Jai Shanae Credit: Courtesy

Creative Loafing Tampa Bay’s spring arts issue features more than a dozen artists to watch this year and beyond. Meet Jai Shanae.

She grew up singing in church: And watching her grandfather, who had a group of his own.

A creative writing and musical theater major at Blake, she also models, draws, and does hair: “People made me feel bad about not being focused… Now I just embrace the fact that I can do a lot and that’s a blessing.”

Her first professional theater gig: Playing the Motown star Tammi Terrell in Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe’s hit musical about Marvin Gaye. The 35-year-old has done several shows since at WBTT, which she calls “a great nesting ground.”

On playing the tomboy-ish Opal in ‘Fat Ham’ at American Stage: “Probably the most settled I’ve ever felt in a role. It’s a Black family at a cookout, the mom has kids that are gay and she doesn’t approve… I wasn’t super-girly growing up.”

On playing a civil rights activist passing for white in “Cadillac Crew” at The Studio@620: The challenge of the role was to understand “what it was like for a Black person to live as a white person—the dangers of it, and also what it offered her in life.” There were costuming challenges, too: “We went through so many wigs.”

Where you may have seen her on TV: As a Wawa barista serving up holiday treats; on a girls’ trip to Walt Disney World; introducing a stressed-out colleague to Docubee.

Providing a safe space for battered women and children: “It’s something that’s always been heavy on my heart.” Ultimately: “I just want to be well off enough doing whatever art that I’m doing to be able to cover myself and also help others.”