INTERVIEW: Darren Anthony w/ AnancyMag.com
Darren Anthony chops it up with AnancyMag.com in preparation for his 2-show run of Secrets of a Black Boy on July 27th.
DARREN ANTHONY: FROM DYSLEXIC TO SUCCESSFUL WRITER
Four years ago Darren Anthony staged his first play The Secrets of a Black Boy. It was a success. The play was directed by his sister Trey Anthony, the creator of the hit play and TV series Da Kink in My Hair. This month Mr. Anthony is re-staging his play. In a telephone interview, we talked about his road to success.
Q: How do you stay grounded when your first play was so successful?
A: I surround myself with my peers and the people who I grew up with. I stay connected to my sister Trey. They uplift me. They make sure I don’t get too big headed. When you are successful you suddenly have a lot of new friends. You need to know who is real and who is not. Your old friends tend to be true.
Q: What is pulling you more these days, the acting or the writing?
A: I love writing and creating content. I have a lot to tell. The power of the pen means that I can have several different voices to tell stories. I find that acting is a bit one-dimensional – you have to be the character that is written on the page. You can’t vary it. Acting is also a roller-coaster. You have to be ‘on’ when you are playing the character, and then it can be hard to come back down. For me the pen has more power.
Q:You work with young people as a child and youth worker. How do you encourage black boys to stay in school?
A: I share my story with them. I wasn’t always successful. I was labeled as dyslexic in school and I had to repeat a grade. I tried to use sports to define myself, as it was easier than trying to keep up with my academically smart sisters. I stayed in school thanks to my sisters and my mother. They believed in me and knew I could do better. Now I travel around with Trey, and her plays. I would never have gotten that opportunity if I had not stayed in school. When I meet new people or situations, I know I can handle it, because I can think. I have school to thank for that.
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