Today we’d like to introduce you to Sidney Edwards.
Hi Sidney, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’m a theatre artist! I’ve got my hand in a little bit of everything: acting, improv, directing, dance and choreography, devising. I didn’t really start on my theatre path until I went to college, but I’ve been performing in one way or another nearly my whole life. I’m from rural North Carolina, and before going to college I was a marching band kid. I played the saxophone and was drum major for my high school band. Loved it! But I knew music wasn’t what I wanted to go to school for. I attended Peace College in Raleigh, NC. I thought I was going to major in journalism until the theatre department sucked me in (as theaters tend to do). As a matter of fact, the school didn’t actually have a theatre major until around my sophomore year. I wound up being the first student ever to graduate from Peace with a BFA in musical theatre. I spent a couple of years working and doing local theatre in Raleigh before I got accepted into the graduate theatre program at the University of Louisville in Kentucky. What made me excited about this program was that they offer a graduate certificate in African American Theatre.
After getting my MFA in performance, my first job post-grad school was with Cleveland Play House in Cleveland, Ohio. Though I had taught for many summer camp programs prior to this, this experience really solidified my career as a teaching artist. Cleveland was great! I worked and performed for several companies in the city, including Karamu House Theatre, the oldest producing Black theatre in the country. The pandemic caused me to leave Cleveland, but I found work at my alma mater as an assistant professor and the Director of the African American Theatre Program. There, I found my passion for mentorship and community building. After two years in that position, I moved to Los Angeles to pursue creative work and be with my partner.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Nope. Is it ever? I’ve had my share of obstacles. I struggle with scoliosis, I’ve had a (successful) voice surgery. The pandemic for sure, sent all of us for a loop. One of the challenges I’ve faced is having to “start over” a lot from moving around a lot. I hope to build a strong base for myself here in Los Angeles and make it a forever home.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m an actor first. One of my proudest moments was performing my thesis show, Miss Ida B. Wells, at the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival in Georgia. I tend to do a lot of theatre for young audiences shows, and I love that. My heart is with Black theatre and education. It will always be part of life.
We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
Always be ready to pivot! And give a lot of grace to yourself and others.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sidneyedwards.com
- Instagram: @ms.sidneyedwards
Image Credits
Brooks Brantly (main headshot) T.A. Yero (yellow head wrap) Colleen Albrecht (red hat)
