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I am a theatre and film producer, actor, and director. After graduating Taylor University I went on to get a Master of Arts in Theatre Studies from Regent University and spent 2 years teaching High School theatre. During that time of finishing up my graduate degree and teaching I founded New City Players, a Fort Lauderdale based theatre company, with a group of friends (two of them were fellow Taylor grads Ryan Maloney and Andrew Davis). From 2015 until now I have been producing, directing, and acting with New City Players along with creating community engagement programming. In 2017 I began taking a part-time salary and in 2018 we brought on Ryan Maloney to take a part-time salary. We've since produced 14 productions, dozens of community events, and won multiple local awards. My work with New City Players has also led me into productions with several other companies in our region as an actor. In conjunction with New City Players I've been building a film company with my brother Andrew Davis. Our first feature film Palace is available to rent on Amazon Prime. Our second feature film which I produced, co-storied, and acted in is completed and we are waiting to hear back from festivals. All this aside, I've come to learn two things about myself: I love facilitating environments for others to be creative and I love acting. As often as I can do those things, I will continue to do them.
Productions with Tracy Manning will always be at the top of my list of valuable experiences. Tracy remains a mentor and friend and serves on the New City Players board of directors. She taught me that theatre was more than just me getting applause at the end of a show. She taught me the value of community and collaboration. And she guided me to becoming a much stronger actor. I am particularly fond of my senior year J-Term where I was directing "Incident at Vichy," acting in a friend's production of "All My Sons" and in rehearsals/Viewpoints training for "Proof." Three shows at once and I've seldom felt that alive.
Tracy Manning helped me get over myself. She taught me how to take risks and how to listen. She helped me get out of my head and into my body. These training pillars have made the artist I am today.
Having education across disciplines is immensely important. I was close to minors in History, Philosophy, and even took a Business class (which is honestly more of what I do now than anything else). As theatre artists we live through others' experiences. A thirst for knowledge and a desire to empathize are incredible tools at our disposal. Because I was a Biblical Literature major (and theatre minor) I spent a lot of time reading and writing. These skills have proved invaluable as I've been building New City Players.
Try everything. You might think you are an "acting only" person. I did through most of college. I've come to learn that I'm probably a better producer than anything else and I also enjoy it. I do a good amount of work that I don't love or that I'm neutral on so that I can relish those artistic experiences. Maybe you are a pure artist. That is awesome. You had better be ready to work so hard at your craft AND become great at the business side of acting and networking. If you realize that you like a variety of arts-related duties that is okay! Explore them and get great at them! It could be props, social media, stage management, design, fundraising, grant writing, marketing...there are innumerable ways to be involved in the arts. Find out what you like and get better at those things. The more skills you have, the easier it will be to get your foot in the door somewhere, start working, and start building a resume. The relationships you make are and will be your most important asset in our industry. Always, always treat people well and look for ways to help THEM. It will come back to you.
