Today we’d like to introduce you to Tonia Jackson.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
I have been an actress for over 25 years. I have been blessed to have worked in many regional theatres all over the country. I am a company member at Penumbra Theatre Company in St.Paul, Minnesota. I have done well over 75 plays in my life. I also do film and TV.
For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to act. As a child, I would write skits and scenes for my friends and I to act out. My mom thought I was crazy because I couldn’t watch shows like Sesame Street or The Electric COmpany without begging her to take me to audition for them.
In high school, the arts saved my life. The theater that was going on at my school didn’t move me or speak to my inner city upbringing but I found a little fulfillment in poetry and dance. I would recite my poetry at talent shows and different things, with my mentor Frank Wharton accompanying on the saxophone. I danced at little teen clubs and neighborhood parties with my pop-lock group I formed with my friends, The Invaders Nine Bad Lady Dancers, ha!
It wasn’t until I walked into the black box theater space at St. Paul Central High that my acting career truly began. We had all types of art at Central, and I even had Mint Condition as classmates. Under Jan Mandell, the teacher of the black box theater we formed a troupe called the Neapolitan Players. We wrote pieces about our real experiences, struggles, joys, and issues, and performed them for other students and on tour. I felt amazing. I had found my calling. Jan Mandell turned into my lifeline in the theater and introduced me to many other mentors like Marion Mcclinton, James Williams (jdubb), Lou Bellemy (artistic director of Penumbra theater) and many more. I found my heart and soul in the arts.
One week after high school graduation, I packed up and went back home to Illinois to attend DePaul University’s Goodman School of Drama (even though I had dreams of Howard U). I made some bad choices in school and ended up leaving after a while to work professionally. I bounced all over the country on stages, from my first gig at Steppenwolf in Chicago, to Miinnesota, Los Angeles, The Bay, all over. I stopped working for a while to recalibrate and eventually moved to Atlanta, with $200 and not one single connection. My first job in Atlanta was at the Alliance Theatre in August Wilson’s Gem of the OCean, directed by Kenny Leon, and Radio GOld, directed by Kent Gash.
Since then, I’ve made it into almost every equity house in the city as well as multiple guest star and co- star roles on TV. Moving to Atlanta has granted me so many opportunities in my field. Currently, I work as an acting teacher at Utopian Academy for the Arts, where I’m honored to uplift and guide the youth. I also coach actors in private sessions. I have been through so much in my life, and if it wasn’t for theater and being able to express myself, I don’t know where I would be.
Please tell us about your art.
I tell stories and I create characters. I give my whole self every time I perform because I want to affect people in a real and lasting way. I don’t like to be cheated when I watch other people work, so I don’t cheat people, meaning I always put everything I have into wholly embodying characters.
I am big on art for social change, especially with the youth. I have a gift for working with the youth. For 15 years, I worked with kids at Penumbra Theatre’s Summer Institute, doing art for social change work. I love giving young artists a platform to stand in their truth and speak to the world.
Ultimately, I just want the audience to feel something when they experience my work. Go out and make a difference if you’re inspired, laugh out loud if I’m doing a comedy, believe in the truth of the work to change the world, that’s what I want the art to do. I make art to change people.
Do you have any advice for other artists? Any lessons you wished you learned earlier?
A lesson I really wished I had learned is that I’m unique, and that’s okay. I had to learn to accept myself, flaws and all. I wish I started sooner with studying all I possibly can to make myself a better artist. I’m grateful to have learned self care, to work out, meditate, pray, and stay connected to my higher power. Now, I always stand in my truth and remember that the gift makes room.
As for artist advice, I would say to never compare yourself to others because we all have different paths to success and different ideas of success. Also, if you’re not willing to do whatever it takes, including picking up your roots and moving wherever, then don’t complain. This industry is cold and can be difficult, so you have to have stamina like an athlete to try and try again until your dream comes true. As working artists, we are always reinventing ourselves, always moving, always creating. We are nomads and chameleons. You have to stay malleable.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
Some of the shows I’ve been on, like Greenleaf, Atlanta, and Black Lightning, are on Netflix. The Quad is available for streaming online. Also, search my IMDb to read about and stream other work I’ve done. Other than that, I can be seen on stages and screens across the country. I do post often on my social media accounts about life and work. I’m on Facebook under Tonia Jackson and instagram under @toniamjackson.
Contact Info:
- Email: toniamjackson@gmail.com
- Instagram: @toniamjackson
- Facebook: Tonia Jackson
- Twitter: @toniamjackson1
Image Credit:
Brian Jones for Headshot, me for selfie, theatre photos Greg Mooney and the shout out king captured still tv photo
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