Saycon Sengbloh On Fela! And Broadway

By Christopher Moore, Broadway Magazine

"I think it's a new decade, and it's time for a new type of show. It's just time," says Saycon Sengbloh about the success of the Broadway hit musical Fela! Broadway.tv and Broadway Magazine sat down with the star backstage at the musical Fela!

An experienced Broadway veteran, with credits that include HAIR, The Color Purple, Aida, and Wicked, Ms. Sengbloh is currently earning strong reviews for her work in Fela! playing Sandra Isadore.

Broadway Show: Fela!

One of the best-reviewed shows of the season, Fela! continues to attract audiences with its politically charged themes and artistically charged story-telling. Combining the music and life of Fela Kuti with the choreography and direction of Bill T. Jones, this musical "breaks the mold" as Variety says.

"Fela is a show, focused on a man-- Fela Anikulapo-Kuti--who was a composer, a musician, a rabble-rouser, a political activist, and a leader of sorts, some would say a chief," offers Saycon backstage.

"Fela Kuti did a lot to make change in Nigeria. He was hated by many. Loved by many. He had a lot of women. A lot of wives. So, he was a very controversial character," smiles Saycon as she reflects on the complexity of the show's central figure.

"I play Sandra Isadore, she is an American woman who inspired him (Kuti) and asked him to really politicize his music at a time when he was more into playing high-life jazz and being kind of a playboy. She got into his face and got into his life and got him to really look at the history that his mother and that his family had set forth and to really bring that to the stage," explains Saycon.

Described by critic Matthew Murray as "vividly muse-like," Saycon's performance is one of the many highlights of this extraordinary production.

While the list of star producers involved includes Will Smith and Jay-Z, Saycon has high praise for all the "top-notch" producers involved in the production. The successful transition of the show from Off Broadway to its current run at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre on Broadway is further evidence of the savvy of the entire producing team.

For Saycon, the road to Broadway runs through Atlanta. Having been part of Y.E.A.–Youth Ensemble of Atlanta, Saycon found herself acting in a variety of political theatre pieces.

"The first play that I ever did was a musical of Alice In Wonderland," smiles Saycon, "Then I did Flowers For Algernon. I was doing a lot of stuff in middle-school, working with the choir and that kind of thing–then in high school, I decided... my mom applied for me to go a performing arts magnet program. That's when I really, really truly got bit by the acting bug."

"It's funny, I went to high school with Sahr Ngaujah who plays Fela Kuti in the show," notes the star. She credits casting director Bernard Telsey, among others, with her success on Broadway. With several impressive Broadway credits already, Saycon has also broken a few barriers of her own.

"Apparently, I was the first African-American actress, the first black actress to play Elphaba," shares Saycon.

So, what is her advice to other artists interested in having a career on Broadway?

"Really take your craft seriously. Take classes if you're not studying somewhere. Take care of yourself, and not be so obsessed with acting and music...have other things in your life that you are interested in. It is ok if you have another job while you are auditioning. You're not a failure if you're not working in the business. Until you get that one gig that propels you where you want to be, I think it's really important that people keep their lives balanced," reflects Saycon.

Watch the entire backstage interview with Saycon Sengbloh right here on Broadway.tv. You can catch Fela! at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre on Broadway.