We were lucky to catch up with Jaye Hunt recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Jaye with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?
I grew up going to NYC with my mom to see theatre all the time, and supporting the local theatre community in Chicago. The arts have always been a huge part of my life, and I’ve always known that I wanted to be involved in theatre, but it wasn’t until I was a teenager that I understood that it would be my career. Once I decided that I wanted to be a director, it was off to the races and I never looked back. A career in the arts means constantly facing rejection and setbacks. I learned early on that in order to make it in this industry, I would have to have a thick skin and a strong work ethic. I also learned that I would have to carve out a space for myself in an industry that wouldn’t automatically make space for me. As long as I work as hard as I can and make the best art I can make, I know that my path will take me where I need to go.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
My main focus is creating equity onstage and backstage. I direct plays (and, recently, musicals) by and about members of marginalized communities. I typically work on new plays, but I sometimes venture into pre-existing works. I try to bring elements of myself and my experience to everything I work on.
My theatrical practice is one that examines and questions normativity. My work breaks open a world that has been dominated by cis, straight, white, able-bodied men for centuries. My work explores theatrical structure and what it means to be a play. My collaboration style is very open and welcoming to all perspectives. I want to create a space that is completely safe for everyone. I deliberately seek out political work. I never want to hit the audience over the head with A Message, but I do feel a responsibility to at least try to effect change with my work.
Recently, I have been a member of the Moxie Arts NY Incubator, where I directed a reading and a workshop of two new musicals. At the end of August, I will be directing a reading of a play with a title that I don’t think you can publish on your website, but if people are interested, they can go to parityproductions.org to find out more.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Tenacity – I have found that in the hardest moments of my life, I’ve just had to tell myself to keep going. I developed this skill via the many therapists I’ve had, especially the therapist I’ve now been seeing for six years. She has helped me see the light at the end of the tunnel through several tunnels.
Resilience – A career in the arts means that you face a LOT of rejection, no matter your field. To be honest, the best way I’ve found to develop this is through lived experience. Rejection never stops hurting, but you learn to deal with it and put the past in the past.
Creativity – This seems obvious for an artist, but I’m talking more about creativity in every day life. Being a director has taught me to figure out creative solutions to problems that arise, which is a skill I desperately needed in my regular life. This goes along with an openness to change that, like resilience, requires life experience.
Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?
To quote one of my favorite contestants on this season of The Bachelorette (Devin), “the mountain in my mind is my mom.” It feels a little obvious to say that my mom has helped me develop skills and knowledge because most people’s moms do that, but I do feel that my relationship with my mom has helped me with all of the the three qualities I mentioned. I have learned from her resilience, tenacity, and creativity. She also is the person who introduced me to theatre, so I owe a lot to her in that capacity.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jayehunt.com
- Instagram: hayejunt
Image Credits
Olivia Boucher, Hunter Canning, Emily Bubeck, Jess Hock
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
