Rocking a huge Afro, Sharon King oozes a personality which is as large as her ‘fro. The daughter of Herman ‘Woody’ King, the male regarded as Jamaica’s “first uptown Rasta”, King definitely does not stand on ceremony. Probably it is the actress in her.
She enters the space, any space, and soon her voice is heard relating some intriguing tale. It could be about her using tobacco a chillum pipe in her mid-teenagers, considerably to the distress of her elders, or she could be voicing her intent to sing a risque variation of Joyful Birthday. And, then, there is her not-so-innocent discussion with a “cute policeman” at a stoplight in Fifty percent-Way Tree, way past curfew several hours, about the particular features of her auto.
“Wha’ me know ‘bout dat officer? Man push automobile and know ‘bout dem items deh. Me nuh push auto, me generate man. Inquire me ‘bout dat,” was her cheeky response.
King left Jamaica for the United States when she “was 11 likely on 100”, and she cherishes the memories of a Jamaica in which she in no way grew to womanhood. But she made use of the educational prospects offered to her and done her undergraduate reports at SUNY Stony Brook, exactly where she was experienced in classical and black theatre by Glenda Dickerson and Amiri Baraka.
For 13 a long time, King served as an educator with the NYC Board of Training and introduced quite a few profitable theatre projects and co-authored grants to finance them. Amongst the performs penned, directed, choreographed and made by King and her teams are Indeed Mi Close friend, Tell me the African Story and Don’t Give up on Your Dream. As an actress, she has portrayed Lady in Red in For Colored Girls, Teiresias in Antigone Spirit in Chap Am So: The Amistad Victory Mama Benin in P layboy of the West Indies and Agatha Rochester in Not About Eve.
The founder and president of Sharon Tsahai King Productions Inc, King, is now prepared for Observe De Drum, an African-Caribbean musical dramedy described as “an inspirational and heartfelt story about two younger adult males, whose shared childhood suffering makes a bond between them, above and over and above blood ties”.
In her quest to carry authenticity and raw talent to this New York City Off-Broadway manufacturing, a two-portion audition course of action is now below way. 5 Thoughts With caught up with King recently for a speedy chat.
1. What influenced ‘Follow De Drum’?
Many of us who are immigrant little ones close up in America and face assimilation, but we continue to cherish recollections of Jamaica and house. Stick to De Drum is a love letter to my homeland, a region I remaining but which in no way truly left me.
2. How would you describe this dramedy?
Stick to De Drum winds and interlocks like roots of a wonderful tree. It is comprehensive of lots of branches, nevertheless 1 popular trunk: bearing the sweet and succulent fruit of knowledge. Knowledge attained from the telling and suffering from of a story, about some of the tribulations and triumphs of dwelling in the “real” Jamaica – juxtaposed from the scenes of its magical and legendary paradise that obsess its visitors.
3. Why are you web hosting auditions in Jamaica?
I arrived residence for my father’s memorial and resolved to continue to be and type out his affairs, and also simply because of the COVID [pandemic]. Then I thought, ‘I have this piece that is inspired by my really like and regard for my homeland. Why not forged a broader web and get some Jamaican expertise from residence for this adore letter.’ I have visited Edna and UWI. I am attempting to get ordinary persons with amazing talent, not just sector folks. And this is a compensated career. We will apply for the perform permits and assure that all necessities are satisfied. Preliminary auditions should be submitted by way of videotape following viewing the company’s internet site at www.stkpinc.com. The deadline is December 12, 2021.
4. What fascinates you most about Jamaica?
Jamaica is possibly the most magical, mystical, one of a kind, extraordinary put on Earth. The persons are flavourful even through this dreadful pandemic, you contact this earth, drink the water and take up the spirit of the spot.
5 What have you been eating a good deal of since your return?
Sugar cane! Ah eat cane till ah ill. If you arrived in my car or truck, there is cane trash all about. I really don’t know what it is about me and cane this excursion. Possibly it was deficiency of sexual intercourse. You know a thing, I have this very sexual sense of humour, and I constantly questioned the place I acquired it from. Jamaica! Jamaicans, no issue how straight and poised they are, give them a minor sex joke and dem chuckle. Nothing at all much too raucous. I bear in mind my grandmother utilised to notify me ‘Decorum, Sharon, decorum.’ Nonetheless when men and women would inquire her which of yuh grand pickney dem remind yuh most of you, she would say ‘That a person more than there, Sharon.’