Kamra A. Jacobs MFA '17 and Mandisa Reed MFA '17 are currently the Production Stage Manager and Stage Manager of Lackawanna Blues on Broadway

Read an interview below.

What excites you about this project?

Mandisa Reed: Lackawanna Blues is a Broadway show that isn't full of spectacle and flash - it's about one person, Ruben, (and a musician) sharing the story of Nanny, a key part of his life - her love and goodness that she shared not only with him, but with so many people who society-at-large had written off.

And that's universal. I listen to this show 6 days a week and am moved by the words - and RELATE to the stories 6 days a week.

Kamra A. Jacobs: What excites me about this project is the vivid and beautiful look into Black Culture. The poetry of the play and the way Ruben describes Black people in all of our beauty and fullness. It is also a piece about joy, hope, and love and especially after the past 18 months I am grateful to be reminded that all of this exists in the world and to find it in one person is a blessing. Finally, Nanny who this story is about is my great-aunt and to be able to open up the Broadway Season with a story about this amazing Black woman who is connected to me in this beautiful way is beyond what I could ask for as my Broadway Production Stage Manager debut.

What's it like to be collaborating with each other?

Kamra: 7 years ago when I met Mandisa in grad school (mind you, the only Black Stage Manager aside from myself that I had met at that point) I never could have imagined we would be here starting out the first Broadway season together as a team of leaders after the longest Broadway shutdown. I am in awe of being able to collaborate with not only a great stage manager but an amazing person like Mandisa who sees me even in the most challenging of moments. Being the first show to start the MTC season has not been easy, we are all learning and relearning how to make this industry more equitable. However, the support I have from Mandisa as a teammate is not something you always get when working so I am definitely treasuring this moment.

Mandisa: Working with Kamra on a Broadway show is a blissful and deeply meaningful collaboration.

The show highlights the resiliency and power of a strong black woman, who uplifted her community and gave them hope and love - and time and time again in this country, it's black women who lead the charge for change, for justice - and we lead with love.

To have graduated from UCSD together, to leading a Broadway National Tour, to being on Broadway itself has been a journey full of advocacy, courage and gratitude - I'm grateful to share in this experience with Kamra. I love how we hold space for and uplift each other, and have fun along the way. There's an ease to our collaboration and communication styles, and we have a good time along the way!

How are you finding the transition back into a fully embodied Broadway season?

Mandisa: It's great to see so many plays by Black playwrights, along with fellow Black stage managers, directors, and designers - however, it can't stop there and it can't stop at this season, when there's a hyper-focus on equity, inclusion, and accessibility in theatre and the arts as a whole.

Kamra: I am finding the transition back to Broadway slow and steady. This is truly a time of reworking the idea of "that's just how it's done." It is time to create new systems and break down the obstacles for BIPOC folx to be able to thrive in this space. It is time to care for people's well being and to get rid of the idea that "the show must go on" at the detriment of the artists and crew.

Anything you'd like to share about your career path?

Kamra: I think the only thing I would share about my career path is, don't let anyone put boundaries on your dreams!