Today we’d like to introduce you to Bryan Jager.
Hi Bryan, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I was born and raised just outside of New York City and came down here for the Disney College Program in 2013. After going seasonal, I started auditioning and ended up working for Universal, SeaWorld, and eventually Disney before fully moving down to Orlando in 2016. Once stationed down here, I started auditioning for local theaters and ended up performing with multiple venues around town, as well as starting to produce theatre in the Orlando Fringe Festival. Around the start of last year, a group of fellow artists and I were approached by ME Performing Arts to help bolster their theatre program through professional productions, as well as operating their young professional series. So, we created the Orlando Artist Guild to help create brave and inclusive spaces for theatre-makers across central Florida. Along with my partner, Jarrett Poore, I’ve been lucky enough to shepherd multiple projects across Florida in the past year, including two Fringe productions, “The Spider Queen” and “The Complete Works of Stephen Sondheim (Abridged), both of which have been recognized with Patron’s Picks at this year’s festival.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has and hasn’t. Definitely, the pandemic threw a serious wrench in all of Central Florida’s art scene. But because I like 5 surround myself with resilient people, we were constantly trying to make the most of it every step of the way. From creating online productions to navigating what theatre with extensive safety measures would look like, I’ve been really proud of the teams I’ve been a part of during this time, and the work we’ve been lucky enough to put out!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I have been fortunate enough to serve a wide variety of roles in Central a Florida theatre. From performer to director to writer, designer, technical crew, graphic design, house manager, company manager, dance captain (the list just goes on). I am certainly someone who’s been lucky enough to learn a lot of different skills, and I would like to think that (no matter where I am on a production), those skills make me a more well-rounded artist who’s able to see the puzzle box of theatre from all angles.
Right now, I’m probably most recognized for creating several popular Fringe productions. From the sold-out “Mean Gays” in 2019, to this year’s “Spider Queen” and “Sondheim…”. This is the first year I’ve been lucky enough to perform in the festival, and the outpouring of love from our fellow artists and audiences has been absolutely incredible.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
First and foremost, I need to thank my partner, Jarrett Poore, who’s been nothing but the most supportive collaborator an artist could ask for. We frequently trade-off directing duties with the Orlando Artist Guild, and I’m continually amazed at how well we’re able to compliment and hone our respective works.
I also owe a huge thanks to all of the incredible directors and producers who’ve helped us along the way: from Jeff Revels and Tara Kromer at the Rep to Marshall and Alex Ellis at ME Performing Arts, Donald Rupe of Renaissance Theatre for giving me my first professional directing credit at CFCArts, Jennifer Adams for championing my written work and helping me get published.
And on the individual front, I can’t thank the creators I’ve been lucky enough to collaborate with on all of these productions over the years: Kelley Mauro, Henry Gibson-Garcia, Kyle Masteller, TJ Washburn, Joni Newman, Laurel Hatfield, Andre Braza, Joel Swanson, Rachel Johnson, Jessica Hendricks, Alex Syiek, Morgan Polodna, Todd Zimmerman, the entire Moon family, Hannah Lemasters, Lexi Nieto, and so many others.
Contact Info:
- Website: meperformingarts.com
- Instagram: @drawnbybryan
- Facebook: Facebook.com/orlandoartistguild
Image Credits
Ashleigh Ann Gardner
