Support an Actor's Dream: Help Me Get To Grad School at UW

Acting has always opened me up to how diverse and profound the world is. It has always been there to challenge what I think I know about myself and the world around me. Through this craft I am able to be a vessel for stories that teach us so much about humanity. After graduating from college straight into the pandemic in 2020, I found decent work and entered the acting scene in Northeast Ohio. Then life happened. My now wife and I survived a devastating house fire and decided to move to Atlanta for new beginnings.

(A Midsummer Night's Dream in Harlem, 2023, Michael Henninger)

(Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, 2022, Colleen Albrecht)

I knew that being part of a larger acting scene was going to be a challenge, but suddenly I was in a world saturated with actors from all walks of life, with different interests, motivations, techniques, and approaches. I found myself in a lot of situations where I didn’t know what to do to get where I wanted to be. There’s a difference, and a lot of work and experience, between simply having talent as an actor and knowing how to navigate the industry. Skills such as navigating cold reads, making quality audition tapes, acting on camera, and more were all brand new to me. I quickly realized that I had a lot more to learn. I became hungry for as much industry knowledge as I could find, investing in scene study and on-camera courses, actively auditioning for plays, connecting with local actors and artists, and seeing local plays. Like so many hard working actors, I hustled. And while I got stronger in my technique, I realized I didn’t have as much access to my body or my imagination as I wanted. In the midst of trying to figure out the industry, I started to lose sight of why I love to act in the first place. I realized I had to go deeper.

(On-Camera Taping Session at Catapult Acting Studio, ATL)

(URTAs!)

(Me in front of the Philadelphia City Hall at URTAs 2025)

For a year, I prepared and trained to audition for graduate acting programs around the country. This work included enrolling in acting courses, memorizing monologues, working and saving money, writing my application, doing research on programs and places to live, traveling to auditions, and then some. After a long (and sometimes tough) audition and application process, I will officially be attending a graduate acting program at the University of Washington that is intently focused on generating one’s own work and building a deep connection to one’s body and artistic identity. I will also have the opportunity to teach other undergrad actors and hope to utilize this program to not only become a better actor, but to cultivate the ability to teach acting with the foundation of a diverse portfolio of acting methods.

(Planning the Move!)

As with many brave steps forward, a cross-country move is costly, particularly to the West Coast! While my wife and I have done all we can to prepare for this move, including selling belongings and saving up funds where possible, there are roughly $12.5k in expected moving costs that we need the support of our community to cover. If my story resonates with you, or if you’d just like to help out, please consider supporting me in this winding journey as I move from Atlanta, GA to Seattle, WA to pursue my dream. Anything you can give — even $1 — would be highly appreciated! If you can't donate, please consider sharing this page.

(Miyah and Jaris at Oxbow Park, Seattle, and a performance of The Mountaintop by Katori Hall at The Alliance Theater)

Lastly, I am so grateful for my wife, Miyah Owens, for her constant support, as well as all of the ways my community has shown OUT for me in this process! Without your coaching, letters of recommendation, kind affirmations, friendship, mentorship, Seattle neighborhood recommendations, long phone calls about different programs, and so, so much more, I would not be here! Please know that I am astonished and immensely grateful for all that you have given, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I see this opportunity as my chance to take every piece of wisdom and grace poured into me and nurture it even further in a prestigious acting program.