We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kandyce Marie a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Kandyce, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

I can’t pinpoint the exact moment that I wanted to be a creative, but it was very early on as a kid. There was something about music and acting that took me away to a place that always felt familiar. My siblings and I had very big imaginations. So much that we would choreograph our own dances, write our own songs, movie scripts, reenact scenes from our favorite movies, shows and more. We just knew we were going to be the next big thing.

I was painfully shy growing up so sometimes it surprises me that I wanted to perform. I performed a few times in some elementary school plays and choirs, even did some extra work for TV. It wasn’t until Junior High that I really started finding my voice. I ended up landing spots in the school’s show choirs where we would compete against other schools in different states. I always felt like I was one of the students in Sister Act 2. :) Those are some of my favorite school memories. I also started dancing in high school where I was part of a competitive team. However, I always was brought back to music. Singing specifically.

The one regret I do have is that I never did theatre in school. I was too scared and shy to try. So in my early 20’s when I was asked to audition for a role, I knew nothing about, I was terrified. I am happy to say that I did it anyway and ended up landing my first lead role in a musical. What I didn’t know was that musical would later change my life in some of the best ways. It was that experience that really shaped me into the performer I am today. I would later perform the same role in other theatres locally and then was offered a role and understudy track in Nederlander’s Broadway China tour of AIDA. I remember feeling so grateful that I had that experience. It really stretched me as a performer because not only did I need to focus on the role I would play every night, but I needed to be prepared to go on to cover the role of Aida as well. That was kind of a full circle moment for me because that show is what started my musical theatre career. So to go on and do the same show on a Broadway international tour, the amount of joy and gratitude I had hit me in a big way.

From there I would later go on to perform in more local theatres that would introduce me to some amazing people who connected me with other projects like cruise ship entertainment.

Kandyce, 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’m a performer who loves connecting with others through music and storytelling. Over the years, I’ve been extremely fortunate to perform both locally and internationally. Some highlights include playing Aida, multiple times, in Tim Rice and Elton John’s Aida in Utah, as well as reprising the role in select cities in Nederlander’s International China Broadway tour. I’ve also traveled parts of the world as a production cast principal with Creative Studios by Norwegian Cruise Line. More recently, I was featured in the Utah premiere of Passing Strange at Salt Lake Acting Company.

Performing has always been a core part of who I am, but my journey hasn’t been without challenges. Especially when I became a mother. I have 2 beautiful children who are my biggest reasons why I do all that I do today. When I was pregnant with my son, I heard countless people tell me my performing days were over. It was disheartening, but I refused to accept that narrative. I believed I could find balance between motherhood and pursuing my dreams. Has it been easy? Absolutely not. But I truly believed, still do, that I could have both. I will never forget the first time my kids saw me perform on stage. It was such a powerful and magical moment for the 3 of us because I was showing my children that I was so much more than just their mother, but a woman with dreams and that we as individuals can defy expectations and create our own path and stories.

A few years after my divorce, my son was officially diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Unspecified Anxiety Disorder (UAD). That diagnosis brought a wave of emotions—uncertainty, worry, and a constant flood of questions. Would people understand him? Would he be accepted? What would his future hold? Despite the worry, I knew that wasn’t going to stop me from providing him the best life I could.

Amid these questions, I decided to share our journey. From there, Thee Royal Three was created. Through this platform, I share the real wins and challenges of our family life. Social media often highlights perfection, but I wanted to create a space for authenticity—a place where others could relate, learn, and feel less alone. I remember when my son was first diagnosed, I felt completely alone, not knowing where to start. So, Thee Royal Three became an outlet for me to blend my creativity with my experiences as a mother, a single parent, and a woman with her own goals and dreams. The connections I’ve made with other parents who have children with disabilities have been overwhelmingly beautiful. From our shared experiences to lifting one another, I’m grateful for the community that I’ve built through sharing my little family’s story. I hope one day to go further and make programs for those parents who have recently diagnosed neurodivergent children. Accessibility is so important for my son, and I want other parents to feel they have the tools they need to help their neurodivergent children thrive. But, let me not get ahead of myself yet. There’s a lot that needs to happen before then. So, stay tuned. :)

At the heart of it all, I’m a creative. So, it’s no surprise that my children have embraced their own creative side as well. My son, who is almost 10, is such a talented artist. His specialty is comics. I’m currently working with him because he wants to publish his comics one day. My daughter, 8, is already a dancer and gymnast who was recently bumped up a level because of how awesome she is. Can you tell I’m a proud mommy? Together, we’re navigating life, embracing the beauty of neurodivergence, and proving that with love, determination, and balance, anything is possible.

A couple years ago I started a business and while I cannot disclose much yet, I’m currently in the pre-launch phase. Starting a business is something I never thought I’d want to do. For a lot of reasons. Primarily fear is what stopped me for so long. Fear of not knowing where to start, fear of not knowing the ins and outs of business jargon, and fear of it not working out. I didn’t and don’t want to fail. However, remembering my “why” helped me realize that failure can create some amazing opportunities. I also want my kids to know that failing is ok because to me, failing means you tried. While change is hard, I’m grateful for it.

I personally feel that a lot of my growth has stemmed from becoming a mother as well as the creative projects that I have had in the past. Therefore, a huge reason behind my business ventures is wanting the freedom to be with my kids more, providing them with experiences I didn’t have at their age, and to be able to work more on the creative projects I want to participate in or that I’m currently working on.

A particular project that I can speak on is the podcast that I recently launched with my sisters. It’s called Sistas Unscripted and can be found pretty much anywhere you listen to podcasts. I’m the oldest of the trio and we share our experiences navigating life as Black women in Utah, our sisterhood and how the dynamics of being the oldest, middle, and little sister has shaped us. Truthfully, nothing is off limits! While my sisters and I are similar in a lot of ways, we have very different perspectives. We just launched in November of 2024, so do me a favor and check us out. :)

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

I believe the best way that society can best support artists and creatives is simple. Show up! Showing up doesn’t look like it used to. I would say in a lot of ways it’s a lot simpler. As a creative, I don’t expect everyone to come to every show I perform in. Let’s be real—it’s not realistic. For one, money doesn’t grow on trees, and two, time is limited as we’re all just trying to get through life the best we can. However, with the accessibility of social media, we’re often sharing stories of popular celebrities or that viral quote that really hit home. Why can’t we do the same thing for our creative friends? Especially those starting that podcast, starting that YouTube channel, or even starting that business. It’s so simple to like, save, and share, and while it may not seem a lot to the person doing it, the people who are trying to get their content out there appreciate it more than you may realize. We all have to start somewhere and while I understand everyone may not agree on everything someone posts, helping a creative build their audience costs nothing.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

For me, the most rewarding aspect of being an artist or creative is the opportunity it gives me to explore sides of myself that I may not have known prior. For example, the projects I’ve started over the last few years have forced me to grow in ways I never thought I could. One of those projects was starting my own business. I learned quickly that employee Kandyce vs. Boss Kandyce were two completely different people. The employee side follows the rules, dotting all i’s and crossing all t’s. The employee is being instructed to complete task after task. Boss Kandyce has to make bold decisions in a timely manner while making sure the decisions being made positively affect the overall business. Boss Kandyce has improved my overall navigation of tough situations and communication. Those experiences show up in other parts of my life like advocating for myself and children when something isn’t right, to the projects I accept, or the content I create.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/theeroyalthree
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theeroyalthree
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theeroyalthree
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiWSpnx9Queg2ARW0NzP4jA
• Other: https://linktr.ee/sistasunscripted

Image Credits

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