Mona Swain Talks Pandemic, Musical Theater, and Taking Advice From Chadwick Boseman
The talented artist and well known TikToker, Mona Swain, has already sung and danced her way into our hearts. However, after interviewing her, I adore her for more than her gifts and talents. Dancing, singing, and acting is already a selective path that requires a special touch from God. But to do all three is rare and Swain is taking over musical theatre with all her of Black Girl Magic.
"I love musical theatre because I get to work in-depth with three of the art forms that I have loved forever: music, dance, and acting. I share a different type of love for each and with musical theatre, I can combine them all to make something unique to me.
I’ve loved theatre for as long as I can remember but I didn’t know it was my passion until I thought it an attainable dream. It’s kind of like being in love with someone. I believe you can’t fully fall in with someone unless a part of you thinks that that love might be returned. I didn’t think that theatre was something I could actually do with my life until I saw girls that looked like me living my dream".
As a young Black woman, especially one in the spotlight, senses can be heightened, and it can be easy for one's vulnerability to being manipulated. Yet, Swain is flourishing through this phase of her life with clarity and a smile
"My peace and sanity have been protected by the power of God. I always feel that I’m one coffee spill away from going full-on 2007 Brittney Spears. Prayer is something that has always kept me from letting me get the best of myself. I don’t burn out too easily because I'm a very determined person, so my boundaries can vary. I set boundaries with how people are supposed to treat me very directly, but I don’t feel that I set a lot of boundaries when it comes to dealing with myself. I am the person who is the hardest on me".
One way to ensure that your peace and sanity are protected is to be selective with who you have around. Your most intimate circle should be one that inspires you and challenges you for the better. To grow, it is essential to be comfortable with uncomfortability. Different perspecitves, introductions to new topics, indulging in interests, moral intellegence, all of these things contribute to our lives. That is the only true element that propels you to growth.
"I like having different types of friends because I enjoy hearing people’s different perspectives on life. I pride myself on being open-minded and enjoy hearing different people’s outlooks on life. My diverse friendships have led me to be a well-rounded person. As much as I value diversity in opinions, my closest friends and I all have to have the same morals at the end of the day".
This pandemic has hurt a lot of people as well as helped a lot of people. However the chips may have fallen varies, individually of course, but one consistent challenge is managing your daily schedule. Swain has a healthy way of structuring your day. Priortize your rest and organize your schedule according that.
"I’m someone who values sleep over most things. I find it very difficult to function without adequate rest. Typically, when I’m figuring out my schedule for the day, I base it all around my sleep schedule. Ideally, I like to sleep for 10 ½ hours, but obviously, that’s not always attainable and for that, I prioritize a minimum of 8 hours. There isn’t enough caffeine I can consume to get through the day if I haven’t had enough rest. Due to quarantine, I’m constantly busy all seven days of the week. All these days include a schedule of compiled of, one of my three my job that I have to help support myself and my family, posting content on my social medias, continuing to pursue my degree online school, and trying to make time for my friends and family. Nowadays, I’m barely meeting 8 hours a night consistently and it’s more like 6 hours a night with a few 30-minute cat-naps throughout the day if I can".
Learning from those that come before us, especially the greats, is essential to evolving. Swain used the words of Chadwick Boseman as an inspiring reminder to be devoted to her craft. Boseman is noted for saying, "As an actor, you're always a part of the character you're portraying. It's like wine being poured into your glass...it takes your shape." Swain completly agrees and recalls a specific moment when she channeled his advice.
"The last show that I did before COVID was a play called “The Underpants” by Steve Martin. I was cast as Louise Maske and it was the first time I was cast in a role that I didn’t identify with automatically. I already had an idea of how I thought the character was supposed to be portrayed. It was very much an “ingénue” type role but I had never been cast in a role like that before. I was having difficulties during the rehearsal process because my performances weren’t matching the idea I had in my head. I wasn’t the ingenue I pictured which was the image of a dainty white girl. Before this show, I was never allowed to be dainty or soft on stage. I was often cast as the loud black girl or the seductress so portraying such a different atheistic took some adjusting. I stopped trying to be the ingenue I thought I had to be and started being the ingenue I was. Once I got the preconceived notion out of what an ingenue was in my head, I was able to see that the character and I were the exact same person".
Mona Swain is a beautiful spirit and I learned so much from her vulnerability. If you don't already follow her on social media then do yourself a favor and start now. She lets you in in such a way that it's as if you're moving through the seasons of life with her. She is a light that manifests and radiates style, persistence, and strength.