Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Morgan FlowerChild Jones. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, Morgan FlowerChild 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 is my original Musical Theatre production, Plain A New Age Cabaret. Plain came from a bad relationship I had. I based it around my situation of feeling low self esteem, depression, hiding my authentic self as to not upset others. The characters I wrote were all real people in my life. Being a Theatre baby, goer, and having gotten a BFA in Theatre I wanted to share with the world what a Cabaret felt like- but an urban one! I reached out to musicians and artists that wanted to include original songs, hired an amazing choreographer to tell the story through movement, and added beautiful original art pieces. I added farcical larger than life characters that don’t really have a voice in the Theatre world. One being Autistic and another Transgender. I feel that Theatre should inspire and change lives. Through the main character, Angela’s story, we find ourselves as she is. The male characters are written to make men look at themselves as well and how they treat women today. I got therapy from writing it and the audience receives entertainment through Art. I debuted it live in an intimate space in 2017 which sold out. I then brought it to Atlanta in 2019 for a small audience, then to Greensboro once more for a live filming of it after a tour was cancelled due to the pandemic. I’d left my job of teaching for 15 yrs so that I could follow my Dream of being a full time artist. I needed my students to see me executing my Dreams. The film is set to release Summer 2022 and I am now in my 21st year of Teaching Theatre because I was able to show my students what I’ve accomplished. There is a history of Traditional Theatre that is lost so I wanted to bring that spice to audiences of all cultures and show Black characters in a nonstereotypical light. It is my purpose to tell stories through my Art form but we leave a legacy when we teach others how to do it and inspire them.
Morgan FlowerChild, 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 am the Founder/Creative Director of FlowerChild Productions Inc. We are a for profit business under a nonprofit umbrella. We provide Creative Services including Directing, Choreography, Writing, Coaching for Film, Music Videos, Theatre, Concerts, and Events. Our mission is to mentor, coach, and employ artists and creatives so that can bios their resumes and networks in the files of Entertainment. Our nonprofit sector focuses on Arts Education for inner city youth. We teach our youth to Dream and show them how to execute the small goals to get to the big successes. Our workshops focus on Conflict resolution, creating a character,, playwriting, scene work, the business aspect of Theatre, and so much more. We host empowering events that inspire and teach Creatives different aspects of the Arts.
Our nonprofit has produced 3 children’s films with Save the Arts Films, that teach the youth free film education. It Takes. A Village 1 & 2 and Find My Way are available on major movie platforms and are used for educational use to teach character education in schools.
FlowerChild Productions Inc. has been hired to Direct, Choreogragh, Write, and Produce for many clients. Our niche is producing energetic entertainment with an eclectic and energetic force. HipHop Disney has been a nickname for our work which we don’t take lightly. It’s important to us that our clients stand out.
Most recently, I was an Actress and Choregrapher of the National Tour of Beauty Shop by the late Shelly Garrett. This show moved me to Atlanta to follow the Dream.
We are now working on the Bloom Give it Life Performance Arts space where all of the above will be shared for the community and traveling artists.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
A lesson I had to unlearn is “stay in your lane”. Yes, stay in your lane, but learn ALL that nags because you never know when you have to jump out of your lane and drive for someone who’s unable to drive. You are the designated driver of your life. Everyone won’t always come through. Choreography and Directing are my lane; but I’ve had to learn how to design flyers, edit videos, work cameras, and so much more. Sometimes you won’t have it in your budget to hire a lot of people so you’ve got to get it done by any means necessary.
: Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
It has always been my mission to follow me raw undiscovered talent and to educate the inner city youth. If raw talent get the opportunity to learn and shine they will take a chance versus having to fight rejection in the industry. I am that training ground and experience for them to find that it factor and work it ! Our inner city youth is fighting daily to have a voice. Music and television is their voice and the only thing media is portraying them as are troublemakers, so It is my purpose to show them who they really are as creative geniuses and what they can really accomplish in this world by sharing their gifts. This drives everything that I produce.
Contact Info:
- Website: FlowerChildlife.com
- Instagram: Instagram.com/morganflowerchild
- Youtube: YouTube.com/FlowerChildProductions
Image Credits
Jeremy C. Harris Luguzy Atkins Katrena Wize