Saycon Sengbloh takes on her largest and most influential role to date as the muse of Fela Anikulapo-Kuti in Fela!, now playing at Broadway's Eugene O'Neill Theatre. Fela! explores Kuti's controversial life as an artist, political activist and revolutionary musician. Featuring many of Fela Kuti's most captivating songs and Bill T. Jones's imaginative staging, Fela! is a provocative hybrid of concert, dance and musical theater.
Saycon took time between shows to sit down and chat with BroadwayWorld about her "amazing opportunity."
So Fela! tells the real story of an influential African political/musical figure and the events surrounding his life and actions and musical works. Do you feel that this is an important story to tell an audience, especially an audience that may not know much about the history of African art and government?
SS: Yes, of course. I feel it is extremely important for people to learn about African politics, about world politics. And I think it's important to teach people about Fela Kuti because he was also a composer. He was so wonderful! You know, I was on the train and I ran into someone and he kept saying to me "who did the orchestration for the show?" and I'm just like, well, Fela did! People should be aware of him and his artistry and the level of his contribution and the impact that he had on politics in Nigeria. And how he inspired people all around the world.
The music is just so full of life; it had the audience dancing the whole time. And it was interesting how the original dialect was either kept or clarified for the audience.
SS: Well some of the songs were translated from their original versions so that they could be more easily understood. But a lot was kept and expressed in other ways.
Your role of Sandra is a huge part of Fela!. How did it feel to land this substantial part?
SS: Let me tell you, it was one of the toughest auditions I've ever had! It came down to me and another actress and we had to sing and dance, it was a lot. Actually my friend had told me about Fela! a long time ago when it was in workshop and I had wanted to be a part of it then, but it wasn't a union show. So once it was and I was able to audition I jumped at it. But it's just amazing to have the opportunity to audition for Bill T. Jones, let alone work with him.
You play a very important role- the first source of political influence and African pride that sparks the political drive in Fela and his return to Nigeria. This role of the strong and educated woman is not often a role played by females on Broadway. How does it feel to play such a unique role, both as a Broadway actor and as a woman?
SS: It's amazing because Sandra is a part of who Fela is. The show itself is breaking so many boundaries with Broadway musicals. But it is really a gift to play a woman who has actually lived this amazing life. She lives in California now, I spoke to her on Christmas before we started rehearsals.
That is so amazing! How wonderful for you both.
SS: You know, you just have to remember that she really is alive and Fela was alive- this is a real story about real people. So there is this extra pressure! This woman actually made this massive impression, and I wanted to do this act some justice. She came to the show and I wanted her to appreciate my take on her life. Of course it is a dramatization, but it is still documenting someone's life. And I hope that I did her proud in representing her.
Well, did she give you positive feedback?
SS: (Laughs.) She did yeah. She said "You did me justice!"
The show is extremely emotional, in both positive and negative ways. It also involves the audience quiet a bit - we are up on our feet dancing and drinking and signing along with you. How does being in this show differ from the others you have participated in?
SS: With this show we really tapped into something personal. You know, I do musical theatre and have been doing it for a long time. But I'm not necessarily the type of person who listens to show tunes all the time. So with this, it was so social for us all. These are the tunes that we listen to when we all go dancing. I love listening to it. So when I'm tired and we have to do a matinee and my bones are achy, I'm still so thrilled to be a part of it.
