Meet Karen Clark-Green | Actor/Singer/Choreographer/Director/Playwright

We had the good fortune of connecting with Karen Clark-Green and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Karen, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
I was born in .warren, Ohio in 1950. A time where a black child in a white word of performing arts was a phenomenon. I grew up in a white/black Italian neighborhood where we were all family. My family was a baseball family and then there was me!

My Mother worked at Fred Woods beauty salon, where all the stars went who came into town for the summer stock theater season ofThe Kenley Players. I would go to work with her and she was able to get me an audition and my first equity performance at the age of 9 was in the King and I with Betty White. One of the first summer stock equity touring companies in the country.; TheKenley players consisted of the top performers from Broadway and Hollywood.. John Kenley was a mentor that spanned across my career from 1959 – 1995 and was the biggest influence in my career,

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am a creative performing artist. My background and experience has me experienced in almost every genre. I grew up in the 50’s-60’s, a very different art experience for a young black girl at that time… I started in dance in a black dance school, ( blacks were not accepted in white dance schools then.) I went from dance to getting my first union job at the age of nine in the production of The King and I with Betty White. One of the first summer stock Equity touring companies began in my home town (Warren, Ohio ) known as THE KENLEY PLAYERS. The founder John Kenley was my greatest mentor and the biggest influence on my creative life.

I began orchestrating performances with the kids in my neighborhood and would sell popcorn and lemonade. I didn’t know I was imitating this producer, I thought I was just playing.

I sang In choir in school and church but never considered myself a singer. I couldn’t sing gospel, so I thought I count sing.

I went from child dancer/ actor to singing in the choir in Jr. high and forming a girls group. We all were in a group in the sixties. I never sang leads, just liked to sing. Eventually after high school, I decided to go to college, not interested in anything I decided to major in music, because I thought it would be easy.

Some of the professors were also part of the orchestra with the Kenley Players that I grew up working with and that’s why I got into this private music school. I was the second black voice major, introduced to opera, theory and a culture that I knew nothing of. It went from get out of our school because you are to militant to come to my house for dinner, after winning a couple vocal competitions.

The racism was so bad that I quit three times but returned because I was determined to not let them win! Once again, like dance school, I was in an arena where they said I didn’t belong.

Eventually, I auditioned to go to the AMERICAN institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria and was accepted. I also auditioned for The Gershwin Festival tour throughout Europe while there and did the lead in a world premiere opera in Vienna, Austria.

Now in my late 20’s, I went back to the states and rejoined the Kenley Players-doing musical theater.. I married in 1977, doing concerts and opera, got pregnant in 1978 and continued until I had three children. I went into the ministry for a while and then ran into an old college Professor at an opera, who invited me to be quest soloist with Cleveland Philharmonic Orchestra. Then I was back!

I went on to go to grad school to earn Masters degree. While there got pregnant again and invited to Italy to study. I spent a month in Milano with my coach.

So, not able to travel as much with four children I created Archangel Fine and Performing Arts Center in Youngstown, Ohio. in 1992. It produced a dance touring company and theater company. I’ve written 5 produced plays and 5 published books.. I’ve written numerous songs and choreographed hundreds of pieces. I’ve worked as a director, ( opera and theater)., producer, speaker, teacher, actor (film,/stage), dancer, choreographer, Minister, radio host.

After the death of my late husband I stopped the school, most of my students went on to major careers. In my later years I went into some film work. I was also quest acting coach at Actors Studio in Hollywood and performing arts director for a company in L.A.

I remarried in 2019 and relocated to Georgia. I am now 74 years old and have jumped back into my creative life full time. I work with Southern . Arc Dance Center in Newnan, Ga., getting ready to do a film and working to develop a Black Box Theater in our area and many more surprises.

I live on purpose, or there is no reason to live! Everything I do is my ministry from a spiritual perspective of making the world better, spreading light!

The whole purpose of something not being easy is to overcome it and grow. Perseverance and self worth is fuel to aid you in overcoming anything. I am most proud of my students, the lives I’ve touch and what I was able to instill in them. All of my children are in the arts; songwriters, dancers, actors all amazing singers.. Everything from jazz, to rap, to Broadway to opera to pop!

We are here to serve mankind for the good. I love pulling gifts out of people who don’t know what they have or who they are.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Since I’m new to the Atlanta area and came during the pandemic, it’s only been a couple years of really getting out.

My favorite places.. Piedmont park, Virgil’s Gullah Restaurant, Alliance Theater, Fox Theater, Centennial Park, Atlanta zoo, Sweet Georgia Browns, Georgia Aquarium, Ponca City Market,, Botanical gardens.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
John Kenley is at the top of my list. William Slocum, a professor at Dana School of music ( Youngstown State University) and Conductor for Cleveland Philharmonic Orchestra was my advisor and close friend. Maya Angelou, who I opened for in Cleveland, ohio gave me 10 minutes of advice that changed my life.

Website: https://Www.karenclarkgreen.com

Instagram: Mudalevdiva

Linkedin: Karen Clark-Green

Facebook: Karen Clark-Green

Youtube: Karen Green@karengreen888

Image Credits
Frank Franz. Photographer
Akron Beacon Journal
Richard Roberts. Photographer