In a city where it’s perceived that young people aren’t given an opportunity, Karamu’s Artistic Director Terrance Spivey altered the perception when he selected Cleveland native Leslie Wright, 23, to direct the theatre’s production of “and her hair went with her.”

By Rhonda Crowder
Staff Reporter

In a city where it’s perceived that young people aren’t given an opportunity, Karamu’s Artistic Director Terrance Spivey altered the perception when he selected Cleveland native Leslie Wright, 23, to direct the theatre’s production of “and her hair went with her.”

According to Spivey, Wright is the youngest director under his leadership.

During a recent interview with him, he said he considered three others before Wright, then thought, “let me give someone a chance.”

He said Wright actually came over, before graduating with a major in theatre from Hampton University last May, and expressed her interest in working with Karamu. After she received her degree and returned to Cleveland, she came back and he got her involved.

She assisted with costuming for the “From Breast Cancer to Broadway” production and solely costumed “Black Nativity.” With that, Spivey realized she was ready to take her career to the next level. He usually starts young directors out in the youth theatre.

“For her age, you throw something in front of her, she doesn’t shake. She acts as a seasoned professional,” he said. With her level, at this moment, it was the right time, he added.

What he enjoys most about Wright is they share the same school of thought and passion for Black theatre history.

In talking to Wright, she told us her interest in theatre stems back to early childhood.

Being the oldest of her siblings and cousins, and having a vivid imagination, she directed them in homemade productions, but only began to consider directing while in college.

Wright, a Laurel graduate, started out at Rainey Institute and took classes at Karamu as a youngster. She was even a participant in Akil Marshall’s Dance Africa Dance program.

She credits those environments for molding her. However, being a theatre major at a historically Black college, she learned more about the legacy of Karamu in the theatre community.

“It’s a big deal for me to be working here,” she said. “I was shocked. I never imagined that he would imagine me directing. In Cleveland, people are not willing to give young people a chance.”

She went on to say that even when the work stresses her out, she loves it.

She enjoys the late hours, the diligence, the challenges, pushing the actors to see her vision and discovering new things about the characters. She also loves the fact the she’s actually doing what she went to school for, while the experience provides her with the opportunity to virtually return to her childhood and “live a life of imagination.”

“I love the journey. It’s like training for a marathon,” she said, explaining how coming to Karamu provides a new adventure daily.

She also thinks, Zina Camblin’s “and her hair went with her” is a great first play, as she adores comedies. “Black women and their hair is a big deal,” she said with a chuckle. “The play explores salon culture as the salon, for Black women, is a part of life.”

At the same time, she believes her acting background is an advantage when directing a production that has two actresses playing eight roles.

It makes it easier for her to guide them.

She hopes viewers walk away with a light heart. What she loves most about the story is there’s no right or wrong answers. There’s many sides and, of course, many hairstyles.

She hopes men will come see the play as well, and that people establish a common ground. “Every woman’s identity can be expressed by her hair but she’s not defined by her hair,” she said.

Additionally, she thinks Cleveland is definitely an artistic community but won’t reach its full potential until it stops shutting out young people. “I never not wanted to be here. My dream is to rejuvenate the youth, the arts scene in Cleveland,” she said.

She described Hampton as a place where people work together.