Aubrey-Simone Williams is the founder of TheACTivists Theatre Company and is also currently serving as a Senior Producer of Fox Soul TV. Prior to television, She was one of two founding theatre teachers at Charles R. Drew Charter School in Atlanta, GA. In addition, she served as a professional stage manager, lighting designer, acting coach and director. She has also participated in panels on broadway and has designed and handled contracts for off-broadway productions in New York City. Aubrey has studied and trained at the Shakespeare Globe Theatre in London, England, the Stella Adler Studio of Acting in New York City, as well as Robert Mello Studios and the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia.
Her formal education includes a B.I.S. in Theatre Performance, a B.A. in Film, and an M.A. in African American Studies -all from Georgia State University. In addition to producing theatre and television, Aubrey’s recent projects include directing the touring production, “Black Matter” and partnering with Kenny Leon’s True Colors Theatre Company for their “Act Like A Lady” program. She is also a proud member of C4 Atlanta and the Dramatists Guild. Aubrey’s published projects include:” Black Matter: The Play”, “Black Matter: Poems of Perseverance”, and “The Last Poets” for the Black Power Encyclopedia – 2019.
The book, “Black Matter: Monologues and Poems of Perseverance” is a tool for performing artists. I want readers to focus more on the pieces and less on the excerpts. While I do want them to know what inspired me to write each monologue or poem, I want them to focus on their own experiences and challenges when it is time for them to perform these pieces themselves. I want each and every person of color to be able to find a poem or monologue in this book that they can relate to or fall in love with.
What must happen for you to consider your book(s) a success? and when do you predict it will happen?
That will depend on how you define success. Some people define success as being a “New York Times Best-Seller”. I feel that if people reach out to me to express how much they love the material, then that – to me, equals success. You also can’t put a timeframe on it. People will recognize your work immediately, or over time. It may be tomorrow or five years from now. That is the joy and pain of being a writer and a creative.
What is the one thing you wished you knew before publishing your first book?
I have two things: How to choose a good editor. And hire a literary agent.
With my work in particular, it has a lot of colloquialisms. I’m a self-published author, but I still hired an editor. I’m not sure if there is a machine editing these machines or an actual human being, but I had to re-submit my book with notes to not touch the poems or monologues three times! I’m definitely going to find a literary agent and publish the proper way next time if I can!
Before “Black Matter” was a book, it was a best-selling play. So the fan base was already there! Social media has also been a huge part of our marketing strategy, which is also working very well. I’ve also tapped into LinkedIn and people who are a part of my network were very supportive as well.
Three books I’d recommend are: “House of the Scorpion” by Nancy Farmer (if you are into fiction), Medical Apartheid by Harriet A. Washington, and “Brainwashed: Challenging the Myth of Black Inferiority” by Tom Burrell.
If you only had $100 dollars to write, publish then promote a new book, knowing everything you know now, how would you spend it?
I would spend it on the promotion. The next book I write will be a narrative nonfiction book, so I would want more people to know about it.
What is TheACTivists Theatre Company all about?
TheACTivists Theatre Company is a theatre for social justice, where the voices of the unheard get to create work for people to see and listen to. That is what we do here. We also serve as a safe space for healing and therapy for those who have experienced trauma or mental illness. We also offer private acting classes and a variety of workshops to fit anyone’s interest.
Tell us a little bit about your background and how you started this company?
I’ve done theatre since the tender age of 7 – writing plays for my peers and participating in shows myself. After that I did several freelance jobs while working other jobs on the side. I also taught middle and high school theatre for a while. I started my company back in 2018 with the help of Erika Respress from the Bronner Brothers corporation. She believed that I could be bigger than a theatre teacher and pushed me to grow my company. She gave me the opportunity to showcase my work in front of THOUSANDS and I am forever grateful for her and the entire Bronner Brothers family.
What are your plans, how do you plan to grow this company?
I plan on expanding TheACTivists to include more film and docu-series projects. I would like us to be more than a theatre company.
What were the top mistakes you made starting your business and what did you learn from it?
My top mistake was branding my company before I branded myself. I was told by several people in the industry that that was my biggest mistake.
How do you separate yourself from your competitors?
I feel like as an entrepreneur, there is room for everyone. So in my eyes, I have no competitors. I have allies – opportunities to come together and change the scope of the world through our companies.
What is one thing that you do daily to grow as an entrepreneur?
I am constantly creating and engaging with my following, and networking with people in the field who share common interests. I am also a huge believer in manifestation. You manifest what you want – so manifest daily!
What are three books or courses you recommend for new entrepreneurs?
I’ve never taken books or courses. I come from a family of entrepreneurs – so all of my training about how to run a business was “hands-on”. Looking back, that was the best way to learn.
If you only had $100 dollars to start a new business, knowing everything you know now, how would you spend it?
That $100 would go toward anything involved in setting up paperwork / legalities. That’s very important when starting a legitimate business and building a brand.
How can we get in touch with you?
You can keep in touch with me on Instagram at @_theactivists and on my website: www.theactivistsperform.com
- Aubrey-Simone Williams: Books
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