Yazmine Moore
Yazmine Moore became involved in theater as a child in an attempt to overcome her shyness.
“My mom actually started it in a way. I was super shy as a kid, so she was always trying to find activities to help break that shyness of mine. She came across Downing-Gross Cultural Arts Center, which is our community theater back home in Newport News.
“She encouraged me to audition there, and from the moment they gave me a chance, everything started to change. I went from being a shy girl who barely wanted to speak up to eventually performing in lead roles, including a Black female lead. From that moment on, I just fell in love with theater.
“The moment that really finalized it for me was when I saw ‘The Lion King’ on Broadway. I remember sitting there and feeling this spark inside me. I knew instantly that this was what I wanted to do. I want people to feel the way I felt in that moment. I want someone sitting in the audience to walk away feeling something powerful after watching a show.
“I stayed involved with Downing-Gross until I came to Emory & Henry University. Since being here, I’ve had the opportunity to perform in both musicals and plays, and I’ve also had the honor of working with Barter Theatre,” she says.
In February, Yazmine performed in Shine, Barter’s annual celebration of Black Voices/Black Stories. She has also worked as a Barter Player and performed in their “Frozen” ensemble.
“ Performing in Shine at Barter Theatre was truly an amazing experience. I am so thankful I had the opportunity to return to Barter and be part of that production. Performing alongside my professor P., Emory & Henry alum James Jiggetts, and so many talented actors and musicians made the experience even more special. Being surrounded by artists who care so deeply about storytelling reminded me why I love theater so much.
“One of the biggest honors for me in that show was getting the chance to sing ‘Feeling Good’ by Nina Simone. That song carries so much power and history and being trusted to perform it meant a lot to me. I wanted to honor the spirit of the song while also bringing my own heart and voice to it.
“Moments like that remind me why I love what I do. When I step on stage, I hope the audience doesn’t just see a character but also sees the passion and heart I bring with me as Yazmine,” she says.
She’s been singing since she could talk. It comes naturally to her. But she’s added acting and dancing since her childhood. All of this adds to an actress who loves musical theater.
“When I sing, it feels like the most honest version of myself comes out. It’s where my heart feels the most open. Singing is one of the special gifts God has given me, and I truly believe that gifts are meant to be shared. I want people to hear my voice and not just hear sound but feel the heart behind it.
“I love musicals, because they allow me to bring my full self to the stage through acting, singing and dancing. There is something so powerful about when a character feels something so deeply that words alone aren’t enough, so the story continues through music and, of course, singing is my favorite part, so musicals will always have my heart.
“Theater means showing up truthfully. It means relaying someone’s story to an audience with your whole heart. To me, theater is about connection. It allows people to see themselves in stories, to laugh, cry or feel something they didn’t expect when they walked into the theater. Theater has the power to inspire, heal and bring people together and being able to be part of that kind of storytelling is something I will never take for granted,” she says.
Yazmine is from Newport News, Virginia, and is a senior at Emory & Henry University, Emory, Virginia. She is the daughter of Lavora Moore. Her plans for the future include attending graduate school or continuing to work professionally in theater.
