1 week Ago By Markos Papadatos
Actress Kimber Elayne Sprawl chatted about starring in the new production of “Othello” on Broadway. How has your experience in “Othello” been so far? It has been wild! Sometimes unbelievable- it is not lost on me that this is a once and a lifetime opportunity and I’m soaking it all in, every moment. I’ve had an extremely fulfilling time as an artist, delving deeper into Shakespeare.
This play has been received so well, breaking box office history, and I’m honored to be a part of it; sharing my love for this production with my community. What did you like the most about your character? What I like most about Emilia is that in our version of the play, she is not a victim. She is not subservient in any way.
She is a brave lieutenant, a loving wife and a loyal friend and she balances all 3 relationships with strength, grace and wisdom. Emilia is extremely noble, the stories’ hidden heroine; willing to risk everything she loves in service of the truth. I love that I can give Emilia a new voice and fresh perspective as this role is not traditionally played by a Black Woman.
What is it like working with Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal? Before I knew I wanted to be an actor, I loved Denzel Washington. He was the culture as far as film was concerned; in my family we weren’t going to see “Training Day” we were going see “That New Denzel Movie”! The fact that he is my scene partner eight times a week is insane. Denzel has been so generous; sharing his experiences on and off stage.
I especially love hearing the stories from early on in his career. It inspires me to stay on my path, to pursue the greatness God has in store for me alone. Jake is extremely diligent in his craft.
It’s so inspiring to see someone at his level still putting the real work in. From him I’ve learned how imperative it is to remain curious. How does it feel to be an actress in the digital age? (Now with streaming, technology, and social media being so prevalent) I love to see people like Tabatha Brown who created a powerful platform on social media that launched her career.
It is not my niche and it can be so annoyingly saturated at times, but you can find some amazing artists on there. It’s something we all have to do at some level and I think it’s just creating a healthy dynamic with it and everyone is different. Conversely, technology like AI is extremely disconcerting, but I have to keep faith that people will always prefer an authentic human experience over a fabricated one.
What is your advice for young and emerging actors? Never make the mistake of assuming you have nothing left to learn- humility is everything. Also, I think people discourage themselves by dwelling on what they see other people doing. I know it’s difficult but put those blinders on and stay in your own lane.
Get honest and deep with yourself about what you desire, what drives you, what makes you smile when you wake up in the morning and pursue that; not the thing you think you should be doing. What does the word success mean to you? (My favorite question) I have a happy and healthy marriage, loving and fruitful relationships, a job that I love with a balance of ambition and detachment, and hobbies and interests that bring me joy and satisfaction. I think if am able to say all that at any given moment or if I’m intentionally in pursuit of that, I will consider myself a successful human.
What would you like to say to our readers about “Othello”? (What’s the one thing you want them to get out of it) This is so nerdy, but I want people to appreciate the moment for what it is: We are doing Shakespeare on Broadway with a multi-racial cast 400 years after it was written and the story still resonates for a myriad of reasons. I want people to love and appreciate the Shakespearean poetry and language as much as I do! To learn more about Kimber Elayne Sprawl, follow her on Instagram . Markos Papadatos is Digital Journal's Editor-at-Large for Music News.
Papadatos is a Greek-American journalist and educator that has authored over 22,000 original articles over the past 18 years. He has interviewed some of the biggest names in music, entertainment, lifestyle, magic, and sports. He is a 16-time "Best of Long Island" winner, where for three consecutive years (2020, 2021, and 2022), he was honored as the "Best Long Island Personality" in Arts & Entertainment, an honor that has gone to Billy Joel six times.
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