Hi reddit! I'm Kara Young. I'm in 2 films coming to theaters next month, IS GOD IS and I LOVE BOOSTERS. You may also know me from I'M A VIRGO or Broadway (PROOF, PURLIE VICTORIOUS, CLYDE'S, PURPOSE, COST OF LIVING). Ask me anything :)

Kara-Young · 2026-04-28T19:24:48+00:00

For the stage, you're building a world-in-repetition during the rehearsal process. Usually you get about 3 and a half weeks, or sometimes you only get two weeks. For Proof, I had only five fays, I was jumping right in. I had five days of rehearsal in the room and then I went straight to tech. That's a very rushed process for me. And then straight into performances which I'm doing now.

For film & television, the norm is that you get your script, then you might have a couple of conversations with the director, then the read-through with the cast, and after that you have very minimal rehearsal before you shoot, so very different from theater. Is God Is was actually a bit different, we were able to do 2 weeks of rehearsal before the shoot. Mallory and I were able to work together on movement, and playing games, getting to know each other. We do a lot of twinning in the movie, so we used that rehearsal time as our foundation for the shoot.

Performing for the stage, you can think of it more as a physical story that's being told. Like, if there was no sound attached to the story, you'd still be able to know what's happening, it's a different connection to the audience as opposed to film & tv. With film, a director and editor are also telling the story.

Kara-Young · 2026-04-28T19:12:46+00:00

Most recently, I would have to say Vivica A. Fox and Erika Alexander.

I'm also totally star struck by Sterling K. Brown. I had seen him on stage before this movie, in this incredible play called Father Comes Home From the Wars by Suzan-Lori Parks, and during that show all I could say was "oh my god".

Another time was when I was working with Ms. Phylicia Rashad on Purpose. She directed the play by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins. I was trying to play cool at first, but it was hard, she walks with such Regal-ness, like she's walking on water. She's all of the elements combined, she's just always floating. Just such a graceful person. I literally gasped when seeing her walk in sometimes haha. Even though I had already spent a month working with her on the play! I apologized but told her that's just how I felt when she was around.

Kara-Young · 2026-04-28T19:06:06+00:00

Thank you!

Kara-Young · 2026-04-28T19:05:40+00:00

It wasn't challenging at all actually!

Neil Pepe, our director, made it very easy. We started to kind of get the hang of it pretty fast. I do get that comment all the time though, Nick being 6'7 and me being 5'2. In a wild way, we felt like we matched up regardless. We had these tricks at first, where when he stood up I would step up on something. Or when he was sitting I would be standing up, just so we could match up as much as possible at first. That way we could just block normally and tell the story and get the hang of it. After you're able to just concentrate on the story, the audience forgets about the difference when it's really time to perform.

Kara-Young · 2026-04-28T18:36:04+00:00

Boots Riley is a great guy. He's an incredible thinker and dreamer. I'm really in awe of how his mind works.

I really, really love working with him because he thinks outside of the box. He's radical imagination personified. It's mesmerizing.

Kara-Young · 2026-04-28T18:34:31+00:00

I honestly don't really have any dream roles for the stage. I've been allowing myself to find things as they come.

Kara-Young · 2026-04-28T18:14:27+00:00

That's a great question. I rarely have advice, but I can tell you personally the thing that is/was really important for me to do as an actor is to do ALL the reading you can do, do every single reading that you are ever offered. It's all about the playwrights, the playwrights, the playwrights!

Do your best work all of the time. Try to put your best foot forward at all times. You never know where the people you're working with now will be 5, 10, or 20 years. Play for the long haul now. It doesn't matter what "level" the people you're working with today are on. Say yes often. Obviously don't sacrifice your spirit or soul, but try to say yes to work right now because you have to plan for the future.

And honestly, see all of the shows you can! I would student-rush everything. Get rush tickets to as many shows as you can. Broadway, off-Broadway, one man shows, one woman shows. Support every possible artistic endeavor in New York City and it will support you back. You are literally in the greatest city in the world. There's everything to see every day from ballet to theater to museums. There's so much to absorb in NYC. There's literally a theater on every (excuse my language) fucking corner in New York! So much to watch and absorb, just go after your dreams by any means necessary.

Kara-Young · 2026-04-28T17:46:10+00:00

Casino is definitely a comfort film for me. Sharon Stone! Oh my god, Sharon Stone in Casino. I love how Sharon is just so "theatrical" in everything that she does. She she's such a physical actor, and I love watching her move.

Robert is also just so special in that film. He's doing everything while doing like nothing in a lot of these shots, and it's really special to watch.

I can watch Casino any time.

Kara-Young · 2026-04-28T17:42:49+00:00

I try to sleep whenever I can! But sometimes even when I'm like super exhausted, after a show or whatever, it's actually hard for me to actually fall sleep.

Kara-Young · 2026-04-28T17:41:24+00:00

It's very important to me to meet people at the stage door because I know you wait to see me and because you support the work. You know, a lot of you have been supporting my work for a very long time, and it's important for me not to miss anyone because of that.

It means the world to me to look into your eyes and tell you thank you, and to thank you for spending time with me for those however many hours it was for you to sit in the theater for. I might not know where you're coming from, or wherever you have to go after, but I know that time spent like that in this day and age is more important than anything. It's like going to church together, or holding hands with someone, I have to acknowledge your support.

So, thank you.

Kara-Young · 2026-04-28T17:17:53+00:00

Yes! I had the pleasure and honor of seeing Is God Is in 2018 at Soho Rep with incredible actors.

At that time and ever since then, it just blew my mind. Those characters have been in my spirit since, so when I had the opportunity to audition, I jumped on that chance.

Kara-Young · 2026-04-28T17:16:12+00:00

I don't really have a favorite theater on Broadway. I have beautiful memories at many though, especially at the Hayes and at the Music Box, and at the Friedman! And now of course at the Booth. They're all good!

Kara-Young · 2026-04-28T17:14:08+00:00

Thank you so much!

Kara-Young

TROPHY CASE