Daniel Does DFW Theater

My Pronouns Are: Diverse Casting (with Jayden Russell)

• Daniel Hernandez / Jayden Russell • Season 1 • Episode 10

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Ever wondered what it's like to transition from the high-energy chaos of Rocky Horror to the thoughtful contemplation of taking on equity roles? Jayden Russell joins us for a trip down memory lane, sharing hilarious and heartfelt stories from our early days together on stage to their current ambitions. Tune in to hear about our wild nights out with some unforgettable stage moments. It's a candid reflection on friendship, theater, and the transformative journey of an artist.

This episode doesn't shy away from tackling the serious issues that plague the industry, particularly around diversity and casting. Jayden and I share our frustrations with predominantly white casts and performative activism, emphasizing the need for genuine representation and thoughtful casting decisions. We also dive into the complexities of racial identity in theater and the importance of accountability in creating a more inclusive environment. Our conversation is both a call to action and a heartfelt discussion on the responsibilities that come with taking on such challenges.

But it's not all serious—get ready for some laughs as we recount theater mishaps, from wardrobe malfunctions to audition disasters. And don't miss the exciting updates on Jayden's upcoming projects, including a one-person cabaret and involvement in "Margaritaville." Whether you're here for the laughs, the tears, or the inspiring stories, this episode promises a rich tapestry of theater tales, personal reflections, and a passionate call for change in the industry.

If you want to catch all the action, you can watch the full episode video at YouTube.com/@DanielDoesDFW. Follow us on Instagram and Tik Tok: @DanielDoesDFW

Speaker 2

Hi guys and welcome to the next episode of Daniel Does DFW.

Introducing Jayden Russell

Speaker 1

Theater where we talk about everything theater. Today a very special guest is on an old friend of mine, really really old person as well, probably the oldest person in DFW theater. No, super old friend. I bet you didn't even know we were friends because we act like we hate each other in public. Can't think of the last time we even talked to each other. No, a very special person. Love them to death, like I say with every other person. So do I really love them to? I don't know. We have Jaden on the show. Hi, everybody say hi Jaden, Hello and full name.

Speaker 3

My name is Jaden Michaela Russell.

Speaker 1

Wonderful.

Speaker 3

And pronouns USA.

Speaker 1

They them America, USA. I love it. Jaden Michaela Russell. Yeah, Is that our when we go equity? Is that our full equity?

Speaker 3

You know, I've been debating on that. Really, I'm like do I want to be that person, Because I already do it on Facebook? It's just Jade Michaela. I'm like do I want to cut the Russell? So I don't know.

Speaker 1

We'll see. I mean, you'll have to figure that out. When you figure it out, have you ever thought about going?

Speaker 3

Yeah, like every day.

Speaker 1

You wake up, Lord, not equity, so maybe I'll wait. Maybe you should work on booking some stuff.

Speaker 3

Yeah, okay, I get you.

Speaker 1

Okay, so Jaden and I met a very long time ago. Were you, you were not even 21.

Speaker 3

No, I was like God, like 18.

Speaker 1

I was going to say you because you were fresh.

Speaker 3

Yeah, I was like 18 or 19.

Speaker 1

So, if you've watched the other episodes, which you should have by now, losers, you saw the episode with Mary Graham where she invited me to do Rocky Horror because her husband was music directing. Well, we get there and there's this adorable tiny child that has the loudest, like strongest voice I've ever heard in my life, and they were cast as Columbia Adorable, like had this cute little, like every single time and tap their ass off, which is so funny because like I only took one semester of tap, you know that was at Brookhaven College and you were so great, Like, so wonderful.

Speaker 1

I just remember thinking like amazing, and then we kept it. Oh my God, but those nights of Rocky Horror. So again remember Jaden was not 21 at the time, no, but we would go to S4 every single friday, every friday, and I mean we rehearsed for at least like six weeks yes, we never skipped a friday, which is insane.

Speaker 1

I feel like sometimes we even went on saturday nights yes, like it would but, we always went fridays because did we also do that's when they used to have the? You could go around and like pay like two dollars for a drink or something like that.

Speaker 2

Yeah, they had like the bar crawl on friday.

Speaker 1

Oh, my gosh, memory unlocked. Yeah, um, and we would like go through all the gay bars and get trash, including jaden. Which s4 do your job, I'm sorry, police I'm sorry, but it was bad. I just remember getting blacked out drunk and, like adam, taking care of us yes, also adam was the one who nevermind that's on our patreon.

Speaker 1

yeah, right, um, so I just remember that. And like jake oh my gosh, love that means some jake who now is living in like california, yeah, doing the LA thing. And then your sister was even in the show. Love that, and then. But it was just the best time and I remember all the debauchery that we got into.

Speaker 3

Yeah, At S4 and just dancing on the dance floor with like a group of people that were like family that because the show like rocky horror.

Speaker 2

We are just like on each other all the time.

Speaker 1

Yeah, like I remember, one of my blocking notes was like crawl to the orgy. I think my favorite part of that, though, was that the uh choreographer's like granddaughter was in the show yeah and she reina, which reina has now done like lyric stuff and stuff like that. Um, but reina was in the show and reina was probably only what like 12 or like 11, she was young and so we called the orgy scene the uh the puddle, puddle or something the fishbowl wasn't like the fish. Maybe I don't know.

Speaker 3

I mean I wasn't in the orgy. I wasn't hot enough for it I don't know you want that like silver potato sack why you gotta bring it.

Speaker 1

I know that's when I take a big sip take a big sip with me cheers to the silver potato I will find a picture and we'll post it it was so it was so good we're gonna put it right here. Mary had this beautiful costume right, so mary and I played riffraff, or she didn't play riffraff as well, I played we were one just walking out together so we played riffraff and magenta which sorry, spoiler alert they turn into like the alien forms that they are at the end of the show.

Speaker 1

And so mary had this awesome like space skirt, yeah, and like that she changed into and I have a baked potato like complete foil silver onesie that, like adam has to like zip me into and backstage as everybody's doing the orgy and I'm completely naked and nothing but like my dance belt right and he has to sit, yes, yeah, so he has to zip me into it and I look like a freaking baked potato coming out like frankenfurter and I was like, oh my god, it was so good, I'll applaud them, and.

Speaker 1

But we had these big headdresses yeah like a chair said every time we walked in the door, we were like said every time we walked in the door, we were like trying to get out, so loved it. Um, okay, so, but enough about me, because this is about you. I guess, I don't know, it's Jane Dusty of.

Speaker 3

W Theater. I know I'm interviewing you. Tea, get kicked off my own show.

Speaker 1

I mean, my producers want you as the host. What a gag everybody just nodded yes, I need y'all to calm your tits. I'm not a diva.

Speaker 3

Do you need hairspray before?

Speaker 1

This is the end of this. I'm so sad that we were out of time.

Speaker 3

That is all we have today.

Speaker 1

No, okay, let's talk about how did you get started in theater. What was like the moment where you were like, oh, this is what I want to do.

Speaker 3

So it's really funny, because I didn't know that I wanted to be an actor until I was in high school. And the reason is so stupid. It's so stupid and I will admit that I was very delusional. I still am, but it was worse when I was in high school and I was like if I start acting right now. I'm going to be in the next Pirates of the Caribbean movie um how'd that work out for?

Speaker 3

you? It did not. They stopped making them. I think they knew that's what I wanted to do. Um, so I didn't get into a show until I was a junior in high school and I played like a 98 year old woman alongside my friend Jade, who was my husband in the show.

Speaker 3

But yeah, jade, carroll shout out, jade um, and I didn't get my first musical until I was a senior in high school, I was like 17 and I was in South Pacific and I was Leon, the only role that did not sing, and I had a dance solo. I have never I've never had dance training in my life and, uh, it was my first musical and I had to choreograph the whole like dance solo that I had to do and it was really awkward. Um. So Rocky Horror was actually like my first role in a show and once I did that, I was like this is what I need to do, and at the time, like that same fall, I was doing Halloween shows over at Six Flags and I was like this is my career.

Speaker 1

That's right, because you were in A Rainy Nightmare.

Speaker 3

Yeah, I did that for like 2017 and 2018.

Speaker 3

And between Rocky Horror and the shows at Six Flags, I was like this is this is what I'm meant to do and I need to find some way to make it my career. But I had like, really I still have really bad anxiety, so I was really scared to put myself out there and I didn't do it until 2019, which was my first show Xanadu, with Lon Barrera directing, Kristen Spires music directing and Kelly McCain was the choreographer, and it was at Mainstage Irving. I lived right around the corner from Mainstage Irving. I don't know how I heard about the audition, but something in me was like you know what? Just go, Just show up and audition and the worst they can say is no. And if they say no, never do it again. And thankfully they said yes. So I was one of the Muse sisters and yeah, it was just it was such a wonderful experience.

Speaker 1

I love it. I remember we had not really hung out or spoken in years and I remember that Theater Arlington I was working at Theater Arlington at the time and they were looking for some people to fill in for Sister Act and Steve, the executive producer, was like do you know anyone? Like we need people in the show? And I was like I know someone who's really good. And I was like let me give them a call and see, and I mean you booked Sister Act with them and then became like summer stock.

Speaker 2

Yeah.

Speaker 1

And did like four shows immediately after, yeah, and I was like dang okay. But yeah, I was like no jaden can kill. I was like as one of, because you played uh, one of, uh, what's her name's back dolores's backup singers, yeah, with natasya, sweet natasya, and myisha playing dolores, so good and debbie brown. Oh, debbie god debbie, oh, that was such a good show. Um, yeah, I remember back to back. You did, because it was after that you did, was it?

Speaker 3

piano lesson yeah, it was sister act. Piano lesson spelling bee, and then I did hooray for holidays, yeah and you came back and did uh.

Speaker 1

Avenue q.

Speaker 3

Yeah, avenue q yeah, um, what else did I do? Literally, yeah, literally.

Speaker 1

Jaden was like on the call list for every single show for theater Arlington, but I think the show that everybody like knows you for and you were the most memorable for um was at lyric stage. You got to, uh, be on the big girl stage yeah and play uh Amaris, yeah, uh be on the big girl stage, yeah, and play uh in maris, yeah, which that was just such a moment, I really yeah for me too what was it like to?

Speaker 1

because that's a, that was a large stage. What was it like to be on that?

Speaker 3

I, I had heard about lyric stage like everywhere. It was all over social media. Everybody was auditioning for them and I knew that they performed as majestic and I was like that's really scary, so I need to do that. Um, and I didn't. I actually didn't know very much about either, um, my friend Blake Seaborn, who's like my unofficial agent, cause he always sends me auditions and stuff all the time.

Speaker 1

Um, he was like you'd be perfect for this, like you need to audition, yeah, so I auditioned and I.

Speaker 3

It's so funny because I'm really hard on myself and I have again. I have really bad anxiety, so I go into the audition. I am like shitting my pants um. Can I cuss?

Speaker 2

okay, I cuss a lot.

Speaker 3

Um, I am like terrified and my anxiety just like makes everything so tight. So I go into the audition and I'm like I didn't book that, like I did so bad. Then I got a call back the next day and I fun fact, I didn't go to college. I never took choir. I don't take voice lessons. Um, I took like two voice lessons with Lauren Urso a long time ago because she was nice and offered them for free and I was very poor, but anyway.

Speaker 3

So I go into the callback and they're like you need to sing this song. I can't read sheet music. I can't like find notes on a piano to save my life, I don't know what keys are. So I'm like I'm not, I'm not going to book this. And I just listened to the song over and over, over and over, like the cast recording over and over again, just drilling this song in my head, and I remember it was every story is a love story and I was like I don't know what I'm doing. Anyway, um, I walk out of that call back. I'm like I'm not booking the show, like I, I need to educate myself, whatever. And then I think it was that same night actually, I got the call and they're like we want you to be on there. So I was like, oh my god, and it was just so euphoric and I was like crying on the phone to everybody at lyric stage and I was like are you kidding me?

Speaker 3

I'm, I'm, I'm fucking crying um, and it was the entire process was just so euphoric.

Speaker 3

Um, it was very anxiety filled because I don't like being bad at things and I have this really bad desire for everyone to like me and I want to be perfect at everything the first time, and Aida was a really big challenge. Sasha was an incredible, incredible director to work with because she broke down every single thing and she and my lord and savior, bruce Greer, and Kelly McCain were so supportive and the fact that they would always sit there and listen to me, like while I'm literally crying to them, being like I am so scared, like I don't want to fail and I don't want to embarrass myself and I don't want to make this, the stage look bad. I'm literally acting alongside Rachel Poole, who everybody knows, and it was just so anxiety driven and I just pushed myself and I was so determined to like create a beautiful show and I was really proud of myself because I like overcame my anxieties and I was like, okay, I can do it, like I am good enough and I like to this day.

Speaker 2

I get like a lot of people are like oh my god, I saw you in that show.

Speaker 3

Like you were really great and I was like thank you, like.

Speaker 3

I don't know, it just makes me like almost cry because like there was so much energy and like literally tears and sweat and not blood but metaphorical blood um was put into that show and just hearing that people really loved the show just like really means a lot to me. Like that was, that was like my moment where I was like I feel like the most powerful, most untouchable person in the world and nobody can bring me down, and I think everyone deserves that moment.

I Know The Truth - Aida

Speaker 1

But we'll talk about that later anyway, no, no, and I love it so much that I want to create, recreate a little bit of that, not the anxiety yeah but uh, let's uh take a little break and step over to the piano and recreate some of that magic that you did in the show all right so we'll see you in a little bit.

Speaker 1

So when, uh, I asked you about this podcast, this was the first song that came to mind. I was like they have to sing this song because the four times that I saw the show.

Speaker 2

Four is crazy.

Speaker 1

I remember it went four times. I cried every single time you sang this song, and so yeah, no, and. I think you just, like everything in your face, just showed every emotion that she was going through at the time, and so tell the lucky people what they're about to hear.

Speaker 3

I am going to sing. I Know the Truth from Aida.

Speaker 2

How have I come to this? How did I slip and fall? How did I throw half a lifetime away without any thought?

Speaker 3

at all this should have been my time.

Speaker 2

It's over, and never again. I close my eyes to so much For so long and I'm wrong. Again I try to blame it on fortune, some kind of shift in the star. But I know the truth and it haunts me. It's flown just a little too far. I know the truth and it mocks me. I know the truth and it shocks me. It's for just a little too far. Why do I want him still? Why, when there's nothing there, how to go on with the rest of my life, to pretend I don't care? This should have been my time. It's over. It never began. I close my eyes to so much for so long and I no longer care. They've begun to hurt and some kind of twist in my fate. But I know the truth and it haunts me. I learned it a little too late. Oh, I know the truth and it loves me. I know the truth and it loves me. We learned it a little too late, too late, laaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa. It's a secret that only people that have played Amaris, know?

Speaker 3

Oh, so I know it too. Yeah, yeah, I remember, because you told me yeah, I am sure you're an ace.

Speaker 2

What a guy you take off your mask. Imagine it's a reveal. Oh my gosh yeah.

Speaker 1

Imagine, goodness, gracious, no. So, speaking of knowing your truth and who you are, uh, that role was that. Do you feel a dream role for did you? I mean, you really didn't even know it yeah, so in a sense it was like a dream, because I uh because I didn't go to college um, I always learned from experience and challenge.

Speaker 3

I and there's was kind of everything that was opposite of what I was playing. I was always a comedic relief and Maris was just like this beautiful, literally a Disney princess, and I just really like she was a dream in a sense. I didn't really know the show and I didn't know the role, but I she was like the challenge that I dreamed of and I have a lot of other dream roles.

Speaker 3

I think it's easier to ask like what's not my dream role? Because there's Jamie. In the last five years, basically every single role. That's in Hadestown Mrs Lovett and Sweeney, todd, quasimodo and Hunchback. Frollo and Hunchback. So many, so many.

Speaker 1

So many. Those are some really good ideas to put out there, right Like? I think you've always said that like Hunchback would just be.

Speaker 3

Like, honestly, my dream, since I want to say high school has been Hunchback, like either me being in Hunchback or me directing Hunchback, but with either a female Quasimodo or a female Frollo.

Speaker 3

Because like it doesn't change anything in the story, and I think a female Frollo would add like another layer of sin as to why he hates gypsies so much. Because, like she would be, she's like this religious figure and she's committing sin by falling in love with a woman, but she doesn't understand her feelings, so she just forms it into hatred, and then quasimodo and esmeralda don't end up together anyway. So like, yeah, it's just I don't know. I just think it'd be a beautiful story and everything needs to be gay.

Speaker 2

Happy pride month and that's another moment and that's you know.

Speaker 1

Uh, no, I think that that's I mean even I never really thought about the quasimodo thing is like wild. Mean, even I never really thought about the Quasimodo thing. It's like wild to me because I never really thought about that until I saw you post it one day and I was like, oh, that is a really good idea. I think that that's so. You said, either you being in it or you directing. Do you have some ambition or some?

Speaker 3

I do. I actually have been in talks for like co-directing recently.

Speaker 2

I can't say anything because it's not like official yet, but I might be co-directing something, but I've been like on and off because I like to do everything.

Speaker 3

Even whenever I was working at Six Flags, I did everything in the entertainment department because I don't like to just know one thing, I like to know how everything works. And I've been acting for a little bit and like like that's my main career path, that's my first love and I'll never stop doing that. But I really want to like get on the director's side a little bit and we'll talk about more of it later but like there's a lot that has kind of made me realize like you need to be the change that you want to see and stepping into a director role where I kind of control the environment and the casting and all that stuff would be so wonderful and I just have so many good ideas like like I just I don't know, like sometimes it's 3am and I'm like you know that would be, that would kind of slay, that would kind of eat a little bit are you the type of person that will like write those down?

Speaker 3

yeah, um, I actually pitched a directorial thing to a theater, like last year for the last five years Because my dream, my dream, other than Hunchback, has been to direct the last five years, but like cast four people and like the casting swaps, either every night, every weekend, whatever the situation is that they want to do. So it brings incentives for people to come back and see like a gay couple instead of a lesbian couple or a straight couple or whatever.

Speaker 1

Um and also like it it'd just be fun and it's just so. You have like a guy and a girl learn Jamie's track and a guy and a girl learn they yeah, Both tracks.

Speaker 2

So then it's like yeah, and then it just swaps.

Speaker 1

Oh, interesting, because I just think it'd be so cool, that would be interesting. Yeah, I know, I mean especially. I mean, unfortunately the rights will not be available anytime soon, because I know because of I'm I'm just so excited that nick jonas is gonna play in that show. I think it's gonna to be a great Broadway first Bird dress. Can we say stop casting.

Speaker 2

Yeah.

Speaker 1

I think Adrian Gordon is going to kill it. I think it should be me honestly, I'm Jamie.

Speaker 3

Honestly, honestly, right in now. Honestly, jamie's like one of my big dream roles.

Speaker 1

I think it'll be, I don't know. I anyway, so I was like I. Yeah, I has a theater done it here in the area recently at all the last five years.

Speaker 3

I think somebody did it a couple years ago. I'm really bad at staying in the loop of things, so I don't know, I don't think.

Speaker 1

I've seen a theater do it in the area Like I've seen Date Night, I've seen like stuff like that. But I don't remember the last five years, within the last five years.

Speaker 2

Yeah.

Speaker 1

I can think of things that yeah, that sounded effective. He was a laugh track.

Speaker 3

Yeah.

Speaker 1

Speaking of laugh track, this is one of my favorite things to talk about on the podcast. Uh, mishaps oh so have you had any like audition mishaps or any funny stories about shows that you've been in or seen?

Speaker 3

so my there's two stories that come to mind. The first one is I was auditioning for god. What was it? It was in the heights at um gpac a few years ago, and I just remember singing my song and I had this uncontrollable twitch in my eye so I was singing whatever song like this literally the entire time, and my brain can't focus on anything else because my, my eyeball is just doing this and I'm trying so hard to not acknowledge it or laugh, it happens the entire time and I walk out of the room and it stops, and that's, that's the first story.

Speaker 3

The second story I was doing a rainy nightmare six flags in, like 2018, and the night before fright fest opens, there's a night where a company buys out the park and it's just like there are people that are there and you do the shows. We did their shows like five times a day, um, so at some point we're doing one of the shows. There's probably like 800 people in the audience and like this, the first big song that I sing, which is it's raining men, I have to like bring my arms up and like summon this umbrella. And the second, I bring my arms up my skirt, like summon this umbrella. And the second I bring my arms up, my skirt falls down In front of 800 people.

Speaker 2

Thankfully.

Speaker 3

I had some like like, like shorts, kind of shorts but not shorts. It's like if shorts and like underwear had like made love and I had a baby. So I'm just standing there, my booty cheeks are like cheek are to 800 people, children included. I should probably be on the list and I'm like I don't notice it at first and then I like look down, like my legs are kind of cold, and I look down and I'm like, oh shit, and I have to like bring out my skirt and I spend the rest of the number just like trying to conceal the fact that I just showed my ass to like 800 people. Um, so that was fun.

Speaker 1

What is it with you and wanting to show body parts?

Speaker 3

I don't know, because the night that I came to cabaret yes you're top yes so we were filming a tiktok in between, like at intermission, and I, I guess I tightened the strap like too tight and it was like a dancing TikTok and I started like twerking or something. I guess I moved a little bit too hard and the strap just popped and I was like, oh my god, oh my god, can somebody help me? So somebody like re-hooked the strap on and I was like okay, sweet, like it's gonna be fine the second if you don't know, cabaret it opens with a kick line and I like we're also like essentially strippers, and I'm wearing this like little black tank top and like there's nothing covering me.

Speaker 3

I have a bra on thankfully, anyway, I start like kicking the second. I start bouncing the strap's like, and I spend the entire number like and thank god for donovan marie lawson because she like grabs the strap's like, and I spend the entire number like and thank god for donovan marie lawson because she like grabs the strap at some point whenever we all have to hook up together. Um, saved my life, but um, I um was talking to daniel after the show. He's like it just looked like your, your boob was just out and then someone else was.

Speaker 3

It took me a second to realize that you were wearing a bra, I was like cool, awesome, I was ready.

Speaker 1

I was ready for the show.

Speaker 3

I guess somebody. This is a sign for somebody to do hair, yeah.

Speaker 1

So that you can have a booty swap.

Speaker 3

My booty cheeks and my little bitties can say hello.

Speaker 1

Goodness. I think, so one of my favorite memories of doing a show with you because have we only been in two shows together? Was it just Rocky Horror and Sweeney Todd? What does it feel?

Speaker 2

like to do so many more, that's crazy.

Speaker 1

I know, Sweeney Todd. I always tried to make you break when we had that moment together in Mrs Lovett's Pie Shop. That one time where we were both well and you made me break. Yeah, I was dead. So my favorite moment was during mrs love at spice shop. Uh, worst by no. What's it called? Um? Oh my gosh, I don't know the words because I never learned them. Um, I don't even know what we're sitting around're sitting around the table.

Speaker 3

We did this so much oh oh, oh, more Five, five.

Speaker 2

That's good, that's good.

Speaker 1

Right. So we're literally and we have to go in slow motion at one point and Jaden's sitting in a chair and I am drunk in the show and I'm going down to kiss her. Kiss Ben.

Speaker 2

He's like Ben and Al, it's like them and uh, Alarm's playing. He said her I need that, For a long time Missed in her arm.

Speaker 1

We need that on this show so bad that one of the producers didn't just push at the same time. So I go down to kiss Jaden, and I didn't even know you had your eyes open half the time and so like I was like ah, and I made a noise, yeah.

Speaker 1

I just remember you laughing and like we're supposed to be like in slow-mo and all I see is like, oh great, and I think the best part is when we had to come together as that ensemble, yeah, and then you I don't even remember what you would do.

Speaker 3

I would like grab your face.

Speaker 1

And there was a one point where, like one guy noticed, yeah, we were not all the way covered by the group and they're just like, and like my, my whole face is just shaking like this. I'm like great, thanks a lot, jaden, but uh, no, I think that we do well at breaking each other on stage.

Speaker 3

Yeah, unfortunately, I am so easy to break on stage. I remember during Sweetie when Ryan's wig was a little off. I almost pissed myself Like I know that was the funniest thing. But I also like when I'm at shows.

Speaker 2

I either like black out and disassociate the whole show or I notice everything, and that was like one of the shows I'm like oh my God got the wig.

Speaker 3

And then my eyes are just like it's just, it's just doing. It's just doing its own little thing.

Speaker 2

And then Daniel on top of me, or not on top of me, but on top of that Patreon. On top of that, Daniel always like, says something.

Speaker 3

What about me, Shannon? What about I'm not?

Speaker 2

shy, I can be so shy.

Speaker 3

And then Ken Ken Simmons like always makes me laugh, like so so many factors. I always kiss myself dude, like yeah, ken can just look at you with those like nothing in his eyes, look yeah you know what always makes me break, because you know it's the well.

Speaker 2

Why are you pushing him over there? Why, dude it's like, why are you?

Speaker 1

poor. Ken I love him, but we love him forward. I love him, that's like my icon oh goodness, speaking of icons, um, we're gonna go pray a little bit together, so um we're gonna take a quick break at the piano, so we can have a moment, you know, because we've got something on our minds. Yeah, we a quick break at the piano so we can have a moment.

Speaker 2

Yeah, you know, because we've got something on our minds.

Heaven On Their Minds - Jesus Christ Superstar

Speaker 1

Yeah, so we'll see you at the piano. Bye, speaking of the Lord.

Speaker 3

I love that we're talking about Jesus.

Speaker 2

Yeah.

Speaker 1

Hallelujah, yeah, love it so much. Speaking of Jesus, my ex-boyfriend Jesus, yeah, tea, we are gonna sing a Jesus song, but not really kind of we're gonna make it as Jesus-y as we can, you're gonna take us to church.

Speaker 3

I can tell you that much, alright.

Speaker 1

What are you?

Speaker 3

singing. I am singing one of my favorite audition songs, which is um Heaven on their Minds from Jesus Christ Superstar.

Speaker 1

Can you give a full slate, Hi ma'am. Right into the Right into the song.

Speaker 3

Hello, my name is Jayden Russell. My pronouns are they them. I am five feet tall and today I will be singing Heaven on their Minds from Jesus Christ Superstar. Listen, jesus, I don't like what I see.

Speaker 2

All I ask is that you listen to me and remember. I've been your light and you've been a rock and roll. You have set them all on fire. They think they've found a new messiah and they'll hurt you when they find they're wrong. I remember when this whole thing began, no talk of God. Then we called you a man and, believe me, I am wishing for a present time that every word you say today Gets twisted round some other way. And the rich, if they sing you tonight.

Speaker 3

Next, thank you. Thank you so much. That was the best audition I've ever seen.

Speaker 2

We're not casting now, jesus Girl.

Speaker 1

Jesus. What you know about Jesus.

Speaker 3

Well, Jesus loves me. This I know.

Speaker 1

The Bible said so, the Bible tells me. So I went to Catholic school, so of course I know it. Dear Lord, dear Lord, see, here comes the best part of the podcast. I've been waiting my whole life for this moment, the part where you get to put it all out there yeah, drink up bitch. Where you get to put it all out there. You get to speak your truth, you get to tell your story, and we just get to spill the tea and call others out. That's what I want. That's what I want.

Speaker 1

And I think that kind of like what I said to Tom. I think that you both have this natural way of like wanting to tell the truth, not in a mean way, not in a shady way, but in a way of like somebody needs to say it and it needs to be put out there. So, um, let's talk a little bit about, um, something that has been, you know, kind of been put out there a couple of times. Um, specifically, what I want to start with is casting choices I'm going to preface this with.

Speaker 3

I mean no shade, no malintent, no bad energy towards any actors in dfw. None of that is directed towards you. You are working people, you need jobs and I understand that.

Speaker 1

Um, I fully agree with that. Yeah, it's.

Speaker 3

It's not them making the decisions yeah, like you're, you're just showing up and you're accepting a job, and I understand that. To me, the fault goes to theater companies that allow constant casting of like full white casts and like, hey, let's sprinkle some black people in the ensemble and maybe like a latino, like to me, like that's not okay. And then the annual like oh hey, it's Black History Month. Here's a show about Black people being sad, or slavery, because that's all that they are, you know, like it's just it's really frustrating to me.

Speaker 3

I get really frustrated seeing the same people in shows. I understand that, like everybody has their favorites and people are talented.

Speaker 2

And like again.

Speaker 3

I'm not dismissing their talent. I just know me personally. I know a lot of people who are incredibly talented. And there have been several times where I've sat and seen a show and I see somebody in the ensemble performing their ass off and I'm like I know first. First of all, I know this theater had a huge audition turnout. I know there had to be a shit ton of people of color show up for this audition. Why is every single principal character white or white passing?

Speaker 2

because colorism is real too, like let's be the team.

Speaker 3

Um, um again. Why is the cast all white? Why are they all straight? Why are they all cisgender? Where's the diversity? Because you scroll down on their casting site or their website where their audition listing is and it's like we encourage every color and race and sexuality and gender identity to audition, but then it doesn't show. It's very, very much performative activism to me, but it's just really, really frustrating. Again, I understand that people have their favorites and people love working with other people.

Speaker 3

You could be the best actor in the world and there is a role that you are not right for and some people need to be told that. And again, it doesn't make you less talented. I know for a fact if I, if somebody cast me as Cinderella, I'm not.

Speaker 2

I'm not a.

Speaker 3

Cinderella, I am not a, whatever her face is, I just can't say no, like I know that's not me. It doesn't make me any less talented, it's just like you're not right for everything, and that's fine. Can I play devil's advocate with you really quickly, and I may?

Speaker 1

get some heat for this. Do you feel as though you were incorrectly cast as m naris?

Speaker 3

I I battled with that a lot. I I think Lyric did like a really, really admirable thing at taking a risk, because they could have easily gone with somebody that they knew Well and not just that I feel like Sasha and I talked to Sasha about it, like she didn't like it doesn't have to be about race.

Speaker 2

Yeah, right.

Speaker 1

It was more about, like society right yeah, and that type of thing.

Speaker 3

But I think that the original production was race. Yeah, it was very like these are two different people. Um, this is the the black nubians and these are the white egyptians. First of all, white egyptians is crazy. Um, that's insane. I love sharing renee scott. If you're watching, um, she's a. She's a patreon. Yeah, she actually did the 20 she has a membership yeah, like I. I again. It doesn't make sherry renee scott any less talented than she is.

Speaker 1

She is amazing, she's iconic, but a white egyptian is crazy um let's be real well, and I think so because I I would think that I heard some chatter about maybe you weren't the best fit, because it was supposed to be someone Like did you take away a role from someone that it should have been and I was like hmm.

Speaker 3

And nowhere in the script because I read it nowhere in the script does it say that Amneris has to be white. There's just a. There has to be a clear difference between between the two. And, like, amneris is like a princess, she's very full of herself, she's very like I'm hot and that's all that I am. And then you have aida, who is like a nubian princess. Like she's a princess, but like they're. They're different types.

Speaker 3

Um, like it's not all race people see things very surface level in a trailer well, and I think that that's important, is that it's nowhere in the script.

Speaker 1

Yeah, right, I think that that's because we just saw that article about sister act. Right, that's crazy. That person, the reporter, was saying that dolores could be white. When there are legitimate phrases, jokes, yeah, in the script.

Speaker 3

I mean at one point let me, let me see, let me see little becky walk up on stage like do I gotta go incognito. Be, be for real, be all the way for real right now.

Speaker 1

Be for real yeah, so I mean that should. That is a definite identifiable well, and the fact that even the writers of hairspray had to put in this because they were starting to do all white versions of hairspray when that is the basis of that whole show yes, right, that is the point you know that segregation that happened and everything else, and the fact that they had to go back and say these roles need to be played.

Speaker 3

You know this certain way and in the heights with white people, like in the whites crazy.

Speaker 1

Yeah, crazy In the whites.

Speaker 3

But like cast a black Elle. Woods Cast.

Speaker 2

Yes.

Speaker 3

Cast an Asian Elle Woods past an Asian Elle Woods like things like that, it doesn't matter Like. But if you're trying to do like Miss Saigon or Hairspray or In the Heights or anything like that, ragtime like be for real, like think a little bit.

Speaker 1

Just think, well, and it's funny, you say that I actually was talking with someone years ago and they were talking about their daughter that acts and they were saying they were talking about their daughter that acts and they were saying they were white, they are white. And they said I think it's just unfair that you know, cinderella needs to be white. That is a white character.

Speaker 1

And I was like Cinderella is a storybook character, a fairytale character and they were upset that their daughter could never play from Once on this Island and I was like and there it's so funny that this just like popped in my head.

Speaker 3

Um, so I, I am mixed with a lot of different races. My dad is black. I said racists, races um, also mixed with a lot of different races.

A Call for Diversity and Accountability

Speaker 3

My dad is black and my mom is like everything else. She's like Mexican, spanish, native and a whole bunch of white and a whole bunch of other stuff. Um, and for a long time, like an identity crisis like came along with that. I was like I don't know where I fit in theater, like I want to do hairspray. I want to do all these beautiful shows that like require, like like black people in it, but I was struggling with my own like racial identity and there were so many people it was so awful. There were so many people. They were like just audition and whatever they see you as, they'll cast you as I'm like no, that's crazy, that is insane to me like, and they're like well, you look Asian, so go audition for an Asian like role. No, like, that's insane. I'm not going to take this opportunity away from somebody. I remember when I accepted Avenue Q, I was terrified that I was going to be perceived as taking a uh, a role away from a like a more melanated black person than I am, because I know what.

Speaker 3

I look like I'm very like, I'm very pale, um, and I had to like really center myself and be like no, like I am black. I need to be confident in my blackness. I love myself, I appreciate my race, like I acknowledge my race and I'm really. I'm really appreciative that this theater has seen me for my race as well, and I think a lot of theaters do like think before they make a lot of the choices that they make, whether it's like racial casting or like queerness see, did we not learn from James Corden?

Speaker 1

yeah and how annoying he was yes, in his casting, you know, and that we're taking roles away. Sometimes when we do that and I think people should be scared, like you were, of originally doing that I'm taking roles away where they can be represented by people that fulfill, you know, race, identity, anything like that. So I'm glad that that's what you want to talk about today, because I feel like that's something that is constantly happening in our community today, where and I think that that's why you were saying you want to take a step behind the table now, yeah, and be able to make some of those decisions yeah, because, like I I just I've wanted to direct for a while and there have been so many frustrating stories from a lot of my really close friends that have been doing shows and they confided me.

Speaker 3

They're like, hey, like the process of this hasn't been great. Um, I've experienced this and this and this and it's just frustrating. And also just seeing like constant casting of like oh, here's another white, like fully white principal cast with like maybe two people of color sprinkled in, like it's just so frustrating. And not only do I have like my own visions for shows and like I want to push myself and challenge myself to like achieve directing and create a beautiful show Because, again, I know incredibly talented people that are constantly underutilized because of the blatant favoritism in theater, the blatant nepotism and the lack of theaters like getting out and like diversifying their pool of actors that they cast from. So I want to like give the people that I know an opportunity, or give them a chance to get the opportunity, because I'm going to be fair if I ever get to direct something, I'm not going to be like oh, daniel's my friend, so he's going to be Jamie. In the last five years now, To be better.

Speaker 3

To you. But, yeah, I just want to be the change that I want to see, because there's so many things that frustrate me about dfw theater and I love dfw theater. I have so much love for every single theater in the community. Every director and actor like I love you and I support you always. But like that alone, my love for you does not exempt you from criticism. I think everybody needs to be honest because if I do something wrong like if there is a, if there is a situation where I am taking a role away from somebody and you want to tell me that be honest, like tell me and I'll real, I'll reflect and I'll be like you know what, like this person's right or like we'll have a conversation about it.

Speaker 3

but, like, how am I supposed to grow as a human? And if everybody's going to be like, oh yeah, oh my god, yeah, yeah, that's, that's perfectly fine, whatever, like um, but there's so many frustrations that I hold with DFW theater and I just want to be the change that I want to see, and I think the only way to do that is to step behind the table and see how things are created and then maybe eventually create things myself or get in touch with people, and I don't know.

Speaker 1

I think you're right that we're not holding each other accountable.

Speaker 3

Yeah.

Upcoming Projects and Artistic Passion

Speaker 1

And I think that that's the biggest thing right now that we need to work on. Is that accountability across the board with each other, yeah, and honesty, honesty, um. So you said creating things is something you're interested in, so, um, in the last couple minutes we have together, I know that you are working on something right now. Um, you are writing yes, I am.

Speaker 3

So there's a couple things that I'm doing. The first thing I'm doing is a? Um, I am doing a one-person cabaret at theater arlington on july 13th, which is two days before my birthday actually. Um, it's called stage fright. Um, I have really bad social anxiety and stage. That goes into my stage fright um, because I don't like talking about myself. I'm like sweating talking about myself right now. Um, so I'm doing Stage Fright. I'm doing Lyric Under the Stars, which is a free, free, free to all my broke actors out there. Free concert experience at Lyric Stage. You can bring your own BYOB, bring a lawn chair or a blanket and just relax and drink some wine and listen to me sing.

Speaker 1

When are you doing that?

Speaker 3

July 20th and I am also by the time this drops, I think it'll be announced, if not. Sorry, um, I'm doing margaritaville at firehouse fine, yeah yes, yeah, and I'm doing that. We start rehearsals on like july 8th, um, I think that's, and then I'm in talks for like maybe co-directing a show later this fall.

Speaker 1

So Fine, oh my gosh, look at you booked in blast.

Speaker 3

I know it's weird.

Speaker 1

Yeah, I just. Oh, my gosh boys, I just wrapped up Well, not wrapped up, but we just opened Aladdin at Firehouse, so loved working there. I got to work with Pam. I don't know who's directing Margaritaville Keegan.

Speaker 2

Oh Arnold.

Speaker 3

Yeah, they were like the. It's basically the entire team that did American Idiot when I did it at Lakeside and I love them Love, love.

Speaker 1

Well, I'm glad you came on today. Thank you for opening up to us, and I know that it was hard for you to talk about yourself, but I think you did a splendid job and we were able to, like, really talk about everything that you wanted to put out there I mean any final spillage or anything else that you would want to say to the people.

Speaker 3

Just put a lot of love into your art. Treat your actors like they're human beings and um, cast fairly, um, and be the change that you want to see in the world. Um, instead of preaching about diversity and inclusion, actually participate in diversity and inclusion. Um, whatever that may mean to you.

Speaker 1

Wonderful, all right. Uh, where can they follow you on social media?

Speaker 3

Um, on Instagram. I am J A Y J. A wonderful all right. Uh, where can they follow you on social media? Um, on instagram, I am jay jay jet plane with an x at the end.

Moving Too Fast - The Last Five Years

Speaker 1

I don't know so follow jayden on instagram for all their latest updates, um, and, of course, you can follow our social media as well at daniel does dfw. That's on facebook, um, instagram and also on the youtubes, so you can watch this episode or listen to it wherever you get your podcasts, like spotify or apple podcast. Thanks again, jayden, for being on so excited and, uh, we'll see you next time. Bye, hang on those teacups. This episode just felt like it moved way too fast, like the time just went by.

Speaker 2

It just flew by.

Speaker 1

Flute moved so fast, so fast, almost too fast. Speaking of moving fast, yeah, what are you singing for the people today?

Speaker 3

I'm going to sing Moving Too Fast from the last five years.

Speaker 1

I just would like. This is where the insert is. Amanda, wherever you are right now, please put in the insert right here. Daniel does not play piano, because I would just like to say that when I send out the forms to the guests, it says please know, jason Robert Brown. And what does Jayden send me? A Jason Robert Brown. So, jrb, if you watch this, which he never will, please forgive me, could you imagine?

Speaker 2

Yeah, vonda, don't even comment, did I? We're keeping that in. It's funny. Did I just hear an alarm start ringing? Did I see silence go flying past blast, I just expected.

Speaker 2

Ten years later, I've got a singular impression. Things are moving too fast and you say, oh no, a step on the brakes too early. It takes like step and strain, slow, slow. The lights are never red. But I say no, no, whatever I do, I'll grow through and I don't care. No matter what I try, I'm flying full speed ahead. I'm never happy to walk the wire, I won't do anything, just half-assed. But with the stakes getting somewhat higher, I've got a singular impression. Things are moving too fast.

Speaker 2

I found a woman I love and I found an agent who loves me. Things might get bumpy, but some people analyze every detail. Some people stop when they can't see the trail. Some people freeze out of fear that they'll fail. But I keep rolling on. Some people can't get success without. Some people never feel love in their heart. Some people can't get success without it. Some people never feel love in their heart. Some people can't tell the truthies apart. But I keep on going. Oh, and maybe I can't follow through. But oh, what else am I supposed to do? I dreamed of writing like a high and mighty. Now I'm the subject of a good baby. I met my personal Aphrodite. I'm doing things I've never dreamed of. Before we start to take the next step, together Found an apartment on 73rd the Atlantic one.

Speaker 2

Please write my first chapter. Two thousand bucks without rewriting one word. I left Columbia and I don't regret it. I wrote a book and Sonny made a Reddit. My heart's been stolen, my ego's swollen. I just keep growing old. Well, well, what else is in store? But all this and more before 24 Is hard not to be sure. I'm spinning, out of control. Out of control. I'm feeling pinched and rushed and hurt. I'm feeling out of control. I'm feeling pent and rushed and hurried. I'm feeling on a new road and I'm collapsed, but I'm so happy. I can't get worried about this single impression. I've got a singular impression things are moving too fast.

Speaker 1

There's that one mess up. Shut up, leave me alone.

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Daniel Hernandez

Host