Everybody in SoCal Theatre Knows Angie, Right?...Or Do They?
Get Ready for Some Intriguing Personal Insight and Surprising Facts on the Many Faces of Angela D. Watson

THE SHOW REPORT — Out of all the theatrical characters you’ve played, who do you identify with the most and why?
 
ANGELA — "The characters that I identify with the most, tend to be the ones that encompass a lot of my own personal character traits, or those that have gone through similar life experiences. I find, as I get older, that’s becoming more and more true. I have had the pleasure of portraying the character of “Steele” (“A Piece of My Heart”) two different times, in two separate performances. Steele embodies so much of my work ethic, level of intelligence, interest in learning and self-improvement, and she carries a high standard of excellence. She makes me think (if I had graduated from the AFROTC program back in college) of how many of my experiences in the military may have mirrored her own experiences. But, even though not having served in the military, I can relate to so much of the internal struggles of being a woman of color, who doesn’t fit the stereo types placed upon her by the culture. It was difficult for Steele, who was constantly trying to prove herself worthy to her military peers — wanting so much to be considered deserving of respect, because of who she was as a person — not what she looked like."
 
THE SHOW REPORT — What has been your most favorite role to date?
 
ANGELA — "I wish I could pick just one role. I’ve had the pleasure of playing very unique roles: (Annabelle) “Gathering Blue;” (Joe*) “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance;” (Claire Roney*) “Floyd Collins;” (Sista Chantelle) “Bare: A Pop Opera;” (Tom, Phyllis, Leslie*) “Sylvia;” (Charlotte Cardoza) “Titanic;” not to mention doing impersonations of Whoopi Goldberg, Obama, Oprah, Wendy Williams, and even Flava Flav, for cabaret-style skits at the Gallery Theatre."
*Denotes roles originally written to be played a male.
 
 THE SHOW REPORT — What would you say to the budding actors and artists out there attempting to make it in a career in theatre, and what tips can you give a novice entering the field?
 
ANGELA — "To an acting student who is already actively involved in classes, the next step is to actually apply what they are learning, outside of the classroom. And, the best way to do that is to actually audition for theater roles. Classes will give you the tools, but getting out there and getting involved in local community theaters will help them decide whether they’re well suited for acting. I would also recommend going beyond binging on Hamilton and Hades Town, and try to attend all kinds of plays and musicals (most shows you can see for free, if you volunteer). Acting students should expose themselves to different genres of theater. Become well versed in theater, by reading scripts by various playwrights. Also, it’s easy to get comfortable working under one specific director or working with only one specific theater — especially if they perform in a small region. I would encourage them not to beafraid to audition at different theaters. They’ll make more connections, which could lead to more roles, and they’ll grow as an actor."
 
"I run into a lot of people who simply like the 'idea' of being an actor, but really don’t understand just how much work is involved in the process of developing oneself. Too often they think acting is easy, because they watched someone do it in a movie or on stage. Or, often I meet people who just want to be famous. But, I would tell someone, if they are even remotely serious, to be prepared to do the work."
 
"Get your headshots, go to auditions, take acting classes, make connections with other actors, get involved in theater or act in student films and build a resume. They should be aware that the industry (theater or film) is fiercely competitive, and that they won’t necessarily have overnight success. Most of the time, it takes years to see any real progress. Also, be prepared to accept rejection...lots of it. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. And, if acting is a true calling for them, never ever give up."
 
"For my visual artists, the goal is to get exposure. If no one knows who you are, then no one will buy your art; whether it’s photography, painting, sculpting, graphic design, illustrating, crocheting, writing, cooking, dance, or fashion design. Artists often worry too much about what others think. But, as the saying goes, 'Different strokes for different folks.' Your art will never appeal to every single person out there, but there will be many who will enjoy and appreciate what you create. But, most importantly, you should also enjoy whatever it is that you create. And, in this day and age, the internet and social media, make it so easy to get your work out in the public eye."
 
"PS: don’t forget to do a little research on copyrights and protecting your work. Nowadays, having a social media presence is the expectation, and it’s an easy way to show off what your talents."