Michael Washington Brown is an actor, playwright, performer and producer who was born in London and now resides in Scottsdale. Michael is bringing his one man show, “BLACK!” back to the Valley November 2 – 3 at Tempe Center for the Arts due the the overwhelming response from the local community. Learn more about Michael Washington Brown…
First job: My first job was in Woolworths (I was 15 years old). I was still in school and wanted to experience making my own money, I was tired of asking my parents for money. This part-time job served me well, because I realized in a short amount of time, that I wanted more for myself in my journey and life. It sowed the seed to move to America 4 years later-unbeknownst to me at the time.
Favorite AZ restaurant: I enjoy The Mission restaurant in Kierland. I have become a fan of eating small plates of food, which allows me to sample as much variety as possible without over eating. The flavours and menu choices reminds me of the style of cooking I grew up eating in a Caribbean family, back in London.
Person who has impacted your life the most: There are a few people who have greatly impacted my life, however in this instance, the stage must equally be shared by my Grandmother and Mum. These two women have given me the tools and understanding to trust the individual gifts that God has given me. They tirelessly reinforced my own uniqueness which has taken me years to trust…and I’m happy to say that I finally do.
Your biggest accomplishment in your eyes: My greatest accomplishment is writing, performing and telling the stories which I want to see in the world. For years I ‘muzzled’ my voice and subscribed to ideas about myself which were not true. Today, I am living the life I imagined and it gets better every single day.
The biggest obstacle you have overcome: The biggest obstacle I have overcome are my own thoughts and beliefs. Once I re-wrote the personal narrative, new possibilities arrived into my world, which has led me to travelling the country performing my One-Man Show “BLACK!” I would never be doing these things, unless I gave myself permission to ‘get out of my own way’ and head.
Someone who inspires you: Tyler Perry-it took him 7 years in succession before his play ‘took off’, he put everything on the line to see his dream and vision come to fruition. He became homeless at one point, and now, he has one of the country’s most vibrant and successful studios and none of his achievements required asking for permission. He had a vision and went for it!
Favorite quote: “You do what you have to do…so you can do what you want to do” -Denzel Washington
Advice to someone pursuing a career path in what you do: Don’t follow the masses or trends, remember why you feel inspired to be in this business. Stay away from people who will tell you WHY you can’t achieve your purpose in life, many times it’s more about their own fears, than yours. Put yourself out there, reach out to people already successful in your business, you’d be surprised how many people are generous with their time, knowledge or expertise. Do something everyday-regardless of how small a step it might seem, because every small step is one step closer to where we want to be. Never give up!
What you think makes someone fabulous: I think bravery in a person is a fabulous trait. It’s an underestimated quality which can overcome so much in life. Regardless of what our individual story is or what we are aiming for in life, being brave is a quality that can fuel us through the darkest or loneliest of times of life…until the morning sun arrives on the horizon.
