/Jackson State grads debut on Broadway ‘You don’t go higher in the theatrical world’

Jackson State grads debut on Broadway ‘You don’t go higher in the theatrical world’

Tillman’s Broadway debut was in “The Great Society,” which opened Nov. 30 at Lincoln Center’s Beaumont Theater. Demery’s debut is in “A Soldier’s Play,” presented by Roundabout Theatre Company at American Airlines Theatre. The play opens Jan. 21 and continues through March 15. Tillman says, “For an actor that’s the ultimate dream. Broadway is the highest performing theatre in the world. It’s the highest point in the theatre world. It’s not something that I’ve felt yet.” Demery and Tillman were both part of Charles Fuller’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play “A Soldier’s Play”, which was performed in New Stage Theatre’s 2010-11 Season. They also participated in at least three other New Stage productions. Demery plays the same role in Jackson as Corporal Bernard Cobb in Broadway’s cast that includes Blair Underwood and David Alan Grier. It is set in 1944, in the then-racially divided military. The story centers around a murder mystery, and each character gets a chance to shine during interrogations. Tillman played multiple roles in “The Great Society”, about Lyndon B. Johnson’s presidency. His primary role was that of Bob Moses, a civil rights activist who worked to ensure voting rights in Mississippi for African Americans. He says, “That was an honor.” It was also a privilege to share the stage with TV and theater veterans like Frank Wood, Brian Cox, Richard Thomas, and many others. Demery, an Arkansas native, grew up in Flint. He was an All-City point guard and came to JSU to play basketball. But, when he left JSU’s play rehearsal, Demery realized that he didn’t want anymore to play. … I was really bitten by the acting bug. I did not even attempt to audition. I went back to rehearsal. “That was when I switched to acting on 100 percent, and now I’m on Broadway, so that’s why I think I made an excellent decision.” He worked with New Stage’s education department during his time in Jackson from 2004 to 2007. Red Light Arts, his company, produces educational skits for schools, organizations and has a theater in Atlanta (Rob’s Blackbox Theatre, and Leigh’s Cafe Theatre), which is named after his wife Leigh Amber Demery. It also provides instruction, photography and demo reels. He says that this helps to curb his desire to be on other people’s stage. He says, “I’m very humble…I’m grateful for that.” Red Light Arts has so many hats that he can’t focus on acting alone. It almost feels like a vacation, more than a job. He says Mississippi “really made me what I am today.” It taught me survival skills, as it helped him to start a family far from home. A friend mentioned theater to him and he introduced Mark G. Henderson, a long-standing JSU theater professor. Henderson said, “I threw he in the water.” Before school even started, Demery signed up for at least eight shows. These ranged from mini-performances to full-blown scripts. Tillman was born in Largo in Maryland and transferred from Xavier University of Louisiana (now JSU) to complete his undergraduate studies. The timing of the transfer just missed Hurricane Katrina’s devastation in New Orleans. As a child, Tillman was shy and was encouraged by his mother to get involved in music, sports, theater or “all of the above.” I fell in love with a play that was performed at a local church when I was 10 years old. “I said, “I don’t understand what this is but I want it for the rest of mine.” He says that it’s difficult to see it as a career choice. It seems more related to accounting, medicine, and law. You must have passion to do what you do as artists. It is not an easy path. In a highly diversified industry, there is no clear path. Tillman states, “It’s been a love story since I walked out of it, then jumped back in it, then walked off because I was scared again or it’s hurtful,” Tillman said. “But, it’s a love affair for me, and I love that my story can be shared with people. They’re changed when I leave.” Tillman says that Jackson gave him the inspiration to become an actor full-time. He decided to remain in the state and continue working for a non-profit after he graduated. He was giving back to his community and seeing a change, he said. But theater professor Henderson noticed that he wasn’t happy and asked him why. Tillman said that Henderson told him, “You’re not following what you love”… and that he realized it was performing. Tillman adds, “He encouraged us to attend grad school to master the craft.” The rocket was launched. He walked on Broadway’s stage five years after he graduated from the University of Tennessee with a Master of Fine Arts degree in acting. He exclaims, “It’s just the beginning for me”, and laughs. “This is only the beginning.” Actors with Mississippi connections are rooting for them. Francine Thomas Reynolds, New Stage artistic directors, said Tillman was “a standout” in the New York audience’s reaction to “The Great Society.” She is happy to see these hardworking, talented actors achieve such success. Henderson said, “It’s just really satisfying.” “They’re amazing and I’m proud to both of them.” Henderson was impressed by Demery’s interest (“He followed us everywhere”) and his stay-late/come-early commitment at JSU. “He was always trying soaking up as much theater knowledge as he could.” Henderson was shocked to learn that Demery was selected for the role of “A Soldier’s Play”. He plans to visit New York to see the show. He had encouraged Tillman to apply for graduate school and said that “Don’t just get your degree, get some networking going.” — advice which, it turned out, helped him get to Broadway.