JA’UAN HAY
John Nevins • Trouble in Mind
Ja’uan is a recent film graduate from Full Sail University and a former performance theatre major from Douglas Anderson School of the Arts. Ja’uan is both stoked and grateful to be making his return to theatre and Players by the Sea debut in Trouble in Mind. Both on and off the stage, he shares a passionate love for storytelling and views this as an opportunity to tell another. As he continues to lean on CHRIST, he trusts that this is an opening to let his light shine, all to the glory of GOD!
What made you audition for this show?
I auditioned for this show because I saw it as an opportunity to return to the theatre after being away for nearly five years. So, after praying on it and taking a leap of faith, here I am.
How do you relate to the character you’re portraying?
There are definitely some similarities between myself and my character, John. Some that may stand out more than others. Aside from being the youngest in our separate casts, we are self-assured guys driven by ambition, but in different ways.
If you had to describe the show in one word, what would it be?
Life.
What do you want people to take away from this show?
The thing that I would want the audience to take from this show is that we are all fearfully and wonderfully made by God and are all created in his image.
Why should patrons come to support/attend the show?
We have a show that is not only able to compel audiences with sensitive humor but is also bound to provoke conversation. Unlike some other shows or musicals, this show aims at the hearts of the audience and challenges perceptions of a blurred reality.
TROUBLE IN MIND
Written by Alice Childress
Directed by Zach Rivera
Mainstage • May 10 – 26, 2024
A talented and experienced Black actress has been cast in Chaos in Belleville, an anti-lynching play set to open on Broadway. She’s paid her dues throughout the years, playing stereotypical supporting roles in second-rate shows, and is ready for her star turn. Chaos in Belleville, written by a white playwright, might not be quite as enlightened a piece as she’s been hoping for — but that doesn’t mean it won’t sell out. And selling out is the question at the heart of Alice Childress’s comedy-drama. A cast of multigenerational Black actors rehearse under the purview of a white director and stage manager, and as the rehearsal process unfolds, theatre conventions and racial politics collide, resulting in a surprisingly funny yet deeply piercing look at the entertainment industry.
