Meet Darius Thomas | Writer & Producer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Darius Thomas and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Darius, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I knew that the only way that I would be able to write the stories I felt were important and see them through the entire creative process to the end product, I would need some organization. I began creating standard operating procedures for myself and when I had looked up I realized that what I now had was an operating system. So I made it legal and got an LLC

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
My business is Darius Thomas Productions and it is a production company for live musical theatre and film. The crazy part is, when I started writing the first show, I barely had any acting experience. I just had some lyrics that I really liked and I built a story from that.

What separates me from others is a couple things: 1. I can endure tremendous amounts of discomfort. When I had the idea to put on my first musical, I only had $2 in my bank account and I had never been a lead role in a musical nor did I know the process of producing one. But 6 months from the day I first had the thought to put on the musical, I was performing in front of a sold out crowd at Synchronicity Theatre July 26, 2019.

2. I have studied and I now understand how I learn. So when a situation arises that I’m not familiar with I know what elements to identify that will allow me to form a path forward. When Covid hit, everyone was in fear and I knew my first musical spoke to that fear. So I began planning for the second production of that musical. I knew I needed certain things like better lights and I wanted to record it for the people that didn’t come see it live. I also knew I needed space for the people that came to see it live. After considering these factors and 4 long months of rehearsal, I put on this show April 4,2021 at The Riverside EpiCenter. I only made 1/4 of the seats in the venue available for sale so everyone could space out.

Both of those live shows taught me something great. It taught me what I really wanted to see in my comapny. I know how big I see my shows being, it will be a spectacle, mirroring Broadway, but independent and in the south. In order to reach that, I have to tighten up a few things and on the film side it gives me a chance to practice I’m excited to do that with my upcoming project.

The main thing I want the world to know about my brand is that it is for the people. The stories told, the lessons that will be learned, the musical, the feel, is all designed from my experience within this culture. I will never sell out my people or my message because it’s too important. If I do that who else will uplift us?

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Monday – Chill eat and watch podcast (85 south show & I am athlete)

Tuesday – Aquarium

Wednesday- Madden tournament with other friends

Thursday- High Museum of Art

Friday- Burn by Rocky Patel

Saturday- Fellaship Atl

Sunday- Watch HEAT Ministries virtual service
The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My parents easily. They showed me how to not be broken even when life weighs on you heavily. They gave me this work ethic. They taught me how to care for the my people. They brought me to God and now he carries me through my path. I wouldn’t be able to do everything that I now do, without them.

Website: https://www.dariusthomasproductions.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dariusthomas_/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darius-thomas-505541131

Youtube: https://youtu.be/kGpgxuGbjrI

Image Credits
Destiny Williams (for pictures of me)