From Emerson to ‘Hamilton’: Tshikosi ’15 Returns to Studio 7

When Kai Tshikosi ’15 returned to campus as a guest speaker in Ted Hewlett’s Movement for Actors class, the experience was both meaningful and full-circle.

With Tshikosi in Boston for several weeks playing James Madison in the touring production of the award-winning musical Hamilton, Tshikosi made time to visit his mentor’s class on October 7. Hewlett, a Performing Arts Senior Artist-in-Residence, says their relationship grew over the years: Tshikosi was his student, then a teaching assistant for several of Hewlett’s classes, and now they stay in touch as Tshikosi is on tour.

Tshikosi said his time at Emerson was integral to honing his acting skills, and on Tuesday he was back in Studio 7 at the Paramount Center. He recalled that the last time he was in the studio he was teaching stage combat.

Tshikosi pointed to a closet in the studio.

“I don’t know if you’ve heard about what’s in that closet! There’s a bunch of cool props in there,” said Tshikosi of the stage weaponry contained in the closet.

Tshikosi said he found himself teaching stage combat because he fell in love with it.

“Whatever you find [yourself] resonating with, or energetically connected to, be it a show or something in a class – where you feel your gravitational pull – you’ve got to follow the fun. Going in the direction that interests you will help you become the artist you want to be,” said Tshikosi.

Being His Own James Madison

Tshikosi said it’s important to learn from people in charge, including the directors and producers.

“It’s important to learn from the mistakes and missteps from people currently in control so we can make better decisions when we get there and not just do what they did,” said Tshikosi.

Take his role as James Madison. He is not the first, and surely won’t be the last person to play the role. So how do you portray someone like a well-worn Romeo, MacBeth, or James Bond?

“The most boring Shakespeare is watching actors perform what they think they should be doing. You are a 24-year-old Dominican from Malden. Don’t do an impression of a person from [hundreds of] years ago,” said Tshikosi. “You get the job being you.

“I think the learning you’re engaged in as an undergrad is about how to make a clear, confident version of yourself…an audition is like your business card of ‘who I am’…and you can show the skills you learned at Emerson,” he said.

Students enjoyed the opportunity to learn about Tshikosi’s career path and how he grew as an actor and individual during his time at Emerson.

“Hearing about what Emerson gave him as a student and a person was interesting and inspiring, and it excites me for what may come my way in the future,” said Fifi Novaes Ferreira ’29. “He also gave a lot of excellent advice on how to balance yourself as an actor and a person.” 

A ‘Rare Teacher‘

For Tshikosi, Hewlett taught him more than just stage combat and how to connect with the text of shows.

“Ted is one of those people who is really rare in the education space. You can watch him and learn from him, and he’s also in the process of learning,” said Tshikosi. “Being a teacher can be really scary.”

Tshikosi said he appreciated Hewlett’s ability to adjust his teaching style and his vulnerability while students are also vulnerable.

“Encountering someone who can do that, not only changed my understanding of what teaching is or can be, and it got me excited about the way leadership can be,” said Tshikosi.

“We’re learning together and teachers share the info they have and the students are also sharing with teachers. That’s not only important for directing, but it’s really important for acting.”