Professor Duckworth’s Guide to the Perfect Props List.
Jay Duckworth
Jay Duckworth shares his proven method for building the perfect theater props list, tested on shows like Hamilton and Fun Home.
Jay Duckworth shares his proven method for building the perfect theater props list, tested on shows like Hamilton and Fun Home.
Lighting designer Miguel Pérez Cuesta reflects on the silent artistry of light and its power to move audiences through emotion.
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A practical guide to affordable microphones, PA systems, and audio gear for small venues, cafés, classrooms, and live performance setups.
PJ Walker has never been afraid to stand in the spotlight—but it took time, and a global pandemic, for him to realize comedy was where his true voice belonged. With roots in theatre stretching back to high school and college, he built his craft onstage and off before making the leap into stand-up, a move that allowed him to stop performing other people’s words and start shaping his own. That leap has since paid off: from open mics to earning The Bob Curry Fellowship, PJ’s comedic persona—“The Bald Baddie”—arrives with a clear point of view, ready to challenge, entertain, and uplift.
His latest project, I Said What I Said, merges two of his greatest loves: comedy and reality television. But more than a playful homage to pop culture, the show is a platform for centering Black and brown queer voices on stage, inviting audiences into a space of joy, messiness, and perspective-shifting laughter.
Whether sparked by a Beyoncé video or a passing quote, his work reflects a commitment to turning inspiration into empowerment. Meet PJ Walker in this edition of PROFILES.
My journey started in High School, where I had a concentration in theatre. In College, I also learned more about the craft, both onstage and offstage, which I continued to explore after graduation. Performing allows me to create stories and worlds for people to explore. Now, while I love theatre, it still wasn’t allowing me to get MY voice out. After the pandemic, I decided to make the jump to comedy by taking a 5-level class at CIC Theatre, and from there, I started to develop my comedic voice. From various open mics and from being a recipient of The Bob Curry Fellowship, the voice of The Bald Baddie has emerged and is here to stay and here to play!
My favorite work is my new show I am producing called “I Said What I Said”. It is a comedic show fusing stand-up, improv, and reality television. I created this show for a few reasons; the first is because I love both comedy and reality television and I wanted to find a fun way to connect the two. The second is that the show allows me to bring different voices and perspectives on the stage that we may not hear from often. Especially those in the black, brown, and queer communities. The final reason is that I wanted to produce a show where these voices can be unapologetically themselves. I wanted to provide a space to share their perspectives because it’s needed. This show is amazing and special to me in so many ways.
I need to get in a mood! The fun thing is that so many things can get me going. Sometimes watching a Beyoncé video will send a creative jolt to my mind, and then sometimes a simple quote can get my creative brain going. My process also comes from what I want to say at the time I am creating.
Finding my voice in comedy and making sure I don’t change that for anyone. One thing that always made me afraid to pursue Stand Up was knowing that the focus was going to be on me, and I was worried about not being for everyone. That was something I was so nervous about to the point where when I first started doing shows, I used to second-guess myself so much, but I had a teacher recently say, “Okay, and? Don’t change your material to fit in.” From there, I have never questioned my voice but instead question how I can improve as an artist.
Something that inspires me the most is that I know for however long I have, whether its 5 minutes, 10 minutes , or whatever time I am given for a set, that I can truly make you laugh to temporarily relieve you of the stressor in your life. I hate the feeling of sadness because I know it all too well. Knowing that I have the power to alleviate that for a bit of time is honestly the greatest feeling ever! The individual who inspires me the most is my great-grandmother. She was a woman who was very strong and bold in everything that she did. While she was on this earth she instilled in me some of those same attributes which have helped me become such a strong individual as well. Her spirit always inspires me to speak up and say it out loud!
Honestly every time I see a comedian who is not straight and white I feel like everything is right in the world. You need different voices and perspectives in this comedic world. It helps keep it fresh and fun. Straight white men are not the only people in this field and they damn sure aren’t the funniest either!
One piece advice I would give to artists is respect the process. I know we live in a world where instant gratification has taken over even when it comes to art. In order to develop your voice and your skill you have to respect the time it takes to develop skills. Being the best artist you can be is more important than any accolade.
I want my work to make people feel empowered! I want them to realize that their voices are needed no matter how unique they think it is. I also want people to leave appreciating black and queer culture. These communities are filled with talented, phenomenal, and inspiring individuals and I want people to recognize that when they see my work.
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