in the classroom, working with young people, or teaching adults who have been told constantly that (as a good friend said) "Their shit smells like vanilla." This is result of giving everyone a certificate at the end of the year. This is after years of no longer using red ink to correct papers because it causes some sort of psychotic break. This comes after watching lots of untalented people achieve 5 minute of stardom on reality television or simply being told that they were awesome when they are not.  I am writing this blog to inform and warn that this behavior and practice needs to cease and stop. If a child sings off key and is never corrected they should not be given a certificate that awards them for awesome singing. If a child is given an assignment and they continue to not submit it correctly even after several corrections they should get the appropriate grade to match their efforts and their progress. In other words, stop rewarding lemons fo...

When I discovered I was pregnant, I knew before the doctor's told me that the baby would be a girl. Without hesitation I thought of Maya for Maya Angelou and Simone for Nina Simone. Two women who continue to have a profound effect on my existence. Today, the world lost a woman who cannot be simply contained by the descriptors of poet, wordsmith, civil rights activist, dancer, historian, or sage. She was so much more than any single or multitude of words. She went beyond being a phenomenal woman. And easily became your mother telling you, "If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude." Then with a turn of her head, and a twinkle in her eye she wrote, "Oh, Black known and unknown poets, how often have your auctioned pains sustained us? Who will compute the lonely nights made less lonely by your songs, or by the empty pots made less tragic by your tales? " Now who would not want their daughter to begin with a n...

While sitting in a congested stupor I come across a video on FB of Denzel Washington saying to group of aspiring artists, "That itch, that desire for good is God's proof to you sent already to indicate that it's yours." And then I listened to more, "Dreams without goals remain dreams and ultimately fuel disappointment." When was the last time any of you have developed and followed up on your goals? I literally have daily, monthly, hourly, yearly, and at time minute by minute ones. My list includes learning new music that stretches and challenges my vocal range, seeking and memorizing monologues that allow me to breathe life into the words of a character. Many of these goals have been checked off and they are quickly replaced with new ones because my dreams are amazing, and they take equally amazing goals to make them a reality. Unfortunately, we exist in a society where many of us are handicapped by fear. Fear keeps your dreams separate from goals. Fear ...

This is a tribute to my mother, Levita Anderson. Without her there would have never been dance lessons, piano lessons, violin, singing, acting, writing, watching films, reading comics, and so much more than I could ever list. All on a shoestring budget, and as a single parent. I always call her Levita and our relationship has never wavered because of semantics. She is my most trusted friend. When I was younger, I believed that every child had the same childhood. I thought that everyone had to go to school to achieve something great. I thought every child had a grandmother who took them to plays and musicals. I remember going to see Dionne Warwick and Johnny Mathis in Concert at the Chicago Theatre when I was about 10 years old. My grandfather took me to my first of many operas and documentary films while growing up. Every Holy Week, my mom and I would listen to Jesus Christ Superstar with the full libretto so that we could follow the lyrics (even though my mom knew them by hea...

I have been so inundated with covering stories regarding the educational climate in Philadelphia, sending off audition submissions, making arrangements for a voice over demo, preparing for a mini show, going through an arduous application process for my daughter's educational future, and assisting same daughter in pulling together her book that I have literally let life become rote and exhausting. In the midst of all of this, a dear friend passed away suddenly leaving a beautiful wife and two daughters. The love that continues to be expressed after his funeral yesterday (that I could not attend because of life in Philly) lifts my spirits. My heart is saddened by such a spirit missing from this physical plane. We did not see each other often but when we did he always had a smile, a jovial laugh, a love for music and for God whenever we spoke. He spoke about his wife as if they were still newlyweds despite the 23 years celebrated a few months ago. Rodney Smith you are missed. I mis...