"Remember You Have a Voice." - Chatting with Members of the Choir's Micah Jeremiah Mims!
I would like you to meet Micah Jeremiah Mims. Micah was recently seen in Members of the Choir at The Chain Theatre written by Evan Edwards and directed by Rick Hamilton. Micah is originally from Concord, NC and is a graduate of East Carolina University with a BFAs in professional acting and music theatre. Some of his credits include Spandex: the musical and Suessical: the musical in NYC, Cirque du Soleil - Holidaze on tour, Tokyo Disney's Big Band Beat, and Norwegian Cruise Lines 2017 World Cruise. Favorite roles include "Angel" in RENT, "Mereb" in Aida, and "Mitch Mahoney" in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.
I am so thankful to have a chance to feature so many amazing artists from Members of the Choir; to feature the likes of Micah is absolutely wonderful!
How old were you when you knew you wanted a career in the performing arts?
Well, I actually wasn’t exposed to the performing arts until I was in college in the lions den. But, I am sure you can tell by my first and middle name, Micah Jeremiah, both of which are biblical, that my family was very involved in the church. That’s actually where I have my first musical memory. I grew up Baptist, and there’s always a portion of the service that’s dedicated to letting members of the church give their testimonies. I had to be around 5 years old when I remember my mom standing up, and instead of speaking, she started singing “The Blood Will Never Loose it’s Power." My mom was, for sure, the voice of the congregation. The way her voice carried throughout the church caused people to break into tongues, catch the Holy Ghost, sing along in prayer, and cry out. I said, "WOW! I want to make people feel like this. I want to touch and affect peoples lives like I’m seeing my mother do right now."
Then, I had my first solo in the church choir at 7 singing “His Eyes on the Sparrow." I knew in that moment that this was what God had placed me on this earth to do. It’s like that “aha!" moment, a feeling I get still to this day whenever I am able to do what it is I love to do: bringing people joy, happiness, and escape. To just make people “feel” something is truly a gift.
Where did you study? Are there any mentors who helped shape you into the artist you are today?
I am a graduate of East Carolina University (ECU) where I received my Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre. It’s very funny because I would say my college career was very difficult; I started out as a nursing major and had every intention of going to medical school (which I actually got into at ECU as well). I ended up deferring for my first theatre gig instead and never looked back. I actually had no previous theater experience before joining this exclusive class of 14 who are usually pre-accepted coming into the University. I honestly feel like the head of the department let me come into the program just because we got off on the wrong foot, and he thought I would fail, but boy, I not only survived, I THRIVED. Because I was always trying to prove myself, I had no choice.
But as for mentors, I'd like to mention Robert Caprio for helping me break the barrier; Karen Hall for hearing my voice and helping shape it and giving me the tools to create this gift I hold dear; and the late John Sherin for making me believe this was possible.
Congratulations on Members of the Choir! Evan Edwards is a true gem in this industry and it is so exciting to see new works come to light like this. What about Members of the Choir excited you?
Well, I am just so grateful to Evan and Rick for trusting me to help create this vision for them. It has been rare up until late to see our stories (homosexual male stories and life situations) shown on stage; BIPOC especially. I am excited to have been a part of that platform. I think it is also a personal aspiration and goal of mine as a performer to not just create but originate. To get to work so intimately with the writer/creator and director of this piece was truly special. Being able to be a mold for things going forward was an honor.
The character “Mark” is super relatable to my personal life. We all have had that one person or thing that we can’t let go of even though maybe we should, even when God has clearly shown you the paths you should take. I also love a good stress eating moment haha! It’s my nature.
Are there any shows, performances, or moments in your wonderful career that stick out and are near and dear to your heart?
There are two moments for me! My parents are older, so it’s very hard for them to get around. That coupled with coming from the small town of Concord, NC which is basically a farming town, they never really understood why I went from being so medically focused to the uncertainty that the entertainment can bring. They have only seen me perform once when they made the drive up to the GMC in DC to see me perform with Cirque Du Soleil. It’s actually still, to this day the only time they have ever been able to see me perform. It’s a moment I treasure and hold dear as I'm not sure when or if I will get another. I always just want to make them proud.
The second is when I worked on my one and only cruise ship contract which happened to be one touring the entire world for 10 months straight. We hit 78 countries and 5 continents in just 10 months, and I got paid to do it; and along the way, I saw so much more than most people could ever dream of seeing. My favorite day was when we happened to have a docked in Jerusalem on Easter day. I just got chills typing this thinking about how many people came from all over Israel to Jerusalem to worship on that day; to walk the path that Jesus walked, to see and feel those feelings, and honor and worship, was an experience I will carry with me till the day I take my last breath.
What advice would you give any young aspiring artist?
Just Breath. Live your truth, no one else’s. Speak up; remember you have a voice. Soak up everything around you in the world, both the good and the bad because it all adds to you and is what makes you thrive in the end. Remember that as long as you give the best you, there is nothing else left for you to do. Never stop wanting to grow and learn. Live in every moment because there's always an opportunity to be had by doing so. Stay positive. “There is always a bright side to a dark day. You just have to find it sometimes."