01of 12
I Have Arrived
Kudzai King
“My car is scheduled to pick me up at 5 p.m. every day from Harlem and I try to leave about 15 minutes early just so that I can get there and breathe for a second before I start to sit in front of the light bulbs and the mirrors in my dressing room.
02of 12Getting Into CharacterKudzai King"It takes me about an hour to paint my face. The process is meditative. It gets me in the right head space because leading up to it, my body’s tired. I’m like, ‘How am I going to do another show today?’ But as soon as I sit down in that chair and start to paint, I start to get in the right mindset to be able to give my all on the stage.”
02of 12
Getting Into Character
“It takes me about an hour to paint my face. The process is meditative. It gets me in the right head space because leading up to it, my body’s tired. I’m like, ‘How am I going to do another show today?’ But as soon as I sit down in that chair and start to paint, I start to get in the right mindset to be able to give my all on the stage.”
03of 12Wigging OutKudzai King"We went back and forth about my hair. They were excited about me wearing my hair like I did in the promo pictures, with braids — which I was too, I was very excited about that too. But I ultimately wanted to choose a wig, something that gave me more to play with as far as a character is concerned. Having corn rows or my hair braided back would have been too restrictive. I wanted something that softened the delivery of some of Roxie’s outrageous behavior. It gives her a vulnerability."
03of 12
Wigging Out
“We went back and forth about my hair. They were excited about me wearing my hair like I did in the promo pictures, with braids — which I was too, I was very excited about that too. But I ultimately wanted to choose a wig, something that gave me more to play with as far as a character is concerned. Having corn rows or my hair braided back would have been too restrictive. I wanted something that softened the delivery of some of Roxie’s outrageous behavior. It gives her a vulnerability.”
04of 12All That ApplauseKudzai King"I’m very present in my gratitude. Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about opening night. It was mind-blowing. I saw so people from my life — from my parents to friends like Kendrick Sampson fromInsecure, Bevy Smith — all in one place. It was my first performance on Broadway and everyone knows, you only get better as you goes on. So I was so appreciative of the people who showed up for the first performance because those are people who, I know they just love me. And since then, I’ve really surprised myself each night as things get tighter and my voice gets stronger. Broadway’s been such a unique experience and I’m glad I challenged myself with it."
04of 12
All That Applause
“I’m very present in my gratitude. Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about opening night. It was mind-blowing. I saw so people from my life — from my parents to friends like Kendrick Sampson fromInsecure, Bevy Smith — all in one place. It was my first performance on Broadway and everyone knows, you only get better as you goes on. So I was so appreciative of the people who showed up for the first performance because those are people who, I know they just love me. And since then, I’ve really surprised myself each night as things get tighter and my voice gets stronger. Broadway’s been such a unique experience and I’m glad I challenged myself with it.”
05of 12When You’re Good to MakeupKudzai King"Before I startedChicago, I got together with one of my makeup artists — Mark Quirimit — and he went through a whole tutorial with me of how he paints my face. And then I just took those tools and bumped it up a little bit with more highlighting and contouring for stage lighting. It’s definitely more makeup than I would normally wear in a face-to-face, on camera situation. But I learned during my drag days that the objective is to paint so that the people in the back row can catch how beautiful and stunning you are. So I’m definitely painted for the gods during these shows."
05of 12
When You’re Good to Makeup
“Before I startedChicago, I got together with one of my makeup artists — Mark Quirimit — and he went through a whole tutorial with me of how he paints my face. And then I just took those tools and bumped it up a little bit with more highlighting and contouring for stage lighting. It’s definitely more makeup than I would normally wear in a face-to-face, on camera situation. But I learned during my drag days that the objective is to paint so that the people in the back row can catch how beautiful and stunning you are. So I’m definitely painted for the gods during these shows.”
06of 12Dressed To KillKudzai King"There were a couple different versions of Roxie’s black dress I got to choose from too. This is the interior liner and my fabulous dresser who helps me get ready each night. Over it, we layer a long-sleeve black lace dress with flared sleeves — it’s fabulous."
06of 12
Dressed To Kill
“There were a couple different versions of Roxie’s black dress I got to choose from too. This is the interior liner and my fabulous dresser who helps me get ready each night. Over it, we layer a long-sleeve black lace dress with flared sleeves — it’s fabulous.”
07of 12Having Fun, HoneyKudzai King"Everyone atChicagowas very eager for me to bring my own twist to Roxie. When I first got the role, I called up my acting coach Brad Calcaterra and we just started playing. He helps me to get out of my own way and be silly and do things that I think may not sound good or look good or whatnot. And just getting it all out there helps me fine-tune my approach and get to a place where I feel zeroed in.I really appreciate that I had a lot of choice in exactly how I wanted Roxie to be, and that I was able to carry that over into how I wanted her to look and exist too. I love her so much."
07of 12
Having Fun, Honey
“Everyone atChicagowas very eager for me to bring my own twist to Roxie. When I first got the role, I called up my acting coach Brad Calcaterra and we just started playing. He helps me to get out of my own way and be silly and do things that I think may not sound good or look good or whatnot. And just getting it all out there helps me fine-tune my approach and get to a place where I feel zeroed in.
I really appreciate that I had a lot of choice in exactly how I wanted Roxie to be, and that I was able to carry that over into how I wanted her to look and exist too. I love her so much.”
08of 12I Simply Cannot Do It AloneKudzai King"I’m usually alone as I get ready, my door’s closed. But I love the company atChicago —I feel like I have a large group of new friends. So we hang out in the hallways, especially in between scenes and things like that. It’s so nice to be able to feel the love and to laugh, even during a busy time. It’s a really nice camaraderie."
08of 12
I Simply Cannot Do It Alone
“I’m usually alone as I get ready, my door’s closed. But I love the company atChicago —I feel like I have a large group of new friends. So we hang out in the hallways, especially in between scenes and things like that. It’s so nice to be able to feel the love and to laugh, even during a busy time. It’s a really nice camaraderie.”
09of 12Me and My FamilyKudzai King"But I’ve also started to leave my dressing room open so people like ensemble member Sharon Moore, who’s been part of theChicagocompany for so long, can stop in. She is so amazing on stage and she comes into my dressing room sometimes and just gives me these pep talks, like, ‘Just remember who you are! You are the star in this bitch!’ She’s almost like an older sister, you know what I mean? I’m so grateful to her and to everyone atChicago. They’ve embraced me with open arms."
09of 12
Me and My Family
“But I’ve also started to leave my dressing room open so people like ensemble member Sharon Moore, who’s been part of theChicagocompany for so long, can stop in. She is so amazing on stage and she comes into my dressing room sometimes and just gives me these pep talks, like, ‘Just remember who you are! You are the star in this bitch!’ She’s almost like an older sister, you know what I mean? I’m so grateful to her and to everyone atChicago. They’ve embraced me with open arms.”
10of 12ClassKudzai King"I just love thatChicago.When you think of musical theater, that’s one of the classics. And so for me, a Black trans woman, to be leading such a classic story, it was very important. I saw the layers and the similarities to Roxie that I do in many women that are sometimes trans, myself included. So I was eager to show those different layers and colors. And I’m so proud of the work I’m doing — I can’t wait for everyone to come and see it.I understand that this is only going to last for a total of eight weeks [through Nov. 6]. So as tired as I am sometimes and want to just go home and go to sleep, I soak up the moment just as much as the fans are soaking it up, and I try to sign everyPlaybillthat wants to be signed."
10of 12
Class
“I just love thatChicago.When you think of musical theater, that’s one of the classics. And so for me, a Black trans woman, to be leading such a classic story, it was very important. I saw the layers and the similarities to Roxie that I do in many women that are sometimes trans, myself included. So I was eager to show those different layers and colors. And I’m so proud of the work I’m doing — I can’t wait for everyone to come and see it.
I understand that this is only going to last for a total of eight weeks [through Nov. 6]. So as tired as I am sometimes and want to just go home and go to sleep, I soak up the moment just as much as the fans are soaking it up, and I try to sign everyPlaybillthat wants to be signed.”
11of 12
All I Care About Is Love
12of 12Curtain CallKudzai King"After this experience, I’m really going to focus on my music career. Just doing the show, my voice has gotten better and stronger, so I’m anxious about releasing another single like my song “Only You” or the “Million Dreams” cover I did for Disney’s Pride collaboration. I’m also looking forward to doing a tour of some sort, because I do these speaking tours and I think I can combine them with music too.It’s very within reach now. I can see it. And I can’t wait to see what’s next."
12of 12
Curtain Call
“After this experience, I’m really going to focus on my music career. Just doing the show, my voice has gotten better and stronger, so I’m anxious about releasing another single like my song “Only You” or the “Million Dreams” cover I did for Disney’s Pride collaboration. I’m also looking forward to doing a tour of some sort, because I do these speaking tours and I think I can combine them with music too.
It’s very within reach now. I can see it. And I can’t wait to see what’s next.”
source: people.com
