New Growth: Alnesica Waters

Oct 13

Meet Alnesica (she/her)

This interview was conducted July 22, 2026

Korinn Annette Jefferies: Tell me how you got started doing theater.

Alnesica Waters: So, I have always been very active in music and theater since a child, since I was about five. My first real moment in theater would be the children's church plays.  I did all of those when I was younger. When I got to middle school/high school, they had an elective called musical theater and I enjoyed participating in plays and productions throughout my tenure there.  And in college, I majored in music and as a part of our curriculum we had to expose ourselves to ensembles and musical theaters. So I did chorus and I did a couple of musical theater projects as well.

KAJ:  Okay, so it sounds like your favorite role in the theater would be, I don't know, something music related, like something in the pit. Is that an accurate assumption?

AW: Yes, definitely the pit.  I've had a couple lead roles, though, mainly because either the main character had to play an instrument or they had to sing and I did both.

KAJ: Okay, nice.  Yeah. I love that. I think you're the only instructor we have this go round that has that experience.  What current projects do you have going on?  What are you working on right now?

AW: So, this is my 11.5 year in music education.  I actually just left the school because we're finalizing our elective selections. I am actually doing a musical theater club this year as well as, um… itt's hard to explain, but it's like, um, theater and play, I think. So it's basically incorporating all the kids' favorites, uh, Broadway musicals and bringing them to life.  So we just backed a licensure for a couple of songs that I selected from Wicked, Rent, ‘Fairly Odd Parents,’ so those are things I'm working on up on the upcoming school year.

KAJ:  I'm very excited for your students, that sounds like a lot of fun. What on your resume are you most proud of?

“Honestly, I’m just proud to be myself.”

AW: Honestly, I'm just proud to be myself. Simply because I'm first generation everything. Um, so my bachelor's degree, my masters degree, my certifications, the years of experience, just being here right now is really a blessing.  So, um, in a non-cocky way, very humble, I'm very proud of everything on my resume.

KAJ: How would you define black drama?  

AW: Elite. Um, simply because Black culture as a whole is just something beautiful to see and experience, um, as a black woman. So black drama is just beautiful, even if we go all the way back to something as old, but very much so a staple, Porgy and Bess .  Like, it's just beautiful to me. It's elite. It's top tier.

KAJ: What does your dream drama class look like?  Like, if you could teach whatever you wanted and be paid a respectable amount for it, would you teach?

AW: Honestly, it's a very on brand for me. Anything musical theater.  Um, I love diving into character. I love music, so being able to teach students of any age, that, and just have a ball doing that, that is like a dream of mine, for sure.

KAJ: And now my last question.  What would you like your students to know before coming into your class?

“‘No’ is not in our vocabulary. You can do it.”

AW: ‘No’ is not in our vocabulary. You can do it.  Art of any kind is, is beauty in the eye of the beholder. So if you think it's beautiful, it’s beautiful. Just come with an open mind and really have fun and enjoy the moment and learn.