North Carolina Central University senior makes final play memorable

NCCU has made the show their own creative version and made it memorable.

Posted 4:16 p.m. Feb 14, 2020 — Updated 4:18 p.m. Feb 14, 2020

Siegee Dowah

, WRAL contributor

DURHAM, N.C. — Friday is the opening date for North Carolina Central University's rendition of Dreamgirls. Originally written by Mary Wilson in 1986, Dreamgirl: My Life as a Supreme has made way through the theatrical community by becoming a Broadway play in 1981 and then a movie in 2006. Its impact has been lasting on many thespians, including North Carolina Central University graduating senior Antwan Hawkins Jr. who is playing Curtis in this musical. This is Hawkins' final musical before he graduates this spring. “We made this show our own," Hawkins said.

NCCU has made the show their own creative version and made it memorable.

Baltimore, Maryland, native Hawkins was awarded the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF) Region IV scholarship and will be training in New York under the Open Jar Intensive where he and two other NCCU students are finalists.

Hawkins has been performing since he was 7 years old at church plays. He stated that after hearing the applause, he's been acting ever since. Hawkins decided to go into acting after attending Aladdin on Broadway, as a rising senior. “This show is going to be it. When I see this show it’s going to determine what I’m going to do with my life.” He wasn't sure whether to study biology or to study theater, however after the showing he made his decision. “I have to do this for the rest of my life. It’s just the energy of what happens in theater. It’s spectacular,” Hawkins said.

Hawkins said that NCCU has shown him how to be more disciplined on himself in relation to the integrity of his performance. His studies have also taught him how to be versatile in theater by knowing what to do on and off the stage and being more than just a performer. Hawkins said the most important thing he learned was the importance of black theater. “Black theater is always incredibly innovative and creative with its style. We just do things differently as African-Americans in theater. It's this nice and groovy type of thing," Hawkins said.

During his time at NCCU, Hawkins wrote a play to be submitted to the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF). Out of 60 students, only three scripts were chosen to be read and critiqued at the festival. Hawkins' play titled #SirienHathaway was awarded a certificate of civil engagement because of its social commentary. While in New York he auditioned for the "Open Jar Intensive" which is a competition based on singing, dancing and acting. Hawkins pulled through the nervousness and became a finalist. “Being on Broadway, learning from all these wonderful people, and being around others who are as talented if not more talented than me is a big deal to me," Hawkins said.

Hawkins' dreams for a future in theatrics and acting is "I just want to be an instrument of black culture." He said he wants to be a memorable and driving force in the 2020s culture. “I want to be able to unify black people and show the beauty in our culture," Hawkins said.

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