Clarence News
Posted by Anne Gaume
"FENCES" ACTOR VISITS
Actor, Director and Educator, Stephen Henderson, visited Clarence Rotary recently. Thanks to the friendship of long time Clarence Rotarian, Bob Artis, the club was treated to an inspirational and thoughtful talk by Henderson.
Henderson has long time ties to the Buffalo area, yet his roots began in Kansas City, Missouri. Having been a part of the first group to attend the prestigious Julliard Drama Division, Henderson honed his acting craft and set his sights on theatre. Later, he would go on to earn his Master of Arts in Theatre from Perdue University and spend summer sessions at Rose Bruford College in London and William Esper Studios in New York City.
Most recently Henderson reprised his role as Jim Bono in Denzel Washington’s adaptation of the Broadway show Fences. Originally written by August Wilson, Henderson had played the role of Bono alongside Denzel Washington, Viola Davis, and Russell Hornsby. In Washington’s 2016 adaptation, he insisted on using all of the actors that had appeared on stage.
Fences was released on December 16, 2016, by Paramount Pictures and has already received critical acclaim and has grossed over $52 million.
As impressive as Henderson’s credentials are, while speaking to the group of Clarence Rotarians, it was clear he was most proud when speaking of his older brother, Ronald Eugene. He spoke of the struggles is brother endured while attending public schools in Missouri and the endless teasing for being deaf. “Back then, public schools were not equipped to deal with the needs of a deaf child”, Henderson said.
Led by his Aunt in Oklahoma, the family was tasked with raising enough money so his brother could attend a special school for the deaf. Henderson vividly recalled when he was 7 and his brother was 12, watching his brother sign the Lord’s Prayer and the 23rd Psalm. They traveled around to different churches inspiring others to give to their cause.
Through the experience, Henderson was truly motivated by what performing on stage meant and what it could do for people. This began his life’s path which led to performing and teaching with endless passion for close to 4 decades.
Henderson closed, “I tell students this always: The career you seek may elude you, but the craft you seek is in your hands. You work on that your whole life”.