Interviewer(s): Ernesto Valdes

Project: University of Houston

Manning Mpinduzi-Mott is the Assistant Technical Director of Zilkha Hall at The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts where his primary function is as the house electrician. He grew up in Houston, raised in the 5th ward, graduated from Jack Yates, and has been involved in theater for much of his life. In this interview, Mr. Mpinduzi-Mott discusses the reasoning for replacing The Music Hall with a new theater, the needs of local theater companies, the variety of performances he works with at Zilkha Hall, the politics of union labor in the theater, and makes mention of the difficulties of minority representations in theater.