Meet Patrina Randolph | Playwright, Entrepreneur, and Creativity Coach

We had the good fortune of connecting with Patrina Randolph and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Patrina, what makes you happy? Why?
Happiness starts from the inside for me. I’m happiest when I am able to express my art with purposeful intention. When I write I am able to travel to places deep within myself without fear. I love who I am and who I was created to be. The purest form of happiness to me…is being able to do what I love. Once I started rediscovering my passion for writing and digging into my life’s purpose I became a happier person…more fulfilled. I attribute that to me seeking God for the answers of who I am and why I’m on the earth. The more I sought those answers the more truths I came to know about myself and that makes me happy. I know I was put here on this earth to make a difference and I do that one word at a time through the gift of writing.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
At four or five years old I was bit by the creativity bug. My mother is a creative. Her knack for taking nothing and turning it into something rubbed off on me. My days growing up were spent watching her sow, cook, and craft. I was always close by serving as her apprentice. Biologically, I was an only child. I had to come up with creative ways to entertain myself. I started writing and drawing to illustrate stories of me performing on stage in a band. That creative bug grew throughout my adolescence and early teens. Recently, I found a letter I wrote when I was in the eighth talking about becoming a playwright. However, at the time I was not fully grounded in what I wanted to do although I had some clues. Some lasting affects from childhood traumas shifted my direction and I started searching for love and acceptance in the wrong places. In 1994, I graduated from North Shore Senior High School on Houston’s east side. I headed off to Sam Houston State University attempting a degree in communications. That was short lived. The demons I was battling at outweighed my determination to succeed. I spent more time partying, being wild and chasing love than I did going to class. Needless to say, I flunked out. It wasn’t until years later, after becoming a wife and a mother that my heart started longing for personal fulfillment outside of those family roles. After some failed attempts to go back to school, while my children were small, I started volunteering at my church. Volunteering led to me writing plays for some special events. The more I wrote the more I came alive. It started out as small skits that bloomed into full length productions. Eventually, I decided I wanted to pursue it as a business. So I formed my first production company T-N-T World-Wind Productions. It was a partnership. I was writing plays that were performed at a church, but they weren’t your typical church plays. They were edgy, well written, and they included music with choreographed dance. Our first two ticketed shows, on Mother’s Day weekend, opened to sold out audiences. My comedy variety show was an instant hit. Shortly after that success my marriage took a turn for the worst. It ended in divorce. I did all I could to fight through the pain and keep creating. It was difficult and I was distracted. Before the divorce I started on a weight-loss journey that eventually led to me losing 11o pounds and donating a kidney to my father. Because of that experience, I found the hope I needed to step out and write my first book “From Fat to Fierce” I self-published and sold over three hundred hard copies from the trunk of my car. That was a victory for me, but financially I was still struggling and looking for a way to truly elevate myself. I got a second job. Hustling to work two jobs wasn’t the answer. I finally made up my mind to go back to school no matter what. I wanted to be an example for my kids and let them know education is important. Fierce was becoming more than just a book it was becoming my way of life. I am determined to accomplish anything I set my mind to. My new way of life and tenacity to pursue theatre production, led me to dissolve my partnership at the end of 2016. I also started school at Lone Star Community College in the Spring of 2015 to pursue my Associates in Fine Arts. In December 2016, I launched a new company, The Fierce Arts and Entertainment Group with the purpose of creating high quality original urban stage plays/musicals that entertain, enlighten and inspire. From December 2016 through November 2017, I produced eight sold out shows ranging from musical dramas to comedies. For one of the musicals I had to replace a lead with two weeks left before opening. That’s why it’s great to collaborate with the right people. My dear friend, Donna Stewart, who was directing the show found a replacement (Actress/Singer Towana Charles) and the show went on like it must. While at Lone Star I met a professor, James Horban, he taught theatre. He taught me so many priceless things about the technical aspect of my craft and he also wrote my letter of recommendation to transfer to the University of Houston School of Theatre and Dance. I graduated from Lone Star Community College in May of 2018 and moved on to my pursuits at the U of H in August of 2018. I took a hiatus from self-producing to focus on school. Currently, I am completing my BFA in Theatre with a focus on playwriting/dramaturgy. I’ll graduate with honors in May. During my time at U of H (Central Campus), I have been blessed to experience exponential growth. From my start there in the Fall of 2018, all four of my play submissions been accepted for production including my full length play “The Carrier”. My final U of H submission, “Secret Cousins”, will be produced in the Spring ten minute play festival. Not only have written and been produced through the school, I have also acted and served as a dramaturg on multiple plays including a new work by ShaWanna Goffney title “Old Black and White Hollywood”. My time in this program has been saturated with opportunities to learn, grow, and network. I’ll forever be grateful for that. When I had my interview with the programs director, Dr. Robert Shimko, I knew I had found a home. I look forward to being a continued beacon of diversity and a voice for marginalized people there, as I prepare to submit my portfolio to the Master’s programs for Theatre Education and Arts Leadership. I’m preparing to take my place on myself declared throne of being the “Queen of Urban Theatre”. The Fierce Arts and Entertainment Group will be a household name in Houston first and then around our nation because we bring something fresh to the table. Coupling my years of experience and my education will allow me to tell advanced stores of people who look like me. Representation is important and it is my aim to represent in the utmost excellence. We will tell well developed stories with an urban style and broadway excellence by collaborating with professionals who want to have a positive impact on urban culture. I am ready to conquer the challenges ahead. Stay on the lookout for TFAEG.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Houston’s heritage is rich from spiritual, mental, and recreational offerings. Friday night we might hit the Improv and catch a headliner. They have food and drinks so that would be a one stop shop. I wouldn’t stay out too late on Friday night, unless my friend insisted. If so, we could swing by “The Corner Lounge” in Humble. It’s small, drama-free, and the DJ spins some ole’ school. Saturday morning we would mosey on down to the Third Ward. It is full of all kinds of wonderful surprises from great comfort foods to unique small business boutiques. One of my favorite places is the Reggae Bodega on Almeda Rd, they have natural body essentials, supplements, clothes, and unique jewelry. The owner is so welcoming…I feel at home. We may grab a nice breakfast at the one and only Breakfast Klub and afterwards walk it off in the nearby Hermann Park. I love the Japanese Garden there. Pre-COVID we could go kick it on the hill and catch a free play/performance at Miller Outdoor Theatre. Nothing like that Hill on a starry Texas night. If the are game to do a little people watching and lounge hopping we could go back to Almeda there are a number of spots that have live music and great DJs. If we were looking for a late night snack, BB’s on Montrose would hit the spot with their crawfish and drinks. I’m from the east side of Houston. I was raised in church and I’m grounded in my spirituality. On Sunday morning, I would take my friend to my church Praise Christian Center World Outreach to get a taste of some spiritual food. Church is over before 11:30 am and brunch would be on my mind. Phil and Derek’s in mid-town is a spot to hear good music and eat great southern food while chilling on the patio on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. The day could end there or we could cruise over to Dixie Road and check out the biker sports bar scene at Dreams. They sell the best fish out back, there is always folks cheering on their favorite team, and the DJ interacts with the patrons. It’s just like Houston laid back and high energy at the same time.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My biggest shoutout goes to God. Spiritual awareness has help me navigate through some really dark places. My family is next on my list. They inspire, encourage, provoke, motivate, and support me through it all. When I shared my dreams with them they got out the way so I could pursue them. My parents and my children have been my biggest rocks. My close circle of friends are so supportive. They never miss a play and I am forever grateful for that. Mentorship is so important on this journey and I have some awesome mentors both near and far. One mentor in particular, Helen Callier, spoke some simple yet powerful words to me “step your game up”. Those words motivated me to get my butt back in school. I’ll graduate with my BFA in playwriting/dramaturgy this May. A simple book that changed the trajectory of my life was “The Dream Giver” by Bruce Wilkinson. It was a recommended read from our women’s group at church. That book ignited my hunger to seek after my life’s purpose and it led me to the path that I am on. My church and church family at Praise Christian Center World Outreach helped me step outside my box and relentlessly pursue my purpose. Don’t know where I would be without the lessons I’ve learned there and the love I’ve received.

Website: www.thefierceartsgroup.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fierce_arts_group/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrina-randolph-09a88a129/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/FIERCEMZANN

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Patrina.T.Randolph/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWodzP5qt1uKTwFH_MfKZ4g

Other: https://www.facebook.com/fierceartsandentertainmentgroup https://www.facebook.com/ThrowingDownwithTrina

Image Credits
Photography:Elroy McDaniel Makeup: Elroy McDaniel Lip Color:Tracy Faultry/ XOXOTracy Hair/Locs: Brandon Polson and Mijahza