November 2, 2023 • 14 mins
The latest episode of our Building Black Podcast features Helen Little in conversation with Zenzi Williams, star of JaJa's African Hair Braiding on Broadway. In Partnership with Drive Toyota and Prudential
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Episode Transcript
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(00:00):
Welcome to another episode of the BuildingBlack Bizs podcast. I'm your host today,
Helen Little, and today we arebuilding with Zimsey Williams. She is
from the cast of Jaja African HairBraiding Show on Broadway. Welcome to the
show. I'm so excited to beable to speak with you today. Thank
you. I'm excited to be hereas well. So first tell us about
(00:22):
the show and the world you stepinto when the curtain lists each and every
night. So ja Ja's African HairBraiding is a day in an African hair
braiding salon where you're going to meethair braiders, You're going to meet their
customers, and you are going tobe filled with laughter and joy, and
(00:46):
you're going to see some challenges thatthey may face as well. You're going
to have a really good time andleave hopefully feeling reflective and reflecting on what
you've just seen. As someone whoknows what it's like inside of a salon,
Yes, this has got to bean amazing journey to share with people
(01:08):
who aren't familiar with being in eithera black hair salon or African braiding salon.
What makes that such a unique experience, whether it's fiction or real yeah.
I mean, one, it's alwayswonderful to be able to share our
stories on stage, especially in theirin their authenticity. I mean, this
(01:34):
show is so honest, which iswhat drew me to wanting to do this
show in the first place, andso being able to open the doors so
that people can see Black women asnuanced and complex as they are in all
our glory and our joy and againin our challenges as well. But that's
(01:55):
the thing that I hope that peopleare seeing when they when they come to
the show, and that's what makesit so special. How does this show
different from other productions that you've beena part of. Uh? You know,
this is really interesting because I feellike I've been reflecting on this lately,
and the thing that sets it apart, I believe is the thing that
(02:21):
I've been saying from the very beginning, is the joy of it. I
mean, of course I have beenin shows where there's absolutely been joy amongst
the cast and everything, but thisshow, I think, really highlights different
sides of Black women. Our softness, our tenderness, are are angst sometimes
(02:46):
with one another, how we movethrough that, how we move through the
challenges. It shows a different sideof our strength, and I just love
that about the show, and that'swhat I feel like sets it apart from
things that I've done before. SoI've gone to quite a few shows with
all black casts, from Color Purplein the nineties to fay Law. I
(03:10):
did not get a chance to seea Strange Loop or Ain't No Mo.
But you know, there have beena few stories by black creators that don't
seem to last on Broadway. Whatdo you think helps those shows of our
stories to last longer? And howcan we continue to uplift this medium so
(03:32):
that we can do this more often. I think the thing that really helps
the show to continue is the producers. We are really blessed to have Lashan's,
Taraji p Henson and Madison Wells behindus in such a big way,
(03:53):
and they are really hands on,and I I mean, it's the first
time that I've experienced it in thisway, and I think that actually answers
your earlier question too about what setsit apart. It's the way in which
they are hands on in this process, really making sure that we get people
into the seats, people who mayhave never been to a theater the theater
(04:15):
before, or you know, peoplewho this story is about and for so,
I think one having a productive,a producing team that is supporting the
show in every way possible, andalso doing as much as we can on
social media to to really get theword out there and to really come and
(04:36):
get in the seats. I knowthat it's it can be hard financially because
Broadway is not you know, it'snot inexpensive. So I think making sure
that economically it makes sense as wellis something that is important. You know.
I have been responsible for taking quitea few people to their first ever
(04:57):
Broadway show, and you know,it's interesting, especially people that grew up
in New York, and it's likethey don't realize what they have right there
in their own backyard at times.But once you take somebody mm hmm it,
they have to go back. Yeah, they want to go back on
(05:17):
multiple occasions. What was your firstexperience with a Broadway show as someone in
the audience. Yes, my firstBroadway show was The Color Purple with Fantasia.
My mother bought me tickets to gosee it. I was in I
(05:39):
actually don't even remember when that proif I was in high school or the
beginning of college, but I rememberbeing absolutely floored which I'm very excited to
see the musical movie coming out withher, and because I thought she was
absolutely stunning. I just so itwas such an amazing core memory for me
(06:00):
because it was it definitely added tomy my hunger for the work that I
do, and being inspired like thatstarts a chain reaction of you being able
to inspire someone else. So whenyou step away from the stage, what
does self care look like for you? I mean, you're playing the role
(06:23):
of someone who's helping. You're playingin a show that is about women and
self care in essence, because youknow, that's what we do when it
goes is to get our hair doneand everything. But what do you do
in real life to just take careof you? Because that's got to be
a grueling schedule at times. Yeah, for sure. I mean it's definitely
evolving as I'm as I get furtherinto the show. I know that yoga
(06:46):
has been a huge part of myof my process with this particular character because
she is, I mean everything everycharacter I do is such a physical character.
But I have been needing that towarm up and to cool down at
the end of the day. I'vealso been just like allowing myself to indulge
(07:09):
in k dramas, Korean dramas.Recently, it's been actually a really beautiful
bomb of sorts. It's just it'sjust really lovely to just kind of be
able to escape into those worlds.I like that. But yeah, it's
it's been really it's really fun,to be honest. But yeah, yoga
(07:29):
has been a huge part of whatI do. I also make sure that
I have a nighttime routine. Idrink a lot of tea, just kind
of making sure I'm also still.Stillness is really important, especially after you
I've been spending so long on thestage, moving a lot and talking a
lot. To be silent and tobe still is really important. Yeah,
(07:50):
Oh, I get it. Imeditate twice a day every day, and
it makes all the difference in theworld. It really does. It really
does. I mean, I thinkit adds to my performance. I'm able
to actually stay grounded and present withmy with my cast. Yeah. So,
if you were to come across someonewho wants to be a playwright or
(08:11):
to have their stories told on Broadwaybut can't find the motivation or don't know
what the next steps is, orhow how do you how would you suggest
they take that tiny bit of inspirationand make it into something that's real and
tangible in their lives. I mean, I don't know much personally about the
(08:37):
process as a playwright, but Ido have you know, I mean Jocelyn,
I know her quite well, andI do have friends who are playwrights.
And I would say even as anactor, I think it's important to
go see shows, for sure,because you get to see what is out
there and around you, and alsothat often inspires me. But also doing
things outside of the arts or outsideof that the particular field you're in,
(09:03):
Like for me, I mean,I love to go to museums. I
love to go to the botanical gardens. Places that have nature and that are
filled with other kinds of mediums reallyhelped to inspire me. And so I
would think that you know, aplaywright might gather some inspiration from from a
museum or from going to go seedifferent kinds of arts from different perspective perspectives
(09:30):
rather and yeah, I mean alsoreaching out to friends and seeing what they're
doing, seeing if they're work shoppingtheir pieces, or if you can get
actors together so you can you know, throw some ideas together, brainstorm it's
such a great way, one tocreate a community and two to create your
art. That's a really good suggestion. And I like the idea of kind
(09:54):
of, for lack of a betterword, cross pollinating, gaining creativity and
ideas and inspiration from other places.It's funny I read an article today about
silent walks because I always walk withheadphones on, and I'm like, you
know what, I'm gonna start doinga silent walk and really pay attention to
what's around me and try to pullfrom that as well. Yeah, if
(10:20):
you had a little fun if youput it on iHeartRadio station on our app,
what artist or songs would you play? Ooh okay. I would definitely
place some Anita Baker because I grewup with I grew up listening to Anita
Baker. My father used to listento smooth jazz all the time and that
(10:43):
just became a part of my soundscapeof my childhood, and so I would
definitely have like Anita Baker even kemin there as well, you're talking to
me right now, I'm listening toyour playlist. Yes, And then I
think I also, I mean haveto have afrobeats in there, because it
(11:05):
really is. I mean, it'senergizing in a way that feels also grounded,
like I just love I love themusic, and I also just love
to move my body. I've alsobeen listening to a lot of Korean music
lately to be on a K popso I mean, I guess it's to
go with the K dramas, Buta lot of the music I've also been
(11:28):
listening to that's Koreans is also verysoulful, and though I may not understand
what's being said, I can understandjust via the sounds that are being made
in the music, the melody,and how that makes me feel, and
it makes me want to reflect andbe introspective, and I can appreciate that.
(11:50):
Is there a Broadway show that you'redying to see? Okay, yes,
I'm dying to see Pearly Victorious,which I I'm going to go see.
Thankfully they have Sunday night performances soI can go and support. But
I have been absolutely wanting to seethat show. The actors in that show
(12:11):
I know are incredible, and soI'm I can't wait. Speaking of support
for our audience, right now,you have the opportunity to give them the
message of how they can support thisshow. What would you say to them,
I would say, come to theshow. If you come to the
(12:33):
show already, support someone who maybecan't come to the show. You know,
purchasing tickets on someone else's behalf isan amazing way to allow someone to
come and see this art because itis really important and it will create a
core memory for someone. And also, I mean, technology is real and
it's a thing, and so socialmedia is a huge part of how you
(12:54):
can help people to know more aboutthe show and to also you know,
help with longevity of the show.And speaking of social media, how do
they follow the show? How dothey follow you? How do they connect
so they know what's going on andcan spread the word. Yes, you
can find you can follow the theaterMTC. I believe it's MTC Underscore and
(13:16):
my C. You can follow meat zen z n Underscore will wi l
L on Instagram as well, andyou can then from there. I've tagged
several of the my cast members aswell, so you can find us all.
And of course Joscelyn and Whitney aswell are tagged on my page as
well. All right, well,I'm going to follow you as soon as
(13:39):
I complete this podcast, and soI'm going to follow you back and I
will be immediately making my plans tonot only come, but to bring someone
with me who can help have acore memory, because the thing that I
sense is that not only are youperforming art, but there's art within the
(14:03):
art, because our hair is apart of our art. Absolutely absolutely well,
thank you so much for coming onthe building Black BISZS Podcasts. We
so appreciate it, and you knowwe here at iHeart Broadway is near and
dear to our heart and me specificallyBlack Broadway even more so. So,
(14:24):
it's been my pleasure and honor tohave the time to talk with you today.
Thank you so much. I reallyappreciate you inviting me here today and
I'm just I'm so happy to beable to have met you, truly,
Welcome to another episode of the BuildingBlack Bizs podcast. I'm your host today,
Helen Little, and today we arebuilding with Zimsey Williams. She is
from the cast of Jaja African HairBraiding Show on Broadway. Welcome to the
show. I'm so excited to beable to speak with you today. Thank
you. I'm excited to be hereas well. So first tell us about
(00:22):
the show and the world you stepinto when the curtain lists each and every
night. So ja Ja's African HairBraiding is a day in an African hair
braiding salon where you're going to meethair braiders, You're going to meet their
customers, and you are going tobe filled with laughter and joy, and
(00:46):
you're going to see some challenges thatthey may face as well. You're going
to have a really good time andleave hopefully feeling reflective and reflecting on what
you've just seen. As someone whoknows what it's like inside of a salon,
Yes, this has got to bean amazing journey to share with people
(01:08):
who aren't familiar with being in eithera black hair salon or African braiding salon.
What makes that such a unique experience, whether it's fiction or real yeah.
I mean, one, it's alwayswonderful to be able to share our
stories on stage, especially in theirin their authenticity. I mean, this
(01:34):
show is so honest, which iswhat drew me to wanting to do this
show in the first place, andso being able to open the doors so
that people can see Black women asnuanced and complex as they are in all
our glory and our joy and againin our challenges as well. But that's
(01:55):
the thing that I hope that peopleare seeing when they when they come to
the show, and that's what makesit so special. How does this show
different from other productions that you've beena part of. Uh? You know,
this is really interesting because I feellike I've been reflecting on this lately,
and the thing that sets it apart, I believe is the thing that
(02:21):
I've been saying from the very beginning, is the joy of it. I
mean, of course I have beenin shows where there's absolutely been joy amongst
the cast and everything, but thisshow, I think, really highlights different
sides of Black women. Our softness, our tenderness, are are angst sometimes
(02:46):
with one another, how we movethrough that, how we move through the
challenges. It shows a different sideof our strength, and I just love
that about the show, and that'swhat I feel like sets it apart from
things that I've done before. SoI've gone to quite a few shows with
all black casts, from Color Purplein the nineties to fay Law. I
(03:10):
did not get a chance to seea Strange Loop or Ain't No Mo.
But you know, there have beena few stories by black creators that don't
seem to last on Broadway. Whatdo you think helps those shows of our
stories to last longer? And howcan we continue to uplift this medium so
(03:32):
that we can do this more often. I think the thing that really helps
the show to continue is the producers. We are really blessed to have Lashan's,
Taraji p Henson and Madison Wells behindus in such a big way,
(03:53):
and they are really hands on,and I I mean, it's the first
time that I've experienced it in thisway, and I think that actually answers
your earlier question too about what setsit apart. It's the way in which
they are hands on in this process, really making sure that we get people
into the seats, people who mayhave never been to a theater the theater
(04:15):
before, or you know, peoplewho this story is about and for so,
I think one having a productive,a producing team that is supporting the
show in every way possible, andalso doing as much as we can on
social media to to really get theword out there and to really come and
(04:36):
get in the seats. I knowthat it's it can be hard financially because
Broadway is not you know, it'snot inexpensive. So I think making sure
that economically it makes sense as wellis something that is important. You know.
I have been responsible for taking quitea few people to their first ever
(04:57):
Broadway show, and you know,it's interesting, especially people that grew up
in New York, and it's likethey don't realize what they have right there
in their own backyard at times.But once you take somebody mm hmm it,
they have to go back. Yeah, they want to go back on
(05:17):
multiple occasions. What was your firstexperience with a Broadway show as someone in
the audience. Yes, my firstBroadway show was The Color Purple with Fantasia.
My mother bought me tickets to gosee it. I was in I
(05:39):
actually don't even remember when that proif I was in high school or the
beginning of college, but I rememberbeing absolutely floored which I'm very excited to
see the musical movie coming out withher, and because I thought she was
absolutely stunning. I just so itwas such an amazing core memory for me
(06:00):
because it was it definitely added tomy my hunger for the work that I
do, and being inspired like thatstarts a chain reaction of you being able
to inspire someone else. So whenyou step away from the stage, what
does self care look like for you? I mean, you're playing the role
(06:23):
of someone who's helping. You're playingin a show that is about women and
self care in essence, because youknow, that's what we do when it
goes is to get our hair doneand everything. But what do you do
in real life to just take careof you? Because that's got to be
a grueling schedule at times. Yeah, for sure. I mean it's definitely
evolving as I'm as I get furtherinto the show. I know that yoga
(06:46):
has been a huge part of myof my process with this particular character because
she is, I mean everything everycharacter I do is such a physical character.
But I have been needing that towarm up and to cool down at
the end of the day. I'vealso been just like allowing myself to indulge
(07:09):
in k dramas, Korean dramas.Recently, it's been actually a really beautiful
bomb of sorts. It's just it'sjust really lovely to just kind of be
able to escape into those worlds.I like that. But yeah, it's
it's been really it's really fun,to be honest. But yeah, yoga
(07:29):
has been a huge part of whatI do. I also make sure that
I have a nighttime routine. Idrink a lot of tea, just kind
of making sure I'm also still.Stillness is really important, especially after you
I've been spending so long on thestage, moving a lot and talking a
lot. To be silent and tobe still is really important. Yeah,
(07:50):
Oh, I get it. Imeditate twice a day every day, and
it makes all the difference in theworld. It really does. It really
does. I mean, I thinkit adds to my performance. I'm able
to actually stay grounded and present withmy with my cast. Yeah. So,
if you were to come across someonewho wants to be a playwright or
(08:11):
to have their stories told on Broadwaybut can't find the motivation or don't know
what the next steps is, orhow how do you how would you suggest
they take that tiny bit of inspirationand make it into something that's real and
tangible in their lives. I mean, I don't know much personally about the
(08:37):
process as a playwright, but Ido have you know, I mean Jocelyn,
I know her quite well, andI do have friends who are playwrights.
And I would say even as anactor, I think it's important to
go see shows, for sure,because you get to see what is out
there and around you, and alsothat often inspires me. But also doing
things outside of the arts or outsideof that the particular field you're in,
(09:03):
Like for me, I mean,I love to go to museums. I
love to go to the botanical gardens. Places that have nature and that are
filled with other kinds of mediums reallyhelped to inspire me. And so I
would think that you know, aplaywright might gather some inspiration from from a
museum or from going to go seedifferent kinds of arts from different perspective perspectives
(09:30):
rather and yeah, I mean alsoreaching out to friends and seeing what they're
doing, seeing if they're work shoppingtheir pieces, or if you can get
actors together so you can you know, throw some ideas together, brainstorm it's
such a great way, one tocreate a community and two to create your
art. That's a really good suggestion. And I like the idea of kind
(09:54):
of, for lack of a betterword, cross pollinating, gaining creativity and
ideas and inspiration from other places.It's funny I read an article today about
silent walks because I always walk withheadphones on, and I'm like, you
know what, I'm gonna start doinga silent walk and really pay attention to
what's around me and try to pullfrom that as well. Yeah, if
(10:20):
you had a little fun if youput it on iHeartRadio station on our app,
what artist or songs would you play? Ooh okay. I would definitely
place some Anita Baker because I grewup with I grew up listening to Anita
Baker. My father used to listento smooth jazz all the time and that
(10:43):
just became a part of my soundscapeof my childhood, and so I would
definitely have like Anita Baker even kemin there as well, you're talking to
me right now, I'm listening toyour playlist. Yes, And then I
think I also, I mean haveto have afrobeats in there, because it
(11:05):
really is. I mean, it'senergizing in a way that feels also grounded,
like I just love I love themusic, and I also just love
to move my body. I've alsobeen listening to a lot of Korean music
lately to be on a K popso I mean, I guess it's to
go with the K dramas, Buta lot of the music I've also been
(11:28):
listening to that's Koreans is also verysoulful, and though I may not understand
what's being said, I can understandjust via the sounds that are being made
in the music, the melody,and how that makes me feel, and
it makes me want to reflect andbe introspective, and I can appreciate that.
(11:50):
Is there a Broadway show that you'redying to see? Okay, yes,
I'm dying to see Pearly Victorious,which I I'm going to go see.
Thankfully they have Sunday night performances soI can go and support. But
I have been absolutely wanting to seethat show. The actors in that show
(12:11):
I know are incredible, and soI'm I can't wait. Speaking of support
for our audience, right now,you have the opportunity to give them the
message of how they can support thisshow. What would you say to them,
I would say, come to theshow. If you come to the
(12:33):
show already, support someone who maybecan't come to the show. You know,
purchasing tickets on someone else's behalf isan amazing way to allow someone to
come and see this art because itis really important and it will create a
core memory for someone. And also, I mean, technology is real and
it's a thing, and so socialmedia is a huge part of how you
(12:54):
can help people to know more aboutthe show and to also you know,
help with longevity of the show.And speaking of social media, how do
they follow the show? How dothey follow you? How do they connect
so they know what's going on andcan spread the word. Yes, you
can find you can follow the theaterMTC. I believe it's MTC Underscore and
(13:16):
my C. You can follow meat zen z n Underscore will wi l
L on Instagram as well, andyou can then from there. I've tagged
several of the my cast members aswell, so you can find us all.
And of course Joscelyn and Whitney aswell are tagged on my page as
well. All right, well,I'm going to follow you as soon as
(13:39):
I complete this podcast, and soI'm going to follow you back and I
will be immediately making my plans tonot only come, but to bring someone
with me who can help have acore memory, because the thing that I
sense is that not only are youperforming art, but there's art within the
(14:03):
art, because our hair is apart of our art. Absolutely absolutely well,
thank you so much for coming onthe building Black BISZS Podcasts. We
so appreciate it, and you knowwe here at iHeart Broadway is near and
dear to our heart and me specificallyBlack Broadway even more so. So,
(14:24):
it's been my pleasure and honor tohave the time to talk with you today.
Thank you so much. I reallyappreciate you inviting me here today and
I'm just I'm so happy to beable to have met you, truly,
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