Raising the Curtain - Velvet Ross
The Complete Package Looks Beyond the Rainbow
By Jon Minners
One
local actress is looking to make it big, hoping to touch and inspire many lives
along the way by taking part in a groundbreaking play set at empowering Black
women.
Velvet Ross, raised in the public housing developments of Morrisania Air Rights and currently living by Yankee Stadium, is looking to do her borough proud, co-starring in the critically acclaimed play For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf at the Paul Robeson Theater in Brooklyn.
The play, written by renowned playwright, poet, dancer and actress Ntozake Shange premiered on Broadway 29 years ago at the Joseph Papp Theater as one of the first plays to fully examine Black female identity in American, an issue still as important today for Ross.
“In addition to acting, I have been heavily involved in the overall marketing and promotion of the play through So Colored Productions, an emerging production company that wants to create theater, film and television and serve as the voice for the voiceless; those who are seen, but seldom heard,” said Ross.
For Colored Girls, which has also been supported by Khalilah Thrower of the Thrower Group, tells the story of the internal and external struggles of Black women in American. There are seven women in the play, each given a name of the colors of the rainbow; Red, Blue, Purple, Orange, Yellow, Green and Brown. Each woman shares their stories of heartache and pain and supports each other; helping each other get through the different circumstances that life has presented her.
“Each character explores the many layers of the Black female identity in America,” said Ross. “The story is told through music, dance and gestures. It evolves as the individuals voices of the ladies, as they elaborate and interact and the voice of the individual merges into a collective expression of the Black Woman.”
Ross plays the symmetrical Lady in Purple and the narrator of the story of Sechita, who is an exotic dancer in the rural Deep South. “Sechita is an interesting character to create because she has so many layers as she deals with the degradation of being exploited by being viewed as a piece of trash by her Southern White Male audience,” said Ross. “In terms of my character, like many of the other characters, my character wants to be loved for who she is. She feels that she gives so much of herself and gets nothing in return.”
Ross hopes to see many familiar faces from the Bronx and new faces come out to show their support for what she feels is an inspirational production. “I feel that people should come out to see this play because they will get a different perspective on the lives of Black Women, as well as be entertained by an excellent writer, a wonderful director and a great group of emerging talent,” said Ross. “I am so thankful to be working with a cast of wonderfully talented young women, as well as beautiful inside and out; Suzanne Harvine, Candice Hassell, Natasha Lowery, Derrika Abraham and Tish Harper - these ladies have a wonderful future ahead of themselves. I am also thankful for the director Arnold Beachchamp for seeing the talent in me when I sometimes may not see it in myself. Together, we have put together such a wonderful play that audiences will enjoy. People will feel a connection to these characters on a humanistic level. They will see, just like themselves, that they just want to be loved for who they are. Also, they will leave with the ideas of how to nurture their own spirits with self love.”
Ross hopes the play will mean bigger things for her growing career in the arts. The eldest of three, Ross was brought up by parents who, she said, instilled a sense of pride in who she was, encouraging her to have faith that God will direct her path in life. That path led to a career in acting. “I got the acting bug at an early age performing in various productions in my elementary school at P.S. 156,” she recalled. “I would then go home and make up little plays with my sisters, Ebony and Jasmine.”
Ross
would then move on to Clark JHS 149 where she was very active in the
chorus and also made up dances for the spring talent shows while creating
illustrations from magazines and comic books in her art class. Ross then
attended the Fame School at Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music
and Performing Arts, honing her talent as a singer. Ross would join
a singing group and had the opportunity to sing for David Foster, who
produced the Bodyguard Soundtrack at the time.
Amongst other singing achievements, Ross also demonstrated a serious talent for writing, competing in playwriting competitions for two years, winning gold and silver medals. Ross would attend college and continue to excel in arts while taking part in a number of other activities, including majoring in television and radio, minoring in theater and studying at the reputable Harlem Theater Company with James Pringle. “It was tough balancing work, a full load of classes and acting classes, but I knew that it was something to do if I wanted to get ahead,” she said.
During that time, Ross was given a little spotlight from Billboard Magazine in their Unsigned Talent section, but after her time in college, Ross went back to teach in her neighborhood at some of the elementary schools that she attended. “I wanted to teach the children that I worked with that you don’t have to be held by society’s standards,” she said. “That you can persevere no matter where ever you come from.”
She also was a host as well as assistant producer for the entertainment show the Next Level on BRONXNET and went on to win the title of Miss Black World 2004 New York and tour Japan with the La Mama Foundation that produced the off Broadway hit Mama I Want to Sing.
Ross’ plans for the future is to still work with So Colored Productions as well as starting her own production company VAR Productions, a media company ran by women to produce for, by and about women and is attempting to start a not-for-profit company called Meledus, which would teach young girls from ages 10-18 about self-esteem merging the performing arts and politics.
As she moves closer to reaching her goals, Ross thanks those who have helped her along the way, including Ms. Macklin her second grade math teacher, her God Sister Najuma King, her friends Monica Corum, Alexia Getty, Theresa Smith, Camille Campbell, Aba Brown, and Chennete Barretto. “I also want to thank my best friend Rafael Muniz, who pushed me on many occasions when I felt like giving up, and older brother Darryl Lacy,” said Ross. “I also must acknowledge my surrogate mothers Mrs. King, Tangi Bennett, and Julia Burton, my churches - Family at Sharon Baptist Church in the Bronx, Fountain Spring Baptist Church also in the Bronx and the Historical Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem and the support of many others. Of course most of all I am thankful for my parents James and Theresa, my two sisters, Ebony and Jasmine, as well as the love and support of my extended family. Most importantly I thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
And she thanks those who paved the way before her, who have inspired her to achieve, quoting Booker T. Washington by stating, “Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he or she has overcome while tying to succeed.”
For more on Velvet Ross, including a sample of her fabulous voice, check out www.darkfame.com.
Check out the review of For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf.
For feedback, visit our message board or e-mail the author at jminners@g-pop.net.