All Photos: Myles Loftin
For Broadway, film, and television star Nicholas Ashe (affectionately known as “Nic”), the glitz and glam of entertainment have remained a constant throughout most of his career. As a child actor, he played the iconic role of “Young Simba” in the Tony Award-winning Broadway adaptation of The Lion King, and as a young adult, he went on to star in another Tony-winning stage play, Choir Boy, directed by Academy Award-winning playwright Tarell Alvin McCraney.
Along his journey of climbing the ladder to acting success, Ashe has also worked with industry titans, including Viola Davis, Oprah Winfrey, and Ava DuVernay. The latter of whom Ashe was a part of her acclaimed Queen Sugar series (of which he played the integral role of “Micah”).
Yet, outside of his landmark roles and impressive career, Ashe has spent a short amount of time away from the spotlight, cultivating a renewed sense of purpose and self-actualization. Reflecting on this, he shares, “I knew from a very young age that acting was my true calling. But as I get older, I realize many things are calling me.”
Building on this renewed perspective, Brother recently caught up with Ashe during his work visit to New York, where he will be stepping into a newly minted directorial role for National Black Theater’s “The Festival in Da Back,” slated to open this week in Manhattan.
BROTHER MAGAZINE:
How often do you think back to the moment you first stepped onto a theater stage, and can you describe that feeling?
NIC ASHE:
Long story (not so long), my very first audition was for The Lion King on Broadway. My Mom had heard about it on the radio and asked if I wanted to try out. I reluctantly said “Yes,” and that weekend we drove to Manhattan. There were hundreds of kids there who had been on Disney Channel, and Nickelodeon… and then there was me: a little 11-year-old boy who would sneak into the basement to sing “Love” by Keyshia Cole. I ended up booking that role and would go on to play Simba for three years.
It changed my life.
It changed my mindset.
It changed my work ethic.
When my family came to see me perform, they asked, “Don’t you get nervous?” and I would smile and shake my head, “No.” Standing on stage felt like home. I felt free and infinite. I think, in many ways, I’m still chasing that feeling to this day.
When did you first realize that acting was your true calling?
I knew from a very young age that acting was my true calling. But as I get older, I realize many things are calling me: making music, expatriation, death doula-ing, drag, farming, equestrianism, yoga, tennis… the list goes on. I’m getting better at responding to these calls (without encouragement or commodification).
What medium of creative expression excites you the most? Is it film or stage?
I see both sides like Chanel.
I think the growing excitement comes from being on the other side of the camera—the other side of the stage—as I pivot into directing.
Who do you regularly find yourself citing as inspiration for your work?
Everybody I follow on Instagram.
Why should queer visibility be considered important to the world, particularly in the arts?
I’m from New York, and I lived in Los Angeles for many years. These are BIG cities with millions of unapologetic inhabitants. However, there are smaller pockets of the world that are less familiar with accepting and embracing people who are different than them. So, much of the discrimination we see against queer people is not fueled by homophobia but by homo-ignorance. I believe if we increase responsible depictions of queerness in media, these “pockets” can expand their threshold of understanding.
Where do you think the state of humanity is headed next, in regard to creativity and culture?
With the growing presence of Art*ficial Int*lligence, I feel like humans will begin to prioritize experiences with other humans. That’s why the theater (and the ballet, and the opera) will never go out of style.
But, if for some reason they do, Nic Ashe will still buy a ticket. We NEED art to interpret, challenge, and heal ourselves, so that we may better enjoy our time on Earth.
TALENT TEAM
Cover Star: Nic Ashe
PRODUCTION TEAM
Photographer: Myles Loftin
Super 8 Video + Film Editing: Nic Ashe + Myles Loftin
Location: Chelsea, New York
BROTHER MAGAZINE STAFF
Founder + Editorial Director: Avon Dorsey
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