John Clarence Stewart is an actor you should know. He attended Columbus and Kennesaw State Universities and started his acting career in the Atlanta Theater community.
Not only is the Stone Mountain native making waves with powerful acting roles, but his theatrical roots also deliver the emotions of an EGOT.
Locals got the treat of a lifetime when Stewart performed Soft As It Began at Synchronicity Theatre, a one-man show that he created that was selected as part of the Stripped Bare Arts Incubator Project.
The act follows a journey into black manhood in America, with masculinity, myth, and purpose as its guides, and unfolds through a multimedia tale that combines monologue, movement, and music. This exploration, spearheaded by the protagonist’s father’s death, unravels the yard that held the archetype of the man he aspired to be.
Collaboratively produced by Emily Kleypas and dramaturge by Addae Afura Moon, this project signifies a dedication to fostering new voices and forms in the theatre. The Stripped Bare Arts Incubator Project supports at least four new projects per season, focusing on artistic exploration and embracing risk. It prioritizes actors, words, passion, movement, and ideas over conventional elements like sets, lights, props, and costumes.
Stewart’s interaction with the intimate audience created a unique experience depicting a quest to redefine black manhood.
Soft As It Began marks Stewart stepping into a new space as a Playwright/Actor. In recent years he’s appeared on TV and film projects like P-Valley and Zoeys Extraordinary Playlist.
