Good morning sunshine! No alarm, no tasks to get done, just a peaceful, easygoing Williamstown morning. I do not miss you MTA. No I do not.
De'Adre Aziza
It's important to stay disciplined when away from home. My rigid morning routine includes oil pulling and exfoliating with salt and coconut oil. Coconut oil is everything!
De'Adre Aziza
Only my hairstylist Lawanda Pierre at The Real Farinah in Brooklyn touches my hair. Until I get back home I slap on Jayci in #2.
De'Adre Aziza
Oh heeeeeey Jayci girl! And now I'm redta get some fresh Williamstown air.
De'Adre Aziza
Empire Cutz is right across the street and Spring Street Natural has the best salads and gluten free baked goods.
De'Adre Aziza
First stop is the Saturday morning street fair. Anne makes beautiful pottery and is one of the organizers.
De'Adre Aziza
Right across the street from the fair is Tunnel City which has amazing quiche, delicious coffee and chocolatey treats. Day we close I'm getting my chocolate binge on!
De'Adre Aziza
This is the view from Tunnel City of the main strip Spring Street which also happens to be the street where I live. It's a tiny little street, but there are many cute shops and great places to eat.
De'Adre Aziza
Facetime is essential for keeping in touch with loved ones back home. After my morning errands, I come back to my apartment and call up my son. The convo starts off great...
De'Adre Aziza
...then he tells me how much he just spent clothes shopping. Is you crazy???? This is a theater check, not film or TV!
De'Adre Aziza
After checking in with my little boo, I check in with my big one. My boyfriend Kurt and friends Katie and Carlton are out having fun at the Central Park water fight. Makes me miss NYC!
De'Adre Aziza
Yes GAWD, I gots to get back home okrrrrr??? Yum.
De'Adre Aziza
I want to hang out and enjoy the beautiful, not-too-hot weather, but alas tis time to play. StopLookWave is the Williamstown pedestrian way.
De'Adre Aziza
I love passing all of the show posters on the way to the dressing rooms. There on the bottom right is the musical I did last time I was here, Johnny Baseball. I was asked to participate in a reading of Paradise Blue as a part of Williamstown's Fridays @ 3 series, and the rest is herstory!
De'Adre Aziza
Our wonderful crew gets everything ready for showtime.
De'Adre Aziza
I love to decorate my station with pictures of women who influence my character. Before I slap all that makeup on my face...
De'Adre Aziza
I head back upstairs for fight call. Lloyd and Lindy keep a watchful eye on our fight technique while LeDarien helps get the set ready, and Keith......pouts.
De'Adre Aziza
Blair Underwood is abusin' me! Somebody call TMZ!
De'Adre Aziza
De'Adre/Silver
De'Adre Aziza
My dresser Aleah is NOT shy! She means business! She snaps my corset, hooks my fishnets to my garters, and makes sure that all of my lady bits are covered.
De'Adre Aziza
I don't never hit a stage without some Jesus.
De'Adre Aziza
I have a good 10 minutes after "places," so before every show I go over my script and listen to music to get me in the zone. My character Silver is one baaaaaad muthashutyomouf!
De'Adre Aziza
After I put on my shaper, corset, tailored suit, and ocelot coat, I cannot bend down. No I cannot. So my sweetie pie dresser Aleah hands me my 20lbs luggage.
De'Adre Aziza
I swirl in the kimono that Sutton Foster just wore in The Wild Party. I rename said kimono "Sutton Foster". Envelope me in that TONY energy hunny yaaaaaaas!
De'Adre Aziza
It takes a village to dress an actor. I only have 19 seconds for this change.
De'Adre Aziza
Our apprentices and run crew are the BEST! They have a quick turnaround on this tight 2 show day since Williamstown Saturday matinees start at 3:30pm.
De'Adre Aziza
After the matinee, I take a walk through campus to soak in what's left of daylight. The Williams College campus is gorgeous.
De'Adre Aziza
aWOmen.
De'Adre Aziza
I get some tasty eats at the student center. This food is waaaaaaay better than the food I had in college back in the 1900s.
De'Adre Aziza
Lickety Split has AH-maaaaaaaazing ice cream.....but I can't have any or I won't be able to fit in my corset! *crying, throwing myself on the ground and rolling back and forth*
De'Adre Aziza
Broccoli, broccolini, kale, rice, squash, fried onions, and cucumbers. That's all folks.
De'Adre Aziza
Right before my next half-hour, I get gobsmacked by some teenage nonsense.
De'Adre Aziza
Are you serious...
De'Adre Aziza
Ain't nobody got time for that! "Oh baby, I got a show to do!"
De'Adre Aziza
Parenting is harder.
De'Adre Aziza
Well that was the shortest break ever. But like this quote says, must keep grinding! Off to do the second show.
De'Adre Aziza
On my 5 minute walk back to the theater, I run into these fabulous ladies looking like they just stepped out of the pages of Ebony magazine!
De'Adre Aziza
I run into the beautiful and talented Jessica Phillips who's up here starring in Unknown Soldier. She reminds me that our 14 year olds were in the same Kindergarten class. The world is a circle!
De'Adre Aziza
The Williamstown audience likes to gather early and sit out and enjoy the summer weather. It's pretty cute.
De'Adre Aziza
After the 1st show/before the second.
De'Adre Aziza
I pretend to be an audience member....…"The synopsis of this award winning play looks interesting indeed!"
De'Adre Aziza
Instantly regretting that 5th tablespoon of food. I could have survived on 3!! My ribs Jesus.... My ribs....
De'Adre Aziza
Act 1 is done! Y'all probably think I'm being dramatic, but this extra smedium shirt is so hard to put on. Lawd.
De'Adre Aziza
During intermission, Kristolyn and I do a 30 second revival of George C. Wolfe's The Colored Museum
De'Adre Aziza
Second curtain call of the day!
De'Adre Aziza
Bye face!
De'Adre Aziza
And after my second show playing a Spiderwoman, I exit the stage door to see this amazing work of art. Spooky....
De'Adre Aziza
After the show, we raise a glass in gratitude to Dominique at favorite after show spot Hops And Vines. Without her we'd be unemployed right now!
De'Adre Aziza
She blessed me with Bunny, and now Silver. Thank you for these amazing characters Dominique.
De'Adre Aziza
This guy right here is a class act. Watch and learn chilrun.
De'Adre Aziza
Blue Edition haha.
De'Adre Aziza
It is waaaaaay past my bedtime. My Passing Strangers know I'm a melatonin' poppin', no drinkin', no partyin' ole lady. This fresh Massachusetts air only makes it harder to stay awake
De'Adre Aziza
My zebra print pillowcase, eye mask, and favorite head scarf help remind me of home and keep homesickness at bay. It's been a long day, but I feel blessed and grateful. Sweet dreams!
De'Adre Aziza
*
Tony Award-winner Ruben Santiago-Hudson directs Tony Award-nominee Aziza, Golden Globe-nominee Blair Underwood and Andre Holland in the world premiere of a bracing and charged drama from Dominique Morisseau. "Blue (Underwood), a gifted trumpeter, contemplates selling his once-vibrant jazz club in Detroit’s Blackbottom neighborhood to shake free the demons of his past and better his life. But where does that leave his devoted Pumpkin, who has dreams of her own? And what does it mean for the club’s resident bebop band? When a mysterious woman with a walk that drives men mad (Aziza) comes to town with her own plans, everyone’s world is turned upside down. This dynamic and musically-infused drama shines light on the challenges of building a better future on the foundation of what our predecessors have left us."
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