"Keep. Pushing. Forward." - Chatting with Members of the Choir's Kendrick Mitchell!
I would like you to meet Kendrick Mitchell. Kendrick was recently seen in Members of the Choir at The Chain Theatre written by Evan Edwards and directed by Rick Hamilton. Kendrick has performed in After Midnight with Norweigian Cruise Line as well as in the National Tour of Skippy Jon Jones with Theaterworks USA. Other credits for Kendrick include: The Regional Premiere of Grey Gardens (Stages Repertory Theatre), Benny in RENT (Masquerade Theatre), and Romeo in Romeo and Juliet (Shakespeare Globe Centre SW) among many others. I am very thankful to have the chance to feature such a wonderful artist!
How old were you when you knew you wanted a career in the performing arts?
I knew pretty late in life that I’d pursue a career in the performing arts. I’ve been in the theatre scene since my middle school days, but it was a by-product of my involvement in the advanced choirs. It wasn’t until my junior year of high school that I was sold on the idea of performing full time.
Where did you study? Are there any mentors who helped shape you into the artist you are today?
I studied musical theatre at Sam Houston State University. It was an On Camera class with my professor Tom Prior that pushed my love for acting to the forefront. I further developed my craft with classes from the studios of Heidi Miami Marshall and, most recently, Anthony Abeson.
Congratulations on Members of the Choir! Evan Edwards is a true gem in this industry and it is so exciting to see new works come to light like this. What about Members of the Choir excited you?
I was most excited to work on such a beautiful piece created by a POC for POC… Queer POC on top of that. We were finally able to tell our own stories, and I am honored to have had the opportunity to represent one of these multifaceted characters Evan beautifully created.
You have worked all over the world. Are there any shows, performances, or moments in your wonderful career that sticks out and are near and dear to your heart?
Two shows immediately stick out to me as some of the greatest I’ve had the pleasure of working on. Forever Plaid and After Midnight have both greatly impacted my life for different reasons, and I’m forever grateful to the casts of both shows who have become some of my closest friends.
What advice would you give any young aspiring artists?
The biggest advice I’d give to young aspiring artists is to Keep. Pushing. Forward. It is not always easy, but if you truly love what you do, it will happen for you. Continue to train, and always be authentically yourself.