Colette Williams as Mama Belle is the voice of experience in Khadijah Ali Coleman’s Running: AMOK. She understands what the ladies are feeling and going through as the character Mama Belle. Colette, like Mama Belle, speaks her mind with a strong and beautiful voice. In her Q&A with me, Colette revealed her plans to use her art and tell it like it is, as she too is a Transformative Language Arts Practitioner.
Tiffany Beard-How did you find yourself as a budding artist with a love for singing/acting?
CW- Ialways loved to sing. My Daddy was a professional Doo-Wop Singer, and my house was filled with lots of music. My junior high school chorus teachers gave me several solos, and one in particular encouraged me to study voice, so I auditioned for Music&Art in Manhattan and began studying voice and theater.
TB- That is an awesome legacy to have. How did you start working with Liberated Muse and Khadijah Ali-Coleman?
CW- Khadijah and I met at Andy Shallal's -the owner of Bus Boys and Poets restaurant Mimi's American Bistro. We worked there together. I caught up with Khadijah through Liberated Muse. When I heard she was having auditions I definitely wanted to try out. Khadijah is a powerful, talented sister. I am excited to work with her and to be a part of this production.
TB-Khadijah is a great person to know, no matter where you meet her. Working with her sounds like a great thing. Apart from Running: AMOK, what are your artistic passions at this point?
CW- My ultimate passion is to use my creativity to help fight against injustice and bring attention to those folks in our community who are doing things to elevate the community.
TB- I love it when the arts can be used to change the world we live in.
CW-I love to express myself through writing, songwriting, acting as well as singing. I love the way music takes me higher, and I love that I can touch people with my voice.
TB- So you decided to make art your main income source?
CW- I still have my day job, but there was one point that I left teaching to sing and act professionally. I was just done with trying to fit a circle peg into a square hole. I'm headed in that direction again.
TB- Knowing yourself well enough to take that step is a great gift. How do you find your inspiration for your self-knowledge as it pertains to your art?
CW-God truly speaks through people, so I always find meeting new folks a thrill. New experiences also help give me context for performing, songwriting and acting.
TB- Speaking of songwriting, I am so glad to hear about your solo music project.
CW- My new CD “Light Up The Darkness” is out and can be downloaded on ITunes. You can find out more about my project at www.coliewilliams.com. I also perform weekly at Jo-Jo's Restaurant, 1518 U Street NW D.C., every Wednesday night!
Having heard live performances of “Light Up The Darkness”, I can say that Colette, like the other ladies in Running AMOK, are truly talented. You can check them out during this season.
SHOW DATES
Sunday, May 15 @ 7pm
Germano's Traittoria
Baltimore, MD
Tuesday, May 17 @ 8pm
The Corner Store
Washington DC
Thursday, May 19 @8pm
The Bonifant Theater
Silver Spring, MD
Friday, May 20 @ 8pm
The Bonifant Theater
Silver Spring, MD
Saturday, May 21 @ 8pm
The Bonifant Theater
Silver Spring, MD
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