Humans of the Alliance: Sherifa Abudulai
Sherifa Abudulai, 2017 Palefsky Collision Project Member
How did you get involved in theatre?
"I was in theatre in elementary school. I have four older sisters and they did theatre, so I kind of just followed them. After school, we'd walk to the high school for rehearsals and everything. I just stuck on it through school. It wasn't until high school when I decided that this was what I wanted to do. I didn't want to do anything else."
Describe your first theatre-related memory.
"Actually, we [my sisters and I] were pretty dramatic kids growing up. So we would have performances with the movie playing in the background. I think it was Beauty and the Beast. And so my sister and I would alternate who would be playing the Beauty and who would be playing the Beast. So my earliest memory was being the Beast. I remember I was upset because I wanted to be Beauty. I wanted to be Belle. And I was like 'Oh god, please let me be Belle.' And she said 'No!' But it was so good because I was so mad — I really got into character."
Have you ever seen a production that has changed your life?
"I would say The Phantom of the Opera. It was the first show I'd seen on a huge scale, and it changed my mind into wanting to do theatre as an actual career. It was life-changing, mostly because of the production side of it."
What is your biggest struggle?
"Preventing myself in making a fool out of myself. Theatre. Everyone's watching you. The smallest things that happen to me, the whole performance could be amazing, but my mind would feel terrible about it. Also, I really love musical theatre, and I want to sing, dance, do the whole she-bang. When I was in the 8th grade, I broke my hip. It was really difficult to dance because I can't really open my legs and I can't kick as high. I just got a hip replacement, so I'm still working through it."
How did you end up at the Alliance Theatre?
"I was at a thespian conference and I saw a few people with these cool orange water bottles. I asked them where they got them and they told me the Alliance Theatre booth. I met Sarah [Alliance Teen and Adult Program Manager] there. So she talked and told me about the summer camp internship. I decided with my friend that we were going to be interns at the biggest theatre in Atlanta. But I was actually late for my interview, so that year I didn't get to do it. The next year I auditioned for the Governor's Honor Program and then I got to the last stage and did not make it. I thought 'You know what, Sherifa, you are not just going to sit at home this summer summer.' I interviewed and I got it! So it was just a domino effect - internship, Teen Ensemble and now the Collision Project. It was really cool."
What does the Palefsky Collision Project mean to you?
"It means a lot of things to me. Walking into this, I was wondering 'Are they going to make us cry? Are they going to make us laugh? Is it all happy kumbaya and stuff?' But it truly does open you up. I think as artists we really need to expose ourselves to areas in which we don't think we can or want to expose ourselves to. Out of body experiences. When I think about any art-related thing, you have to be vulnerable, and the project has created a vulnerable space for us to learn how to be vulnerable. Accept that you're vulnerable and express that vulnerability in a way that's so beautiful and captures the audience. It's like creating a family, you know? A good backbone to fall on. It really instills strength and determination in you to do things beyond the project."
A little known fact about yourself?
"One thing I love to tell people is that I will be attending New York University in the fall studying theatre. I was in the Teen Ensemble and that's what really pushed me. I mean, I had always wanted to attend NYU since I saw Phantom of the Opera. But then Ameenah [director and writer of last year's teen production Freedom Over Me] went to NYU and I was like 'Oh my gosh, it's a sign! I see it, God. I see the sign!' She wrote a letter of recommendation for me."
What is your hope for the future?
"My hope for the future is to invoke a change through art. To inspire someone to do something. To change something. Can be something small or something big. I want to inspire others just like other performers have done for me."
Describe the best theatre-related project in which you have been involved.
"This project right here: Collision! So amazing. Other projects you get the script, you talk to your actors, you know. Here, you really get to know these people, and through getting to know them, it forms the art. It's mind-blowing. We are the characters."
What makes you feel fulfilled?
"That feeling when I get on stage and I know I've made an effect on the audience. That a-ha moment."
If you had any piece of advice for a group of people, what would it be?
"Do you. Do what makes you happy because the world would be so better if everyone's doing what they want to do."
by A'riel Tinter, Brand Journalist
