Mariah Scott is a Life Cultivator and Storyteller. As a writer, Ms. Scott understands that she is a steward over her body of work and can inspire others to think through new lenses simply by reframing her story.
Mariah Scott empowers the community through her stage play focuses on social and emotional health.
“The Crown She Wears” philanthropic 4-city tour is scheduled for this Fall, 2022. The following dates were scheduled for Milwaukee, WI, Knoxville, TN, Birmingham, AL, and Chicago, IL. Mariah Scott donates a portion of the proceeds to select youth organizations devoted to supporting youth personally and professionally in the city where she performs. For donations to the tour, please visit mariahnscott.com/donate.
“The Crown She Wears” is a stage play that follows the story of Amirah Johnson, a 27-year-old woman who seems to have it all together. She has the life she’s always wanted, the relationship she prayed for, and the career she sacrificed her time, energy, and effort to get. But as experiences from her past relationships resurface, she starts to question if her ‘perfect’ life is just a show.
“The Crown She Wears” is a love story like you’ve never seen before, one of laughter, pain, and reflection. A love story that has Amirah torn between choices: will she continue to support others at the expense of herself, or will she finally choose herself?
Tammy: If someone were to ask you who is Mariah Scott, what would your reply be?
Mariah: I would say that I am a child of God, first and foremost. I would also define myself as a disruptor. The word disruptor tends to take on a negative connotation; however, as a leader in my field, I’m always looking to find better alternatives to existing habits and trends in my industry.
Tammy: We are thrilled to learn about “The Crown She Wears.” What can you tell us about it?
Mariah: “The Crown She Wears” is a stage play that follows the story of Amirah Johnson, a 26-year-old woman who seems to have it all together. However, as relationships from her past resurface, she is faced with two choices: will she continue to support others at the expense of herself, or will she finally choose herself? I wrote “The Crown She Wears” because I often struggled with self-love, self-care, and setting healthy boundaries. I was taught to give to others without expecting anything in return. As much as I appreciated these values over the years, I often felt overwhelmed. I struggled to take care of myself while balancing being there for others. I wanted to use my show to empower others to take the next steps in their own healing by defining self-love for themselves and setting healthy boundaries with themselves and others.
Tammy: What else have you been working on as of late?
Mariah: “The Crown She Wears” tour has occupied most of my time; however, I am working on my first poetry book, which I hope to release next year. This poetry collection will highlight the effects of a father-daughter relationship and the love, patience, and understanding that the two share. The poems will highlight how transitions in the father and daughter’s lives can support and/or weigh on their relationship. This collection is important because it alludes to my relationship with my father.
Tammy: What is the best part about being the creative woman you are?
Mariah: I believe the best part about being a creative woman is giving voice to untold stories that tend to be overlooked in mainstream media. Essentially, I am rewriting the stories for women who tend to be misrepresented or underrepresented in the mainstream. Yes, we have been making progress when it comes to sharing these stories. However, there is still room for improvement. I am glad I have the opportunity to use my creativity to continue to push these stories forward.
Tammy: What have been some challenges you overcame?
Mariah: A recent challenge I had to overcome is stepping out of my own way. When I first decided to go on tour, I started second-guessing my decision. Although my event was extremely successful in NYC, I was not sure if it would be in other markets. I began to question if my content was good enough and if my performance was good enough. Not to mention, I’ve never spearheaded a tour before, so I was not sure which components I needed to make it work. At times, I remember feeling inadequate and looking to others to affirm what I already knew. I had to shift my mentality to a winning mentality because I had the skills, background, and resources to pull this off successfully. That’s exactly what I’ve done and will continue to do.
Another challenge I had to overcome is being underestimated in this industry. I do not come from a production background or an entertainment background. Earlier in my career, I spent most of my time in leadership roles in for-profit, nonprofit organizations, and schools creating equitable programming for POC students who were not granted access to resources that could support their success in high school and post-high school career. Since I do not have many qualifications on my resume pertaining to a theatrical production, I tend to get overlooked for collaboration opportunities. I’ve focused most of my time on learning, getting connected to the right mentors, and growing in this space, which has opened doors for me.
Tammy: What more would you like to see for and from woman creatives?
Mariah: I would love to see more opportunities for creative women to be exposed to various careers in the entertainment industry at a younger age. Growing up, I was not aware of the various careers in the industry, which limited my view on careers I could access. Witnessing the success of women like Issa Rae, Quinta Brunson, and Ava Duvernay, who are in positions of power and influence in their field, makes it feel like others can do it, too, including myself.
Tammy: Any exclusive news you can share first with us?
Mariah: Yes, my team and I have been documenting my tour. We will be putting together a documentary that gives audiences and fans an inside look at the process it took to put together the tour and the lessons learned from it.
Read more lifestyle, entertainment, fashion, and beauty interviews by Tammy Reese| @tammyreesemedia
