YOUNG MACON STARS |
Kahlil Harvey
Interview with Kahlil Harvey: 6/26/24
bio: Kahlil Harvey is a 19 year old, African American artist who grew up in Macon, GA. He is currently based in New York City as a college student finding his way into the entertainment industry. You may have last seen his work in Singin’ in the Rain at Theatre Macon where he played Cosmo Brown. Now, he is releasing music under the artist name “Syntell” and creating an internet presence on Tiktok (@itzkahlil).
Have you lived in Macon all your life?
Yes, Macon has been my home all of my life. The only time I’ve lived anywhere else is when I went off to college a year ago in New York City.
Where did you go to high school?
Central Fine Arts and IB High School.
When did you first think of acting, singing, and dancing?
The story is a little complex to say the least. I started doing this in 5th grade and didn’t really think anything of it until the pandemic hit. Up until then, I was convinced I would be a video game designer which in hindsight was only because I loved video games, not because I actually wanted to make them. I realized I had talent when I first competed in the 2019 GHSA State One Act Competition. Years later, I played the part of Leading Player in Pippin. That same day I saw Wicked on their National Tour in Atlanta, GA. Inspired! I realized that I want a career in theatre.
Does anyone in your family possess similar talents? ( the genes )My entire family are singers. My mom’s side of the family grew up singing in the church. That even lead to my uncle on my mom’s side becoming a professional gospel singer with the group Kevin Lemons & Higher Calling. My dad has always sung around the house; I see a lot of myself in what he does. I recently found out that my dad was also an amateur producer back in his day. He made rap inspired instrumentals, while I focus more on funk, disco, and pop sounds. I write music in addition to performing in musical theatre. All of this to say I definitely have inherited what I have from my family.
bio: Kahlil Harvey is a 19 year old, African American artist who grew up in Macon, GA. He is currently based in New York City as a college student finding his way into the entertainment industry. You may have last seen his work in Singin’ in the Rain at Theatre Macon where he played Cosmo Brown. Now, he is releasing music under the artist name “Syntell” and creating an internet presence on Tiktok (@itzkahlil).
Have you lived in Macon all your life?
Yes, Macon has been my home all of my life. The only time I’ve lived anywhere else is when I went off to college a year ago in New York City.
Where did you go to high school?
Central Fine Arts and IB High School.
When did you first think of acting, singing, and dancing?
The story is a little complex to say the least. I started doing this in 5th grade and didn’t really think anything of it until the pandemic hit. Up until then, I was convinced I would be a video game designer which in hindsight was only because I loved video games, not because I actually wanted to make them. I realized I had talent when I first competed in the 2019 GHSA State One Act Competition. Years later, I played the part of Leading Player in Pippin. That same day I saw Wicked on their National Tour in Atlanta, GA. Inspired! I realized that I want a career in theatre.
Does anyone in your family possess similar talents? ( the genes )My entire family are singers. My mom’s side of the family grew up singing in the church. That even lead to my uncle on my mom’s side becoming a professional gospel singer with the group Kevin Lemons & Higher Calling. My dad has always sung around the house; I see a lot of myself in what he does. I recently found out that my dad was also an amateur producer back in his day. He made rap inspired instrumentals, while I focus more on funk, disco, and pop sounds. I write music in addition to performing in musical theatre. All of this to say I definitely have inherited what I have from my family.
Is there anything that particularly inspires you?
I love seeing the product of what I create and what it does for the audience - seeing smiles on faces and making others laugh. The actors job is to live out emotions that people are afraid to live in real life. I often find that allowing myself to be the medium to inspire other people inspires me. I just like making people happy. If that’s all I get to do in my life, I’ll be content.
Do you have a favorite role you have performed?
So far, it’s been Cosmo Brown in Singing in the Rain. He radiates positivity and that’s what I’m all about! Once I stepped foot on that stage, I knew I had the audience wrapped around my finger - in a comedic way of course! He’s just the embodiment of joy and was a blast to perform on stage. I have recently been cast in "The Apple Tree" at Pace University. It is a 3-act play that I have three roles, one in each act -- Eve, Barbara, and Passionella. I believe that play will also be a contender for my favorite.
Where have you been studying your craft?
I have been off in New York City studying Musical Theatre at Pace University, one of the top 5 schools in the USA for Musical Theatre. I’ve been rigorously - and when I say rigorously, I mean rigorously - training to improve all of my skills in acting, singing, and dancing. The only training I had received before that was in tap dancing and now I’m learning ballet, jazz, opera technique, musical theatre singing, and the Meisner Technique. Beyond that, I’ve been given the opportunity to write songs for our class to perform at showcases and the like. Pace has grown me out of my shell and into a personality I’m glad to know was in me all along. Pace has taught me how to be free and here I am!
Where do you currently perform?
I’m currently in Newsies at Theatre Macon, but I’ve been performing all across Manhattan recently as well. I’m in the upcoming production The Apple Tree at Pace where I will be performing in drag for the third time now. This time, it won’t just be for one scene, it’ll be the entire show!
What are your aspirations for the future?I have a lot of aspirations, but I’d like to only mention three. The first being that I would love to originate or take on a role on Broadway that allows me to play into my gender identity more. Recently, I’ve been coming more in tune with my nonconformity and it has played a big part in how I view the world as well. I’d love to inspire people to take a look at the world and themselves through a different lens. Secondly, I’d love to see a work of my own, whether that be my music or my writing, blossom into something bigger than just the small circle of people who know me. I want the world to know my name. And third, using the last part of what I said, I want to inspire more young, black LGBTQ+ artists to be free to be themselves. There’s a lot of stigma around being queer in the black community, especially in the south. As someone with a platform, I could help raise the voices of people under scrutiny and help them be free to just live.
I love seeing the product of what I create and what it does for the audience - seeing smiles on faces and making others laugh. The actors job is to live out emotions that people are afraid to live in real life. I often find that allowing myself to be the medium to inspire other people inspires me. I just like making people happy. If that’s all I get to do in my life, I’ll be content.
Do you have a favorite role you have performed?
So far, it’s been Cosmo Brown in Singing in the Rain. He radiates positivity and that’s what I’m all about! Once I stepped foot on that stage, I knew I had the audience wrapped around my finger - in a comedic way of course! He’s just the embodiment of joy and was a blast to perform on stage. I have recently been cast in "The Apple Tree" at Pace University. It is a 3-act play that I have three roles, one in each act -- Eve, Barbara, and Passionella. I believe that play will also be a contender for my favorite.
Where have you been studying your craft?
I have been off in New York City studying Musical Theatre at Pace University, one of the top 5 schools in the USA for Musical Theatre. I’ve been rigorously - and when I say rigorously, I mean rigorously - training to improve all of my skills in acting, singing, and dancing. The only training I had received before that was in tap dancing and now I’m learning ballet, jazz, opera technique, musical theatre singing, and the Meisner Technique. Beyond that, I’ve been given the opportunity to write songs for our class to perform at showcases and the like. Pace has grown me out of my shell and into a personality I’m glad to know was in me all along. Pace has taught me how to be free and here I am!
Where do you currently perform?
I’m currently in Newsies at Theatre Macon, but I’ve been performing all across Manhattan recently as well. I’m in the upcoming production The Apple Tree at Pace where I will be performing in drag for the third time now. This time, it won’t just be for one scene, it’ll be the entire show!
What are your aspirations for the future?I have a lot of aspirations, but I’d like to only mention three. The first being that I would love to originate or take on a role on Broadway that allows me to play into my gender identity more. Recently, I’ve been coming more in tune with my nonconformity and it has played a big part in how I view the world as well. I’d love to inspire people to take a look at the world and themselves through a different lens. Secondly, I’d love to see a work of my own, whether that be my music or my writing, blossom into something bigger than just the small circle of people who know me. I want the world to know my name. And third, using the last part of what I said, I want to inspire more young, black LGBTQ+ artists to be free to be themselves. There’s a lot of stigma around being queer in the black community, especially in the south. As someone with a platform, I could help raise the voices of people under scrutiny and help them be free to just live.
