We were lucky to catch up with Anye Young recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Anye thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

The most meaningful project I’ve worked on was the first live theatre performance I ever produced and directed, The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde. This was a show that took about a year to fully realize as I was doing everything from scratch like building a team, a vision, a timeline, and even the fundraising was done independently. I was able to have this show put on for a full weekend of performances at a theatre on campus at the University of Southern California my graduating year. It felt very rewarding to go out with a bang like that and have it be so well-received and most of the shows were full-house which was incredible and some people even came to see it twice because it was just that good! I think that play has always been meaningful to me because it was really the only one I genuinely liked from the collection of works in my curriculum when I studied at an acting conservatory in London, the British American Drama Academy. It’s a genre I felt really spoke to my directorial style and humor and it was the first time I ever had my hands on something where I felt like I could find my own voice. Restoration Comedy (also known as High Comedy) relies on sophisticated wit that satirizes the upper classes, which I think is where I had the most fun when it came to unlocking my vision for how I wanted that to be received, especially with such a timeless piece.

Anye, 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 studied both film and theater throughout high school and my college career at USC. I think what really got me involved in this industry was my early exposure to theatre. I loved everything about developing creative works. It’s a very high pressure, high stress environment that is exclusively reserved for people who are crazy. Because you have to be a bit crazy to survive everything that comes with the beast. I nearly lost my mind when I directed The Importance of Being Earnest, but I learn more about myself in a single project than some people will ever learn about themselves in a lifetime. I think this industry has taught me the discipline of humor. Finding humor in everything I do. It is essential to problem solving. It’s one thing in myself that I’m most proud of. And this is something I learned through pursuing my craft.

I think my brand typically loops back around to social commentary. It has always been in my nature to speak up and advocate for myself and others. I am very involved in my community and it influences what I choose to write, produce, or direct. I have always seen theatre as a playful examination of social structure. Something that holds a mirror up to an audience and leaves them with something to think about or talk about. When I think about social commentary, I think about people like Oscar Wilde, Jordan Peele, or Issa Rae. I think their work says something meaningful and that’s the kind of impression I hope to leave on people as well.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

Within my first year post-grad, I teamed up with some friends and created a Black Sketch Comedy group based in LA called TGIF (Thank God It’s Funny). We have since built out our platform to perform in live theatre spaces in LA. Our first performance was actually just a few weeks ago out in Venice. I think if you are a creative and are trying to build your audience, no matter how big or small your city is, I’d say start with finding community and figure out ways to collaborate with people first. As much as you can run some ads on Instagram or Facebook to promote your “brand”, it’s so much more impactful to start at the grassroots level and just make some good friends. Be selective, go to events that you like, hang around people that share your values, find your community first because ultimately that’s where you will find your audience. When me and my friends started TGIF it began as a fun improv night where we invited some friends over and did skits in my living room. From there we started hosting bigger events and making digital content to put on social media but I would not rely on that solely to build your presence. You have to be active with your audience because the best kind of marketing you need to leverage is word of mouth. That’s what will get you the kind of momentum that stands the test of time.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

A lesson I had to unlearn recently was this idea that if you work hard enough you can achieve anything. While that may sound a bit pessimistic to some people, I think it’s important to understand that no amount of “hard work” will make you a successful person. We have all been conditioned to believe that we live in meritocratic world, that anyone with the right skills will rise to the highest levels. That all successes we see in ourselves and others were earned. On the other hand, that must mean that all failures are earned too. We are supposed to believe that everyone is where they are because they earned it, because that is what they deserve. I think this is why people believe they will never make it and give up just before something great happens for them. But I believe the universe is impartial to what does or does not happen to us. I had to redefine failure and success for myself, because it is undeniably true that some people just got lucky! Some people are born into families that are well connected and it has nothing to do with what we have or have not earned. I stopped seeing my “failure” and “success” as an indicator of my worth and just chalked it up to chance. Because that’s really what is at play here. You just have to stay in the game. This life requires tenacity, not skill, and most definitely not merit.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anye.young/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anye.young.1/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anyeyoung/

Image Credits

Self