Kamilah Forbes knows the importance of drive and determination.  Over the past several years, she has worked to give voice and breath to the the hip hop generation, producing multiple live events and the groundbreaking Hip Hop Theater Festival (of which she is Artistic Director).  A lover of language, she is directing the revolutionary play "Sunset Baby" by Dominique Morisseau, now extended at Labyrinth Theater Company. (Read our review here.)

We had a chance to chat with Forbes before a recent performance of "Sunset Baby" in the lobby of the theater.  Keep reading to find out why "Sunset Baby" is like Kanye, and more.

StageBuddy: Where did you get your start in theater?

Kamilah Forbes: I got my start in theater at a very young age. My parents used to take me to a lot of theater in grade school -- I grew up in Chicago.  I remember they took me to see "Once on This Island": my family is from the Caribbean, so when I saw it I went, 'Oh my God, that's me.' I want to create magic like that production did on stage.  It was fantasy, it was spectacle -- but to me it was magic.  From then on I knew that is what I wanted to do.  I starred in high school productions and then I went to Howard University and got a B.F.A. in Theater, and then I went on to study classical theater at the British American Drama Academy in Oxford, England as an actor.  My focus was acting and directing, and I came out acting; I primarily did a lot of work in D.C. with the regional theaters down there.

And then I moved up to New York.  I founded a festival -- the Hip Hop Theater Festival. I got my hands into producing, and when I could I would direct.

SB: What's the first thing you do as a director when you are handed a script?

KF: My first read through is for story, and really getting an understanding to see if I connect to it on a personal level. What about this story grabs me? What about this story lights me up? What about the characters? Maybe it's the language, maybe it's the place -- but something there has to light me up for me to want to go on a journey and become fully invested.

SB: What were your challenges and highlights directing "Sunset Baby|?

KF: It's an incredible piece of work, it's very challenging for actors.  I was extremely happy because we were able to work with a really amazing cast that are completely willing to go there every single time and leave their hearts on the stage -- and that's a testament to their work and who they are as artists.  As we were building that could be challenging, because there is an emotional vulnerability that you have to put yourself in as a director -- it's about managing and guiding that emotional vulnerability -- but the cast has been really great in allowing me to do that.

SB: Is there a Kamilah Forbes stamp that you have placed in the play?

KF: I think there was one already placed in before that really attracted me to the play. Language and hip hop is inherent to who I am.  This whole idea of inter-generation conversations is inherent to who I am.  The idea of creating legacy is inherent to who I am.  So when I read Dominique's language and the poetical nature of it -- I call it this poetical realism -- what she's created, that's who I am.

I produced a series called Def Poetry Jam for 7 seasons for HBO because I love language and I love language of today.  There is something about fluidity, immutability, a time and place directorially that's a stamp.  The use of multimedia projections is something I'm always very interested in that wasn't necessary indicated in the script, and that was a stamp.

SB: Who do you believe can benefit from seeing this play?

KF: Anybody. I know every theater says that, "any and everybody," but this is a play about fathers and daughters.  This is a family drama, and I think we all can relate to that.  This is a play about unrequited love: we all can relate to that.  It's been very interesting watching colleagues of mine who have done a lot of work around black male identity and fatherhood; [they] have been extremely touched by this work and felt so viscerally connected to the themes and subject matter and the plight of both the male characters and the female character -- because she became the adverse effect of their actions.

SB: If "Sunset Baby" were a hip hop artist, who would it be?

KF: It would be Kanye -- because it's unapologetic, it's vulnerable, yet it's brash.  It's in your face, it's unrelenting, it doesn't stop until it tells you to stop.  The whole concept of production to what Dominique has written is that you're going to get on this ride whether you like it or not, and you get off when she says you get off.  That's Kanye to me.  It's beautiful as well as complicated and he exists in both those worlds.  You love him, yet sometimes you're confused and conflicted by some of his choices and actions.

SB: Tell me about The Hip Hop Theater Festival.

KF: It's an organization that's been around for about 12 years.  We have live events throughout the year, and the festival happens in both NYC and D.C. The festival was an event that we started and we formed the organization around that.   We produce and present works by and for the generation.

SB: Advice to aspiring artists?

KF: I've known Dominique for over 10 years because of the Hip Hop Theater Festival -- she was an actress in one of our pieces.  And I remember she had written her first script and we did a reading of it, and I realized we created that opportunity for ourselves -- myself starting the festival, herself writing her own work -- and realizing I have a gift and I want other people to hear my work.  I remember the time when she started cranking out plays like nobody's business, she started sharpening her skills, she applied for every single grant and foundation and took on every single writing assignment that was given to her. And now her work is being produced all over the country and giving more opportunities for black actors and directors to work. I think it's about finding all those opportunities where you can make it yourself.  Build it.  Build it on your own and you'll get where you want, but it starts there; no one is ever going to give you a hand-out ever.

(This interview has been edited and condensed.)

Thank you to Erin Cherry (With A Cherry on Top Productions) for helping to put this interview together.

Performances of "Sunset Baby" continue through December 15th.  Check out our full event listing here: https://stagebuddy.com/listingdetail.php?lid=15454