Stage Actor. Spoken Word Artist. Theatre Director. Street Performer. Activist. Soldier


My alter-ego is Ray Sprague. Ray is my darker half, yet, my more confident half. Will James stammers & has problems with speaking. Ray Sprague is the voice in the back of my head that has no filter. Ray remembers growing up in The Bottoms. Ray also remembers the theatre of life meeting the theatre of war experienced in Afghanistan & Iraq....

I love creating works that are a commentary of social issues that have plagued mankind for centuries. Through the utilization of classical theatrical staging, black box theatre, & street theatre, my goal is to present a story to a diverse audience that sparks a conversation not just during the play, but well after.

UPCOMING PROJECTS
(CURRENTLY ON HALT DUE TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC)

"iN PLaiN SiGHT: PaRT ii"
Open air performing arts events speaking on how the actions of racism/discrimination/financial abuse in the past can have influence upon the community of today & tomorrow.
Kurated by Will James
Kreated by Will James
Komposed by Will James

"LeDBeTTeR HeiGHTS BLueS" (2020) written by Will James
Filmed by Ray Sprague
Creatively Directed by Will James
Technical Director - Will James
Choreographed by Will James
Musical accompaniment composed by Will James
Costumes by Will James

"PTSD BLueS" (2020) written by Will James
Creatively Directed by Will James
Technical Director - Will James
Choreographed by Will James
Musical accompaniment composed by Will James
Costumes by Will James

"BoTToM Bo(y) BLueS" (2020) written by Will James
Creatively Directed by Will James
Technical Director - Will James
Choreographed by Will James
Musical accompaniment composed by Will James
Costumes by Will James

"The Piano Lesson" (2020) written by August Wilson
Creatively Directed by Will James
Technical Director - Will James
Choreographed by Will James
Musical accompaniment composed by Will James
Costumes by Will James

"Master Harold" ...and the Boys (2020) written by Athol Fugard (2020)
Creatively Directed by Will James
Technical Director - Will James
Choreographed by Tianna Andrews
Musical accompaniment composed by Will James
Costumes by Will James

MOST RECENT PROJECTS

Critical Mass 8
"HEARTLESS"
Written by Ray Sprague
Performed by Will James
A memory play that recounts a grieving father's letter to his daughter that recaps how his role as a victim of domestic violence affected his long-term outlook on love.

January 2020
Shreveport Regional Arts Council
Rostered Artist & Administrator serving the NWLA and surrounding regions.

November 9th, 2019
"iN PLaiN SiGHT: PaRT 2", Shreveport, LA
Held in front of the Caddo Parish Courthouse at 501 Texas Street in downtown Shreveport, this performance art rally served as a counter protest to supporters of the Confederate memorial that currently resides front & center of the court house. By utilizing various characters from throughout literary history as well as some of the director's creation, combined with songs that speak out against discrimination & divisiveness. Performed by Ray Sprague, creatively directed by Willie James.

"No More...." October 2019
Directed by Will James
No more is an open mic event created & directed by Will James that allows survivors & their inner circle the moment to share their moment of overcoming & reclaiming their physical, emotional, & spiritual independence from domestic violence & sexual assault.

October 26, 2019
Aseano Foundation's 2019 Autumn Festival
Featuring dancers, vocalists, and dancers from a multitude of Asian Cultures.
Technically directed by Will James

LGA's 2019 Gritonian Music & Dance Fete
Technical Director of indoor & outdoor staging areas
"Ray Sprague" in Angola Emancipation
Bossier Arts Council's Eastbank Plaza

"Bad Guy" short film directed by Jus'Marvin Smith & shot by Whitney Janay
Role of "Dad"
Shreveport, LA
July 2019

"This One's For You" by Oba Shango & David Dunn
Technical Director for Central ArtStation Location
Role of special forces ranger
June 2019

LightHouse Ensemble Productions Presents:
"The Ledbetter Heights Chronicles" written by Will James
Creative Directed by Will James
Auditions August 24, 2019


LightHouse Ensemble Productions Presents:
"The Piano Lesson" by August Wilson
Creative Directed by Will James
Auditions August 17, 2019


LightHouse Ensemble Productions Presents:
" `Master Harold` ...and the boys" by Athol Fugard
Creatively Directed by Will James
Auditions August 10, 2019

Independent Contractor
Design lighting & sound for various spoken word sessions/performances
STEM Lunches & Events
1513 Line Ave. Shreveport, LA 71101
2nd & 4th Thursdays of every month
Technical, Blocking, & Movement Director
Notebook Assassins / Poetry House

July 5th - July 6th, 2019
"Inside the Inner Circle" cross-art project
Minicine 846 Texas Ave., Shreveport, LA 71101
"Inside the Inner Circle" cross-art project (2020)
Creatively Directed by Will James
Technical Director - Will James
Video provided by Chris Brown
Choreographed by Will James
Musical accompaniment composed by Michael Futreal
Costumes by Will James
Director/Actor/Playwright
In this exhibition, join Will James as he works on the final chapter of his play-series, "The Ledbetter Heights Chronicles". In a rare moment of full transparency, the playwright will leave himself open to any questions that the viewing public may have. The playwright will also talk about what influences his directing & writing style when it comes to theatre & some things that allow / prohibit him in his quest for artistic & personal growth.

"DOWNTOWN ARTWALK SERIES" Street Theatre (2017 -present)
Performed & directed several monologues for 10-minute scenes that focus on various points of social issues (ie: race, religion, interpersonal, familial, etc.).
Examples include a creation of Shylock Monologues for the B'nai Zion Temple (from Shakespeare's "Merchant of Venice"), Eugene's Dad (from Dael Orlandersmith's "YELLOWMAN"), & PTSD BLueS (written by Will James, AKA, Ray Sprague.

"YELLOWMAN" written by Dael Orlandersmith - June 28-29, 2019
Shreveport, LA
Creative Director-Will James
Choreographer-Will James
Technical Director-Will James
Composer-Will James (Grandpa Eugene's Blues)

Shreveport Regional Arts Council Critical Mass 7 Performing Arts Submission: "PTSD BLueS" (actor/director) by Will James - 2019 (top 5 finalist)
Shreveport, LA.

Founder / Creative Director of LightHouse Ensemble Theatre
Shreveport, LA ~ 2019

"Momma's District" by Shana Re'Nay Rogers (Police officer, technical director)-2018
Natural Charms of Arts
Shreveport, LA - Bossier City, LA

"LYSISTRATA" by Aristophanes (technical director/actor"Kinesias")-2018
Shreveport, LA - Montgomery, AL - New Orleans, LA - Chicago, IL

Armed Forces Entertainment "Theatre of War" (Actor, staged readings) various characters - June 2018
Savannah, GA - Syracuse, NY - Seoul, South Korea - Ramstein, Germany - Doha City, Kuwait

"Endgame" by Samuel Beckett (Director) - August - October 2017
San Antonio, TX


"The Colored Museum" by George C. Wolfe (Narrator, Florance, & chorus member)-2018
Mahogany Ensemble Theatre
Bossier City, Louisiana

"Help Me to Find My People" by Heather Andrea Williams (actor) - 2018
Mahogany Ensemble Theatre
Shreveport, Louisiana

"Yellowman" by Dael Orlandersmith (Eugene) - 2017
Mahogany Ensemble Theatre
Bossier City, Louisiana

"1st Annual Beast Feast" Master of Ceremonies (MC & announcer) - 2017
Shreveport, Louisiana

"Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt" script table readings by various writers (Actor) - 2017
@Centenary College of Louisiana

https://ueni.com/en-us/b/lighthouse-theatre-ensemble

Syracuse University

2007