An Alumna’s Story: Pursuing the Craft of Acting
MisaLove Smith ’17, a senior at Purchase College who is pursuing a bachelor of fine arts in acting, discovered her love of the craft at Harlem Academy – and it all started with Shakespeare and a love of reading. “I would read three books at a time,” she recalls. Teachers pushed MisaLove and her classmates to delve into texts, dissect authors' choices, interpret meanings, and back up their analyses. A class discussion of A Midsummer Night's Dream in sixth grade lit a spark. “It made me want to master Shakespeare.”
Taking the Stage
MisaLove joined Harlem Academy’s Shakespeare elective, where middle schoolers dig even deeper into a play they read in class, culminating in the performance of a full-length play. She loved it and jumped at the chance to compete in ShakeSmack, a Classic Stage Company competition where New York City students performed Shakespeare scenes. “I did a scene from A Midsummer Night's Dream with two eighth graders, and we won second place,” she recalls. “It was so exhilarating! I wanted to do it again and do it even better.”
The following year, Harlem Academy students performed a scene from Othello at ShakeSmack. “I played Emilia and came in first place,” says MisaLove, who had also choreographed hip-hop dances for the production. “Competing made me feel that I could do this, and I could be good at it.” That’s when she knew for sure that she wanted to be an actor. “I’ve always had a big personality, going back to first grade. But when I started acting in the Shakespeare elective, it clicked. Harlem Academy gave me confidence. It’s a place that makes students feel capable.”
Pursuing Her Passion
Back
Taking the Stage
MisaLove joined Harlem Academy’s Shakespeare elective, where middle schoolers dig even deeper into a play they read in class, culminating in the performance of a full-length play. She loved it and jumped at the chance to compete in ShakeSmack, a Classic Stage Company competition where New York City students performed Shakespeare scenes. “I did a scene from A Midsummer Night's Dream with two eighth graders, and we won second place,” she recalls. “It was so exhilarating! I wanted to do it again and do it even better.”
The following year, Harlem Academy students performed a scene from Othello at ShakeSmack. “I played Emilia and came in first place,” says MisaLove, who had also choreographed hip-hop dances for the production. “Competing made me feel that I could do this, and I could be good at it.” That’s when she knew for sure that she wanted to be an actor. “I’ve always had a big personality, going back to first grade. But when I started acting in the Shakespeare elective, it clicked. Harlem Academy gave me confidence. It’s a place that makes students feel capable.”
Pursuing Her Passion
Today, as a student in Purchase’s acting conservatory program, MisaLove brings words to life onstage every day. When she’s not performing or auditioning, she spends her days studying voice, speech, movement, acting techniques, and more, in addition to her regular academic courses. “I’m treated like a serious actor, and all of my acting classes are preparing me for the industry,” she says.
MisaLove has performed in numerous plays since joining the conservatory, including the lead role of Esther in the college’s production of Intimate Apparel – a role performed off-Broadway by Viola Davis 20 years ago. "MisaLove is truly amazing as an actor," says Head of School Vinny Dotoli, who attended her finale performance of Intimate Apparel. "The role of Esther is complex and challenging, and MisaLove pulled the audience into the whole range of emotions."
MisaLove dreams of one day sharing the stage or screen with her idols. “I hope to work with greats like Viola Davis, Angela Bassett, Issa Rae, and Quinta Brunson. I want to learn from these amazing Black women.” She also wants to attend graduate school to continue honing her craft. “Through acting, I can tell a story and connect with people’s emotions. One line I say during a performance might really touch someone, and that exchange is beautiful. It’s transformational. We need the arts because the world we live in is very hard.”
Giving Back to the Community
MisaLove dreams of one day sharing the stage or screen with her idols. “I hope to work with greats like Viola Davis, Angela Bassett, Issa Rae, and Quinta Brunson. I want to learn from these amazing Black women.” She also wants to attend graduate school to continue honing her craft. “Through acting, I can tell a story and connect with people’s emotions. One line I say during a performance might really touch someone, and that exchange is beautiful. It’s transformational. We need the arts because the world we live in is very hard.”
Giving Back to the Community
That need is the reason she has returned to Harlem Academy over the years to help with the Shakespeare elective and always encourages students to pursue their passion for the arts. “We need more young people in every part of this field: actors, casting agents, musicians, writers, dancers, singers, and more. We need them to express themselves and exercise their creative muscles.”
Although her classes, rehearsals, and performances keep her extremely busy, MisaLove still finds time to serve as president of Afrodisiac, an on-campus event for students of color that hosts up to twelve free student performances. “I do it because it brings so much joy,” she says.
Her baked goods bring just as much joy. MisaLove started a bakery business, Made With Love, in 2020. She bakes everything from scratch, including brownies, cookies, and cakes, in her apartment kitchen and sells bulk orders to fellow students. “My schedule is definitely rigorous, but my mom inspired me to always go after what you want.”
MisaLove Smith will be performing in the drama Things I Know to Be True at Purchase College October 18-19. Click here to learn more.
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655 St. Nicholas Avenue
New York, NY, 10030
P (212) 348-2600
F (212) 348-3500
info@harlemacademy.org
Make a Tuition Payment
Financial and Privacy Information
Site Map
Harlem Academy is an independent school (grades K-8) that drives equity of opportunity for promising students, guiding them to thrive at the highest academic levels and one day make a mark on the world.