Beyond Theater Blog

The lights may shine brightest on the stage, but behind every seamless scene is someone orchestrating the magic in real time. That someone, for the Jasai Theater Festival, is the incomparable Nathia Tucker.

Lynn Shirley is on a mission to leave a mark. Not just on scripts or stages, but on hearts, communities, and the next generation of little Black and brown girls who need to see what's possible.

Visionary. Playwright. Branding architect. Cultural force. Jaret R. Barron is proof that when purpose meets execution, dreams don’t just manifest, they multiply.

Some people direct from the stage. Others move the crowd from behind the curtain. But Shari Barron? She curates every moment in between.

Sonja Burrus In every ensemble, there is a heartbeat, a presence so steady and sincere it quietly binds the whole. For this year’s Jasai Theater Festival, that heartbeat is Sonja Burrus.

In every great production, there is someone behind the scenes, steady, thoughtful, precise, working in shadows to make the spotlight shine. For the Jasai Theater Festival, that person is Warith J. Watson.

Courtney, The Chief of Artistic Vision Execution There are artists, and then there are architects of emotion, those who use their voice...

Some artists live to shine in the spotlight, but others were born to build it. Yae Stratton is the latter, a master of quiet power, precision, and poetic alignment.

Kahlil Straxkson moves with the quiet brilliance of someone who understands that impact begins with intention. As the Chief of Audience Connection, he does not simply manage energy, he crafts it, channels it, and amplifies it until it becomes unforgettable.