Shayla Simmons

She got her start in Lion King II, but the musical she “can’t get enough” of is the smash-hit story of Shug Avery and Miss Celie. SHAYLA SIMMONS, who’s currently playing the title princess in Aida at Constellation Theatre Company, tells us about her theatrical roots, her aspirations, and the actress she thinks is “the epitome of style and grace.” All that and more in her Take Ten interview this week.

1) What was the first show you ever saw, and what impact did it have?

David C. Ghatan

Non-traditional spaces and offbeat stories are catnip for designer DAVID C. GHATAN — which makes it kinda funny that his favorite musical is about as traditional a Cole Porter joint as you can imagine. Discover more about the man behind the scenic design for The Klunch’s epic black comedy How to Win a Race War — including the show he’d cheerfully risk a street riot to see — in this week’s Take Ten.

1) What was the first show you ever saw, and what impact did it have?

Kimberly Gilbert

From the wide-eyed arsonist Billie Irons at Woolly Mammoth to Angels in America’s Harper for Round House and Olney Theatre, D.C.-based actor KIMBERLY GILBERT loves nothing more than a challenging role. The star of Ford's Theatre’s current production of the classic political comedy Born Yesterday (running through October 21) takes a moment out of an eight-show week to talk about her worst-ever day job, her approach to audience feedback, and her favorite play ever (hint: she performed in its world premiere).

Clayton Pelham Jr.

From church-basement dinner-theater to an Athol Fugard drama that helped drive home how personal and passionate storytelling could be, actor CLAYTON PELHAM, JR. had a theatrical education that encompassed all kinds of narratives. He takes time out from the run of 1st Stage’s Hero’s Welcome (which continues through Oct. 7) to talk about losing himself in a Neil LaBute script — while standing in a bookstore! — and getting lost between Marc Bamuthi Joseph’s lines during the Theater Alliance’s production of Word Becomes Flesh.

William Yanesh

For once, WILLIAM YANESH isn’t working in a vacuum — the D.C.-based composer-lyricist, who’s served as music director on shows all over the region, is on the conductor’s podium this fall for a production of his own adaptation of the classic kids’ story Blueberries for Sal at Adventure Theatre MTC through October 21. In this week’s Take Ten, he fills us in on battling impostor syndrome, why he’s never been able to land a day job, and why everybody should make the time to absorb more art.