Today we’d like to introduce you to Alric Davis.
Hi Alric, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Back in 2013, my friends are I were all seniors at GW Carver Magnet High School. We were having the time of our lives at the International Thespian Festival and suddenly realized our great memories, community building, and artistic challenges were coming to an end. Houston, at that time especially, did not have tons of opportunities for young people of color to do Theatre and develop in their craft. Many of my most talented classmates, many of them multi-talented artists with star quality and impeccable work ethic, went on to choose “normal” careers outside of the arts. This left them without any opportunity to be creative or express themselves. My friends and I, Trey Morgan Lewis and Yesha Benjamin, vowed to create the very thing we were looking for. We wanted to create an organization that would foster growth in the arts and of self by exposing them to the theatre, educating them by bridging the gap of arts education through production and enriching their lives through creative expression, and building community. Our first-ever production was a benefit concert with a volunteer cast of our friends and family members. Our shoestring budget was just enough to buy all black for those that didn’t already have it and sheet music for selected songs from our favorite musicals and artists. We had such a wonderful turnout and garnered support that fostered our growth. Ten years, countless fish frys, car washes, donor drives later, here we are. Still exposing, educating, and enriching.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Our strength is our sometimes-biggest challenge – our youth. I cannot tell you how many times we’ve been at events and have been ignored, silenced, underestimated, or not taken seriously. There were those who would not return our calls, audition for our shows, or even professionals who refused to give us their business cards. I have a sterling memory and have locked in those moments as reminders to never lose sight of who we are and why we started this.
Another challenge has finding the balance of building the Collective while also nurturing the individual growth in our artistry. I’m a multi-faceted artist; I make music, I write Slam Poetry, I act, and I write it plays, all the while running Sankofa and vision setting for how to get us to the next level. The constant hours of planning, rehearsal, phone calls, Zoom meetings, and asking for people to believe in this intangible thing – to help make it tangible to help others- can be pretty thankless and exhausting. I’m lucky to have a community, both artists and otherwise, who can make sure that I am happy and healthy when I get so caught up in working. They pour into me and remind me not to give all of myself away. I sometimes have to be reminded to save a little for myself.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
As an artist, I’m really drawn to subjects such as Coming of Age, Loss of Innocence, and Intergenerational Relationships. All of these subjects really make up the facets of my experiences. Whether it’s writing, producing, or even acting, I’m moved by work that challenges the audience and prompts conversation. Sankofa is an extension of that. I hope it to continue to grow to be this safe space for creative and imaginative contributions to our society. What are the conversations we are having today? What are the worries and issues for the next generation? What will be my legacy? Those are all things I ask myself daily.
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?
The pandemic, or the Pon De Replay, forced all of us to slow down. Whether we liked it or not, we had to be much more intentional about our lives and even the ways we make art. It encouraged me to find more of a balance and to nurture the mind and body in order to nurture the spirit. In some ways, professionally, we are still recovering from it. We are managing at building our audience and creating lasting relationships with our community, but those things take time.
I was blown away at how our community called us back into existence. I was feeling so low and defeated, thinking theatre could never exist again – wondering what my purpose was if that were true. Many community members urged us to start making theatrical content to keep the spirit alive during that time. It fed me. It also let us know that we do have a place here and our work does matter. I’m so excited to see our grown and progress in this decade of existence. We have an amazing line up of productions and experiences for everyone to enjoy. I couldn’t be more proud of the work we are doing and how far we’ve come.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.sankofacollectivehouston.com
- Instagram: @SankofaCollective
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bayoutheatrecompany
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thesankofacollective
