Life and Work with Holly Charles

Today we’d like to introduce you to Holly Charles.

Holly Charles was brought up just north of Chicago and attended Purdue University for her undergraduate studies. Writing has been a therapeutic outlet for her since childhood, whether through music, poetry or prose. The power of language intrigued her so that after a brief career in television production, she found her calling in the teaching of English. Her new career coincided with a constant passion, and it also provided opportunities for her to research and teach literature concerning the African American experience. Charles obtained her Masters in English from Prairie View A&M University in May 2013, choosing the Creative Thesis option to satisfy graduation requirements. The result of her independent study was an in-depth look at the women in her family. Her original Thesis, Velvet: the Burden of Melanin and Motherhood, has been transformed into the author’s first novel (Velvet).

More recently, the author has added playwright to her credit, as her acceptance into and studies throughout the Houston Black Leadership Institute (Class II – 2014) familiarized her with Houston’s rich African American Culture and prompted the composition of, In All Thy Getting: The Forgotten Story of Freedmen’s Town, a stage play celebrating the triumphant rise of an ex-slave settlement in Fourth Ward Houston. Picked up for Summer 2017 by the oldest and largest professional African American Theatre in the Southwest, The Ensemble Theatre, the production resulted in 1500 theatergoers over one weekend (five shows) and thousands in proceeds to benefit The Rutherford B.H. Yates Museum, a non-profit preservationist organization and original historic homestead of Freedmen’s Town. Since that time, Holly Charles founded Houston Play on Purpose (HPOP) a charitable and educational non-profit organization purposed with raising awareness for social causes, injustices, and issues which disproportionately affect underserved and/or minority populations. Using research and the implementation of relevant data, HPOP will create theatrical productions to engage audiences of the Greater Houston Community to encourage the equality and empowerment of all people. HPOPs rollout production, I’m Still a Woman, is an episodic stage play which debuted at Midtown Arts & Theater Center Houston this Summer 2018 and was aimed at raising awareness concerning the growing, yet the taboo issue of infertility in women of color.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Lack of resources was a mountain for me to climb, but it was not a wall. In other words, whether it be monetary or information, resources could have been the reason for me to back down from what God had for me. However, we can’t let inexperience be a deterrent or excuse for why we don’t see out our visions. While I’ve always been a creative, I am new to the industry of theatre, and it’s only been five years since I stepped out on faith to publish my first book. Use your inexperience as an opportunity to learn. This is the information age. You can literally learn how to do anything from the privacy of your own home. Of course, I’ve made a lot of mistakes, missteps and false starts along the way, but that is all a part of the process. Each one of my mistakes has, eventually, led me to another victory.

Please tell us about Houston Play On Purpose.
I’m proud that while my work entertains, the main goal has always been to inform. Houston Play On Purpose was formed to produce purposeful plays.

Often it feels as if the media, by and large, is only focused on the obstacles faced by women, but we feel it’s important to also look for the opportunities. In your view, are there opportunities that you see that women are particularly well positioned for?
Women, because of our own history of discrimination, tend to be compassionate. I believe that we can change the world because we’ve so often learned its faults. That being said, we are powerful beyond measure and are well positioned to serve in all capacities, whether in the political, educational, creative, health care sects. Now is the time to create opportunities where there may not have been one available for women. We are superheroes just learning the extent of our powers.

Pricing:

• Velvet is available online at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Author House, etc. for $14.99 https://www.authorhouse.com/bookstore/bookdetail.aspx?bookid=SKU-000703473

Contact Info:

• Website: www.houstonplayonpurpose.com
• Email: hollycdivine@yahoo.com
• Instagram: @houstonplayonpurpose18
• Facebook: Houston Play On Purpose – HPOP

  Image Credit:
Rome Goodson, Khrystina and Jamal Steib, Tynaya Cossie

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