An Inspired Chat with Azra King-Abadi

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Azra King-Abadi. Check out our conversation below.

Hi Azra, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
Well, it always depends on my changing work schedule, but let’s say a day I don’t have to go in to a theater. During the Covid lockdown, I started doing yoga classes on zoom. Since then, my favourite teacher has continued doing zoom classes, so even though I live in a different city I can still attend his class every weekday morning. Then I eat breakfast and if I have time the rest of the morning I will go exercise in the pool at the YMCA.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am a Lighting Designer who primarily works in Theater, Dance and Opera, and I moved here from Montreal about 18 years ago. I love to tell stories and express the characters emotions and psychology through light. I am also a painter and have found that it translates nicely to how I think about the use of light on a stage.

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
I don’t think I’ve ever been anyone else. Since I was at least 5 years old I knew I wanted to be an artist. I did theater and visual arts in high school. Then I went to college for visual arts. I thought I didn’t want to do theater but somehow, in a school with no theater club or program I gravitated toward a group of people who decided we had to put on a play. After that I knew I had to become a theater artist, and work in an art form that collaborates with other humans.
My whole life has been about honesty and authenticity, in the pursuit of who I am and by extension how I can contribute to the community through art.

What fear has held you back the most in your life?
I am a very shy person. Most people don’t seem to think so since I do talk a lot once you get me going. But I am nervous about meeting new people. There’s this whole side of the job that’s about meeting people and making connections. Essentially selling your personality, skills, ideas, to others as a viable option to work with. This has always been difficult for me, and I always knew that this fear would be detrimental to building my career.

Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Is the public version of you the real you?
Authenticity is very important to me, so yes I would say the public version of me is real. That being said, we all have times when we put on a happy face or shift slightly around different external circumstances, be more polite, funny, etc…

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
Ya, I think I am. When I was young I tried to take a different path doing visual arts. And while I still do love drawing and painting, I gravitated back to Theater Design. I love it and I think I have a need to collaborate with other artists.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.azrakingabadi.com/
• Instagram: @azrakingabadi
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/azra-king-abadi-21181a21/

Image Credits
1 – AKA
2 – Jamie Pham
3 – Francois-Pierre Couture
4-7 – AKA
8 – Taso Papadakis