10 Questions
Take Ten - LOUIS E. DAVIS
There are no days off for LOUIS E. DAVIS. Fresh off his turns in Taffety Punk's Antigonick & The Fragments of Sappho and WSC Avant Bard's Topdog/Underdog, the Baltimore native jumps right back into the thick of it to play the title role in Dr. Seuss' The Cat In the Hat. Director Adam Immerwahr (Theater J), brings the wacky children's classic to life at Adventure Theatre MTC through August 18. In this week's Take Ten, Davis tells us about falling asleep during his first theater experience, sewing costumes with the late Reggie Ray, and shares with us some of his biggest influences and which actress has a "kung-fu grip" on his "adolescent heart."
1) What was the first show you ever saw, and what impact did it have?
That would have to be a field trip to The Nutcracker in elementary. Let’s say I got some good rest.
2) What was your first involvement in a theatrical production?
Freshman year at Howard University I had the pleasure of taking Costuming from the greatest, Reggie Ray, for my Technical course. That year I believe we did Timbuktu. The amount of Cowrie Shells I sowed/stitched on those costumes, sheesh. I miss that man dearly though.
3) What’s your favorite play or musical, and why do you like it so much?
Easy, Word Becomes Flesh [produced by Theater Alliance]. It created a family and affirmed the type of art I hope to create in the future. Shoutout to my brothers!
4) What’s the worst day job you ever took?
It wasn’t a bad job per say, but I did drive for Swift delivery carrier using my own car. The money I was getting was not great when you factored in the miles and my insurance company was going to drop me, so I had to let that go after like 3 weeks.
5) What is your most embarrassing moment in the theatre?
Another easy one. The FINAL show in the FINAL minute of Dontrell, Who Kissed the Sea at Theater Alliance and I go to move a set piece to center stage in our choreo. As I run up and go to put it down, I slip ever so slightly and land flat on me booty. I may have let out a mild expletive starting with an 's' and ending in 't'. Sooo upset with myself.
6) What are you enjoying most about working on The Cat in the Hat at Adventure Theatre MTC?
The cast. We’re having a lot of fun.
7) Other than your significant other, who’s your dream date (living or dead) and why?
First things first, shoutout to my lovely Keila! However, Nia Long has a Kung-Fu grip on my adolescent heart.
8) What is your dream role/job?
The next one. It’s a blessing to keep growing and being part of this community. I would like to travel with my talents though too.
9) If you could travel back in time, what famous production or performance would you choose to see?
I recently got to take on Booth from Susan-Lori Parks Topdog/Underdog. Jeffrey Wright and Don Cheadle did it first, then Yasiin Bey (Mos Def) & Jeffrey Wright did it. I want to see both productions. Those three men have been huge influences to me from stage, tv, film, and music. Mos should be on everyone’s Top 5 MC’s List…@ me thekid_kinglou
10) What advice would you give to an 8-year-old smitten by theatre / for a graduating MFA student?
Have fun with it and don’t rush to grow up. Grind, grind, grind and grind, but try not to get impatient. Your path won’t be your peers path.
LOUIS E. DAVIS is thrilled to be making his Adventure Theatre MTC debut with The Cat in the Hat. You may have seen him recently in WSC Avant Bard’s Topdog/Underdog. Other credits include Constellation Theatre’s The Master & Margarita; Solas Nua’s The Frederick Douglass Project; Taffety Punk’s Don Juan, Antigonick; WSC Avant Bard: King Lear; Imagination Stage: The Freshest Snow Whyte; Mosaic Theater Co.: Charm; Folger Theatre: The Second Shepherd’s Play; Theater Alliance: Word Becomes Flesh, Dontrell Who Kissed the Sea; Rorschach Theatre: A Bid to Save the World, She Kills Monsters. Some television credits include Investigation Discovery Channel’s House of Horrors: Abducted & Who the (Bleep) Did I Marry… Louis holds a BFA in Theatre Arts/Acting from Howard University. “Thank you Ma for everything, I love & miss you!”
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