Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Darius “Mr.Tyree” Davis. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, Darius “Mr.Tyree” thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?
One of the most meaningful projects I have been a part of came during my freshman year in college. As a newbie to the school, I landed the role of Ton Ton/Julien in “Once on This Island.” This show will forever hold a special place in my heart. We put in a lot of work on this production, all the way down the research of culture, dance, spirituality, and history. This show touched on so many topics like colorism, poverty, race, faith, and colonialism. This was the first time our school had seen a production that represented people of color in the school’s community. Over the year, we’d all dealt with some form of tragedy or loss as a whole, but it all brought us closer together and transformed us into a family…. that and spending many, many hours a week together
Another thing that was so impactful for the cast was the talkback immediately after the show. We had to take a moment to allow people to collect themselves because there was not a dry eye in the room. People were so immersed in this production and the world we had created and were truly moved. In great detail, they shared love and gratitude for the representation and story we gave. These are the moments that speak the loudest in my heart- hearing and seeing people affected by my art in a positive way.
Darius “Mr.Tyree”, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
Im 22. I was born and raised in Dallas, Texas. I have been singing, acting, and dancing since about the age of 7. I started in the church, where I served on the youth praise team, choir, and mime ministry. My acting debut also came from being in church! Being a part of a creative family, my cousin wrote a faith-based version of A Christmas Carole where played the young version of the protagonist. From then on, I started doing theatre in school and my community. Every summer from middle school through high school, I participated in a summer enrichment program at The Black Academy of Arts and Letters, studying great artists with lifelong legacies. Within three weeks, we put on a musical that followed the life of an artist (i.e., Michael Jackson, Tina Turner, Prince, Beyoncé) or a theme such as the 90’s or Broadway. I credit T.B.A.A.L. for growing my passion for the arts and entertainment. As much as I love theatre, I am very passionate about music. I love all music, but I have a deep connection with Soul/RnB. I draw a lot of inspiration from artists like Stevie Wonder, Donny Hathaway, Gladys Knight, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, and so many more.
Performing is so rewarding to me because I get to connect with so many people at one time. Over the years, I’ve performed for thousands of eyes, and the best compliment to hear is “I needed this” or “This moved me. Thank you.” My mission is to put art in this world that’s positive and evoking change. Since a young age, I’ve been big on community and being of service. Whether I was doing a winter jacket drive or volunteering at a food bank, I’ve always been about giving back. I still feel the same way nonetheless, I have found another outlet for giving. For example, as an actor, sometimes we do shows with such deep meanings and touch on sensitive topics that are often too uncomfortable for everyday conversation. I have the privilege of stepping into a character who may vastly differ from me but may be very familiar to someone who is watching. I get to represent and tell a story that is healing to someone else who may be watching. The same goes for when I am singing. I get to sing songs that may express the way someone might be feeling but don’t necessarily have the words to say.
Art is so important and has always been so healing. It has been a very important aspect of my life, and I love being able to share that with other people of all backgrounds and walks of life. I think it’s what makes me different from other artists (some would even say it’s my superpower.) I lead with passion and my heart.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
One of the hardest things that I had to overcome happens to be my health. In my teen years, I dealt with a lot of headaches and even worse migraines. I was often told that I needed to lose weight, drink more water, and be more active. None of this worked. It wasn’t until the end of 2018 that my family and I kept pushing for more answers, and an MRI revealed that I suffered from a condition called Chiari malformation type 1. This condition is where the brain grows through the skull opening and towards the spinal cord. This builds a lot of discomfort, pressure, and sometimes fluid on the spine. Unfortunately, there is no medication that you can take to fix this; the only option is to undergo an intense surgery, which I did.
The hardest part of this process was the recovery. Before I could leave the hospital, I had to relearn to use my legs and walk again. For weeks, I was on restrictions and spent many days in bed and out of school. But I was determined to do everything in my power to get back to the stage. As I was fighting for strength, I was also fighting to keep my role in the school’s musical. I even secretly auditioned for the performing arts high school (Booker T Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts) in Dallas, Texas. I do not encourage anyone to do auditions that have a movement call 3-4 weeks post-brain surgery, and I’m sure my doctor wouldn’t approve either. But I was determined to get back on my feet and get back to doing what I loved. I got into Booker T., and I graduated from there in 2021.
My surgery was a success, and I am better and stronger than ever, but like most major surgeries, there are lingering effects. To this day, I still fight with symptoms like muscle spasms and tension, but it is now something I can manage. I never wanted my condition to be the thing that kept me from achieving everything I wanted in life. I also wanted to use my testimony as inspiration to someone who may be going through the same thing or something similar to me. I am also a strong believer and advocate for advocating for yourself and your health. Only you know what you are going through and what you’re feeling. Trust your instincts. Listen to your body.
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.
I think the uncertainty of my career is something that people who are not creative do not understand. We never truly know what is going to land for us, whether it’s a role, A break on a script, or a song that you’re writing, or simply just a leap of faith you are taking towards your dream, we never know when that moment is coming. In our career, there are an endless number of possibilities and only a thousand ways to get to the destination. No one’s journey is the same, and often we experience so many highs and lows.
I’m a go with the flow type of person, what’s for me will come to me, and what’s not simply just won’t. I don’t always have a plan for what is next, that is something that sometimes my family doesn’t even understand. Because you are experiencing a low does not mean you’re doing something wrong, you don’t have the talent, or you need to quit. This business is hard! You just have to push through and let your passion drive you.
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