We had the good fortune of connecting with Angela Perkins and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Angela, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking

Risk taking in acting involves stepping out of my comfort zone and embracing vulnerability to bring depth and authenticity to the performances. Taking risks in acting can lead to breakthrough moments and memorable performances. However, it’s important to balance risk taking with proper preparation and guidance from the director and or the acting coach. Anyone that really knows me, I was that person who never said anything. I never wanted to be on stage but once the opportunity came, it changed my life.

Acting was a risk for me because I never wanted to act. How I started in this business, a Director was casting for a female role in a stage play. I inquired about my daughter and he said she was too young for the role and he was persistent, he reached out several times until I accepted the role. I met another director during these rehearsals, who took a chance on me to be a part of her productions. I met some amazing actors who worked with one of Houston’s known directors and they advised me to audition for her. I did and the rest is history. I worked with this director who was very hard on me. She saw potential in me but a lot of times we hate the process but when God has plans for your life we know it may not feel good but it will work for your good. Sometimes God will take you on a journey, that you didn’t think you need, to get you where he is trying to take you. I invested a lot of money into acting in the beginning, I would travel to Georgia, Louisiana, Tennessee. I spent more money traveling than what I received but I wanted to act so I didn’t mind. I stopped traveling once the Pandemic happened. I had the opportunity to work with several directors in Houston. In the midst of my acting, I saw a lot and decided I wanted to tell stories of hurting individuals who hide behind a mask. I decided to do a short film and from there I filmed another short film and then I did two stage plays. I went from acting to directing to teaching. The journey was never in my plans.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?

What keeps me busy is putting on stage plays, mentoring and I have partnered with an organization to teach Theater.  My Brand is Out The Ordinary Production and the  purpose is to serve a beacon of inspiration and focus on storytelling in a positive light that will resonate with the audience. No matter your circumstance there’s always hope. It is my mission to empower individuals to embrace their vulnerabilities and embark on a path towards healing and self-discovery through storytelling. I want to bring awareness by creating stories that people can relate to. We see it all the time and it’s overlooked. There are so many hurt individuals who hide behind pain but cover it up with a mask. We heard it before that hurt people hurt people. If there’s no healing, people will continue to project their unresolved wounds onto others. Some wounds were probably not your fault, but healing is your responsibility.
What sets me apart is being able to put content on stage that most people do not want to face, because it’s reality. Even though it’s about real-life problems, we give drama, comedy and inspiration to let everyone know that it doesn’t matter what you have done in the past or how someone has hurt you, turn that hurt into something positive. I’m excited that I’m still standing despite all the obstacles that have come my way.
Let me start with 2023, it will be a year to remember. This year has been a rollercoaster ride, with moments of excitement, inspiration, motivation, fear, and stress. To navigate the ups and downs of entrepreneurship, it’s important to celebrate small wins, concentrate on moving forward, and see the silver linings. Some other lessons I learned are keeping God first, creating a work-life balance, knowing that everything passes, continuing to learn, talking to other business owners, having an accountability partner, taking long walks, focusing on the process, persevering, focus and consistency. Also never let your emotions overwhelm you. Build a passionate and loyal team. I learned years ago to put my trust in God, not man. Man is fickle.

One last thing about myself and my brand is we all experience both positive and negative events throughout our lives. We should remind people that they should not get too caught up in the negative aspects of life and that they should try to focus on the positive things instead. It is important to remember that everyone goes through difficult times, but it is how we deal with those challenges that defines us.  

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.
There are many places in Houston to eat, drink, and hang out. There are also many great churches to visit as well. In my view, you should visit Nasa Space Center, Museum of Fine Arts and there’s a place that’s like a Cinema called Juliet which is a great place to eat. Like I stated, there’s so much to do in Houston.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
First, I want to thank God. My family whose been there since day one and my mentor Charlene Stampley.

I want to give a shot out to Darryl Wimberly. I remember seeing a post on social media over 11 years ago. The Director was looking to cast a female in his stage play, I reached out to him about the role for my daughter, but he said she was too young for the role. I thought that was the end, but the Director reached out to me regarding the role, I immediately told him no, I’m not interested. He was persistent until I agreed to accept the role. Another person I would like to give a shout out to is Tracy Bonner, she’s the reason why I decided to stay with Theater and Annie Johnson. Shout out to any Directors I have worked with who gave me an opportunity to perform in their film or stage play.

Website: www.outtheordinaryproduction.com

Instagram: Iamangelaperkins

Facebook: Iamangelaperkins

Youtube: @angelaperkins2020

Image Credits
Rudy Mui Photography Eric Carrington Jr Steve Baines

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutHTX is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.