We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Salisha Thomas. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Salisha below.

Salisha, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

I’m from California, born and raised! I went to school there and worked at Disneyland. It has always been my dream to live in New York City, but whenever I asked anyone for advice, they would tell me that I had everything I needed right there in California. Everyone discouraged me from leaving. So I stayed. And became a sad chicken tender. Then one day, after moving less than 5 miles for 2 hours in traffic on the 405 in Los Angeles, I lost it. I yelled at the top of my lungs: WHAT AM I DOING HERE?!
And I found a one way ticket to NYC for $102. I called up my understudy at work and gave her all my shifts for a full month and told her not to tell anyone where I was.
And I left.
When I arrived in the City, it was love at first sight. I instantly felt free, like I could BREATH! Within two weeks, a friend from college offered me an adorable, affordable sublet. I also got offered a restaurant job. But still I was so scared to completely dive in and just DO it.
But then, I met a homeless man when I was waiting for the subway to arrive, and he looked at me and said: “I don’t know who you are, but you need to move here and you need to do it now.”
I called Disney and put my notice in the same day. Sold all my furniture from Facebook within 3 hours. Booked a round trip ticket to go home and tie up loose ends. And within two weeks, I was officially back in New York, in my own sublet, with a job. And the week after that, I got an audition for a show called Beautiful the Carole King Musical. And was cast in the First National Tour by the weekend.
I toured with that show for two years, saved up and bought an apartment and made my Broadway debut in that same show and was there until it closed in 2019.
Sometimes, the homeless man tells you what you need to hear.

Salisha, 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?

My name is Salisha Thomas, and I’m currently in the Britney Spears Musical: Once Upon a One More Time on Broadway. I never had a Plan B and always worked making a living as an artist: UNTIL THE PANDEMIC. Broadway shutting down FORCED me to pivot and lean in to other outlets. In that time, I found Podcasting!! And I started three shows that fulfilled different things in my Spirit. One of those shows (Black Hair in the Big Leagues on The Broadway Podcast Network), I sat down with almost every black woman on Broadway and interviewed them about hair, and it was everything my heart needed (and led me to meet my husband)!

Out of all the things that have happened in my life, I’m most proud of my resilience. That when I don’t get the gig or I feel like I failed, I never give up. I ran in so many pageants and lost. I auditioned for Disney a million times and was cut on the first round. And if I gave up when I was knocked down, I would have never become Miss California nor would I have been one of the highest paid Princess Tianas at Disney. I have learned it’s not always about being the best or the prettiest. Sometimes It’s about showing up and being persistent.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

1000%. My priorities now are completely different than they were pre-pandemic. Before it was all about work work work as much as I can as hard as I can. It’s all about working in this industry and nothing else matters. NOW, things have shifted. I have a husband who I love and adore. And he longs to have a family. So now everything I do is fueled by me wanting to have a family. I’m having a blast on Broadway and doing what I can to climb as fast as I can before I take myself out of the Broadway sphere. And simultaneously trying to make a living doing things that I can continue doing while pregnant. For example: having a Voiceover career as well as doing commercials (Maternity is a thing)! And also continuing to grow my podcast because I can do that from anywhere in the world! My husband is a coach and has taught me how to monetize my sidehustles and so far, so good!

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I realize now that I am enough. And everything leading up to now, life felt way harder not knowing that. Things that should have felt easy felt like pulling teeth because I was always trying to give people what I thought they wanted instead of living my own truth. Now, when I show up completely and authentically myself, I feel seen. It feels better. And I book way more work.     

Contact Info:

• Website: www.salishathomas.com
• Instagram: @salishathomas
• Facebook: SalishaT
• Twitter: SalishaT
• Youtube: ItsMeSalish

Image Credits
1. Headshot- Chia Messina 2. Onstage at Beautiful the Carole King Musical (photographer unknown) 3. The Brenizers (Tatiana and Ryan Brenizer) 4.) Empire State Building- Tessie Tokash 5.) Selfie at The Marquis theater swinging on for Snow White at Once Upon a One More Time 6.) Backstage on Opening Night of Once Upon a One More Time- Rebecca J Michelson The very first photo I uploaded on the first photo page with my HUGE dress was shot by Justin Barbin