Today we’d like to introduce you to Shanyeyah White.
Hi Shanyeyah, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I’ve always wanted to be a singer for as long as I can remember! I could sing before I could even speak and it’s just something that I love to do. Since a young age, I’ve been performing whether that be singing and dancing. I’ve always loved the idea of being in movies because I know I’m a character and I enjoy watching these amazing actors portray these different characters. I got more into my acting when I was a sophomore in high school and auditioned for the musical “The Wiz”. I absolutely LOVE that movie and I would play it out as a kid ahaha. So, when I heard my school was doing it, I had to audition for Dorothy and I would say that was my first real stage production and I loved every second of it and I knew I wanted to continue doing shows at my school after that. That following year I got the chance to see Hamilton at the Civic Center in San Diego and when I tell you, I saw that musical and was like I would love to be on a big stage like that, that’s something I want to do. Along with Tv/film acting, I want to be a stage actor as well. So, after graduating college I’ve been fortunate enough to be booked in different stage productions and I’ve been having a ball.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I wouldn’t say there have been struggles, but I wouldn’t say everything has been smooth. Again, I was fortunate to be booked out of college doing different stage productions, but I could say when auditioning for other little projects and not hearing back can be something, but I never let that get to me or dwell on it because everything happens for a reason and I have to remind myself that there’s always something bigger in store for me and when that “something bigger” comes it’s going to be amazing.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m an actress and a singer. As of now, I do stage productions such as musicals, but soon I’ll also break out into doing some commercial work and hopefully some movies! A lot of people know me because of my voice ahaha because I’d also sing in talent shows, musicals, choir you name it. I’m a singer first, but I love to act and I hope soon the world will see me in a different element such as acting. When it comes to what I’m most proud of this might sound cliché, but I really am proud of me and how far I’ve come as an artist. I remember being this shy kid that didn’t have any stage presence and was too shy to sing in front of an audience, but now it just come naturally to me and this is what I want to do for a very long time. What may set me apart from others might just be my drive a determination for this craft. I just love doing what I do and I enjoy every show, audition, meeting and this art just makes me want to be better and work harder to achieve the goals I know I’m going to achieve.
What would you say has been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
Definitely to never give up! In this field of work, you will hear a lot of no’s and possibly never hear back from that role or show you really wanted to be/be in and that’s okay! You just have to continue to have that drive to keep going and move on to the next project because eventually, you will get something bigger and amazing that is for you! Something that I do (that a teacher in college told the class) when I have an audition and I leave the room and go home or go do whatever I do, is to not dwell on that audition for too long. You can think about it for a couple minutes, but then let it go because that could be the best audition you think you’ve had, but possibly thinking about it too much can actually have you nitpick certain things, so let it go and move on to the next project.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shanxwhite/
