Director Ti Ames is booked and busy. The lifelong thespian, who first encountered musical theater at Live Arts as an 8-year old, is directing the community theater’s production of Crumbs from the Table of Joy, a touching memory play about a Black family, told through the eyes of 17-year-old Ernestine Crump as she comes of age in Brooklyn in 1950. Ames, who also acts and sings, serves as Live Arts’ education director, and will be directing Charlottesville Players Guild’s production of Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom this summer. Crumbs from the Table of Joy opens March 3. livearts.org
Age: 27
Pronouns: They/them
Hometown: Technically Baltimore, Maryland, but I’ve been in C’ville since I was 8 years old
Why here: My current full-time job brought me back home
Worst thing about living here: Subtle racism, queerphobia, and performative allyship that really ain’t all that subtle
Best thing about living here: My maternal ancestors were enslaved here and settled here after emancipation, so I love being closer to them, and nothing can beat these Blue Ridge Mountain views
Favorite hangout spot: My room
Favorite restaurant: Pearl Island and Yuan Ho carryout
Bodo’s order: Cinnamon raisin bagel with light cream cheese (a compromise for my lactose intolerance) and lemonade
Where do you start and end a night out: Start: usually work. End: my bed.
Who is your hero: Any Black person who chooses rest over work
Best advice you ever got: “It makes no sense to work in a different mindset than how you live. Give only 100 percent to yourself.”
Biggest lie you’ve ever told: I had a happy childhood (thank God for therapy and better communication skills)
Proudest accomplishment: Winning a national Shakespeare competition in high school and studying at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
Describe a perfect day: I’m tryna rest more these days: wake up early-ish, make breakfast, take a nap, get up to watch Netflix/sing a bit/take a walk, then a night in/out with friends.
Do you have any pets: None of my own, unfortunately. I just want another cat, man!
Most embarrassing moment: Y’all don’t need to know everything…
Favorite movie/show: Bride & Prejudice, “Arrested Development”
Celebrity crush: Two: Winston Duke and Sara Ramirez
Favorite writer: bell hooks, Amiri Baraka
Favorite book: I’ll go for play—“The Slave,” by Amiri Baraka
Who’d play you in a movie: Dear God, I have no clue
Most used app on your phone: TikTok
Last text you sent: “Thank youuuuu”
Most used emoji:
If you could be reincarnated as a person or thing, what would you be: A domesticated house cat, hands down
What song are you listening to right now: Current hyper-fixation is “My Queen is Harriet Tubman,” by Sons of Kemet
What’s a song you pretend you don’t like because it’s embarrassing that you love it: “Hot Wings (I Wanna Party)” from the Rio Soundtrack
Subject that causes you to rant: Neurodivergence in Black culture
Best journey you ever went on: Driving from London to Edinburgh/attending Edinburgh Fringe
Next journey: Grad school?
Favorite word or curse word: I work with kids, so Ima chill on this one. I use the word beautimous (pronounced “bootimous”) quite a bit.
Hottest take/most unpopular opinion: It’s your responsibility as an adult to heal your trauma and seek out help to do so, no matter who caused it. Stop hurting people just ’cause you’ve been hurt.
What have you forgotten today:
My brain, in four different places around town