Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Darryl Reuben Hall.
Hi Dr. Darryl Reuben, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Being born and raised in the underserved community of Northside Jacksonville, FL with a predominant African-American population, I was not exposed to professional theatre until very late in life. We’re talking as a Senior in high school. At that time, the movie version of THE WIZ took me by storm. I was a member of our marching high school band and had also won 1st Prize in the high school talent show as a singer. There was a yearning within to
perform but no such venue in Jacksonville that provided this needed exposure to the Arts.
A Christian, I believe we all have a call and Purpose on this earth. After graduation in Architecture from the University of Florida, my interests in the Arts reached greater heights with employment at Walt Disney World as an entertainer, Orlando Opera Company, commercials, and local theatre, the desire to become a performer was born. And the desire to want to give back to the community by sharing my ‘Gift’ and ‘Voice’ caused me to start a 501c3 non-profit theatre company, Stage Aurora Theatrical Company, Inc. located in Jacksonville, FL.
The mission of Stage Aurora Theatrical Company is ‘to enlighten the mind by way of the Arts through the Black and Faith-based experience’. We aim to build bridges of understanding between cultures in relation to the human experience.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
When I founded Stage Aurora Theatrical Company in 2001, we launched the Main stage with a production of David Feldshuh’s MISS EVERY’S BOYS. Hardly no one attended! I had been living in NY for 10 years and was hardly known in my hometown at all. So, I had to think outside the box or rather think in terms of ‘what would bring out the community’. I knew of a Black musical that had toured and had quite the national reputation. That musical is ‘MAMA, I WANT TO SING’. That would be our second production and brought out huge crowds so much so that the radio station called me to ask where was the auditorium located because callers were calling into their station at huge numbers. I chose to list the name of the specific auditorium rather than just say it was being performed at the local community college. The third production would be ‘A Raisin in the Sun’, a classic known in the Black community. I would learn to adapt these less-than-classical works in order to bring in the audience. Also, in my underserved and unknowing community, the audience would easily attend ‘chitlin’ circuit plays’ rather than attend classics as A RAISIN IN THE SUN, MISS EVER’S BOYS, and DRIVING MISS DAISY.
Chitlin’ circuit plays are very-well known in the Black community. If ‘Mama, Done Burnt Da Chicken’ were a real play, it would sellout! Jacksonville, FL is largely comprised of church–going folk. They have supported a good number of shows over the years but not always and I don’t think one can depend on churches to fill the seat because churches have their own activities and interests going on. So, I tend to create and/or choose shows with Diverse meaning for youth (Disney’s HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL), for the churches (CROWNS), for general theatregoers (A RAISIN IN THE SUN), for Greek Fraternities and Sororities (Darryl Reuben Hall’s FRAT HOUSE), with school matinees being performed for literary works (TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD), etc.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
WHAT DO YOU DO, WHAT DO YOU SPECIALIZE IN, WHAT ARE YOU KNOWN FOR?
Among many accolades, as a creative playwright: My original one-man show, Dinner with Booker T. was selected for the 2019 National Black Theatre Festival in Winston-Salem, NC. My original show FRAT HOUSE was successfully submitted and accepted into the Atlanta Black Theatre Festival garnering (2) FESTIVAL FAVORITE AWARDS: (1) for Darryl Reuben Hall as
‘Festival Favorite Script Playwright’ and the other (1) as ‘Festival Favorite Supporting Actress’. I’m looking to continue to develop FRAT HOUSE in hopes of a national tour as well as ‘feature film’
WHAT SETS ME APART?
Dr. Darryl Reuben Hall, Founder /Executive Director of Stage Aurora Theatrical Company, holds an honorary degree in the Sacred Fine Arts from St. Thomas Christian University and a bachelor’s degree in architecture from the University of Florida.
Dr. Hall is a member of the following professional acting unions: Actors’ Equity Association, Screen Actors Guild, American Guild of Variety Artists, and American Guild of Musical Artists.
AWARDS AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS: Awarded the Visionary Founder’s Award for Stage Aurora, recipient of a Mayoral Proclamation from the City of Jacksonville, Selected as City of Jacksonville Black History Month Calendar Honoree, Individual Arts Award/Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville, Onyx Award for Excellence in the Performing Arts and Music, and the State of FL Diversity Award.
(As Playwright):Winner of (2) Festival Favorite Awards at the Atlanta Black Theatre Festival for his original work –Darryl Reuben Hall’s FRAT HOUSE; (As an Actor) Carbonell Award Nominee, Best Actor in a Music/ Violet; The Civil War (Helen Hayes Award Nomination), and Winner of the Judy Award: Best Actor in a Musical/ Kiss Me, Kate. He is a two-time recipient of an Individual Fellowship from the Florida Division of Cultural Affairs.
A veteran of the stage, his favorite credits include: BROADWAY/ NATIONAL TOUR: GODSPELL (Producer); LINDA EDER: THE HOLIDAY CONCERT at The Palace, PORGY AND BESS at Lincoln Center/ NYCO (PBS Live from Lincoln Center Telecast, Dir. by Tazewell Thompson), CINDERELLA starring Eartha Kitt (Broadway National Tour, dir. by Gabriel Barre), and STREET CORNER SYMPHONY (pre-Broadway Workshop, Dir. by Marion J. Caffey).
OFF-BROADWAY/NEW YORK: STORMY WEATHER with Leslie Uggams (Manhattan Theatre Club, Signature Theatre, Amas), STORMY WEATHER with Phylicia Rashad (Amas Musical Theatre), RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR, CARNEGIE HALL with Linda Eder and the Broadway Gospel Choir, THREE MO’ TENORS (PBS Great Performances and original cast recording, Dir. by Marion J. Caffey), HALLELUJAH, BABY! Dir. by Hope Clarke, TRAV’LIN(York Theatre Company), THE IN-GATHERING (New Professional Theatre),CAFÉ SOCIETY Dir. by Adam Wade (TRIBECA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER).
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
I am surrounded by people who keep my uplifted in prayer and faith in God. One has to believe in their calling, fight with patience, and allow nothing negative to come into your space.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://stageaurora.org
- Instagram: @stageauroratheatrical
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StageAurora
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@StageAurora
