We recently connected with Luke Sage and have shared our conversation below.
Luke, looking forward to learning from your journey. You’ve got an amazing story and before we dive into that, let’s start with an important building block. Where do you get your work ethic from?
It really came from my upbringing. I come from a very small town called Marion, VA, right in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains. Growing up there, my parents and grandparents taught me from a very early age that things aren’t handed to you. Putting your nose to the grindstone and getting the work done was the norm. Coming from Appalachia, this was more than just a small lesson; it’s a lifestyle. I like to call it Hillbilly Ingenuity- jumping over obstacles in an independent and self-sufficient way.
The Appalachian community is, unfortunately, often overlooked. Which is a shame, because the art, culture, and talent found there is as breathtaking as the landscape. Because of this, we have adapted. Learned to work harder, find other ways to be seen and heard.
The short of it is, I get it honest. It’s embedded in my culture. I haven’t really known any other way. I’ve always had a fire under me. That’s what drove me to the city and eventually led me to start my own production company. I can remember when I was in high school, I had dreams of buying a van, rounding up some of the artists around me, and performing for anyone who wanted to listen.
Blane, my brother, has always been my biggest support. Never once did he hesitate to join me for some type of ambitious project. My brother and I did a lot of hollering. Crowe Hollerering to be specific (Crowe Hollerers is the name of our band.) We formed a band and played on the streets of Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Kentucky. Last year, I produced a show and needed him to come sleep on the floor of my tiny apartment to not only play the role of “Ariel” but also to strum his guitar and paint a beautiful portrait for the show. He is such an inspiration and makes me want to strive for success.
The mountains shaped me. The people drove me. The art uplifted me.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I have always been in the art world in one sense or another. I have been performing since I could talk. Magic tricks for talent shows, plays, movies, and striking a banjo like it owes me money. Before I jumped into college, I was in my first movie as well as landed a main stage show at The Appalachian Center for the Arts. I earned my degree at the University of Virginia’s College at Wise. While I was there, I was in several films, including “Royal Ashes.” You can stream it on Amazon Prime if you wanna take a gander.
After college, I jumped straight to the Outer Banks and joined the cast of “The Lost Colony” as John Borden, directed by Jeff Whiting. There, I met some lifelong friends, including my partners in crime for my production company, Moojestic Lion Productions. After my stint on the island, I hopped a bus and joined a couple National Tours. I learned to think on my feet while seeing the country.
Eventually, after some regional tours and filming in Yorkshire, UK, I found myself in the city. I landed a couple of shows, including an off-Broadway run at Dixon Place. This eventually led me to building Moojestic Lion Productions. We produced our first show in the city last August, “Tempestuous.” It was written by my father, and the songs were constructed by my brother. It took Shakespeare’s Tempest and turned it on its head, set in a small cabin in the middle of the Appalachian Mountains.
With Moojestic Lion Productions, we do things the utilitarian way, and with touches of punk and Appalachia. The theatre is ever changing, ebbing and flowing, constantly in motion, and yet we find it remains a safe space to melt into these moments of true meaning. For my team, theatre has served as the backdrop to many of the most impactful, intimate, and joyous moments of our lives. In a world of AI, we seek to create tangible, real, and poignant stories and experiences. Our ultimate goal is to inspire and enrich the lives of the generations of artists coming into their work now.
My team, JT Atwood and Caroline Belangia, have been and are producing more shows this year. This past March, we hosted The Pickled Punks’ Freakshow Extravaganza. Where we gathered the funniest, most exotic, and profound artists we could find. All hosted by two clowns, The Rambler and The Wanderer.
This May, we are putting on “The Circus Came to Town,” written by JT Atwood, at the RatNYC.
May 6th, 7th, and 10th @ 7:30PM
In June, we are hosting another Pickled Punks’ show at the SoHo Playhouse. Date and Time TBD.
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?
Discernment, Trust, and Ambition.
Discernment to know if it’s a good idea. Trust in your abilities and those around you. And the ambition to make it happen.
Early on, I had a theater instructor who taught me how to judge decisions. She wisely said, “You need to ask yourself. Does it fuel your heart? Does it fuel your head? Does it fuel your wallet?” She said it needed to either do two of those three, or one in a very big way. This is something that I follow even today. Something that my father had always told me, you have to say no to every good idea to make room for the great ones. Knowing and believing you are where you need to be is crucial to an artist.
Trust is needed in all relationships; it’s no different in the art world. I tend to struggle with this sometimes. I think we all do. It’s natural. But ultimately, you have to trust that you are great. That you are worth it. That your art is valuable and needs to be seen. I like to compare this to an acrobat or a trapeze artist. If they don’t trust themselves and fully commit. They will fail and could seriously hurt themselves. Trust in those around you can sometimes be a little trickier. But it is just as valuable. I quickly learned while on the road and on this artistic journey that people really want to help you. If you let them and ask for it, people, most of the time, are more than willing to give. So just ask.
I have often asked people what they see most in me. Without fail, most will say that I have huge ambition. For better or for worse. Sometimes you have to jump in the deep end and learn how to swim. Ambition is what drives success. I find myself sometimes biting off more than I can chew. But I just keep chewing. What better way to learn to take bigger bites than stuffing your cheeks?
Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?
It is so hard to pick just one! But if I had to choose, it would probably be “The Tao of Pooh,” by Benjamin Hoff. The book teaches the principles of Taoism, but through the characters of Winnie the Pooh and “The House at Pooh Corner.” If you haven’t read it, I highly recommend.
Most of the principles of Taoism resonate with me. The Tao literally translates to The Way. Pooh, in the book, represents what the Taoists call the uncarved block. The biggest takeaway is that there is no need to overthink. We tend to, in Western culture, overanalyze our lives. Taoism challenges that belief. Instead, it says, we will find more peace if we follow our inner nature, live in our simplicity through effortless action. This is what Pooh does! Never once does he have a frown on his face, and that tells me all I need to know.
Contact Info:
- Website: lukesage.com sites.google.com/view/moojesticlionproductions
- Instagram: @lukesageactor @moojesticlion_productions
- Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm10872189/
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
