Brian Demar Jones is making all the right stops in his lead role as The Conductor in the new off-Broadway musical, “All Aboard!”
Showcasing at the Laba Theatre at the 14th St. Y in Manhattan, The Girl Behind the Productions musical, written by Tony Sportiello and with music by Al Tapper, follows three couples (played by Sammi Sadicario, and Nathan Oesterle) who are all faced with making some very important decisions on their journey through life.
We get to see Jones as the witty, charming train conductor who travels the rails speaking words of wisdom for his passengers. He’s that little light at the end of the tunnel for his riders as they reach their destination. Although the play tackles issues in our current political climate, Jones stated that it is not a political play.
“It’s a play about morals and when people have to make certain decisions and how they make those decisions,” he said.
Jones said he believes the audience will leave the musical feeling “contently good” but also thinking about the choices they are making in their lives and how those choices affects others. He connects with his character, particularly in one line of the musical in which he says, “I hope you learned a few things today that what you do, you can do another way. Life’s not made of stone—it’s made of clay.”
“When I think about that [line] I think you have the power to do and make change in the world,” he said. “That’s how I relate to this particular piece.”
Raised in Rochester, N.Y., Jones caught the acting bug in high school when he attended an audition to support a friend but ended up getting the lead role himself. From there Jones continued exploring theater at Binghamton University, where he received his bachelor’s, and later the University of Washington in Seattle, where he obtained his masters.
After living out west for the past 10 years working and teaching in theater, Jones really wanted to challenge himself, so he decided to bring his talent back to the East Coast.
“The theater world here is more critical in a way that expectations are much higher for good work,” said Jones. “I wanted more of people really being daring and held more accountable for their work. We need to push each other to be good and make good art.”
With 15 years in the business, Jones is adamant about doing work that has a social justice impact. He’s past the “fluffy roles” and wants to tell real, impactful stories.
“As an African-American actor I find that that is my way of protesting, my way of social justice, my way of work, and I think that’s how I can change people’s minds and how I can influence.”
Jones called the introduction of social justice happening in theater right now a major change in the industry.
“People are actually writing about real issues,” he said. “Dealing with real-life issues and taking musical theater out of the realm of simple entertainment and into the realm of serious dramatic theater.”
Over the past two years many actors have become outspoken about the lack of diversity in Hollywood film and television; however, the lack of roles for people of color is far greater.
“In order to create more roles for ourselves it’s not about writing a new play, it’s about advertising and knowing that you are an actor first and then you’re a person of color who’s an actor,” he said. “I think that that is the key.”
Jones has also tackled roles in television before and hopes to continue to do so, but he first wants there to be a change in the type of roles that are presented to people of color.
“I still think those roles are extremely problematic and those roles are keeping people of color in places that continue to be stereotypical and keeping them in a place that is in some ways less than, and I think that is one way we need to be pushing back,” said Jones. “We just had an African-American president for the last eight years, I think we can do something more in theater and in television.”
As for the next move in his career, Jones wants to continue teaching in theater and eventually start directing as well. He encourages more people of color to come out to theater. His advice for any upcoming actors is “Strive for perfection all the while knowing that you will not achieve perfection but still doing it anyway.”
You can catch Jones in “All Aboard!” playing now through March 5. Tickets can be purchased at www.allaboardthemusical.com. To learn more about Jones and his past work, visit his website at www.bdemarjones.com.