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Meet an MFA: André G. Brown

Submitted by Holly Arsenault on February 28, 2018 - 2:35pm
  • André Brown as Basilio in Sueño / Photo by Isabel Le
    André Brown as Basilio in Sueño / Photo by Isabel Le
  • André Brown as R and Semaj Miller as G in 12 Ophelias (a play with broken songs) / Photo by Isabel Le
    André Brown as R and Semaj Miller as G in 12 Ophelias (a play with broken songs) / Photo by Isabel Le
  • André Brown in Force Continuum / Photo by Mike Hipple
    André Brown in Force Continuum / Photo by Mike Hipple
  • André Brown as Butcher in Fucking A / Photo by Mike Hipple
    André Brown as Butcher in Fucking A / Photo by Mike Hipple
  • André Brown as Leroy Barksdale in By the Way, Meet Vera Stark / Photo by Isabel Le
    André Brown as Leroy Barksdale in By the Way, Meet Vera Stark / Photo by Isabel Le
  • Josh Kenji and André Brown in Maple and Vine / Photo by Isabel Le
    Josh Kenji and André Brown in Maple and Vine / Photo by Isabel Le
  • André Brown as Kelly in The Walk Across America for Mother Earth / Photo by Mike Hipple
    André Brown as Kelly in The Walk Across America for Mother Earth / Photo by Mike Hipple
  • André Brown as Basilio in Sueño / Photo by Isabel Le
    André Brown as Basilio in Sueño / Photo by Isabel Le
  • André Brown as Butcher and Bria Henderson as Hester in Fucking A / Photo by Mike Hipple
    André Brown as Butcher and Bria Henderson as Hester in Fucking A / Photo by Mike Hipple
  • André Brown as Herb Forrester in By the Way, Meet Vera Stark / Photo by Isabel Le
    André Brown as Herb Forrester in By the Way, Meet Vera Stark / Photo by Isabel Le
  • Porscha Shaw as Vera Stark and André Brown as Leroy Barksdale in By the Way, Meet Vera Stark / Photo by Isabel Le
    Porscha Shaw as Vera Stark and André Brown as Leroy Barksdale in By the Way, Meet Vera Stark / Photo by Isabel Le
  • Josh Kenji and André Brown in Maple and Vine / Photo by Isabel Le
    Josh Kenji and André Brown in Maple and Vine / Photo by Isabel Le
  • André Brown as Kelly in The Walk Across America for Mother Earth / Photo by Mike Hipple
    André Brown as Kelly in The Walk Across America for Mother Earth / Photo by Mike Hipple
  • André Brown and Tatiana Pavela in Maple and Vine / Photo by Isabel Le
    André Brown and Tatiana Pavela in Maple and Vine / Photo by Isabel Le

From now until the end of the school year, we will be introducing and celebrating our graduating MFAs, looking back on the work they've done during their time here, and sharing their reflections and wisdom as they head off into the professional world. First up, a mini-interview (minterview?) with graduating PATP André G. Brown!

Andre Brown / Photo by Danielle Barnum

What do you know now that you didn’t know when you started this program?
I am enough. Just me. Enough.

What are you looking forward to being able to do now that you won’t be in class or rehearsal 12 hours a day?
Um…Happy Hour? Yeah, definitely been missing that. Spending time with my boyfriend. Seeing children’s theatre. Seeing my family. And, breathing. And, thinking, and processing.

Any plans for after graduation? 
Well I have a show that I cannot say, here in Seattle, so I’ll be here until December, and then—if nothing else happens— I will be moving to L.A. So, very excited about L.A. Very excited about whatever happens. This is a long time coming. This is what I’ve wanted to do my whole life, and I’ve had so many roadblocks. So, yeah. I’m excited.

André Brown / Photo by Danielle BarnumDo you have a favorite memory from your time here? 
Last year— when we were working on our 10 minute solo shows in Alexander Technique class, I had a breakdown, I was thinking about my father who had passed away - almost 14 years ago, and for a moment, it felt so present and so raw that I cried, almost like it just happened. It was like the room stopped and when I ‘came to... ‘

They were all there, (Porscha, Allen, Tamsen, Bridget and Bria, eyes red and nose snotty) — grieving with me, remembering a man they never knew. 
 
And that’s when I knew, it wasn’t ever really about monologues and scenes, or movement and dialects, but that I had a group of people, a tribe, a community, that could hold my heart. 

What advice do you have to people who might follow in your footsteps?
Be infinitely patient. I don’t know, I think this is in the bible somewhere, but, like, hope above hope. You know what I mean? Just. Just really like, I’m sorry this became very Oprah, but, you know, there's hope, but you gotta go further than that. Like hope reborn. And that’s kinda what happened for me. I always say this, "dreams still come true." That’s kinda like my mantra. 


You have one more chance to catch André on a UW stage during our 3rd year PATP solo shows, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday March 5 - 7 at 7:00 PM in the Hughes Penthouse. Click here for more information

Our 3rd year PATPs are raising funds for their career launching Showcase Tour. They need to raise $6,000 by March 28th, and every little bit helps! They have the skills, they have the talent, they have the drive, now all they need...is YOU. Click here to learn more about their campaign and how you can help.

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