Video: Tony Nominee Kara Young Wants to Change Your Mind and Make You Think

Hello, I'm Richard Ridge for Broadway World

One of the seasons most talked about breakout performances is Kara Young as Jess in Martina

Myoak's Cost of Living at MTC. And I caught up with Kara here at the Museum of Broadway

First of all, I am thrilled to see you and be sitting with you here at the Museum of Broadway

Me too! I, every time I see you, you have the best clothes, the best shoes

Thank you so much. You always give me the best compliments on my clothes. I feel every time I see you, I always feel much better about what I'm wearing, always

I always went into you somewhere like, I'm like, what are you doing on 403rd? Oh, I'm in between a reading

I'm like, you know, right? We always run into each other on the street. It's true. It's true. You know, you gave one of the finest performances in cost of living this season

how special was that show for you to work on? First, thank you so much

It was incredibly special to work on. It was, you know, Martina Mayoke is a first-generation American

and Jess was a first-generation American. And, you know, it's as if, like, Jess is holding so much of her mother with her

and all of the hard work that her mother did to get her to where she, you know, an Ivy League education

And, you know, our parents do so much for us. And I'm also a first-gen American

So it was very meaningful to me to pay homage to that character, to all of the characters of the world

of being first-gen's in the world, and knowing how hard our parents have just done everything they can to give us a foundation

to give us life, to make life comfortable. Okay, you take a role and you just inhabit it

I mean, I watched everything you've done in New York since your Labyrinth days and everything else

But, I mean, what attracted you to cost of living in Jess? Because, like I said, you became Jess, Jess became you

What was it? What's that connection? Oh, man, you know, there's so many similarities

but there's so many differences. And, no, I'm not an Ivy League grad. I'm not as smart as Jess

but there was something about like the hard work of and there's a part of her that's very selfless

I mean I'd like to think that the act of doing this work on the in the theater is is

ultimately a selfless act when we do plays like cost of living because it doesn't

takes so much out of you, but you know that you're giving a voice to a life that is usually

kind of thrown under the rug and nobody gets to see. I mean, and, and, and, and, and

Martina Mayoke is such a genius because that, that entire play to me, and it's about many other

things, um, but it's the capitalistic structure within our world and when people are

actually in need of each other. and the and like the the the it's almost like like the core of what it means to be

needed to be wanted to be seen to be heard to be taken care of what intimacy is

so I feel like you know all of the actors including Martina and Joe

Bonnie giving themselves over to this play in the way that you know

Jobonny's been developing this play and and and my my My incredible scene partner, Greg Mosgala

has, and Katie Sullivan have been a part of this play for so long

that it's like beyond about me, or it's about the work. And how that particular play has shifted so many people's

just like their core of what humanity is to them. People walked out and was like, I want to

can I give you a hug? Like, you know, to each other, like random strangers

And then we had one night, we had a caretaker night. And that was one of the most special things

It was one of the, for those people to be seen and heard was

you almost think like that's the reason why we do what we do, you know, for people to have visibility

Yeah. I didn't need you make you cry. No, it's just get so deep

It always gets so deep. It's such a moving piece. You mentioned your co-stars

Then David added to the mid-deal. And David, David, Day is, oh, my God, he's like my theater uncle

I love him so much. And, you know, I know David and Liza through the Labyrinth Theater Company, and they've been so

supportive of everything since I've known them. And to be in a play with him was just, it was a dream come true

And to see him work was every night was just so special

How are you able to leave the emotional, journey you take in this show. How are you able to leave it at the stage door at the end of each night

That a really that a that a really great question because I almost feel like throughout the years I feel like I take a little bit of everyone with me It hard to let them go because I feel so a part of them

And, you know, it's so challenging to try to fill a whole human life within two and a half hours

you know, without an intermission, you know, or like, however long plays are

But sometimes I don't even know, like, how long the run is. but it's a challenging thing to let them go

I still get revelatory moments in my eyes, like, oh, my God

like still sort of exploring. Because I was going to ask you, what unlocked Jess for you

Like I said, you become her, she becomes you, and that's the hardest thing for an actor, I'm sure

to find that balance of, like, the audience thinks I'm this person, right

Don't you think? Yeah, well, I don't know. even know how to answer that because I almost feel like I'm in car I would like to believe that

I'm in constant discovery and wanting to dissect as much as possible because like I said before

it's really hard to honor a life a whole life in just the moments that you see them in the scenes

that you see them so I'm constantly thinking about what they're doing outside of this like

you know like the I guess it's sort of like a basic actor exercise

of where they're coming from, where they're going, and what their entire day has looked like

Before they got there. Before they got there. How much money does she have right when she walks in the door

How much money does she know she's going to make when she does this job? The fact that it's off the books

You know, when she was five years old, what her teacher was like

Who were the people that nurtured her? Who are the people that made her feel

grand, who are the people that made her feel low? I feel like it's just a, it never stops until the last performance

And then in my head, it just doesn't stop because it's just, they're just here and, you know

Yeah. All right, having your playwright and Joe Bonnie. Oh my God, Joe Bonnie

Had you worked with her before? No, this was the first time. And I, I mean

I mean, Joe Bonnie is like, like, I like to, she has like a paintbrush and it's like really, really, she has like a big one and then like a like a bunch of little ones

And she's just so like it's just very, the very littlest thing can really shift the entire story of that scene or of that moment

And it's like the, it's just, she's wonderful. She's an artist. Yeah, I think her history is like she has a history as an artist

She has a history obviously as a director, but Joe Bonnie is the real one

Yeah. She's a real one, for real. You know, you were talking about Labyrinth. How life-changing was it becoming a member of Labyrinth Theater Company

So many incredible people. So many great writers. So many great roles for you

Wow. There are people, those people, I look up to those people so much

And, you know, I have to shout out my late mentor, Craig Mums Grant, who was the person who introduced me to Lab

And, you know, he was like my big brother. And he really kind of took me under his wing

And at the time, I was very, very green. But, you know, Craig introduced me to a world that I would have never entered if it wasn't for him

To know those playwrights, to know, to know. those actors, to know those directors, to know those people that, you know, Labyrinth feels like a place

where they're really helping to cultivate the best artist that you can be across the board. Yeah

You know, and by, like, almost by any means necessary, like, you need to do your best

And, like, what is the, what is the deepest truth that you can find

Because that's where we're going to move from, you know? Yeah, but look at the people you work with there

I mean, you have Stephen Adlerges, Halfway Biches, Go Straight to Heaven

Jeff Augustine's, the New Englanders, C.A. Johnson's, all the Natalie Portman's. Oh, my God

Well, yes, Jeff. So I, so, so, um, the New Englanders, I was workshopping for about four years before it got a production

Four years. Yeah, yeah. Oh, my God. And, and I mean, that calf

Oh, man, Crystal Finn. I just, I, I, I'm in love with, like

everybody that I work with. And then CA Johnson's, all the Natalie Portman's

I was workshopping that play for about three years before it got a production

And the incredible Kate Lariskey. And, I mean, and CA as a writer, I

oh man, I get revelations about Keanu all the time. I really put you on the map that show

Oh, man, that show. And Elise Kibler and Joshua Boone and Rennika, Danielle Williams

I mean, just so many, and Montego Glover. Oh my God, just so many incredible people

I can't, I, it's, I, my brain is like, sometimes I'm like, wait, what

Like how How How Yeah Because like I really I look up to everybody that I work with because they such beautiful artists So beautiful

Then there's Lynn Notage as Clydes. Oh my God, and Lynn Notage

Broadway debut for you? My Broadway debut. In a Lynn Notage play

Opposit who? Uzo Aduba. Ron Seethes Jones, Edmund Donovan, Reza Salazar. Yeah. Brilliant

And you got to make sandwiches. And I got to make sandwiches. So you're a chef now. You put that on your resume, right

Listen, I, Sue, Chef. I will cut some vegetables for you because that was the practice, remember? Wow

That play was incredible. I mean, working with Linnaudge was really, really, really, really special to me, for me

for like, just like what, just that moment and being with you

with her, like Lynn Notage came to rehearsal every single day, if you can imagine, while working

on MJ the musical and intimate apparel, the opera, every day. That's what she does

That's what she does. And so much more, and she's always working

And to me, that's just like the work just never stops. Never stops

And she was working on that play for years, you know? It's just

she probably left with so much creative energy at leaving your rehearsal room to go home to work on MJ or to work at legitimate apparel saying look what I learned today watching you all make magic we have to talk about your dad my dad I love him so much I have known your dad for years because I've done well I've been in this business for over 25 years and we used to cover all these incredible things at the rainbow room yeah so thinking to myself he's always he's served me he's looked out for me he's sat me he's looked out for me every time I've gone there oh my goodness he's gonna love him

I love this. All right, but I have to ask you about him because I love your initials. Yes

So your full name is what? Kara Aaron Young. Okay, and the initials stand for what

Well, so my father also, my father and my brother, my brother is junior

And so we all have K-E-Y. And my father, he says that you are the key to your own destiny

You create your world. the key to open the doors to your world

And so he's always sort of instilled that in us ever since we were kids, why I have the same

initials as him. Is that amazing? The journey? Okay, so when you told your parents you were going to be an actress

Now, your mom isn't radiology? Well, no. My mom was a physical therapist for a really long time at Harlem Hospital

Okay. Where I also had like my first job where I also was bored. I had my first job there in the summertime

You know, I got to stack my little coins. Anyway, and then... What did you do there

I was working for this fabulous, beautiful black woman who told me that when I turned 60

you better dye your hair blonde, girl. And I'm a little early for that

but I followed her lead. She was so, she was like this really fabulous woman

but I was sort of her assistant, sort of. Like, she had an assistant

but then I would, like, that I was her assistant. Of course. So it was like, what do you need

Like, what can I get for you? You need anything for what? Like, you know. So when you told your parents, you want to be an actress, didn't your mom say maybe

become a radiologist? Yeah, because she was like, here, there's this program. You could go to radiology school

You know, and I was just like, mom, like, no. You know, I was like, no

And I've had like all the menial jobs. Yeah. I've done, I've worked in the restaurant industry for so long

And, you know, we were at Chippriani 42nd the other night. 42nd the other night. I was like, I've worked this room so many times, you know

Yeah. Wined up with white wine or something. I know. I was like, totally. Like I saw this young girl

She was, she didn't look like me at all, but her energy was like so like, I was like

hi, I'm you and you are me. Like I've been here before, you know. Um, yeah, I, I, and then my

dad, you know, my dad is a very practical person. Um, um, I, I, and then my dad is a very practical person. Um

I mean, initially, they weren't for it, but they weren't for it because they were protecting me, you know

And I was just like, y'all, listen, if it never cracks, I just know that I'm going to be so happy doing this every day of my life

And they were like, okay, all right, you know, but they've been so supportive along the way

They come to every single show of mine. I mean, my parents are really incredible

And I feel really, really blessed to have them in my life on this journey

You know, it would, they're... Well, they set you up with giving you the initials and your dad saying

you're your own key to your own destiny or whatever journey you take. Yeah

He gave you the key. Both of them did. Yeah. You took them last year to the Tonys, didn't you

I did. Yeah. But okay, so the Tony nominees luncheon. You can't bring anybody

It's just for the nominees or whatever else. But who's there taking care of your table

My dad? I love that. My dad, my dad was working. And, you know, there's a special moment

Emilio Sosa, bless him. He changed our lives because in the moment that he was giving me my nomination plaque he paused and he said you know I walked in here for rehearsal this morning and I paraphrasing

but he said, like, I walked in here for rehearsal this morning, and there was a gentleman

who was beaming with pride saying that his daughter got nominated for Tony, and his name is Clay Young

And on cue, my dad was like holding the tray with Coca-Cola for somebody, or a Diet Coke for somebody

And the entire room just rose to their feet and gave him a standing ovation

And I constantly think about this moment as like such a monumental, like magical New York moment

But also in the years that that place has been alive and thriving in all of the epicness that the rainbow room is and always has been

when has a server ever been acknowledged in that room in that way

It was just... A full circle moment. said your dad has always been very nice to me every time I've gone to that room and I've been

going to that room for like 26 27 years. Wow. Wow, that is so special. What does it mean to

to be an actress? Which could have been a radiologist. I could have been a lot of things

You know, I used to do hair in high school. I used to make cakes when I was 12 and sell them. Like

I could have done. I hope you have all this stuff on your resume. I should. I should. I don't

Special skill, special skill, Chots vegetable does hair. Right. Can play a radiologist now, though

I can play a radiologist now. What does it mean to be an actress

To be a fabulous actress, which you are. Thank you so much. It just, the answer will evolve

because I actually don't think about this very much, but, you know, there's a feeling that when a play is happening

or when you're telling a story, one of the most ancient things that we do is storytelling, right

You've heard stories from your parents, your family members, and we pass those stories down

And that's a part of the theatrical experience as well. But usually we're telling a story because there might be a lesson in it

or something to take with you for the rest of your life. And playwrights

and writers whose visions are so grand and vast and huge, and they hold the world in their spirits and in their souls

I feel like the act of storytelling is a way to shift consciousness in humanity

to really leave something with people that not changes them, but makes them think about what it means to be human

and what it means to see you know, I'm a black actor

what it means to see a black life what it means to what it means to

see a black life go on a journey in the most intimate of ways

which is the two hours plus that you get to spend in a theater with us

in a communal vibration of the most ancient ancient ways to be together in a space

I don't know the answer but it feels you feel like you're

you feel like you're changing the world at times you really do especially in a

Lynn Notage play especially in a Martina Mayoke play especially in a CA Johnson

play and a Jeff Augustine play like you feel Stephen Ali Girgirgus play you feel

like you're saying something like Stephen had this quote in, when we're doing halfway es

go straight to heaven at the Atlantic. And it said like something to the gist of

people don't get to hear these people, so we got to speak for them. These people have been thrown away, abused, you know

and we have to speak for them because nobody's going to hear them if we don't say

if we don't speak these words. But see, that's what a great playwright and a great cast does, you know

And like you said, The Caregiver Night, the Cost of Living was life-changing for all those

people because they saw themselves being seen. Yes. Right? Finally, the Tony Award

This is your second Tony nomination. Crazy, I'm still trying to catch up to last year

I swear, I'm really trying to be like, I'm like, I'm still trying to process Clyde

Well, now you've got two to process. I'm trying. And they both were seized

See what I can fill your mind with? Yes. Clyde's cost of living. I love you so much

Listen, I could watch you do anything. Like I said, thank you for just continuing to give us these incredible performances

And like you said, letting people be seen. And just after we leave a show that you're in, we go out for a meal or something and we can discuss a play or whatever else

But you're absolutely brilliant at what you did. Thank you so much and thank you for talking to me today. I love you so much. You always make me feel so great

I love you. I love you so much. Oh, that's great