There’s no place like home for Devonté Jerome Wells (D. Jerome) who made his way back to the Triad in October as the Tin Man in the national tour of The Wiz at the Stephen Tanger Center for the Performing Arts in Greensboro.
Wells, a Winston-Salem native, earned his BFA in Dance at UNCG in 2014. From there it’s been quite a journey with stage credits such as MJ the Musical (Broadway), Hamilton (Angelica Tour), and Hairspray, The Color Purple, and Dreamgirls (Regional). His film and television credits include Haunted Mansion (Disney), TURN (AMC), and My Big Fat Fabulous Life (TLC).
While Wells was in town for his tour, he took time to lead a masterclass with School of Dance Professor Robin Gee and to talk with CVPA about his own “yellow brick road” from UNCG to The Wiz.
How did you find your way to UNCG’s School of Dance?
I was accepted at UNCG and Howard University but chose UNCG because of the relationship I’d begun to build with Duane Cyrus, a professor at the School of Dance at the time. I met Professor Cyrus in his role as the Artistic Director of an all-county dance series I’d been involved with.
When I started at UNCG, I thought I would like to major in both music and dance but realized that would not be possible because both areas are so demanding. I went with dance because that was the one place I could always be around music.
Were you involved in any musical theatre at UNCG?
Professor Cyrus became a mentor for me, and I shadowed him in choreographing for Hairspray and Dream Girls. I realized I had a love for choreography and storytelling through dance. It truly broadened my horizons. When I graduated is when I began finding ways to marry storytelling as a vocalist and a trained dancer.
What has your career path been like?
I began my regional theater work at the Virginia Repertory Theater in Richmond. There is where I did my first union show, The Color Purple. I also worked at the Muny [St. Louis, MO], which is where I got my equity card for Hairspray.
At that point I started thinking about moving to New York. I taught in some studios in Connecticut, worked at a children’s gym in the city, even came back to North Carolina and taught at my alma mater, Carver High School, worked in Atlanta, and back to New York where I booked some shows. And then came the audition for George Faison for The Wiz and here we are.
You’ve got to know—this kind of career—it’s not a straight line. There are a lot of pivots and hurdles. But, if you have the right determination and work ethic, plus some talent, and a lot of faith, I think you can achieve anything.
Tell us about playing the Tin Man—was this a favorite role of yours?
The Tin Man character, played in the film by Nipsey Russell, is iconic, and it’s been incredible to get a chance to do my version of this role.
I really identify with the Tin Man because he and I are party people. We love to be the life of a party. We enjoy community. We enjoy creating and building relationships because that’s what life is about. And this Tin Man does hip hop instead of tap dancing. The thing I enjoyed most about telling this particular story is that we get to see the humanity in the Tin Man.
At the end of the story, he gets his heart. And I love how this story makes you think about who actually has had his heart all this time? I think it’s his community.
How has it to be back in Greensboro to perform and to visit the School of for a masterclass?
You know, coming home, coming to Greensboro means so much to me. It means the world to have other artists, young artists, come out and be inspired and ignited. That’s what I feel like my life’s work is within our communities.
I’ve been blessed to reach this point in my career. I do feel that I’m just beginning, but I look back and say, wow, you’ve done some cool things. You know, I offer all of that up to my faith and to my mom who’s been completely supportive and especially mentors like Duane Cyrus and my UNCG professors like Robin Gee, BJ Sullivan, Janet Lilly, and others.
What advice do you have for today’s School of Dance students?
When you go into an audition, I know you want to be loved and you want to be chosen. But don’t get lost in that. Remember that any one gig you book is not bigger than the art. Without intention, without real goals, without purpose, it’s like moving frivolously through life. When you go into an audition, remember that the purpose starts with you.
Story by Terri W Relos
