By Arts for Learning/Miami

Arts for Learning ArtWorks intern Aaliyah Wilkerson made her directorial debut with a student production of Bourbon at the Border by Pearl Cleage, presented at New World School of the Arts from February 28th – March 2nd, 2014. A4L caught up with Aaliyah recently to ask her a few questions about her off-stage experience Arts for Learning ArtWorks intern Aaliyah Wilkerson

A4L: Why did you choose to direct Bourbon at the Border? AW: Over the summer I had the pleasure of being an intern in the theater co-op of Arts for Learning’s ArtWorks program; it was there that Ms. Latrice Bruno gave us Bourbon at the Border to read and I fell in love! I am an African American history fanatic; it is a great interest of mine. I think a lot of times as we go through our lives, we as human beings forget where we come from. Pearl Cleage reminded me of why I love African American history so much. Each of the characters in this play were affected by some of the negative aspects of the Freedom Summer of 1964. All of the characters have layers like an onion and, as the director, I wanted the opportunity to peel the layers of that onion and find the beauty that no one else saw; they are all individuals with a story, different personalities and points of view. I wanted to bring that to the stage, along with reminding people of the journey that the human race has gone through.

A4L: Was this your directorial debut? How would you compare the experience of directing a production to starring in one? AW: This was my first time directing! There isn’t really a big difference between acting and directing. The only difference is this time, I didn’t have to memorize the lines. Being an actress and a director is a huge benefit because you know what it is like to be in the actor’s shoes. The actress in me could see the moments that were challenging for my actors to connect to, but it was the director in me that knew how to get them to a point where that challenge becomes as easy as breathing. Directing is a bit more stressful than acting, but just like acting, no matter how hard or tough the process may get, when it is show time you realize why the stress and hard work was worth it.

A4L: Had you ever been involved in the casting process before Bourbon at the Border? AW: I have been involved with casting before. The first time I had to cast a show was my sophomore year in high school; I had written my own play and it was my job to reject and accept people. As an actress, I know how painful it can be not to get a part, but as a director and playwright I have learned that in the business nothing can be taken personally. When casting a show, you are looking for the actors who can best bring the playwright’s story to life, as truthfully as possible. Once I realized that casting isn’t anything personal and telling the story of the playwright is the director’s first priority, it eased the guilt of having to tell people “no.”

A4L: What are your post-high school plans? AW: After high school, I plan on going to college for broadcast journalism, so I can work towards getting my own talk show. I will also double major in African American Studies. I will still be involved in theatre in the community, by directing and acting. Throughout my 17 years of life, I have learned that I am a woman of many talents and I never allow myself to be limited. So, I want to broaden my horizons. After years of experience and making a name for myself, I want to give back to the Miami-Dade community by creating an acting studio for people of all ages, offering many classes at low prices. The acting studio will also have a mentoring program, keeping young kids from making wrong decisions and using all the anger or pain they may have on their craft.