A Conversation with Brandi La'Sherrill: Resident Artist and Playwright at The Children's Theatre of Cincinnati
Brandi La'Sherrill on stage during a performance of Shirley Chisholm: The Chisholm Trail. Photo courtesy of The Children's Theatre of Cincinnati
Brandi La’Sherrill is a modern-day renaissance woman. Since joining The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati in 2010, La’Sherrill has served in various roles at the theater, including: cosmetologist, actress, and playwright. In 2021, La’Sherrill made her mark on the stage as a five-time BroadwayWorld Cincinnati Award Winner in the plays Rapunzel’s Hairy Fairy Tale and Harriet Tubman: Straight Up Outta’ the Underground. In 2022, she won the BroadwayWorld Cincinnati Best Performer in a Musical award for her role as Dorothy in The Wiz Jr. The range of skills and accolades have undoubtedly attributed to her longevity at the theater and success with the current one-woman show, Shirley Chisholm: The Chisholm Trail, written and performed by La'Sherrill and directed by Maddie Burgoon Jones.
In January 2023, the Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati was awarded an NEA grant to support the production. This play is for young audiences and celebrates the legacy of Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman elected to the U.S. Congress. The theater is bringing the play to school stages, as well as providing virtual streaming for audiences around the nation.
Currently on tour, La’Sherrill took a moment to speak with us about her evolution as an artist at the Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati, her writing process, and the impact of this production on young audiences.
NEA: What is your origin story as an artist with the Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati?
BRANDI LA'SHERRILL: In 2010, I booked my first show with The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati’s (TCT) Mainstage season, as a pirate in in Peter Pan Jr. The next year, I was cast in a secondary role as the Gypsy Woman in Rapunzel’s Hairy Fairy Tale. I was then invited to join the touring division as a seasonal touring actor, that turned into a full-time residency. Then I was promoted to Resident Tour Artist and Tour Manager. Currently, I am the Company Manager and a full-time resident artist.
NEA: Can you provide us with a snapshot of the process of writing the play Shirley Chisholm: The Chisholm Trail?
LA'SHERRILL: The process of writing began by researching the abundance of documented speeches, quotes, and videos of Shirley Chisholm. The next step in the writing process was to collect facts, importance dates and influences, and accomplishments in her life. I lined up the timeline of her career and inserted quotes from Shirley Chisholm throughout the timeline.
NEA: What does NEA funding make possible in terms of this production?
LA'SHERRILL: The NEA’s funding has helped to provide the necessities to put this show on the road. The funding of the NEA affords TCT the opportunity to present a high-quality, professional, and polished performance.
NEA: As a Black woman performing the role of a Black woman trailblazer, what responsibility do you have once you enter the stage?
LA'SHERRILL: My responsibility while performing the role of a Black woman trailblazer is not to recreate the story but to tell it like it is. In other words, I am responsible to the truth about the life I am portraying. Presenting facts and direct quotes allows the voice of person that I am portraying to speak for themselves. I have the responsibility to connect with everyone in the audience, no matter the age, race, or gender. Shirley Chisholm’s story is universal and has the power to inspire diverse groups of people.
NEA: What were the challenges of creating this one-woman production?
LA'SHERRILL: The major challenge when writing this story was narrowing down the abundance of achievements of Shirley Chisholm. The show is expected to be under an hour, so I did not have time to tell the whole story. My challenge was to tell just enough that will inspire the audience to continue to research for themselves.
NEA: The theme for TCT's 2022-23 season is the power of knowledge. How does this production bring the theme to life?
LA'SHERRILL: Shirley Chisholm was a highly intelligent and well-educated woman. From a young age, the importance of getting an education was instilled in Chisholm by her parents. Her parents worked hard to provide a good education for Chisholm and her sisters. Although her physical features were used to justify why she shouldn’t be elected to office, her intelligence and articulation spoke louder than the naysayers, allowing her to break through those barriers.
NEA: What do you hope young audiences take away from the play?
LA'SHERRILL: I hope that young audiences walk away from this play not only having learned about Shirley Chisholm as a politician, but to be inspired by the depth of her resiliency. I hope this play inspires young audiences to believe that they too can accomplish their dreams no matter what obstacles must be overcome.
NEA: What advice would you give to young artists?
LA'SHERRILL: My advice to young artists is to find purpose in their artistry. Purpose and passion will fuel the creative soul to create work that impacts, ignites, and inspires generations to come.
NEA: What projects are next for you?
LA'SHERRILL: I will tour Shirley Chisholm: The Chisholm Trail through May 2023. The first one-woman show that I’ve written, Harriet Tubman: Straight Up Outta’ the Underground will return to TCT for the 2023-2024 touring season.
NEA: Finish this sentence. Access to the arts is important for children because...
LA'SHERRILL: Creative expression enables us to communicate our inner selves to the world around us. It has intrinsic value and connects us to others by sharing our creations.
You can watch a trailer of Shirley Chisholm: The Chisholm Trail below!
