
Kamilah Forbes is the executive producer of the legendary Apollo Theater in Harlem. But she had a long, award-studded career as a director and producer before she got there. She studied theater at Howard University and partnered with Chadwick Boseman to make a play about their generation. Shortly after, she started the Hip-Hop Theater Festival, which led to the creation of the HBO series Def Poetry Jam, starring Mos Def. Over the showβs seven seasons, stars like Jaime Foxx, Kanye West, and Tracy Morgan appeared to perform spoken-word poetry. βAt that time, poetry on television was not a thing, so it was like, how do we bring these countercultures and opportunities to the mainstream? How do we bring the fray to the center?,β Forbes says.
That philosophy guided Forbesβs work as a curator for the Kennedy Center, where she brought in artists like John Legend and Nas to perform with the symphony. At the same time, she was directing Broadway and Off-Broadway plays, including Lorraine HansberryβsΒ A Raisin in the Sun, starring Denzel Washington (Forbes was the assistant director). We talked with her about βthe magic of theater,β what she wears to work, and how her style has evolved.
On her everyday outfit: I love a black bootie with a little heel. Thatβs what Iβm wearing right now; you can wear them with a dress or pants. Does it differ when Iβm traveling? Yes, because when Iβm traveling, I like to be comfortable. I like to travel in a sneaker kind of shoe.Β
I try not to change. Thatβs the worst thing. I hate trying to have three outfits for the day. Sometimes I do need to change, especially if itβs a gala or something, and that happens quite often, or if I need a little more dressy-dress. As a go-to, I love a black jumpsuit that I can wear in to work and just go out in and it still looks kind of funky.
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On packing: When I pack, Iβm carry-on all the way. If I can just do one bag, that is goals. If I could get rid of my purse, I would. I just donβt like traveling with a lot of stuff. What do I wear on the plane? It depends on if Iβm going straight into a meeting, because sometimes Iβm wearing my meeting clothes. Iβm wearing that black blazer to go from the plane directly into a meeting. But if not β and I do a lot of cross-country traveling to L.A. β I try to wear clothes that are as comfortable as possible. I will wear these really comfortable, go-to, dressy-looking-but-not pants with a top and a bomber.
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On an average day: I leave my house at a quarter until eight, I do drop-off with my little one β sheβs 3 and a half β at daycare. Most of the time, Iβm driving. I really like driving because I can wear whatever shoe I want, I can wear whatever coat I want, because I donβt have to worry about the weather, but I can also catch up on phone calls and I can listen to podcasts. When I get to the office, a lot of times (like today), I only get out of this chair to go to the bathroom. I am in meetings back to back, phone calls β itβs crazy. I have to carve out times to actually do my own work, and then six oβclock hits, and Iβm going home and doing it all over again.
On when she figured out her calling: I was always fascinated by what happens when you step inside of the theater, with the lights and the sound all working together with peopleβs voices and storytelling. I was fascinated by that at a very young age and then started doing a lot of theater in high school.
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On the best part of her job: Chasing possibility β the possibility of what the Apollo Theater is and what it can be β is what gives me joy. Thatβs the power of artistry and creatives, that theyβre constantly in that space of chasing what they see in their mind, whether itβs a song, a moment, a story, or a narrative. Youβre constantly chasing that point of euphoria, perfection, however you describe it, and working in that space is inspiring and joyful.
On the challenges of her job: The biggest challenge I face at the Apollo Theater is balancing how we build in a creative way with the realities of logistics management. There are constraints, whether thatβs timeline or financial, and theyβre always in a tug-of-war with vision.
On how her style has changed: I used to only come to work in baggy jeans and my kicks, that was it, and overalls. I used to stay in a pair of overalls. I donβt know why I donβt wear those, I think itβs because they donβt fit. Iβve literally grown out of my clothes.
Kamilah wears Aquazzura booties.
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