CityView Magazine

28 Februar y 2022 BY COURTNEY PHILLIPS Melodiously Melanated Ayana Washington uses her voice for change FEATURE A yana Washington is no stranger to the stage. With a music teacher for a father and a family full of singers and musicians, she grew up in a home filled with joyful noise. You've probably seen her at the Cape Fear Regional eatre, bringing a voice to characters from "Caroline, or Change," "Dreamgirls" and the beloved character, Dragon, in "Shrek the Musical." Her most influential role may be as the lead of a nonprofit she created last year called Book Black Women LLC, which works to address disparities in casting women of color. On Feb. 13, she will host and perform in "Four Women," a black-tie musical showcase of her own creation, highlighting the performance range of local black female talent, including Desiree Tolodziecki and Ashley Jones. On Feb. 13, Ayana Washington will host and perform in "Four Women," a black-tie musical showcase of her own creation, highlighting the performance range of local black female talent, including Desiree Tolodziecki and Ashley Jones. For Washington, the same problems that inspired the show's namesake, a 1965 song by Nina Simone, are relevant today. No one would know better than Washington. Q. When did you know you needed to create your nonprofit, Book Black Women? A. ere was a moment when I was accidentally called by a casting team and a voicemail was le on my phone. In that recording, I heard a director and his team discussing potential actors to cast in their show. "Well, we have to make sure we are diverse," said a woman. "Not too diverse,'' replied the director. "Call her. at's diverse enough." e next day, I was cast in the show. I was the only black person in it. Years later, show aer show, audition aer audition, I kept noticing that, while I am aware I can sing, I was being given opportunities that should've probably gone to other black women. Black women with darker skin than mine. Sometimes the casting was blatant, sometimes it was an unconscious decision. It wasn't until I watched Issa Rae in her series, "Insecure," that the idea hit me. Issa used every resource she could to combat what she felt was lacking in her community, and I wanted to do the same. I wanted to create a safe and fair place for black women to share their talent. So, last year I applied for an Arts Council grant, worked a bunch of jobs and started to bring it all to life. Q. How do you engage with women who need your services? A. I don't want to be a talent agency, but I do want to host events to get black women noticed and booked by others. e women Desiree Tolodziecki is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where she was a remember of an all- female a cappella singing group. Ayana Washington has made several appearances at Cape Fear Regional Theatre, including in "Shrek" and "Dreamgirls." Ashley Jones was born in Apex and lives in Fayetteville. She grew up in a family of singers and is Ayana's cousin.

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