Soap Opera Star Colby Muhammad Takes Us Behind the Scenes

My mother was a dancer. She put me in ballet classes starting at the age of three. I was too fidgety for the barre, so she introduced me to theatre. For the next several decades I performed on stage, and I went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in musical theatre from Howard University. 

I loved my time at Howard, but post-graduation I was burnt out. So, I took a break to find myself again. Then in 2018 I became very sick and was admitted to the hospital for sepsis. After a month rotating through the ICU, I was finally diagnosed with Lupus. I had tachycardia, so my heart would race. I wasn’t sure if I would be able to dance or be on stage again. But I healed.

In 2019, I began dating my now-husband, Keith Nixon Jr. He encouraged me to consider pursuing a graduate degree in theatre. I visited California to visit a few schools, and I fell in love with UC San Diego. I applied but did not get in, but it worked out because the pandemic had just begun. I was accepted the following year, and Keith was also accepted to the American Film Institute in Los Angeles. It’s crazy how it worked out!

What is it like working on a soap opera?

Soap opera filming is very, very fast paced. We may have four to six cameras on us at any moment, which means you typically only get one take for a scene. This is different from prime time television and movie sets, where you do multiple shots with different camera angles. You definitely have to show up prepared, and I think UC San Diego’s acting program prepared me well for that. We were working nonstop learning a lot of lines in a short amount of time.

The schedule is also rigorous, with 200 episodes filmed each year. We started shooting in November 2024 and will go through August 2025. We work Monday through Friday, sometimes up to 16-hour days depending on what’s happening with your character. We also have week-long hiatuses each month so that we don’t burn out. 

I’ve also had to adjust my acting since I’m used to theatre. When I’m on stage, my performance is “big” to translate to the back of the house. But on the soap opera set, the camera is right next to me, so I don’t need to be as loud or expressive. 

How did you learn about ‘Beyond the Gates,’ and what was the audition process like?

Professor Ursula Meyer set up a meeting for our MFA cohort with casting director Rob Decina. I was able to ask questions and share my resume and headshot. He also came to our showcase in New York City over the summer, and afterwards he reached out to me about upcoming fall shows. At the time I was just beginning production of “Jaja's African Hair Braiding” in Washington D.C., and I got an email inviting me to audition.

At first, I was hesitant. I always thought I would end up on Broadway or in the movie industry. Then I started looking up all the names of successful actors who got their start on soap operas—Michael B. Jordan, Chadwick Boseman, Brad Pitt, Meg Ryan. So, I sent in my audition tape, which was initially for Kat Richardson’s rival, Eva Thomas. They decided to go with Ambyr Michelle, but I was asked to audition again for the character of Kat Richardson. A few months later, I learned I had gotten the role and had two weeks to move to Atlanta.

How would you describe your character, Kat? Do you share any similarities?

Kat is a spitfire, she’s very sure of herself. She’s goal oriented. She’s flawed, and recognizes it, but is unapologetic. That’s exciting to me because it’s a reminder to be yourself and stick to your values, even if that means people don’t like you.

I don’t think there are a lot of similarities between me and Kat. I’m not confrontational, but one thing we do have in common is she fights to protect the people she loves. As a Libra, I’m all about balance, justice and fairness. But I will say that the character is evolving, and a lot more of me is coming out. For instance, I have a sense of humor, and Kat is having more comedic moments now. I’ve been able to communicate with the show’s head writer to learn more about the character, and she responds quickly, which has been nice.

What did you enjoy about the acting MFA program at UC San Diego?

Community is a big thing for me, and UC San Diego’s MFA acting program is very tight knit. One of the aspects I loved when auditioning is that there were only eight in my cohort. It requires you to be better. If you didn’t learn your scene, there was no way to hide. I’m still very close with my classmates and faculty, I just texted Ursula Meyer for her birthday.

Being able to work with La Jolla Playhouse was also huge for me. For example, I got to work on the world premiere of “Love All” about tennis champion Billie Jean King, written by Anna Deavere Smith and directed by Marc Bruni, which was a fantastic addition to my resume. 

The community that UC San Diego has afforded me inside and outside the university has been the best part of my experience. It’s truly one of the best programs in the country. 

Preparing the next generation of artists

Students in the MFA Acting program participate in intensive studio work in movement, voice, speech and singing over a period of three years. Each actor’s innate talent is nurtured and challenged with individual attention from a team of professionals and specialists in actor training.

“We meet every week to troubleshoot, to interact with alumni, to celebrate victories and to learn about the many faculty that are here to support them,” said Meyer, who is head of graduate acting and specializes in voice. “Because it’s a small group, students get to know each other very well through classes and productions.”

Each year the Department of Theatre and Dance leads 10 to 15 productions representing both classical and contemporary texts, as well as original works written by student playwrights. Additionally, all graduate actors serve at least one professional residency with La Jolla Playhouse, ranging from supporting to lead roles alongside professional actors and directors of national and international stature.

Learn more about academic programs offered by the Department of Theatre and Dance.