For Marfan Canady, working as an artist means being an entrepreneur: since earning her degrees in Theatre and African and African American Studies from Fordham University-Lincoln Center in 2008, she has not only focused on acting, but has also founded a production company, launched a non-profit arts foundation, and continues to create her own work as a writer, performer, educator, and producer.
In addition to her own projects, Callalooa children's book and media brand that has garnered attention from PBS Kids and is co-producer on Broadway. With Alicia Keys Musical Hell's KitchenShe and the other producers have been nominated for a Tony Award in 2024 for the show.
How did you get into acting and how did you end up attending Fordham University?
I grew up in Washington DC. My mother is from Trinidad and my father is African-American. Art and storytelling were important in my home. I studied musical theatre in high school at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts and dreamed of coming to New York and performing on Broadway.
What interested me about Fordham was the opportunity to double major. I was interested in a lot of different things, so I didn't want to just go to drama school. I was really interested in the drama program at Fordham and how it could help me grow.
Did your perspective on your career change during your time at university?
I didn't graduate from Fordham with the intention of “owning my own business.” I wanted to be an actor. I auditioned and worked a lot for a year after graduation, but I realized I wanted to do something else. At Fordham, I learned a lot through extracurricular activities. I was in the Black Student Club, and many of the skills I learned — event planning, budgeting, marketing events, rallying audiences, collaborating with other student clubs — all taught me how to produce.
Tell us about your production company, Sepiaworks, what is the story behind it so far?
The growth has been amazing. This company started with me doing one-man shows. A girl? A girl?That led me to LA, where I started doing more film and TV work. CallalooIt started as a play, then turned into a book series and a puppet show. Then these big companies —Sesame streetI started getting calls from PBS Kids. And I started to have more power in the room because I was crafting my own story and my own narrative.
Why did you decide to start the Canady Arts Foundation?
I noticed Callaloo We needed more support in the nonprofit sector to impact young people and provide literacy and early childhood development support to children. The Foundation has also grown exponentially since 2015. We now have staff and ongoing programs. We support young people ages 3 to 18. Partnerships and collaborations have been a big part of our growth.
What is your average day like?
Every day is different, and I like that, but my days are structured. I wake up, take my daughter to school, exercise in the morning, and then try to schedule something. I need some structure. Being a mother makes me prioritize and realize that I have to stop working at certain times. I can't work the way I did in my 20s.
How do you balance not only your work but also the parts of your identity that are both an artist and an entrepreneurial mindset?
To be honest, it's very hard. It took me a long time to find my flow and balance in my work. At this point in my life, I have a great team that manages a lot of the business stuff for me, but in the early days, I was doing it all. And I think that makes the best leader. You have to know all the roles and be able to roll up your sleeves and do the work. I also think you have to make time to rest and focus on your work.
When I feel overwhelmed, I try to take a step back and be grateful and recognize that there is creativity in everything that's going on in the room, whether it's the business side or the actual creative side.
The interview was conducted, edited, and condensed by Adam Kaufman, FCLC ’08.
