We recently connected with Amanda Wansa Morgan and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Amanda, thanks for joining us today. Do you think your parents have had a meaningful impact on you and your journey?
I had an interesting upbringing. I was initially raised by a single mother who was very smart and loved me very much. It was just the two of us and she treated me so maturely as well as supported my interests in the performing arts from a young age. She enrolled me in dance classes, voice lessons, and even a performing arts school full time. She tragically passed away when I was 10 and my aunt and uncle took me in to raise me. While this was a jarring experience and a complete pivot of lifestyle, it launched me into a life where I had cousins as siblings and also got into sports. This ended up truly benefiting me. I learned different skills from doing shows and playing on competitive sports teams. By the time I got to high school, I was quite well-rounded. My family had high expectations of us, and I say that in a positive way. They always encouraged us to see things through; not to quit. They enforced practice habits and really let us make our decisions on college pathways. They taught us to be self-starters and to always do a thorough job. In my current career, I am often complemented on my thoroughness and strength, which I think come from that upbringing.
Amanda, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I’ve been working in professional theatre for over 20 years as a music director, director, performer, voice teacher, and doer of many other theatrical things! I think my strength or *brand* comes from my experience in doing those things at a professional level. I’ve served as a dialect coach, fight choreographer, sound designer, composer, arranger, copyist, and other odd jobs throughout my career in addition to the main work as a Music Director. What I bring to the table is an understanding of the many facets of the work which makes me an effective collaborator. Often, I know what I’m asking of my colleagues or at least try to have the language to give them agency to say what they think they need to get the job done and to make their art. I’m genuinely interested in how we make magic from every angle. Also, I’m a problem solver, so I have a bevy of skills in the areas of music technology that enable me to solve conundrums that come up, whether technical, artistic, budgetary, or otherwise. Also, I’m an Educator (college professor) and teaching is a skill – an artform – in itself. I love love love to work with a student one on one to take the time to look at their work and perhaps offer a tool from the toolbox I’ve built over the years to help them. I am currently the Coordinator of Musical Theatre at Kennesaw State University and an Associate Professor there.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
I think I had to UNlearn that tough love and discipline are required to cultivate excellence. I grew up in a generation of theatre-makers for whom the “greats” were those who barked, who yelled, and who used expressions to toughen us up that actually caused a lot of harm. When I started teaching in higher education, I thought that I’d be able to command respect by proving that I knew what I was talking about and that I had to simulate the industry *in* our educational spaces. However, our industry has a lot of problematic aspects in its systems and functions. I’ve had to learn how to – as an educator – say “This is how it is out there. But that’s problematic. So, here’s how we are going to do it here. But I’m still going to tell you about what might happen out there… perhaps you can go out there and change it!” Leading with grace in the classroom knowing that our industry doesn’t always lead with grace in its dealings is tough to reckon with.
Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?
It’s never too late to learn a new skill. Don’t be intimidated by those who have been dancing, singing, or playing an instrument longer. You never know. I self-taught myself to play piano. I’ve never had a piano lesson. Now, I have a music degree and practiced my butt off for years and years and actually continue to get better every year, even now. You – yes YOU – always have something to bring to the table that others don’t. I pride myself on my work as a Music Director who understands actors and singers because I was trained as one. I don’t do it much now, but I’ve been in those shoes and that’s how my years onstage bring value to what I do now. I’m self-taught in a lot of areas of my work because I figured, why not try?
Contact Info:
- Website: www.amandawansamorgan.com
- Instagram: wansaham
- Other: https://arts.kennesaw.edu/theatre/
Image Credits
Katie Nelson, Jono Davis