Emory & Henry Graduate Now Acting at the Barter Theatre
James Jiggetts, who performed in numerous E&H theatre productions, was introduced to the Barter as a student intern.
Barter began performing at the Moonlite, a former drive-in movie theatre, after the Covid-19 pandemic made in-person performances impossible. The Moonlite provided actors a chance to perform safely and audience members the opportunity to watch live events again.
Jiggetts studied theatre with the award-winning theatre faculty at Emory & Henry under Dr. Kelly Bremner, the head of the E&H Theatre Department. “I think James is incredibly good at bringing humanity to his roles. He’s a deeply empathetic person and he has a unique ability to really understand the characters he’s playing and be vulnerable with them,” Bremner said.
For many years, Emory & Henry has had a partnership with the Barter; the Theatre Department at E&H is in official and exclusive affiliation with Barter Theatre. This relationship allows Emory & Henry theatre students to obtain first-hand experience at the Barter from their first year as E&H students all the way through graduation and beyond. Loren Pope, in his book, “Colleges That Change People’s Lives,” describes this partnership as “legendary.”
Jiggetts is the latest of several E&H students who have gone on to perform with Barter. But Bremner said that Jiggett’s case is special. “What they’re doing at the Moonlite is truly innovative. I am just so proud of him for being a working actor in a time in the world when many other places couldn’t quite figure out how to make this work.”
Jiggetts said, “The partnership that E&H has with the Barter gave me the opportunity to establish a relationship with them prior to graduating, so after I graduated I already had connections with them.”
He added, “I’m excited and scared for this opportunity. Prior to COVID-19, I would have been so excited, but now, it’s more of an honor because it’s so rare for actors to be working right now. The fact that I am able to get out on stage and share my art is just a blessing in itself.”
Jiggetts will be playing Ferdinand and Antonio in “The Tempus,” and Peter in “The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe”. Performances for “The Tempus” will begin April 8, and “The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe” will start on April 16.
James Jiggetts
The partnership that E&H has with the Barter gave me the opportunity to establish a relationship with them prior to graduating, so after I graduated I already had connections with them.
- James Jiggetts
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