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[0:00] Mo Brady: You're listening to The Ensemblist, the only podcast that shows you Broadway from the inside out. Welcome, I'm Mo Brady.

[0:23] Mo Brady: One of the loudest and most vibrant cultural conversations on Broadway has been about racial representation. Throughout dressing rooms and across casting tables, there's a persistent desire from audiences and artists to see more diverse stories on stage. And yet, the racial diversity of our country isn't yet reflected in the racial diversity of Broadway performers. I've been curious what this feels like for artists of color, so I've asked a few into the studio to share their experiences with racial representation in the theater industry with us.

[0:54] Mo Brady: Hailing from Atlanta, Georgia, Aisha Jackson has been a constant presence on Broadway stages for the last five years. Starting as a swing on Beautiful and then creating one of the ensemble tracks in Waitress, this month she finishes her run as the Anna standby in Frozen on Broadway. She joined me in the studio to talk about her experiences as an actress of color, particularly in taking on characters created by her Caucasian counterparts. Here's our conversation.

[1:41] Mo Brady: Will you introduce yourself and tell us what neighborhood of New York City you live in?

[1:45] Aisha Jackson: Sure. My name is Aisha Jackson, and I live in Harlem.

[1:49] Mo Brady: What's your current job?

[1:50] Aisha Jackson: My current job is standing by for the role of Anna in Frozen on Broadway.

[1:55] Mo Brady: I'm interested in your entrance into theater, both as an audience member and a potential theater artist.

[2:02] Aisha Jackson: Oh, yeah. My brother came home and was like, hey, we're doing Once on this Island at my school. We all went to a performing arts high school in Atlanta, Georgia. Yeah, he was like, do you want to audition to be the little girl, the little Ti Moune? So that was kind of my first entrance into the world of theater. And I felt like I was surrounded by people of color, people that look like me playing these characters. Of course, Once on this Island being a show that is predominantly a black cast, being introduced into that world, I was like, oh, I see myself all over this story. My first Broadway show that I ever saw was Memphis. So yeah, seeing Montego Glover, like leading the way up there was very inspiring. And it was, again, another thing of like, oh, I see myself all over this. This is great. And it's beautiful to feel seen and like represented.

[2:54] Mo Brady: Was the theater community that you grew up in, the performing arts high school, what was the racial diversity?

[2:59] Aisha Jackson: It was predominantly black. Yeah. So that's why when I say like, I always saw myself around. Yeah, we did shows that were telling our stories. And even if we were singing from Wicked or anything else, it was like we were singing it. So I didn't really feel like, oh, there aren't many parts for me. Or we even went to the extent of writing our own musicals. So I always felt included. I always felt seen, especially growing up in that community.

[3:24] Mo Brady: And are the roles that you're playing, are they like Ti Moune in Once on this Island, like a role that is specifically for a black artist, an African American artist? Or are you playing roles that were created by people of multiple diversities?

[3:38] Aisha Jackson: I would say a little bit of both. Like I was saying, we wrote shows to represent stories like about people of color. So, you know, so we had roles and things that I was that I would step into. And then I went to the University of Northern Colorado. That is not a predominantly black area. So it was a difference. But I think I learned so much in that community and in those storytelling opportunities and played Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes in college. So yeah, I feel like I've always had a little bit of it doesn't matter what color person this role was written for. If you're a human being and you fit the part and you can like relay this story, then you're technically right for it.

[4:23] Mo Brady: Once you moved to the city, have you felt like your opportunities to audition have been different from your Caucasian counterparts?

[4:30] Aisha Jackson: I think that sometimes the Caucasian actor is looked at first or more seriously for certain roles or to be a leading lady or two. And I feel like people of color are looked at to be the supporting role or the best friend with sass. I think we are put into those pockets. But I think the casting world and the creative teams and the storytellers are expanding. Therefore, their view of what we are capable of playing is also expanding in a way. And so we are being given more opportunities and being seen seriously for roles that are not just like you over there in the corner or like filling the diversity quota in the ensemble. It's actually being seen as like, oh, no, you can lead the show. Yeah. And I think that'll continue to happen as our playwrights and creative teams and producers and directors and casting directors look like us and want to tell stories that are about everyone and not just one specific race.

[5:32] Mo Brady: Are there things that you've wanted to be seen for that you haven't been?

[5:35] Aisha Jackson: No, I ask. I ask and like I've been very blessed. I know because not everyone has that experience. But yeah, many of the roles that I see myself in, I ask to go in for. And sometimes roles that I don't see myself in are offered to me or I'm asked to be seen for them. And I'm like, oh, they want to see me for that? Okay.

[5:58] Mo Brady: That was the case with Anna, correct?

[6:00] Aisha Jackson: That was funny. I went in for Elsa first. And that was the case when my agent called me and was like, hey, they're seeing they want to see you for Elsa. And I was like, huh? And he was like, yeah. And it wasn't like, I know I can sing Elsa. I know that I can I could possibly play that role. But immediately my thought was they want to see a person of color for like, are they actually going to? Because I do know oftentimes, like, there are equity rules, you have to see all ethnicities and things for these roles. And so they do call us into the room sometimes. That doesn't always mean that you're, you're ready to take that leap and be like, yes, we want a person of color to be the leading lady in our show.

[6:38] Aisha Jackson: As a Disney character, as a Disney princess, like there's a lot of layers of audience expectation of what characters in Frozen look and sound like, yeah. So I was surprised. That's how it should be. That's great. Because these are fictional characters. So yeah, I went in for Elsa. And then they told me that I was too young and bubbly. And I was like, I'm an older sister, I have a little sister. But they want to see you as Anna. And I was like, oh, okay, cool. Let's do it. Like she, she's a leading lady. She goes on a journey. She falls in love. I was like, sure, let's do it. And so I went in for it. And even in that process, I had someone in casting sit me down and be like, we're looking at you bring yourself into the room. Have fun. Make it yours. We're not just seeing people of color to check that box off. We are looking at you. We are considering you highly for this role. And I was like, okay, thank you. Thank you for saying that.

[7:36] Mo Brady: All three of your Broadway shows have been shows with multicultural casts. Yes. Have you done a professional show with an all black cast?

[7:41] Aisha Jackson: Witness Uganda? Oh, yes. Yeah. Yes. I mean, we have one. Witness Uganda, and I had the opportunity to work on the lab of Ain't Too Proud. So those are the two.

[7:56] Mo Brady: How do those experiences being in a room with all black?

[8:00] Aisha Jackson: You feel amazing.

[8:01] Mo Brady: Tell me about it.

[8:02] Aisha Jackson: You feel represented. You walk. I mean, just like in the world, when you walk around and you see yourself represented, it makes you feel seen. It makes you feel like what you have to say.

[8:12] Aisha Jackson: Thank you for having me! I'm really excited to be here.

[8:42] Aisha Jackson: I think representation is so important, especially in the arts. It allows people to see themselves in stories that they might not have seen before.

[9:02] Aisha Jackson: Growing up in Atlanta, I didn't see a lot of people who looked like me on stage, and that made me feel like it was a distant dream.

[9:22] Aisha Jackson: When I got to Broadway, I realized that I could be part of changing that narrative.

[9:42] Aisha Jackson: Playing roles that were traditionally portrayed by white actors has been a journey for me.

[10:02] Aisha Jackson: I’ve had to navigate the complexities of bringing my own identity into these characters while respecting the original intentions.

[10:22] Aisha Jackson: It's about finding that balance and making sure that my performance is authentic to who I am.

[10:42] Aisha Jackson: I think audiences are ready for more diverse storytelling, and it's exciting to be part of that shift.

[11:02] Aisha Jackson: The conversations around representation are evolving, and I feel like we're making progress.

[11:22] Aisha Jackson: I hope that my work can inspire others to pursue their dreams, no matter how unattainable they may seem.

[11:42] Aisha Jackson: It's important for young performers of color to see that they can take on any role.

[12:02] Aisha Jackson: I want to be a part of creating opportunities for others, not just for myself.

[12:22] Aisha Jackson: The more we share our stories, the more we can connect with each other.

[12:42] Aisha Jackson: I believe that art has the power to change perceptions and open minds.

[13:02] Aisha Jackson: Every time I step on stage, I carry that responsibility with me.

[13:22] Aisha Jackson: It's not just about performing; it's about representation and making a difference.

[13:42] Aisha Jackson: I’m grateful for the roles I’ve had, and I look forward to what’s next.

[14:02] Aisha Jackson: I think we’re just scratching the surface of what’s possible in theater.

[14:22] Aisha Jackson: There’s so much talent out there waiting to be discovered.

[14:32] Aisha Jackson: I hope that we continue to push boundaries and challenge the status quo.

[14:52] Aisha Jackson: The future of Broadway is bright, and I’m excited to be a part of it.

[15:20] Aisha Jackson: Thank you for having me on the show to share my journey.

[15:40] Aisha Jackson: I hope our conversation inspires others to pursue their passions.

[16:01] Aisha Jackson: Let’s keep the dialogue going about representation in the arts.

[16:15] Aisha Jackson: I’m looking forward to what’s next for all of us!