Herman LeVern Jones has worked with the likes of Dr. Maya Angelou, Ossie Davis, Debbie Allen, Harry Belafonte and many more. His theatrical foundation began in 1974, while in college, he founded the LaVerne Players, Inc. in Raleigh, North Carolina. During the companied tenure, he produced, directed, and performed in over 200 performances.
After graduating from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC), he moved to New York City (NYC) and began working with Woodie King, Jr., successfully touring 30+ productions nationally and internationally for the National Black Touring Circuit (NYC). In addition to working on the Guiding Light (soap opera), Mr. Jones was the Artistic Director of the Madam C.J. Walker Urban Life Center in Indianapolis, IN and of the Grant Avenue Community Center’s Kean-Brown Center Stage in Plainfield, NJ during its 1990-92 seasons. He remains an active board member of the New Federal Theatre in NYC and has served on the Ohio Arts Council, the Massachusetts Cultural Arts Council, City of Atlanta Cultural Arts Council, and as a panelist on the South Carolina Arts Council for their theatre division.
He has also taught at several prestigious universities as a professor and has lectured at several seminars for performing arts. Some of his educational experiences include teaching at the University of North Carolina, Ohio State University, University of Massachusetts, University of Rochester, Yale University, and Morris Brown College.
In 1990, The British American Arts Association Fellowship selected Mr. Jones to participate in “Internationalizing the Local”. The event was held in several prominent theatres throughout England. The event toured London, Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester, and Nottingham. He was also chairman of the Theatrical Management Association’s Seminar on Black Theatre at the Great Britain Conference in Birmingham, England.
Mr. Jones embarked on yet another adventure in 2007 with the founding of TheatreSouth Atlanta, Inc. After gracing the Atlanta metro area with many impactful theatre projects, Mr. Jones permanently relocated his company to Miami, Florida.
Jones’s journey in South Florida began with producing and directing the internationally acclaimed production of “I HAVE A DREAM” in January 2014 to over 4,600 students and community patrons at the South Miami Dade Cultural Arts Center, the Phichol Williams Community Center, the Florida International University Graham Ballroom, and the First Annual Black Heritage Festival in Miami Gardens under the sponsorship of the City of Homestead, the City of Florida City, Miami Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs, Mercedes Benz, The Marlin Foundation, Aaron’s Furniture, Xerox Corporation, Justine Karl, Brigitte Keane, Jeffrey Tucker, and many community individuals and businesses.
In 2015, Mr. Jones opened up a new opportunity in South Florida by working with the Homestead Center for the Arts, becoming an adjunct professor at Miami Dade College of Homestead, joining the Deering Estate at Cutler Bay as an Artist in Residence, and creating an art exhibition at his office in the Phichol Williams Community Center.
Mr. Jones went on to produce “The Eve of Jackie” starring Broadway’s Chester Gregory at the world renowned Adrienne Arsht Center from October 14-25, 2015. “The Eve of Jackie” tells the story of R&B star Jackie Wilson. During its run at the Arsht Center, the production packed the house and received rave reviews.
In 2016, Mr. Jones created a theatre troupe that has performed Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birmingham Letter throughout Miami and Fort Lauderdale for organizations such as the Women of Color, the Collective Empowerment Group, Mount Olive Baptist Church, Gay8 Festival and the Ordering Your Actions (OYA) Women’s Scholarship Dinner.
Needless to say, Herman LeVern Jones has a rich history in the theatre! Today you will find him working on a variety of projects such as an Aviation Program in Broward County, “The Radio Drama” in partnership with Salem Media Group, a newly launched Drama Club at Blanche Ely High School, acting classes for the Girl Scouts of Broward County and of course, the “I Have A Dream” production!