“I’ve done quite a few productions with the Alliance Theatre, Jomandi Productions, [Kenny Leon’s] True Colors Theatre, 7 Stages Theater and the 14th Street Playhouse,” shares D. Woods about how she was cast for A Mother’s Love, Kandi Burruss and Todd Tucker’s musical stage play.
Woods’ acting career is in full bloom. Along with Burruss, Woods is a graduate of East Point, Georgia’s Tri-Cities High School where she found her love of music, film and theater. Here, she talks about how she became business savvy and why she loves to perform.
How would you introduce yourself to someone you meet for the first time?
D. Woods, a triple threat: dancer, singer and actress who is now the CEO of WoodGrane Entertainment. I just did a joint venture with Sony RED Distribution. Look out for my upcoming LP this fall titled My Favorite Color and for me in the film Blackbird alongside Mo’Nique and Isaiah Washington. It’s making its round in the film circuit and will go to commercial theater in early 2015, as well as on tour with A Mother’s Love.
When it comes to dancing, singing and acting, what do you love most?
All three. I’ve never separated them; it’s like being trilingual. I started in dance first, which is like my native tongue, English. I picked up music and drama, but I use them all equally and each informs the other. That’s why I studied musical theater at NYU.
You’re using dramatic intention when you’re singing. You’re adding emotion to your dance. You’re using rhythm, the musicality, when you’re doing music or dancing. You have to have music education as a dancer as well.
What work or performance has had a profound impact on you?
I studied African griots when I was in school. I did a lot of Africana studies and traditionally, they don’t separate music from storytelling to dance. It felt very natural to me before I was aware of our culture and heritage.
How important has your formal education been in shaping your craft(s) and your career?
Everyone has a natural gift at something. If you don’t feed it, you will plateau. Without my various experiences, instructors, choreographers and situations, I wouldn’t have been prepared for the next opportunity or excelled. I’ve had many examples and mentors who prepared me for experiences I encountered. I recalled their advice when situations arose.
I took music business and arts administration courses throughout high school and college. Once I got into the business, I wasn’t surprised when things went down. I knew what to look for. I knew how to read a contract. I wasn’t caught off guard. I knew the questions to ask and who to go to find information that I didn’t know about.
