I was born in Queens and raised in Brooklyn, NY to a Costa Rican and Jamaican father and Southern Mother. At the age of ten I lost my mother to cancer and moved around throughout my childhood until I was old enough to be on my own. I attended SUNY College at Brockport, where I originally majored in business, and a month into school I was cast in The Virginia Monologues and immediately changed my major to theater. I then went on to receive my MFA in Theater at Brooklyn College.
Right out of my masters program I was cast in The Colored Museum, by George C. Wolfe at The Crossroads Theater and received my equity card. I then went on to perform in Wait Until Dark, by Fredrick Knott at The Ivoryton Playhouse, With Aarons Arms Around Me with The Negro Ensemble Company at The Cherry Lane Theater, All American Girls written and directed by Layon Gray (writer of Black Angels Over Tuskegee) at The Actors Temple, and most recently Katori Hall’s Children of Killers at The Castillo Theater, as well as a variety of other venues throughout New York City.
I also begin playwriting and in 2010 wrote my first full-length solo show entitled, “Fishing in Brooklyn,” This piece follows a young woman who sets out to write a novel inspired by memories she shared with her mother fishing. All goes right when she gets help from the spirit of her dead mother and a Jamaican roots woman. Here I portray 27 characters infusing slam poetry and African drumming. This piece first premiered at The Rotunda Theater (West Philadelphia) and went on to be presented at The Woodstock Fringe Festival and the highly acclaimed Theater Row. This piece will be showing again in 2013 please visit my website for updates.
indieactivity: How Would You Describe Your Acting?
LaTonia Phipps (LP): There are several methods I use when approaching acting it truly depends on the piece. But I tend to depend more on the Stanislavski method. This is based on the concept of emotional memory for which an actor focuses internally to portray a character’s emotions onstage through the use of physical actions.
How Did You Get Into Acting?
LaTonia Phipps (LP): A year into undergrad, I was given the opportunity to study in theater in St. Petersburg Russia and Ghana, West Africa. I learned so much from this experience. These two enchanting places, though different in people, were rich with stories and culture. I felt as if each person I came into contact with was a puzzle piece that fit into a bigger plan. I immediately began to question what I could do to be apart of this? It was during these trips that I chose to fully pursue theater as a career.
Did you study acting?
LaTonia Phipps (LP): My acting education includes Suny College at Brockport, studied underneath the direction of Ruth Childs; St. Petersburg Russia Theater Arts Academy studied Russian Movement (etudes and bio-mechanics as well as Stanislavisky… approaching acting through physical movement); Brooklyn College (Marybeth Easley, Charlotte Fleck, Judylee Vivier and Laura Smith (Acting, Speech and Diction, Voice and Alexander Technique).
Do You Operate On Instincts When Acting?
LaTonia Phipps (LP): Well, it definitely depends on the moment and the material or even where I am on stage. Although I believe all actors to always be available onstage because no matter how much prep you do you should always be ready for a change. Which is where instinct comes in, however I tend to lean on both instinct and technique so I’m double prepared.
Describe A Few Wrong Impressions Actors Have About Acting?
LaTonia Phipps (LP): That it’s okay to be lazy and not do the work. If you are fully prepared and don’t book or don’t perform well it’s on you. But if you do all you can to be on point and it still doesn’t work out for you at least you gave 100 percent and that separates a professional from a lazy actor.
Do You Often Take Courses In Acting To Increase Your Craft?
LaTonia Phipps (LP): Yes. When I’m not working I like to take classes at Actors Connection. Just to stay relevant and brush up.
What Books Do You Read?
LaTonia Phipps (LP): I read plays mostly when I’m able. But currently, I’m reading right now are In The Continuum by Danai Gurira and Nikkole Salter and The Tao of Show Business by Dallas Travers.
How Do You Keep in Shape as an Actor?
LaTonia Phipps (LP): I cook at home more, watch what I eat and make sure I do something physical before the week ends.
What Physical Exercise Do You Do To Keep in Shape?
LaTonia Phipps (LP): I love biking… If New York didn’t have so many seasons I would do it all the time. Biking in the gym is not as fun because you don’t have the scenery.
When You Are Offered A Role, What Do You Do?
LaTonia Phipps (LP): Well, first I read the script. Just for the sake of reading it. And if I have time I try to read it again to take note of what the other characters are saying and thinking about the role I’m going out for. Then I reread the sides and began doing an “action scan,” which I learned in the Stanislavski method. Once my actions are done, I try to find a personal connection to the piece and lastly I grab a friend to run through it a few time with the different actions until I feel comfortable.
