Lulu Fall (she/her/hers) is an entrepreneur, singer, award-winning songwriter, Broadway & TV actor, abstract visual artist, and Executive Director of Cabaret 313.
How did you get started in the arts?
I truly believe that the arts chose me as a child. For as long as I can remember, I have always had a keen interest in the arts. Hailing from Washington, DC with lovely African parents, they saw that the creative bug hit me, and subsequently threw me in as many after school and arts outreach programs as they could afford. This was my start to studying dance, music and theatre.
If you could direct/produce one show, what would it be and why?
I am too scatterbrained to direct, but I do think I have the ability to produce, particularly because of my compartmentalization skills, and therefore the ability to view things a bit more objectively. That said, I would want to produce "Abbott Elementary". That show makes me laugh incredibly hard, and the dry humor acting is something I gravitate towards. Being able to witness the magic in real time, witness the actors' moments-before, while also overseeing the work being done would fuel me!
If you could play one character in all of theatre or film, who would it be and why?
I have always dreamed of being a Marvel villain. Although no specific Marvel movie or TV show comes to mind, I have simply always adored Marvel productions, and their creative ways of suspending disbelief, creating palpable and realistic worlds. I have a huge imagination, and I believe that is the main reason behind me wanting to play a Marvel character. Why a villain? Villains have more fun!
Name two artistic role models and why you look up to them.
Nina Simone is definitely one of my artistic role models. I remember in college, I did a deep dive into her life, including her songwriting methods and artistic activism. Nina was not only ahead of her time artistically, she was also incredibly unafraid to speak her truth through her music (politically, personally, etc). Even if you were not terribly familiar with her music, once you heard her play a dissonant chord and sing a note, you knew exactly who she was. Her unapologetic musical distinction, soulful energy and way of being is what largely influences me.
Dianne Reeves - iconic Jazz singer - is another idol that I simply fell in love with. Her voice is also incredibly distinctive. Although Dianne can sing just about any sub-genre of Jazz, her iconic worldly approach to the music is what keeps me in awe of her. She pushes barriers through her scat solos, and although the instrumentation in her music is fairly traditional, her artistic energy fuses African, Soul and Jazz, which simply makes her a complete genre-bending genius to me. As a songwriter, she offers me the "permission" to fuse unlikely genres, and remember that it's ok to dare to be different.
What did you want to be when you were a child? Are you fulfilling that dream?
I wanted to be a ballerina when I was a kid! That very quickly transformed into wanting to be a "superstar". Although I am no one's ballerina, I do believe that I am fulfilling my dream of superstardom in my own artistic right. As a singer, songwriter, Broadway and TV actor, and newly an abstract visual artist, I am using my artistry as a way to connect people and bring healing to communities. Entering a new phase in life by way of an executive directorship of a music non-profit in Detroit, I am continuing to find transformative ways to use my creative and performing artistry to fuel an organization. The possibilities are exciting, and limitless!
What is your dream for the Michigan Arts Community?
As I learn more and more about the metro Detroit communities, I see that the arts deeply thrive in the fabric of this glorious and cultural city. In the effort to continue to deepen those artistic roots, my dream for the Michigan Arts Community is to have creative/performing arts spaces readily available to all communities, especially black and brown communities. As a person who has emotional trauma due to grief, anxiety and some depression, I understand the transformative power of the arts, and its ability to heal from the inside, bridge gaps and more.
What role/show/experience on your resume is most memorable and why?
"Hair", the love rock tribal musical, would have to be the most memorable show on my resume to date. This show represents a lot of firsts: my first national tour, my first break into New York theatre and Broadway theatre and culture. This show was the start of me understanding myself as a young professional artist: what drives me artistically, how my relationships inform my approach to performing on stage after stage, how to ground myself as an artist, while also producing my best show 8 times a week, all over the country.