The Smooth Jazz Cruise 25.2

Nic Starr is a performing artist, writer, director and producer, who constantly looks to the hills because he knows that’s where his help comes from.  He has been blessed to have a well marked following in metropolitan Atlanta and its surrounding areas.  Nic has graced the Atlanta stages with varying ranges of characters from those of the prolific playwright, August Wilson, to Charles Dickens’, A Christmas Carol. You may have seen Nic on Survivor’s Remorse, or The Banker. He is currently in NBC’s Found, and BET’s Average Joe.   His directing credits include such short films as Dap Paxton’s “What If” and Denise Black’s “Things Not Forgotten”, featuring the renowned stage and tv actor, Taurean Blacque.  He has co-produced the award winning short film “Unconditional”, which focused on the challenges  of LGBT youth, and is currently in production directing a feature film, the Amazing Ninja, starring Dr. Cornel West.   In addition to being an educator, Nic has worked as the Operations Manager for the East Mountain Studios which was the hub for such films as “Joyful Noise” and “Fast and Furious 5”.   His love for the arts and children motivated him to become an educator for 10 plus years.  This ultimately led him to establish a non-profit youth organization which would teach life skills through performing arts: Young Voices United, affectionately referred to as YVU.  YVU has established itself as one of the premiere youth organizations in Atlanta, focusing on nurturing the talents of underprivileged youth, who otherwise would not have an opportunity to have their talents recognized. Nic started working with and developing talented youth through Paine College’s Etheridge Arts Ensemble, who he continues to support by putting up productions to support their Scholarship fund, through the Athens Area Paine College Alumni Club. In all this, Nic still finds the time to fulfill his role and responsibilities as the Managing Director of the New African Grove Theatre Company, which he co-founded along with Keith Franklin and Cynthia Williams.  In addition to its local performances, New African Grove productions have been performed and recognized at both the Atlanta Black Theatre Festival and the National Black Theatre Festival, and one of only sixteen theatre companies in the nation that have produced all ten plays from August Wilson’s “Century Cycle.” Nic has performed in all ten.   Regardless of his role, whether its actor, director, writer, producer, spouse or father, Nic counts it more than a blessing to be chosen and set apart to make a difference in the lives of people he works with, lives with and loves with...