Today we’d like to introduce you to Andre Eaton Jr.
Hi Andre, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I’m an actor by coincidence! In high school, I was failing geometry. I stayed after school for tutoring and didn’t hear the announcement was canceled. I had to still wait on my ride, so I went to the theatre department’s One Act auditions. I ended up getting cast in my first show and my aspirations of being a lawyer kind of died there.
I ended up going to Georgia State University and majoring in theatre performance and English, and have been actively acting in some capacity ever since that first audition.
I started my work at Live Arts Theatre as an actor in a few of their productions. One of the great things about Live Arts is that they are a teaching theatre, and so I began to dip my toes into other things and learned new skills such as directing and lighting design. I quickly became a teaching artist and then continued to move up the ranks to Associate Artistic Director.
I now serve as Co-Artistic Director of Live Arts. One of my goals with this position is to create an organization that I so desperately was looking for when I was a younger artist looking for a space to belong to. I continue to act around the community and occasionally do some directing as well.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I think being an artist can be a really difficult road to walk down sometimes. Especially as an actor, you face consistent rejection, and it can be difficult to not attach your self-worth to the success that you have or are not having. It can be especially difficult as an artist of color in regard to spaces that are not made for you or are inclusive.
I have come close to quitting a few times, but there was one particular instance where I came the closest. It was the end of a week of auditions and callbacks. I hadn’t booked anything in a while. I was feeling low, and I was starting to lose the joy I had for acting. I decided to go to the last audition I had signed up for that week and then take a break. However long that may be.
The last audition I had was for Live Arts Theatre.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I work at a Petroleum Distribution Center as my day job. My company does construction and supplies all the parts for gas stations such as Costco, QuikTrip, and Murphy. I am the one-man returns department for the Atlanta branch.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
My parents are a huge source of support and encouragement. They were there for the beginning of my journey and have watched it change and grow throughout the years.
Outside of my parents, there are two people who have had a fundamental impact on my success, and I can say without their support I wouldn’t be where I am today.
Cassandra Edwards was my high school theatre teacher. She is the person who sparked my love for acting and the world of theatre in general. She would give me rides home after late rehearsals and really poured into me. From that very first rehearsal she saw something in me that I’ve only recently been able to see for myself.
Rebecca Parker is my fellow Co-Artistic director of Live Arts Theatre. Her support is one of the sole reasons that I have continued to be an artist. Sher has kind of reignited my passion for theatre after a low time where I wanted to quit. Under her guidance, I have come into my own and branched out into avenues that I never thought would be possible for me. Leading an organization was definitely not something I could have seen myself doing.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://liveartstheatre.org/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/andre.j.eaton; https://www.facebook.com/liveartsgwinnett
Image Credits
Blues for an Alabama Sky – Live Arts Theatre Clue – Players Guild at Sugar Hill Fiorello – Live Arts Theatre Readthrough – Live Arts Theatre
