SC State drama professor on getting the acting bug, living her dream and what’s next
And starting on Thursday, the spotlight will shine on Robinson’s writing skills, as SC State’s Henderson-Davis Players perform her original play, “Thirsty,” at the Henderson-Davis Theatre on campus.
Her career as an actress, playwright and professor dates back to her childhood in Greensboro, North Carolina. It all started at age 6 when she went Christmas caroling with her siblings and cousins. She prayed and dreamt of becoming a famous actress.
“We performed in front of the family during Christmas time, and my aunt suggested that we add more to the show, so we did a Black nativity scene. That same aunt then again suggested that we add talent to the show, so later it became a tradition,” Robinson said. “Everybody else stopped doing the show, and I kept doing it until my freshman or sophomore year of college.”
Also in her childhood, she was then introduced to soap operas and TV award shows, and her desire for acting, theatre, and writing really sparked.
“Growing up, I always wanted to work with C. Thomas Howell because I had a crush on him from when he played his role in ‘The Outsiders,’” Robinson said. “I fell in love with him then, but I’ve always looked up to people who were doing great things.”
Now, Robinson is doing her own great things. She garnered lots of national attention for her scene-stealing performance in Perry’s movie, “Divorce in the Black,” one of this year’s most watched movies on streaming services.
“Knowing your director and the kind of work this film is, goes a long way in helping you shape characterization,” Robinson said. “I learned how to come to the set every day and consistently deliver.”
Working with Perry on “Divorce in the Black” and “Beauty in Black,” Robinson learned to get her lines down quickly, understand her character, be ready for the camera, and understand the process of shooting a film rather than a series. She described it all as a dream come true.
Translating her success to the classroom and beyond
Robinson is a graduate of Shaw University, an HBCU in Raleigh, North Carolina. After being an adjunct professor at North Carolina A&T and teaching in public schools for nearly two years, she arrived at SC State University as a drama professor.
Robinson dedicates her acting career to her students as she brings her students along with her for special events like movie premiers, she mentors them through their acting gigs, and she even brings back the knowledge she learned from being on set.
Robinson does more than just teach courses -- she also advises SC State’s Henderson-Davis Players, writes and directs plays, host events, and serves as a mentor.
One of her most recent events was a lyceum for students and the community. The purpose of the lyceum was to get young people to begin to consider their career and goals.
“The event was open to community members so they can realize that you’re never too old to pursue your dream,” Robinson said. “You shouldn’t leave here without a plan, a course of action of things you want to do to live your best life.
“I want to help people pursue their passion and not spend years just kicking around, trying to figure out who they are and what’s going on with life before they get to that passion,” she said. “Because you can live your passion, and that was the purpose of it -- to inspire people.”
During the lyceum, Robinson invited Jamarius Wiley, a first-semester transfer student from Morehouse College, on stage to tell his story and encourage and motivate other young people.
“I wanted to make them feel as if no matter the environment you come from, if you push and want to achieve your goal, you can achieve it,” Wiley said. “Of course, you can dream when you’re sleep, but its better to dream when you’re up because you have the opportunity to achieve it.
“Nothing against Morehouse, but I see the way professor Robinson acted in the Tyler Perry movie. She actually put her heart in it and became the character,” Wiley said. “Her techniques are just different from what I was taught at my last college.”
Robison also was an integral part of the South Carolina Theatre Association’s convention last week in Orangeburg. The event included master classes from three SC State alumni: Javon Johnson, an actor on “Tyler Perry’s The Oval” who also is a producer, director and playwright; Erskine Johnson III, actor and founder of M2tI; and Calhoun Cornwell, filmmaker and director of Orangeburg 68, which was a finalist in the BET Project Cr8. Like Robinson, both Javon Johnson and Erskine Johnson have been in Tyler Perry productions. Erskine Johnson was the first African American inducted in the South Carolina Theatre Association Hall of Fame.
“Thirsty” is up next.
The next production for the Henderson-Davis players will be Robinson’s original play “Thirsty.” Performances will be Thursday, Nov. 14, through Sunday, Nov. 17 starting at 8 p.m. at the Henderson-Davis Theatre. The play contains adult themes.
Click here to purchase tickets.
For more information about SC State’s Professional Drama Program and the Henderson-Davis Players, visit the program’s webpage at www.scsu.edu/academics/programs/drama or contact Robinson at urobinson@scsu.edu or 803-536-8815. Apply for admission to SC State at apply.scsu.edu/apply.
The Professional Drama Program is a unit of the SC State Department of Visual & Performing Arts and the College of Education, Humanities & Social Sciences.