Aisha Jackson: From 'The Great Gatsby' to Carnegie Hall & everything in between

How gospel, John Legend & a high school musical changed everything

Broadway star Aisha Jackson — Aisha Jackson. Photo provided.

Jackson’s love for music began in church, then expanded when she discovered secular music (by stealing her brother’s John Legend CD). After auditioning for a school production of Once on This Island, there was no turning back.

Church will always be in my heart—gospel music—that’s my first love and was my introduction to using my gifts. So that’s always there; that’s the foundation.

Growing up, I was not allowed to listen to secular music, but a vivid memory is stealing my late brother’s John Legend CD, listening to “Ordinary People,” and hearing his tone and the colors of his voice. [Spoiler: Jackson will be singing Legend’s song at the Carnegie Hall concert.]

Musical theater came in when I was in the sixth grade. My other brother came home, and they were doing Once on This Island at their high school, and they needed a little girl in the cast. And he was like, ‘Do you want to audition for it?’

I think I just auditioned for it because my brothers were doing it, and I thought it’d be cool and another way to explore singing. I got it, and then I started rehearsals and saw the actor playing Ti Moune and thought, ‘Who’s that? I want to do her part!’ From then on, I just fell in love with it. I went to college and studied musical theater, then came to the city and pounded the pavement, as they say.

Why “color-blind casting” misses the point

Aisha Jackson. Photo by Angela Marie Orellana.

With seven Broadway credits, some might say Jackson has cracked through the glass ceiling. While she’s grateful for the opportunities, Jackson is also aware of the hurdles many BIPOC actors face. Having helped push Broadway toward greater inclusivity, Jackson sees progress but remains clear-eyed about what must come next.

“I definitely think that we have cracked through. There is an opening and an enlightenment about casting more people of color. But I hate the term “color-blind casting” because I’m like, “Well, I don’t want you to be blind to my color.” I don’t want it to stop you from casting me, but I also don’t want it to be the only reason you’re looking at me.

Also, there are still a lot of shows where the principal cast is majority white, and the ensemble is very diverse. Let’s make sure your principal cast is diverse as well, so we see people of color moving the story and plot along. Often, a role might start with a white person, and as the show gains success, they’ll consider other races. Let’s consider them first.

Representation matters deeply to me. It’s valuable for a young person of color to come to the theater and see themselves on stage, leading—seeing somebody who looks like them can be life-changing. It’s important that diversity isn’t just on the stage. We also need to have it in our creative teams, because that perspective will be at the forefront as they build authentic roles for people of color. Why not have that culture represented on your team, so the blinders are off, you know?

A unique spin on Daisy Buchanan

Jeremy Jordan and Aisha Jackson in "The Great Gatsby." — Jeremy Jordan and Aisha Jackson in “The Great Gatsby.” Photo by Matthew Murphy.

Jackson spent years circling the role before stepping into Daisy on Broadway, bringing both familiarity and fresh interpretation to the character.

I have a little history with Miss Daisy from the pre-Broadway developmental sessions. Daisy has been lurking in the background. So it was really cool that she circled back, and I got to step into the role officially last June. I’m so appreciative of the way that the creative team allowed me to bring myself to the role. I was given the freedom to make her mine. I think my Daisy is a little bit spicier than how she’s written in the book.

It was an exciting challenge to take what F. Scott Fitzgerald has given us, my interpretation, and put it all together and create this new version of Daisy. I think she’s someone that we find at a crossroads of trying to stay in line with what society says a woman should be. But I also feel like Daisy was never really going leave her life of luxury. She dips her toe in, and she messes some things up, and then she goes back to her perfect, unperfect life.

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Manifesting Carnegie Hall

Aisha Jackson performs with the National Philharmonic. Photo by Elman Studio.

Long before receiving the invitation, Jackson imagined herself on the famed stage—and kept returning to that vision.

The first show I saw at Carnegie Hall was The New York Pops honoring Kristen and Bobby Lopez. I put on my gown, watched Patti Murin, Caissie Levy, and other artists, and just had the best time. I was sitting there, literally dreaming, ‘I’m gonna be on that stage. I don’t know when. I don’t know how, but it’s gonna happen. My time is coming.’

So it’s really cool that my time has come. I’ll be singing my go-to karaoke song, “If I Ain’t Got You” by Alicia Keys. There will be some Whitney Houston, the Queen! I grew up listening and being inspired by her, so it’s a beautiful full circle to honor her on that iconic stage.

I’m also excited to sing with Avery Wilson. He’s a friend of mine, but we’ve never had the opportunity to perform together. I’ve been trying for years to get him to come sing at concerts and stuff, but our schedules have never aligned. I’m excited for that voice, oh my goodness!

‘Your gifts will make room for you’

For Jackson, career milestones are inseparable from faith—a reminder that discipline and purpose eventually open doors.

There’s a saying in the church and the Black community: ‘Your gifts will make room for you.’ Time, preparation, and discipline that you sow will reap in ways that you could never imagine. There has been greatness on this stage, and now I’m invited into this, which means that I have greatness inside of me as well. The best of the best are on this stage.

It’s the same on Broadway. I was at a dressing table with Kristin Chenoweth, Patina Miller, and Christiani Pitts’ signatures underneath it. I remember being in college, watching Patina’s Broadway journey, and being inspired and enamored by this beautiful, dark-skinned woman making moves in the Broadway industry. And then to sit in the same dressing room—I’m like, what is this life!

Aisha Jackson backstage at "The Great Gatsby." — Aisha Jackson backstage at “The Great Gatsby.” Photo by Jenny Anderson.

I have always prayed to utilize my gifts to inspire others and to minister to others on their journey. It’s always been a prayer of mine to create more roles for Black women to lead and shine bright. I am living an answered prayer, and that is a legacy I desire to leave: making space for people who look like me.

When you hit these markers, it’s an answered prayer. You’re doing what you set out to do, and your gift has made room.

Fast facts: The New York Pops, ‘If I Ain’t Got You: The Best of R&B’

Aisha Jackson in concert. Photo provided.

Aisha Jackson and Avery Wilson join The New York Pops for an evening of hits made famous by Alicia Keys, Whitney Houston, Marvin Gaye, Prince, and more.