Today we’d like to introduce you to Sharon Cummings
Hi Sharon, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Sharon Cummings relocated to the United States from Kingston, Jamaica when she was nine. She attended elementary, middle, and college in New York. Mrs. Cummings graduated from Brooklyn College with a Bachelor’s degree in Special Education. Initially, she aspired to become a lawyer but soon realized that her shyness might hinder a career requiring extensive communication. As a result, she transitioned to education.
She taught in many private schools in New York City for years before relocating to South Florida in the 1980s and becoming a restaurateur. However, she found that she wasn’t fulfilled and ultimately gave up her business due to certain unforeseen circumstances. After contemplating her next move, she decided to establish a theatre company. Writing had always been her comfort zone since high school, and she had a passion for it, especially during her melancholic times.
Ms. Cummings felt a calling to establish a local theatre company which she did in 2002. She observed that all the Caribbean productions at that time originated from Jamaica. Additionally, she noticed an abundance of locally undiscovered talent and thus formed Déjà Vu Theatre Productions to provide a platform, particularly for young individuals and those eager to perform on stage.
Before launching Déjà Vu Theatre, she had limited knowledge of her culture. Nevertheless, Mrs. Cummings was determined to learn more about her origins. She believed young children should learn about their rich and diverse cultural heritage.
Mrs. Cummings is deeply passionate about her work. Her mission is to present diverse entertainment while conveying relevant social messages. She aims to inspire her audience to engage in introspection and enhance their community through creative problem-solving.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has not been a smooth road. For the twenty-two years we have entertained our local community, we have struggled at times. Deja Vu Theatre started in South Florida. It took quite some time to achieve an audience that would support our local productions, but it did happen. People looked forward to our productions.
Covid changed everything because we were not able to do live performances. My family had relocated to Jacksonville Fl in 2010, but I was still producing all my productions in South Florida, traveling back and forth, and staying away from home for months. After COVID-19, I realized that I didn’t want to be away from home for months at a time anymore, but, at the same time, I couldn’t give up on my passion for writing and entertaining my community, so I started producing events in Jacksonville, since February of 2024.
I feel like we are starting from scratch again because I have to build my audience once more. Hopefully, we will be able to contribute to this community and make a difference as we did in South Florida with our talented cast and messaging.
Presently, we bring our cast from South Florida to perform in Jacksonville. We hope to establish a local group as soon as possible.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’ve always had a passion for writing, which is my means of expression. Deja Vu Theatre allowed me to express my thoughts and feelings about life, people, circumstances, and our community. Deja Vu Theatre is known for addressing and bringing to life everyday situations that individuals and children experience daily.
I am most proud when I get a call from an attendee who expresses they got the message I was conveying in the shows, and also when a former cast member reached out to me to thank me for the opportunity given to them by Deja Vu theatre to be on stage which made them realize that they wanted to pursue acting or singing as a career.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
I feel that more individuals will become more open in following their passion for stage or film because it is becoming more diverse. Individuals are becoming Producers and Directors and are writing their own stories instead of waiting for Hollywood to discover them.
Pricing:
- Ticket usually runs from $25-$45…depending on the event.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dejavutheatrefl
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shardejavucummings and https://www.facebook.com/dejavutheatre
- Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/dejavutheatre
