Hampton in the Spotlight: Students Help Bring Wanda Sykes’ Netflix Special to Life
By: Clerfania Previlon
Hampton alumna, Emmy-nominated comedian, and veteran performer Wanda Sykes filmed her upcoming Netflix comedy special at Hampton University last weekend, giving Hampton students a front-row seat to a professional production.
Courtesy of Hampton University
Wanda Sykes visited campus last November and announced in January via social media that she would return to her alma mater to film her third Netflix comedy special, Please & Thank You.
Hampton students were deeply involved in the production process, with arts, film, and communications students being provided behind-the-scenes opportunities. Many students participate in multiple aspects of production, from lighting and camera operations to set design, giving them real-world experience.
Filming started before Sykes arrived on campus, starting with a show from Hampton University Marching Force that will be featured in the special. The Marching Force performed on the waterfront, just in front of the President’s house, which took many students by surprise.
The unexpected performance caught students' attention, capturing the anticipation building for Sykes’ arrival.
The Hampton University choir also performed, highlighting a personal connection to Sykes, who was a choir member during her time at Hampton. Isaiah McGuire, a first-year journalism major and choir member, reflected on how the experience was more than just singing.
“I joined the choir just because I thought it’d be a fun sidequest to do as a freshman. It’s led me to doing things I’ve never thought I would have the opportunity to do,” Isaiah McGuire shared. “It gave us an opportunity to showcase to the world that Hampton is here, that we exist and that we are a place worth being at.”
Sykes performed in a packed Ogden Hall, which was refreshed before her arrival. The Terpsichorean Dance Company served as the opening act for Sykes’ set, providing another opportunity for the talent of Hampton students to be showcased.
Students from the Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications, as well as students of film and theater, were invited to attend a production masterclass hosted by Netflix executives. Executives shared what goes into producing a special like Sykes’ as well as insight into careers in production.
“It's all about connections. It's the LinkedIn Olympics,” Kennedy Hall, a first-year strategic communications major who attended the workshop, said. “You can't blend in with everybody else, you can't do everything like everybody else, you can't just point out problems. You also have to create a solution as well.”
For Hampton students, the experience went far beyond performance. The weekend highlighted that Hampton University is more than an institution of learning. It’s a place to perform, create, and be seen. With figures like Wanda Sykes returning to campus, opportunities, mentorship, and visibility aren't just ideas but realities students can step into.
