Wayne's Muse

Wayne provides some insight into his process as a creative person in Nebraska

Creativity exists outside the bounds of society's fictitious rules. To be creative, one has to allow oneself to dare and think of endless possibilities. Now more than ever, creativity and joy from marginalized groups are political resistance. Daring to imagine another world of hope, joy, and love is rebellion, and this is mine. 

Phr13da's Muse is a world where I dissect one's creative process. It is a place where I and others join in community to fearlessly celebrate our deep passion for individuality and authenticity.

I'm starting a series highlighting talented creatives I know from my hometown, Omaha, Nebraska. I left Nebraska almost two years ago, and as I meet new people on the East Coast, a general statement comes with every new face. "I've never met someone from Nebraska" I have no idea where that is," "Is there anything fun to do" and "That sounds boring."

While I'm always happy to talk about the place that shaped me, I was extremely tired of people hating on my home state. Nebraskan pride grew with each encounter. So, as a person with many talented friends and knowing of many more creatives doing it big in Omaha, it's time to give them their flowers.

There's a plethora of amazing, raw talent in and from Omaha. Being from the 402, the talent is unmatched, from the food to the events and the style. Omaha is a hidden gem, and so are the creatives actively pursuing their craft. Now, I may not live in Omaha anymore, but I'll forever rep the Big O.

I had the opportunity to interview one of my good friends, Wayne Hudson, 22 (HE/HIM). From being cast as Willy Wonka at the Rose Theater to walking runway shows of Culxr House, Wayne does it all and wants to ensure Omaha knows it, too.

Wayne has always had an affinity for performing. His earliest memory of creativity was singing Robin Thick's "Lost Without You" in front of his family. From singing came performing, his bread and butter. His first source of inspiration was his cousin, who recorded and posted sketches on YouTube. Growing up, Wayne loved watching his cousin perform and the sketch comedy side of YouTube—think Shane Dawson before he was canceled.

Wayne has always been connected to performance art- singing, dancing, and acting. The emotions inflicted, plus the bodily movements, are what he gravitates to. His love for sketch comedy came to fruition with the media he consumes. Wayne is heavily inspired by cartoons as well. As an Adventure Time enthusiast, Wayne can't help but love television, which grows with you. Cartoons can be made for children but also can be a source of deep intelligence as you age. The hidden meaning, detailed accounts, and humor are something Wayne pays attention to and appreciates. He explains that voice acting is extremely difficult. He loves a cast with a grasp on emoting and telling a story. There's an added layer of depth to understanding and knowing the character enough to mimic and anticipate the character's actions, and that is a level of intelligence he seeks when consuming media.

While voice acting may be difficult, he loves it when a performer embodies a new character. Resembling Kendrick Lamar in Reincarnated, Doechii in DENIAL IS A RIVER, and Nicki Minaj in Roman's Revenge There's an extensive understanding of physical characterization that allows one to transition quickly into each character.

As a lover of the arts, Wicked is important to Wayne. Wicked is a play that is deeply loved and appreciated worldwide and is an anomaly for a multitude of reasons. Wayne explains that Wicked ushers in a whole new audience that may not have been able to afford or be exposed to the theater without the movie adaptation. Wicked is the second play he's ever seen as a child, and experiencing a Black Elphba as an adult is healing. The representation of having a similar bone structure to a lead on a grand scale reminds Wayne that it is possible for him and people who look like him to reach that level. There are no bounds to black art and black artistry.

Wayne explains how he steps into character for each role and what it takes to be an actor. He noticed that as he has gotten older, He can pull from his lived experiences. Something he couldn't do when he was younger. Through this, he believes he's grown in his ability to be a good actor. It's crucial to learn discernment when acting. When portraying certain characters, he is careful in what aspect of him (Wayne), and the character needs to accurately depict the character. Hudson explains that acting is a balancing act between the actor and the character. Too much of either is a disservice to the actor, the character, and the audience. He continues that an actor is simply the vessel to get the message across to the audience. That's why theater is his favorite type of art. It's all-encompassing physically, vocally, and theatrically. The theater is present and in the moment. A level of physical characterization is needed in theater because the audience is farther away. Meanwhile, movies and TV dilute the performance due to the close proximity of the camera.

Wayne steps into each character by researching and creating a playlist that embodies the character. Specifically, as Belize in Angels in America:
Part One Millennium Approaches, he goes the extra mile to talk to his community and gain insight into what Belize may have felt during the AIDS epidemic in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

As a young performer, Wayne highlights Omaha's importance in his development. Wayne attributes his love for theater to his attendance at shows at the Orpheum and his acting in his first play at the Rose. The Rose, Orpheum, and Omaha Community Playhouse are fundamental to Omaha. We couldn't help but talk about how severely underfunded these programs are and how beneficial they are for the city.

Wayne says being a creative in Omaha means a lot to him. He feels proud to be a part of a community that fosters love, uniqueness, and togetherness. Omaha is a diverse melting pot of creative ideas and people willing to step outside the bounds of "traditional" art.

Wayne raves about the underground band scene, which includes Bad Self Portraits and Garst. Organizations like Culxr House and Film Streams are fundamental and influential to the community and its creators.

As Wayne gets more recognition as a creative in the space, he hopes to move cities for a new experience, but that doesn't diminish all the work and beauty from Omaha that helped shape him.

Wayne's muse is his lived experience and his community. He feels very connected to his creativity, which drives him to create. Stepping into each character is a fresh and new aspect that fuels his passion for creating.

In ten years, Wayne wants to feel comfortable and excited about his work and projects, whether on a grander or smaller scale. He wants to be known in Omaha before he moves to a bigger city. Wayne aspires to perform in high-budget production and book a major motion picture.

Artists in Omaha continuously serve the community by doing what they love. This starts with supporting and funding the youth and their creativity. I'm so excited to embark on this journey of discovering the creative processes of other Omaha natives.

Thanks for reading! :)