Beyond Theater Blog

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.

From the moment he picked up a mic and stepped onto a stage, Dr. John W. Graves III recognized art as more than a passion, it was his purpose.

When we talk about legacy, mentorship, and impact in theater, Mel Williams is a name that resonates through generations of performers, including my own experience.

Some creatives don’t just enter a room, they expand it. They shape it, elevate it, and infuse it with a spark you didn’t know was missing until they arrived. Charles L. Mont III, known affectionately as Charlie, is that kind of artist.

Jerome Scott does not write just to entertain, he writes to awaken, to connect, and to heal.

In every generation, there are artists who do more than perform, they provoke, they reflect, and they awaken. Eternal Sincere is one of those artists.

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 rehearsal breath and every stage-lit glance, Nicola Jean is discovering not just the character of Tanya but deeper parts of herself.

Tasha Holmes does not merely perform stories, she lives inside of them, pours herself into the characters she portrays, and walks audiences through worlds they never knew they needed to visit.

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.

Andriana Henderson is no stranger to the stage. With a heart full of dreams and a spirit anchored in storytelling, she enters this season of the Jasai Theater Festival with grace, grit, and a hunger for growth.

Some actors perform for applause, Kairi Mace performs for the silence after, the breathless moment when the curtain falls and hearts are too full for words.