Conversations with Jerry G. White

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jerry G. White.

Hi Jerry G., we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My journey to here and now has a starting point of my being a military brat. My father was in the Air Force. So, “Home” for me will always be Charleston, South Carolina. I was born in Harlingen, Texas…then back to Charleston, South Carolina…then to Denver, Colorado…then to San Bernardino, California…then back to Charleston, South Carolina! With a father who is a saxophone player, I always knew that I would play an instrument. I quickly gravitated to the drums! I started taking drum lessons in the fourth grade through high school. My high school…St. Andrews Parish High School; Home of the Rocks! Don’t take us for Granted!

Of course in high school, if your English Teacher suggests that you come to the auditorium and help put on the classic play Spoon River Anthology, you say OK. Did I mention that my high school had a long history of putting on plays, musicals and musical reviews? My love for theatre, acting and storytelling fully became a big part of my life when our high school Summer Playhouse produced the musical Godspell. Our production of Godspell went from having a run in our high school auditorium to doing a few shows at the Guillard Auditorium in downtown Charleston. The theme and storyline of Godspell created a “buzz” and created an opportunity for dialogue and conversation. The running craze was just being during my years in high school. I would go on ten mile runs. We lived in the West Ashley area of Charleston. So, I found out from our house to the Citadel -the Military College- it would be a ten mile round trip! I would have to run across the Ashley River Bridge…the Ashley River Bridge is a draw bridge. Looking down into the river was sight to behold! After a year in New York, I attended and graduated from Newberry College. Newberry College is a private Lutheran college in Newberry, South Carolina. I loved every minute of my time at Newberry College. Theatre, Cheerleader, running in the graveyard…yeah that is still a thing! Student Government, I was Student Body President my senior year. I moved to Atlanta for an internship at the Alliance Theatre.

Here in Atlanta, I have been able to merge all that you now know about me into a career of acting including – John in the 1989 Academy Award Nominated Short Film Gullah Tales, Runner-11 Full Marathons with a PR (Personal record) of 3:03 minutes, Educational Children’s Theatre at the Children’s Museum of Atlanta and Teaching Artist with the Teaching Museum through the Fulton County Public School System, Board Member with The Decatur Arts Alliance (DAA), working with The AJC Decatur Book Festival and my own performing Teaching Artist entity- A Performance Method; www.aperformancemethod.com. The here and now is now highlighted by my becoming a published author! My debut Children’s Book- Anansi and the colorful kente cloth – with Illustrations by Courtney Strickland was published by 1010 Publishing; www.1010publishing.com June/2021. My book Anansi and the colorful kente cloth is based on all of those wonderful folktales and stories about the loveable West African trickster Anansi the Spider.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
The definition of the word journey is in part; a travel or passage from one place to another; the journey from youth to maturity a journey through time. So, I like to think for me those times that my journey was smooth or had struggles has and continues to make me who I am…and I like that journey. Not getting cast in a show then by all means create your own show. Need a story told then all means write your own story.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
With my background and training in acting, storytelling, historical reenactments and being a percussionist, I have fully created a niche for myself by becoming a sort of 21st-century Griot. A griot is a West African historian, storyteller, praise singer, poet and musician. My mantra is “bring the words to life!”

Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
Well, here in Atlanta and Georgia in general the Arts industry is only going to get better because we as artists are a major component to the thought process of “quality of life.”

Pricing:

• My performance shows are geared for Family audiences and range from $275.00-$350.00 for One hour to 2 hour shows. You can contact me through my website www.aperformancemethod.com
• You can get book Anansi and the colorful kente cloth through amazon.com $12.95

Contact Info:

• Website: www.aperformancemethod.com
• Instagram: aperformancemethod_jgw
• Facebook: @jerrygwhiteactor
• Twitter: @jerrygwhite1
• Youtube: www.youtube.com/user/jerrygwhite

Image Credits:
Personal Photo by Carl King