I've had a lot of experience auditioning people, and I can do it rather quickly even though sometimes I let them linger and give them time, but I kind of know after I see them do a couple of steps. I know.

Michael Ralph brilliantly plays the street prophet, a West Indian who foreshadows the Harlem riot.

But out of limitations comes creativity.

Failure: Is it a limitation? Bad timing? It's a lot of things. It's something you can't be afraid of, because you'll stop growing. The next step beyond failure could be your biggest success in life.

I use something that is a real staple in the directing world. It's called a dance floor. You lay it down so that it's so smooth you can roll around, and you can put furniture on top of it. It's seamless and you don't see it.

As one who loves literature, art, music and history, I've been deeply rooted in the Harlem Renaissance for many years.

Fame is fleeting, honey. Fame is fleeting and it changes.