Chicago Based Actor, Dancer, & Creator Danyelle Monson Talks Theatre, The Chi, And How Her Chicago Accent Really Is a Flex!

This native southside Chicagoan is killing the Chicago theatre locally, and the television scene globally. Known for her ground-breaking role as Shay in Showtime’s “The Chi”, Danyelle Monson let us in on her life as an actor, dancer, and creator, and how it all intertwines. 

Monson tells New Scene how it all started.

      Q. You’re an actor, dancer, and creator. How’d you get your start in the arts? 

I have always been an artist, only the medium changes as the years do. My first introduction to the arts was through dance, as I am told by my Mother that I learned to dance before I learned to walk! In 5th grade, however, I found freedom in writing. I began writing poetry, and even had a poem published in the 2006-2007 edition of Hands on The Stanzas. In 8th grade, I decided I wanted to be a professional writer so I entered the young writers competition with my own poetry anthology. I put this plan in motion in high school by taking several journalism and advanced language arts classes. But, my plans of becoming a writer were halted when, my sophomore year, I took a drama class on a whim and fell in love with acting. In the years that followed: I made it to the Chicago Finals of the August Wilson Monologue Competition 3 years in a row, I booked my first short film, and I got cast in the Illinois High School Theatre Festival’s All State Production. I was smitten with acting, and during senior year of high school I got accepted into 12 acting programs nationwide to continue my studies in college. Once in college at The University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, I discovered that I could marry my skills of dancing, writing, and acting by cultivating my own work. Thus, I wrote, produced, co-directed, co-choreographed, and starred in a one woman show entitled Sunshine and Broken Glass; Or, Lather, Rinse, Repeat. In May of 2018 I graduated with a BFA in Acting, signed with my agent in June, and booked a recurring role on The Chi as Shay that same August. Since then I have filmed seasons 2-4 of The Chi, and have been consistently doing theatre both in person and virtually as a local Chicago actor. 

Q. What’s a skill amongst acting, dancing, and creating that you’ve found to be transferable? 

Webster’s dictionary defines empathy as: “the action of understanding, being aware of, being sensitive to, and vicariously experiencing the feelings, thoughts, and experiences of another.” With dance I connect to the lyrics, memorize the musical composition, and allow the choreography to guide me as I create a story through movement: this is empathy. Through writing: I feel, hear, and even smell the characters I write. I can visualize the story as I write it. That all falls underneath the umbrella that is empathy as well. When I am acting, I work hard to identify the humanity of the person who’s story I’m telling. By making the circumstances real, the stakes become real, the fears become real, the insecurities become real, and the joys become real. Thus, I am able to make the character real. In acting, empathy is essential to understanding the character without judgment and bringing them to life. 

Q. What’s some elements from live theatre that you miss experiencing when filming for television?

I love working on-camera, but theatre was my first love so there are a lot of elements from theatre that I miss when I’m filming! First -I’m going to sound like a nerd for saying this- but I miss the rehearsal process. Rehearsing is my favorite aspect of acting- period! During rehearsal I get to learn, play, and experiment with different choices in order to figure out who my character is. In my experience with on-camera work so far, the rehearsal process happens just before we start filming the scene. So, there is not as much time for discovery and the prep happens independently rather than in a rehearsal room with your cast. I also miss the energy and immediacy of having an audience. With on camera work, if I miss a line I can do another take. But, in theatre there are no takes; if you miss a line you keep going and if you forget a line you improvise. Speaking of improvising, I miss the surprise. With theatre, every show is different because the energy is different and the audience is different. This affects how I perform, how I receive my scene partner(s), and how I respond to my scene partner(s). 

Q. With in-person theatre performances starting back up, what plays are you most excited to see again or even for the first time? 

A film called Lackawanna Blues, written by Ruben Santiago Hudson, was released in 2005 and it told me to be an actor before I even knew I could act. Amazing actors like Jeffrey Wright, S. Epatha Merkerson, Delroy Lindo, and the late Michael K. Williams starred in this movie -as did Ruben himself. This movie taught me the art of storytelling, and the musicality that is an essential quality of black storytelling specifically. I knew I had to tell stories for a living because of that film, and I started writing shortly after seeing it. So naturally I was psyched to see that it is currently on stage at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre in New York! Another show I’m excited for -which recently opened on Broadway- is a show called Passover. That show originated here in Chicago at Steppenwolf theatre back in 2017 with two fellow University of Illinois graduates in the cast! I was still in college when it premiered, but I saw it and was blown away! The acting, the writing, and the staging were all top tier. I have never been to New York, but I am definitely planning a trip to go see these two shows! 

Q. In August of 2018, you landed your first television debut on “Showtimes” The Chi – Now a few seasons later, co-starring as Shay, describe to us your character. Who is Shay? 

Shay is a single mom managing 3 jobs to raise her son Devonte. She is an active and loving mother, who tries her best to keep Devonte busy. She knows how Chicago can be and doesn’t want him to have time for anything that could send him down the wrong path. She loves Emmet platonically, even though he hurt her in the past, and is finally in a place where she can be in the same room with him without chaos. But don’t get it twisted because she will tear all of this shit up, especially when Devonte is concerned. Shay has definitely been preoccupied with single motherhood, so much so that she forgot about herself for a while, as most mother’s do. But, she has been dating and if her new boo act right, it might be something serious  

Q. Looking at the role, what are some similarities between yourself and Shay? 

Shay, just like myself, is a truth teller. We are both firecrackers, not afraid to speak our minds, and not afraid to hold people accountable. She does have a soft side though, as do I. She wants to be loved, she wants a family, and she’s nice to a fault when Emmet is concerned. She tends to give people multiple chances, even when she shouldn’t and I can definitely relate to that. The perfect example of all of these qualities is in Season 3 Episode 2 when Shay gives Emmet the opportunity to flex his skills by letting him cater her cousin’s baby shower. But, in typical Emmet fashion, he tries to finesse her by ordering takeout! She tells him off and gives him the finger at first, but she still pays him and laughs with him about the situation in the end. 

Q. Being a Chicago native, how’d you use that to your advantage and add that to your character? 

Being a native Chicagoan (South Side) I think one of the main advantages for this role is that I know how baby mom/baby dad relationships play out. The relationships are often combative and ALWAYS hilarious! In fact, seeing these types of relationships play out in front of me my entire life has given me the inspiration I needed to play Shay. As a person who doesn’t have kids or a baby daddy, I had to draw from the relationships I’ve seen between my siblings, cousins, and friends. Another advantage that I like to flex -from a technical standpoint- is that I naturally have a Chicago accent. I love being able to use my natural accent when I am filming for the show!

Interview was written and Conducted by: Darasha Singleton

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Darasha Singleton– Entertainment/Celebrity Reporter– Darasha loves all things entertainment and pop culture. You can probably catch her grabbing the latest interviews of your favorite entertainer. If not, she is tending her studies. Darasha got her graduate at Syracuse University, studying broadcast and digital journalism in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. She got her undergrad at Clark Atlanta University, which is about 2hrs from her hometown of Augusta, Ga. Darasha isn’t a huge binge watcher, but she does love her a good musical and rom-coms.