As I sit and reflect on Much Ado in Lagos 1963 I feel nothing but gratitude and love!
Going into my last semester at GSU I didn’t know if I would be able to participate in another show again, but lo and behold I heard about Much Ado through the grapevine and here we are!
I truly thank God for every opportunity that He brings my way, even though I may not always see His plan at first!
To Bajo, Mary Emily, and our entire crew, THANK YOU for your trust, support, and encouragement through this entire process. You led us all the way back to 1963 and introduced me to a culture outside of my own! Your work ethic is astounding and if we had to do it all over again, I would!
To the most talented cast, what can I say? We did it! Through all the ups, downs, and laughs, we helped bring to life a show that some would’ve thought was impossible! Watching and learning from you all has been a privilege! You all are incredible and I will cherish the memories I’ve made with you close to my heart! I’ll never forget you!
While I’m sad to say the curtains have closed on Much Ado in Lagos, and I’m not really one for sad endings, I’ll leave you with some of the quotes that made us laugh the most! Much love and here’s to creating more art in the future💜
- Mags✨
- “WHERE IS MY DAUGHTER?”
- “ I DON’T UNDERSTAND EITHER! WHY WOULD IKE LIE? HMMM? WHY WOULD LORD CHARLES LIE?”
- “I KNEW IT!”
- “WORSE, HOTEL MANAGEMENT & SECURITY!”
-“RENDEZVOUS?”
Drop more in the comments cast, lol!!
WE MADE A FEATURE FILM!!! 🎥
A year in the making, and I couldn’t be prouder of myself and the talented group of individuals I got to work with.
I want to thank GSU, our producers, and everyone involved for providing us students a once in a lifetime opportunity.
Working on this film has only grown my love of acting & I can’t wait to continue on this journey🫶🏾✨🥹
a note to the cast & crew of Sweat!!
this journey as been the most incredible, crazy, and fun experience of my life. getting to be a part of this show in general was a blessing that i won’t take for granted.
to our director, stage manager, & crew, THANK YOU for your guidance, trust, dedication, & support throughout this process. none of this would’ve been possible without you. my heart goes out to you!
to my cast (my friends), i have so much love & respect for you all that i can’t put into words. spending this past month with you all creating a riveting show was beyond amazing & i wouldn’t change it for the world. you all will set the world on fire with your talent & i can’t wait to watch. i am forever in your corner!
to @lynnnottage herself, thank you for writing a story that needs to be told & challenges the way people think. i was honored to bring this story to life!
GSU has given me the greatest opportunities that anyone could ask for, and for that i am thankful!
that’s all folks for Sweat🫶🏾😅
#sweat#sweatlynnnottage
”As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.“
Proverbs 27:17
This scripture was fully put into perspective for me during this show. God created us to help and grow one another, something that I can say happened throughout the production of Everybody. For I have so much love for the people I got to work with this go around, and there are so many thank you’s that are in order!
Everybody was officially my last show at GSU and it will probably go down as my favorite. I relate very closely to the character Everybody and their struggles, and their thoughts are some that I have shared. This show truly was about Everybody, and as an actor/artist that’s all I’ve ever wanted to do…create art the people could relate to and see themselves in.
To Laura, Elijah, Aryianna, Woody, Mary Emily, and our entire crew thank you for all your work you put into this show. Thank you for trusting me to tell this story, and for being there in the process of its creation. I was honored to be led by you all.
To the cast, my fellow somebodies, you all are so talented it’s unbelievable. You inspired me throughout this journey and I couldn’t imagine sharing the stage with anyone else. You all deserve the world, and the world deserves your talent. It also dawned on me that we always say “I hope to work with you again”! As this has been my second, third, and fourth show with some of you, I am confident that no matter where we end up in life the Lord will bring us back together to do it all over again.
Branden Jacobs-Jenkins you are a marvel, and I was honored to bring your incredible storytelling to life!
Here’s to constantly creating art…for EVERYBODY🫶🏾💫
✨ÉNOUEMENT✨
I have now entered into a new stage of my life as a 2023 Georgia State University Honors Graduate!
Looking back on this year and my three years spent here at GSU I am nothing but grateful for my experiences and the people I’ve met.
God, while my flesh may turn its back on You, my spirit cries out for Your love. I thank You for never giving up on me, even in my times of doubt You still make Your presence in my life known. For I shall follow You, always!
To my parents, thank you for being there for me these last three years. From every class, to every audition, to every show, you were there offering your love, guidance, and support. I’m honored the Lord placed you in my life as parents.
To my professors, directors, and producers whom I’ve worked with, thank you. Learning under you has been a privilege I don’t take for granted. Before I committed to GSU I truly wondered if it would benefit me as an actor, and thanks to you all I can say it did. You’ve made me a better actor and brought out something in me I didn’t know was there. I’ll forever be your student.
To all of my friends, cast mates, crew mates, and classmates, you all have made my three years worth it. Every moment with you all made me excited to work and create. I’ve never known such creative, talented, and driven individuals. Never change, and never lose touch. Love y’all!
Thank you GSU, forever grateful ♾️
Onto adult life…🎓🫶🏾
”I lift my eyes to you, O God, enthroned in heaven.“
Psalms 123:1
📸: @its.ry_ry
