This year the MLHS Theater Department has had the distinct pleasure of working with Jelani Remy, the star of the hit Broadway musical Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations. I was able to sit down with him to talk to him about theater in MLHS, the importance of diversity in the theater, and what he sees for the future of theater in a post-madness of 2020 world. Here is our conversation.
So tell me a little bit about yourself in your theater background?
So I actually grew up in Cedar Grove, so not too far from here, where I started in high school theater. Actually, the first show I got into in high school was Grease. So this is like a full circle moment. So I did four years of high school. I also did some training at the Paper Mill Playhouse, did the Rising Star program in summer intensive, and then I went to Montclair State for Musical Theater. And after college I went on a national tour of High School Musical. I played the role of Chad and then I did High School Musical 2 after that in Atlanta. And then I went on to do The Lion King. So after that, I went to Las Vegas to be in the Lion King for two years. I went on a national tour, then I went to Broadway. I was in the ensemble and then played the role of Simba. It was a dream come true. And then I decided to step out of the jungle and into New York City. And I jumped to Smokey Joe’s Cafe, which is also one of my all time favorite shows. And actually did that in Community theater at the Oz Pack in West Orange, which is now Pleasant Valley Productions. Then, I did a show called The Apple Boys after that, then I jumped to Ain’t Too Proud, which takes me to where we’re at now. It’s been a journey for sure.
So what has working with the MLHS Theater department been like?
It’s been a dream for me because I always, always enjoy [theater]. I’ve been in so many shows. It was a nice change of pace to direct and help choreograph another show and put together someone else’s vision and to work with a great cast and crew. Yeah, it’s caused me to put on a different hat, which is super exciting to continue to stretch out my abilities and stretch out my performance capabilities. [I] especially [love] the show, Grease has always been near and dear to my heart.
What’s the difference between working with MLHS students versus working in a more professional capacity?
I try to make no differentiation. I try to bring what I’ve learned from my professional life here to really challenge and push the students to be great people and performers.
What’s your favorite part of theater?
Just generally, I love the process: the rehearsal process, like moments where you get to come and watch things being put together, and we have breakthroughs and we are putting the pieces together to make the final product. I love that because that’s the [hard] work. Theater is like a living and evolving thing. It’s living and evolving and people change and evolve and that’s why I love it. Every day is different, which is awesome.
Can you elaborate a little bit on the importance of diversity in theater?
Yeah, I mean it’s important because I want my theater to look like and feel like what the world feels like to me. It’s important to be represented. It’s [also] important because I was inspired by seeing somebody that looked like me in a show. He looked like me and I wanted to be like him. You need to set the foundation of people seeing themselves and seeing different sizes, shapes, colors, backgrounds all on stage for one common goal, which is to put up a show. So, we all come from different places, but we’re all here to do the same thing and do it with all of our hearts. And I think that that is so important and special because then you take what you’ve learned and you apply it to life, you know, working with different people and interacting with different people, you become accepting of different people and you become educated about different people. You know, the theater is such a diverse place. People have an openness because we’re all vulnerable with our art. So we all are able to be ourselves and share and be accepting of that too. So it’s diverse but also open, which is super important.
How can MLHS foster a more diverse theatre program?
I think if more people gave it a shot, you know, it’s open for them and we’re here for them and we accept them. So we’re all right. We have open arms. So if the jocks want to come, if the, if the brainiacs wanna come, whoever, we’ll take you, and I think everybody should have that experience of putting together a show, especially at MLHS where they have so much opportunity at their fingertips.
What do you see for the future of theater around the country, given the pandemic and everything that’s happened in the past year and a half?
So I see more opportunities for people of color to be in power. But also I see more opportunities for us to start conversations about, you know, what is needed and what is necessary for personal development and worth and equality.
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