As a child, Marty K. Casey didn’t know that her way of coping with family dysfunction would lay the foundation for her career as an entertainer.
“My father was an alcoholic and he was very mentally and physically abusive to my mother. I remember going into my closet, playing with my little baby dolls, my Barbies. I would be in there for hours doing little skits,” the St. Louis, Mo. born and raised actress, singer, writer, director, and producer said. “I enjoy theater so much, and I’m like, ‘Oh, that’s all that pretending I was doing.’”
A daddy’s girl, Casey loved her father, which made things difficult to manage. Using play, fictional characters, and stories to escape her surroundings set her up for what would be a successful career in theater, film and production.
Behind her talents and decision to do something with them was her great grandmother, who encouraged her to start singing at church when she was 12 years old.
“She promised me some Red Lobster if I did a solo. And I love me some Red Lobster,” she said, laughing. “I heard the applause coming from the congregation, and I was like, ‘Oh, wait a minute.’ I liked that feeling. I’ve been singing ever since.”
From that moment on, performing was not only a way for Casey to tap into her natural abilities, but also a way for her to heal.
In 2014, sparked by the unrest in Ferguson, she launched the Show Me Arts Academy, a nonprofit organization where trained professionals provide artistic development for underserved youth ages 5-18. Since then, SMAA has exposed over 2,000 children to dance, theater, DJ engineering, and more, for free.
In 2016, SMAA’s Spreading The Love Youth Singers were recognized by Beyoncé and #BeyGOOD during her St. Louis stop of “The Formation World Tour.” Members of SMAA met with the band, dancers, and touring team and the group was highlighted in an article on Beyonce.com, which is still there today.
This was a major win for SMAA, an echo of Casey’s many successes throughout her 20-plus career in entertainment.
There was the time in high school, when someone sent a video tape of her choir performance to Missouri Baptist University, who offered her a full-ride scholarship for music, making her the first black female to do so. From 1988 to 2000, she toured with the Golden Gospel Singers in Germany and France, and for two years, she toured as an actress in the national play “Be Careful What You Pray For.”
Then there was 2004, when Tyler Perry brought his play, “Madea’s Class Reunion” to the Fox Theatre at the same time Casey’s “A House Divided” was running at the Scottish Rite Cathedral. Perry ended up canceling his performance due to a lack of ticket sales, while Casey’s sold out.
“My city has always supported me. I can honestly say, ‘to much is given, much is required.’ I try to give as much as I can, and I believe that I’m blessed as much [as I am] because I have given as much.”
Over the past three years, the decade-plus union actress has appeared in local independent films such as “Four-Way Stop,” “Retribution,” “The First Pick,” “Gonzo,” and “Parallel Chords.”
If her body of work and philanthropy does not express what is most important to her, then her next project, a one woman show titled, “It’s Not a Man’s World” will.
“The whole purpose of this show is to demonstrate the strength of a village,” Casey said. “My village happened to be strong black women. They made mistakes. They did and said some things that hurt me, but overall, they loved me enough to do and say the things that they thought were best at that time.”
Growing up in a Penrose Park area home with family members from different generations greatly impacted Casey.
“We’re talking about five generations, from my great grandmother down to my daughter, and if you include my grandson, that’s six generations. Where are we the same? Where do we cross lines? Where are we different? Where’s that connecting point?”
In the production, she shares her life story while playing the roles of her great grandmother, grandmother, mom, brother, daughter and a special character. By the end of the dramedy, Casey wants audiences to be transformed; to think; and to act.
“We often allow our past to be a hindrance to where we’re trying to go. Through the arts, I’ve learned to push past that. I’ve learned to tear those mountains down or go around them,” she said.
Casey wants others to know how they can do it too.
“There are four elements that I’ve learned from the phenomenal women in my life. My great grandmother taught me forgiveness. My grandmother taught me confidence. My mother taught me love, and my daughter taught me acceptance. I believe that anyone who comes to bear witness to this show – if they can apply these four things to their life – they will also find success.”
The National Association of Black Female Executives in Music & Entertainment presents “It’s Not a Man’s World” featuring Marty K. Casey, on Friday, April 6 at 8 p.m. at the Mahler Ballroom. For tickets, visit Eventbrite.com. For updates on Marty’s upcoming events, follow her on Facebook and Instagram.
Sharee Silerio is a St. Louis-based freelance writer, Film and TV writer-producer and blogger. When she isn’t creating content for The Root or Curly Nikki, she enjoys watching drama/sci-fi/comedy movies and TV shows, writing faith and self-love posts for SincerelySharee.com, relaxing with a cup of chai tea, crafting chic DIY event décor, and traveling. Connect with her on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
