Lioness Spotlights Local: Zell Miller III

Our Interview with Zell Miller III

AS: Can you start by introducing yourself and telling us about your background? 

ZM: "My name is Zell Miller, III. I am an artist based in central Texas. I grew up in East Austin in a housing project called Springdale Gardens. I am one of four. I was raised in a house with mom and dad. I started reading at the age of three, and that started my love affair with words. I started acting at the age of 11, and I guess I have always written or acted out scenes. My acting led me to writing my own shows, and going to poetry events. None of this would have been possible if not for meeting a man who became my mentor, rest in power Richard Smith. He met me on a bus one day, and invited me to Catch Fish Poetry Society who met on 11th street on Wednesday’s. I was 19. This was started by Evelyn Martin Anderson. It was a group of primarily black artist, writer’s, and that is where my skills were honed as a poet." 

With over 25 years of experience in Austin’s arts community, Miller has dedicated his career to amplifying underrepresented voices through theater, poetry, hip-hop, and the Jazz Aesthetic. A 2017 Austin Arts Hall of Fame inductee, His work bridges performance, education, and community activism, creating spaces where emerging and established artists can collaborate and thrive.

AS: What does being selected as Austin's first-ever poet laureate mean to you? 

ZM: "It means the world to me. As a unicorn, who is actually from here, and all the work that I have put in as an artist/mentor/educator/producer in the Austin area for over 30 years. To be crowned the first one, means that I am a Jeopardy question, and it means everything to me."

AS: What plans do you have to promote poetry, literacy, and literary arts in the Austin community and through programming at the Austin Public Library? 

ZM: "I want to do many school visits, so I am working on that. I also have had the privilege of doing events through the different branches of the library. I am doing writing workshops with Badgerdog, and I am producing events through the library. Last year, I produced “Austin is a Poem” and we had over 300 people attend, and we made space for 15 poets. I plan to produce an event this year with poetry and jazz musicians and as much as I can, I am getting out to readings and making appearances. I was asked by the ACME department to do a poem for The People's art gallery opening, so wherever I am requested, I am there."

AS: Tell us about your new company Black Rose Theater ATX! What was your initial inspiration for your debut play, 'And She Was Loved'? 


ZM: "Black Rose Theater ATX is a labor of love, we are the only professional theater company in Austin dedicated to telling stories centered around the African-American heritage and culture. We are unique in that we are going to provide theater experiences for the entire family, we are dedicated to producing three performances a year. We will have one for families and children ages 5 to 12. We will have one for teens, and one for adults. The inspiration for our inaugural production “And She was Loved” comes from me finally dealing with the grief of my mother, and my mentor Laurie Carlos, they both passed away from cancer related illness over ten years ago, but I have been carrying the pain and grief for that long. I fused the ethos of Peter Pan, and used that as a vehicle to push the narrative forward. It was an overall healing experience for the audience and performers."

AS: Tell us about your book of poetry, Austin's Indigenous Offspring! Do you have a favorite moment from it, or from writing it that you can share with us? 

ZM: "Austin Indigenous Offspring is my first book of poetry. It is published on 310 Brown Street Publishing. It is a collection of work spanning about 25 plus years of living and doing work in Austin, TX. It is an examination of my city, and the good, bad, and the ugly, and an emotional roller coaster ride from a kid who grew up in a housing project, to becoming the city’s first Poet Laureate. Choosing a favorite moment would be like picking your favorite child. I will share my favorite moment, holding the book in my hand, each day could be a favorite poem haha, I love the depth of the work, and the accessibility of the book for readers."

AS: What is next for you in your writing and theatre career? 

ZM: "That is a big question, hahaha. I am working on two new one person show’s, I am working on an adaption of Aesop’s fable’s for Black Rose Theater ATX 2027 season. I am so excited to be working with four writers between the ages of 18 to 21, and we are working on a script that is inspired by the archetypes of the Breakfast Club, another new work for Black Rose Theater ATX. I am working on a book of poetry for young readers. I also am working on an audio version of my Austin’s Indigenous Offspring, with music underneath the poetry."

AS: How can readers support local poets and theatre artists like you? 

ZM: "For me, they can follow me at @milerzell on instagram, or facebook, a website coming soon, it will be zm3live.com. I think that readers should go to open mic’s, support live theater, and talk to these amazing artists and find ways they can support each other, that is how we grow a community of art loving folks, and oh visit your bookstores, and purchase books!!!! Peace and blessings."

Lioness Books supports local authors.  Uplifting local authors is crucial to not only the growth and strength of the greater literary community, but free expression and democracy. Ordering from independent booksellers helps us move away from monopolies like Amazon and keeps our economy local.  Visit our Bookshop site to order Austin's Indigenous Offspring!