Professor Bolden hails from Los Angeles. Being a native Los Angeleno, he wanted to see what this vast country had to offer. His first stop was Fresno State University where he first discovered the stage and where several instructors noticed his potential and flare for the dramatic. He was encouraged to continue his training in graduate school and obtained a Master’s of Fine Arts degree from the University of Illinois. Upon graduation, Bolden migrated eastward with stints in St. Louis, Missouri; Richmond, Virginia; and Washington, D.C. He was also an assistant professor of theater at Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania. However, all of these places were mere pit stops along the way to the place that was beckoning him – New York City. As soon as Bolden arrived in New York, he beat the streets. He decided to map out agents’ offices and dropped off his headshot and resume with the hope of possibly securing several on-the-spot meet and greets. This was a terrific way to acclimate himself to the city -- by hoofing it and not taking the train or buses like so many artists before him. In his first month in the city, he signed with an agent, obtained his Actors Equity union card and booked two indie features. Bolden spent five years in New York and was out of town for six months every year touring and/or working in regional theater. Before accepting the position of assistant professor of drama and dance at Spelman, Bolden returned to Los Angeles and cut his teeth in the LA theater scene. He was nominated for NAACP and Ovation awards and won numerous others, including LA Drama Critics Circle, Stage Scene LA and a LA Webfest Best Actor Award. Professor Bolden hails from Los Angeles. Being a native Los Angeleno, he wanted to see what this vast country had to offer. His first stop was Fresno State University where he first discovered the stage and where several instructors noticed his potential and flare for the dramatic. He was encouraged to continue his training in graduate school and obtained a Master’s of Fine Arts degree from the University of Illinois. Upon graduation, Bolden migrated eastward with stints in St. Louis, Missouri; Richmond, Virginia; and Washington, D.C. He was also an assistant professor of theater at Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania. However, all of these places were mere pit stops along the way to the place that was beckoning him – New York City. As soon as Bolden arrived in New York, he beat the streets. He decided to map out agents’ offices and dropped off his headshot and resume with the hope of possibly securing several on-the-spot meet and greets. This was a terrific way to acclimate himself to the city -- by hoofing it and not taking the train or buses like so many artists before him. In his first month in the city, he signed with an agent, obtained his Actors Equity union card and booked two indie features. Bolden spent five years in New York and was out of town for six months every year touring and/or working in regional theater. Before accepting the position of assistant professor of drama and dance at Spelman, Bolden returned to Los Angeles and cut his teeth in the LA theater scene. He was nominated for NAACP and Ovation awards and won numerous others, including LA Drama Critics Circle, Stage Scene LA and a LA Webfest Best Actor Award.

drama and dance at Spelma