Although I am only 5’1” and can barely reach my kitchen cabinets, I am still gonna reach for dem stars! My story begins in Price George‘s County, Maryland where I was born and raised in a home full of Black American and Jamaican culture. Think family values, rice, curry, Lawry's Seasoning, and a lot of coconut milk. Also, I was homeschooled all the way through highschool. Hehe bet you didn't see that one coming!
I spent many a Friday afternoon seeing productions at the Kennedy Center or hanging out in the National Gallery of Art. I vividly remember wanting to test out musical theatre for myself, so I made my way into a community theatre production of Mary Poppins and never looked back. I even have a little umbrella tattoo as a reminder of where I started. I always felt that I had something to offer the stage, especially as a person of color. Over the years, I realized there was nothing I wanted to do more than keep making theatre to the best of my ability. That desire led me to pursue a B.F.A. in Musical Theatre at Point Park University. Being a small part of a large team that successfully joins forces to inspire, captivate, and move audiences is my biggest motivator to continue down this path, and who knows, maybe our paths will cross!
You've heard it countless times, and I'm gonna say it again for the people in the back - representation matters! It is imperative for ALL OF SOCIETY, not just young children, to continue to see people of all different backgrounds in a plethora of lights; because, we are incredibly multifaceted. Each of us, regardless of age, deserves to see people similar to us AND very different from ourselves. How can we strive to better understand our world and the people in it when the majority of Americans do not interact with individuals outside of their own communities in daily life, on screens, or on stages regularly? Even in the social media age, we lack perspective due to insufficient exposure. I believe exposure begins with representation! As an actor of color, I am serving as one of many small bridges to understanding one another for a better today and tomorrow.
Copyright © 2024 Payten Blake - All Rights Reserved.
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