Today we’d like to introduce you to Marquelle Young.
Marquelle, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I have been known as Kelley for most of my life. I started as a dancer, dancing was my first love, then I moved into acting and singing, which brought me to theatre and musical theatre, which brought me to film and tv, which brought me to producing and directing, which brings me here.
Dance was the best way for me to express myself as a kid, and I loved that I didn’t have to speak. I loved that all of my expression could be done with the flick of a hand or a chasse en tournant. Dance is still, in my opinion, the most raw expression of art.
My mother was a national speech oratorical champion, so naturally, I was groomed to begin training in oratory. I began elementary school, where I won state and national competitions. I was a part of the Oratorical Optimist Club, where we wrote speeches about optimism, and I won every round, which was unheard of as an elementary school kid. I remember getting to the state competition as a fourth-grade elementary school kid. It was my first year ever competing, and I got 2nd place to a High School senior who beat me, and I was still so disappointed in myself. If that doesn’t tell you who I am, I don’t know what will. Needless to say, I have very high expectations of myself and I work really hard, which is of course, a pro and a con.
I fell in love with words being in Oratory. But even more than that, I fell in love with how my speeches made people feel. The joy, the optimism, the tears. I held on to that, and I wanted more. So, that lead me to acting, and then I was able to put acting and dance together. I spent most of my teenage years learning and growing with a professional group of kids and adults at the True Colors Theatre in Atlanta. I starred in the annual productions of The Wiz and Black Nativity. Kenny Leon, Patdro Harris, and J. Michael (May he rest in peace) made me who I am. These men loved us, and pushed us and expected greatness from us always, no matter how old you were. I learned true work ethic from these men.
While in school, I started choreographing my own dance pieces. Having seen the amazing work of others I admired, I wanted to do my own. So, I entered in the Reflections Competition and won two years as Best Choreography. This was the first time I combined film and dance, which blew my mind! Because I loved film in the same way I loved dance; that both of these storytelling art forms could be done without words. That one particular shot could reveal the whole ending of a film, amazed me.
So, at that time I fully dove into acting. I attended acting school in New York, where I actually realized that I wanted to be a director, Ha!
During school, I had the opportunity to create a few film shorts. Then after school, I realized that I could still do that. So, I started writing. Then I stopped writing. Then started again, and you know how that goes. But fast forward, and life and work brought me back to ATL! I was super excited to see what all had happened while I was away, and really dive back into the Atlanta Film + Theatre scene.
The first place that welcomed me with open arms was Onstage Atlanta, where I played Kate in GOOD PEOPLE, one of my favorite plays. I went on to do MORNINGSIDE, and we just wrapped SPRING AWAKENING, which was literally a dream come true. In the midst of all that I was producing and directing one of my first films in Atlanta, The Nine Month Mother, which is centered around a middle-aged woman who becomes pregnant in unexpected but exciting circumstances, only to find out mid-term that the child is incompatible with life, which leads her to make an important and difficult choice.
I went on to Executive and Creative Produce a film called, MEMAW, which follows a young woman who is in the middle of creating life as a first-time mom, and losing a life, as she watches the grandmother who raised her pass away. The film has already been accepted into two film festivals, and will be screening at the Screening Room ATL this month!
I have recently directed two more films, CHANGES, and Moving On and I look forward to their post-production trajectories as well.
And in the midst of all that, I booked some really great film projects as an actor, including an incredibly funny and too real series called TOUGH LOVE. I’m super proud of it! The creatives on this project were amazing, and not only that, the project has become official selections in festivals in LA, CHICAGO, NASHVILLE, and ALABAMA.
And in the midst of all that…there’s a theme happening here…I expanded my teaching career. I’ve taught acting classes for several years, but I expanded my teaching to adults this past few years including acting technique and script analysis. I’m a bit of a nerd when it comes to acting. I truly love words and analyzing moments in a script. So, I created a curriculum that teaches actors how to be smart, because always about being a “good actor”. It’s great if you book a role, but I think people struggle with the part that comes after that, which is the work. So, I give adults tools to use when you book, how to analyze and breakdown a play, or screenplay or scene. How to rehearse in a way that always you to find new moments each time, using your conscious to access your subconscious, and getting to the acting that can not be explained.
I don’t believe in “breaking people down to build them up.” I believe that acting is an incredibly vulnerable and brave art form, and it takes courage and trust to truly open up and allow yourself to go to places you’ve never been before and to do that in front of people who are inherently judging you, is insane. So, my goal is to approach the art form respectfully and the people I am teaching respectfully, keeping in mind that what we do is incredibly hard. I have learned that leading with compassion, understanding, patience, and authenticity, yields trust in an actor, allows them to trust themselves and to begin to truly trust their own instincts, which in turn allows them to access parts of their subconscious with bravery and confidence. It really is amazing watching an actor grow, even seasoned actors trying things they may have been afraid to do is incredible. Which I think is why I love directing, because it truly encompasses almost everything I have learned and experienced in my life so far. I’m excited for the next projects I have coming up, looking forward to collaborating with some really talented artists, and I can’t wait to bring the next visions stewing in my head to life.
But the next thing I have coming up are headshot sessions! I host headshot sessions with an incredibly talented photographer. We assist actors on a budget, and make high quality photos affordable. Not only do we take high-quality headshots, but we also personally consult with you to help narrow down your type and coach you onset so that your headshots are not just a pretty picture, but that they work for you. Check us out especially if you’re looking for an agent and need headshots, or if your agent is telling you that you need new headshots. We’re happy to help.
You’re welcome to visit my website for info on directing, producing, where you can take my acting classes, private coaching, and info on upcoming headshot sessions www.marquelleyoung.
Has it been a smooth road?
There’s no such thing as a smooth road. Smooth roads are boring. Struggles along the way for sure. My very existence is a struggle. I am young, I am black, I am female, and I am not quiet. I am not a victim, but I am challenged on a regular basis because of who I am, and yet I still find myself apologizing for my existence.
I think like many young adults, I still don’t really know what I’m doing, I expect way too much from myself, and I care way too much what people think. I question choices I’ve made, but overall, every struggle I have had has helped me get back to me. I think everyone loses a little bit of themselves in school, teenage years, and through social pressure. We lose who we once were at our core. And I think these struggles have helped me find the small voice inside me that’s still there, that’s always been there and every year that voice gets just a little stronger.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
ATL is a thriving and upcoming city that has not been overrun yet! If you’re going to find a place to grow your business, do it here and do it now. Before it’s too late. But really, Atlanta is home for me and I’m so happy that this city is growing the way it is. It’s not perfect, and I do think we need to make sure that we set the standard as ATLiens, that we are professional artists to be taken seriously, and we are a force to be reckoned with.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.marquelleyoung.com
- Phone: 7709909518
- Email: marquelleyoung@gmail.com
- Instagram: @marquelleyoung
Image Credit:
Karen Cannon, Stephanie Eley, Azariah Oldacre, Johnny Serato
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