The Art of Holding Hands: Actress Devotion Charles on Community and the Stage

For Seattle-born actress Devotion Charles, the theater has always been not just a performance, but an extension of her community. In a recent conversation with host Trae Holiday on “The Day With Trae,” Charles reflected on her deep roots in the city's arts scene and her upcoming role in “Smart People,” a production by Acts On Stage.

Charles’s journey began at age 14 at Rainier Beach High School, where a pivotal encounter with Acts On Stage founder Michelle Lang-Raymond changed her trajectory. Despite the lack of a formal theater program at her school, Charles joined Lang-Raymond's theatre company, sparking a lifelong passion. 

"I joined the cast, and that was when I knew, ‘oh yeah, I'm going to do this for a long time,’” Charles said.

Now returning to the stage as Valerie Johnston in “Smart People,” Charles credited the supportive environment at Acts On Stage for her growth. She emphasized the unique, community-centric approach of the theatre company, noting that the founders "don't mind holding your hand and walking you through any process.” 

“Smart People” explores complex themes of identity and race during the era of Barack Obama’s first presidential election. Charles said she was particularly excited for the audience to see the story unfold from multiple perspectives. 

"We're really honing in on things like identity and race and Ivy League and what that means," she said. "You get to see how each of these groups bring to life what was happening in those different corners.”

After taking time away to focus on motherhood, Charles found that returning to the arts allowed her to rediscover a core part of herself. The audition process reminded her that she is more than just one role in life. 

"You're still Devo that loves the arts, that loves to portray a story, that loves to talk about feelings,” she said, reflecting on the audition. 

“Smart People” runs from March 13th through March 22nd at Acts On Stage in White Center Washington. Get your tickets here. 

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