"Do It Because This is Your 'Why'" - Chatting with Rodney Earl Jackson Jr.
I would like you to meet Rodney Earl Jackson, Jr. Rodney will be returning to Arena Stage next month in their production of Lydia R. Diamond's Toni Stone where he'll be playing Elzie (A role he is reprising from a run at American Conservatory Theater in 2020). Rodney made his Broadway debut in The Book of Mormon and was last seen in the world premiere of Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations. He also traveled in the first national tour of Motown: The Musical.
Jackson is a San Francisco native who built his love and foundation for arts and theater in public city organizations such as San Francisco Arts Education Project, San Francisco Recreation and Parks, Young People’s Teen Musical Theatre Company, and the Ruth Asawa San Francisco School of the Arts. He is the co-founder/artistic director of the San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Company (SFBATCO), a five-year-old nonprofit whose mission is to produce live theater that reflects the experiences of the Bay Area’s historically and currently marginalized communities and create mentorships that aspire to engage a new generation of live theater supporters. I am very happy to have the chance to feature such a seasoned and talented artist!
How old were you when you knew you wanted to be an Actor?
I started acting at age nine as a member of the San Francisco Arts Education Project (SFArtsED). I was shown the musical The Wiz and my life was changed forever seeing Black people express themselves and tell stories in such an inspiring and kind of “not normal” way.
Where did you study? Do you have any mentors that truly helped make you the wonderful Artist you are today?
I studied Theatre at the public arts “Fame” high school in San Francisco (The Ruth Asawa School of the Arts). I later got my BFA from Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Drama (Class of 2013!). One of my biggest mentors is a graduate from CMU also; he would come every year, kick the professors out, and have intense master classes and real one-on-ones with us. That man is thee one and only: Billy Porter.
Congratulations on your return to Toni Stone at Arena Stage after being a part of the production at American Conservatory Theater in 2020. What does it mean to you to return to such a wonderful piece of theatre?
I’m super excited to be returning to Toni Stone here in Washington, DC at Arena Stage, coming from the San Francisco production at American Conservatory Theater. Toni Stone deserves to have her story told! I'm blessed to be part of Lydia R. Diamond, Pam MacKinnon, and Camille A. Brown’s vision in doing so.
Are there any roles, shows, moments or performances in your career that stick out and will always have a special place in your heart?
I traveled the world for two and a half years with Motown: The Musical. Portraying Marvin Gaye and singing his iconic song “What’s Going On?” has really been resonating with me as of late.
What advice would you give any young aspiring artist?
My advice is to be passionate about something. Don’t do it because you think you need to. Do it because you love it; do it because you can’t live without telling stories; do it because this is your “Why”. I found my passion when I changed my way of thinking about theatre. I used to want to be a part of everyone else's story; now, I've created a space with a theatre company called the San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Company (SFBATCO) for my community’s stories — one’s that enliven our joy over our pain.
Rehearsals for Toni stone in DC are underway with the show running from September 3 - October 3, 2021. For more information make sure you visit - https://www.arenastage.org