We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jamiel T. Burkhart. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jamiel below.

Jamiel, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

When I was around 7 or 8, I started taking piano lessons and ballet classes. and I loved every moment of it. My experiences in those environments at a young age helped me find my love and passion for performing and creating honest art from the heart. I remember getting to dance freely and really explore what I could do, as much as it was probably more just me running around like a little rascal, haha. From there my wonder and awe grew from there as I grew in middle school. I’ve had the good fortune to have been homeschooled for 5 years of my life, which afforded me ALOT of opportunities to learn what I was interested in. Whether that was soccer or gymnastics, or dance or singing. When it came time to figure out which high school I wanted to go to, all I wanted was to go to an arts school. I’m a huge fan of the Nickelodeon show “Victorious”. On the show, the kids have a drama teacher names Sikowitz, and I wanted nothing more than to learn from someone like him. I knew I wanted to surround myself in that kind of environment. Realizing this was something that I was obsessed with being a part of fueled me to work my ass off to get into only the best arts high school in the NYC; “the Fame School”. I got my acceptance letter later that Spring and it took until I was sitting in my drama class freshman year that this was my future and that I have to do for the rest of my life. There is no other choice. After 4 years of building my skills, making connections, and growing immensely as a person, I graduated and was fortunate enough to start working right away, and the rest is history. :)

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My full name is Jamiel Tako Larry Burkhart (He/Him/His), but you can call me Jamiel. As an alumni of The Fame School, I’m so greatful to have been afforded many different opportunities, working in various capacities with Off-Broadway companies like MCC and the Ensemble Studio Theatre. I’m now the Producing Artistic Director of MilkyWay Theatre Company and founding Artistic Producer of Melting Pot Collective LLC, where I serve as one of the leading producers, as well as being a versed performer whose first home was the theater. I’m a familiar face in the NYC theater and music scene as well as a regional favorite, with recent performance credits that include Elf the Musical (Fake Santa/Ensemble), Winnie the Pooh Christmas Tale (Tigger), Symphony For Portland (Aaron), Comedy of Errors (Dromio), Rock of Ages (Ja’Keith Gill/Mayor/Ensemble), Come Together (Myself), Cabaret (Herr Schultz), And Then There was Us (Franklin/Youth), Into the Woods (Cinderella’s Prince/the Wolf), Rent (Angel Dumonte Shunard), Newsies (Henry), Pippin (Pippin/Lewis), and Jesus Christ Superstar (Caiaphas). Coming up soon, I’m set to join a couple of different projects in the early parts of 2023, with more to come on that soon!!!

On the business and technical side of theatre, I’ve directed a number of projects with MilkyWay as well as serving as executive producer. Our purpose is to help artists grow and create new works, while staying true to the humanity that we all share on this tiny spec of a planet we all call home. In this vast galaxy, we want to guide the new generation of artists in joining the ranks of stars from around the world. Let’s create the next generation of broadway musicals and plays. Let’s explore new projects with the next generation of performers. And let’s bring together the next dream teams of creatives that will spearhead all of these projects. That’s our goal. And together we can do it! Currently we’re working on fundraising for a new project scheduled for January. The First Annual New Works Festival will feature Masked: The Musical by Tianna Davis, Ellipses by David Quang Pham, and The American I.D. Channel: Vol. One by Mx. Hasberry. We’re so excited to offer this opportunity to our 3 playwrights because we recognize that there’s so many FANTASTIC artists who create thought-provoking work, but just don’t have the funds to put it up on its feet. That’s why we are committed to working our hardest to make it happen. I love bringing passionate people together to create magic for us to share with the world.

There are so many different ways to help us create the art we want to share with all of you, so THANK YOU, from the bottom of our hearts, for being amazing humans and allowing us to showcase our intense passion for the theatrical arts. Your donation will get us further in that journey, but if you’re unable to, don’t worry, there are many other ways to get involved! Please SHARE with everyone you know regardless of if you donated, word of mouth is a really strong way to get people interested! If you want to work with us, reach out to me and let’s talk about what we can collaborate on. We would also love to invite you and your friends, family, and random people you care about to the next project we have going on and let you see the wonderful work we are doing, so keep an eye out for theatre announcements and ticket links!

At Melting Pot, I use my expertise to manage the planning and execution of our numerous film projects, as well as lead the fundraising team. We’ve been established as an official LLC since 2021 when we raised almost $20,000 in March for our first film. It was a success and we’re in post production for it now, with our second film coming out early 2023 as well. Proud to say that we’ve been able to create a network of new up-and-coming artists who work with us to create important art. Coming up soon, we’re headed to the theater. Stay tuned for that

Outside of my own companies, I enjoy stage managing and working as part of the events staff at the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music, learning valuable skills in live sound mixing and light operation. I’ve also worked at the Public Theater as a PA and have been a part of the MCC family for many years, working in various capacities. I offer coaching in acting as well, having been trained in it for many years. I feel so blessed to be able to do what I love everyday and can’t wait to use my unique perspective to support the development of new projects and new voices.

Have you ever had to pivot?

Until very recently, I’ve worked in retail as my day job, while trying to find the time to make art on the side. Now, I’m lucky enough to work part time in a couple of different jobs that have something to do with the arts. I feel so blessed to now have enough time to really give 150% to my art and what I’m really passionate about. I’ve had a rule that I try to live by for a really long time, which is I only want to be doing what I love. Working at the Public Theater and the Brooklyn Conservatory for Music has been the time of my life and allows me to spend time working on my own projects, like the First Annual New Works Festival in early 2023.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

There’s nothing like the energy in a room of creatives with a single objective and many different perspectives from which they tackle creating the story. That is why I love the arts. Having been so lucky in life, I’ve been able to give my all to creating art in many capacities. Whether it’s being on a stage and telling the story that way or being on the creative team as a director, backstage crew, stage manager, or anything else, the passion I bring and to see everyone working and bringing the same level of passion is the best part.

Contact Info:

• Website: jamieltburkhart.com
• Instagram: @jamielburkhart
• Facebook: @JamielBurkhart
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamiel-burkhart-9ba701238
• Twitter: @BurkhartJamiel
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCn1bOI5H-IpS_JPeRkwDVSg
• Other: MilkyWay Theatre Company LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/milkywaytheatrecompany
  Fractured Atlas Donation Page: https://fundraising.fracturedatlas.org/milkyway-theatre-company/campaigns/5279
  MilkyWay Theatre Company Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/milkywaytheatrecompany/ h