J. Alphonse Nicholson has lengthy made waves on stage and display, from his compelling efficiency in P-Valley to highly effective turns in Simply Mercy and They Cloned Tyrone. However along with his newest undertaking, Freight: The 5 Incarnations of Abel Inexperienced, Nicholson takes a transformative leap behind the digicam, making his directorial debut with a deeply private, spiritually resonant one-man present turned movie.
In dialog with Black Woman Nerds, Nicholson opens up in regards to the journey of bringing Freight to life, the ancestral grounding behind his efficiency, and the way he’s utilizing artwork to interrupt generational cycles, on and off display. He additionally discusses his position within the upcoming HBO collection Lanterns, J. Alphonse Nicholson steps into a robust new dimension, portraying John Stewart’s father, John Sr., a person solid by historical past, hardened by responsibility, and deeply layered beneath the floor.
BGN: And congratulations too in your directorial debut with this movie.
Nicholson: Thanks.
BGN: What led you to go behind the digicam, and what was it about this undertaking that made you say sure to directing?
Nicholson: I’ve been eager to get behind the digicam for some time. This piece is attention-grabbing as a result of it’s a mixture of theater and movie. I’ve been going to performs with my buddy Joseph since 2008 — effectively, actually 2012. It’s been a journey, from New York to L.A.
Being a director in theater is so totally different from directing in movie. I introduced all my expertise from being on set and shadowing administrators for weeks, whether or not it was P-Valley or Simply Mercy. Watching these individuals impressed me to need to put tales collectively.
I knew there was all the time a director in me. Coming from the stage, I had directed a couple of performs, together with a one-man present for another person. If you’re doing a one-man present, you’re basically directing your self, doing all that work from home. In order that a part of my mind was already working.
Bringing that data into movie and TV, after which partnering with Joelle Taylor—who helped me and who additionally labored on They Cloned Tyrone, which was right here at ABFF a pair years in the past, was unbelievable. We additionally introduced on Lindsay Armstrong, an incredible editor who did Younger. Wild. Free. Shout out to my good sister, Tabitha Brown, who got here on board as our lead investor. She actually made it occur.
BGN: That’s stunning. What initially drew you to the character of Abel Inexperienced, particularly given the story’s exploration of reincarnation and religious evolution?
Nicholson: I had been working with Howard Craft, the author of Freight, for a few years. He’s an incredible playwright and a professor on the College of North Carolina. I fell in love along with his work.
Initially, Freight was written for an older man. I used to be 22 when he first wrote it. It began as a five-minute piece impressed by a portray—Gradual Down Freight by Rose Piper. That preliminary minstrel piece was what I first noticed, and I informed him, “Brother, you gotta let me do that.” It was wealthy, intense, and gave me an opportunity to actually flex my performing vary.
At first, we might solely carry out it for 5 individuals at a time in entrance of the portray at a museum. I took that piece to New York, used it in auditions, and informed Howard, “This ought to be a full-length play.” He got here again 5 – 6 weeks later with The 5 Incarnations of Abel Inexperienced, and I used to be blown away.
The piece takes you thru a journey of a Black man in America from 1910 to 2010 in a witty, not-on-the-nose manner. I used to be utterly engaged. It stretched me—90 minutes on stage, solo. That turned my masterclass in performing. It skilled me and gave me the chops to finally take that work to Broadway.
BGN: So effectively carried out. Was there a typical emotional or religious thread you maintained throughout all 5 variations of Abel Inexperienced to assist floor your efficiency?
Nicholson: Nice query. The frequent thread was my ancestors. I might hear them and really feel them whereas performing, particularly my father and grandfather. The ladies in my life too, my aunties. That vitality has all the time been part of my work as a theater artist.
The primary time I actually felt it was whereas filming Simply Mercy. I walked right into a room with Michael B. Jordan and felt my dad squeeze my shoulder. Like he was saying, “You bought it, child.” That opened me up emotionally.
With Freight, you need to be grounded and respiration. You must let your ancestors hug you thru the method. It’s about making this man’s journey relatable. We’ve all been scammed. We’ve all felt duped. We’ve all worn the metaphorical “blackface” to carry out.
Each incarnation — from the minstrel to the FBI informant — I might relate to. They had been grounded in actuality, but in addition playful and acquainted, like individuals we knew rising up. And understanding their backstories deepened the efficiency. So sure, my ancestors, and my real-life experiences, guided me all through.
BGN: Talking of actual life, what did you uncover about your self — emotionally and spiritually — by taking part in this position?
Nicholson: A lot. You possibly can’t conceal from the reality in your life. In case you don’t face it, you’ll be able to’t transfer ahead in a peaceable, fulfilling manner or construct actual connections.
Being an actor — and doing Freight — taught me that. To be a superb actor, you need to work on being an amazing particular person, father, and husband.
I realized I needed to face fears, take accountability, and cease repeating the identical errors. Who is aware of what number of lives we’ve lived already? Hopefully, I can study the lesson this time and at last attain Saturn.
BGN: Wow, highly effective. We’re Black Woman Nerds, so I’ve to ask: You’re taking part in the younger model of John Sr. in Lanterns. We’re enthusiastic about that collection! Are you able to share a bit of bit about your character and his relationship with John Stewart?
Nicholson: I can’t share an excessive amount of, as a result of they’re protecting the present quiet. However I can say it’s been superior to work on. I’m working with Aaron [Pierre] and Jasmine Cephas Jones, who performs my spouse on the present. It’s this cool mixture of a interval piece and modern-day storytelling.
I’m in a number of episodes and have a powerful presence within the story. I’m actually excited to be in my “father bag” now taking part in a dad. My son simply graduated eighth grade, and my stepdaughter’s at NYU learning performing. So moving into father roles is significant.
We’re nonetheless filming. I simply flew again from North Carolina for my son’s commencement, went to L.A. to shoot, and now I’m right here in Miami. I’ll be again filming once more on Friday. We’re nearly carried out. Taking pictures wraps in July. I’ve received yet another episode to go.
BGN: Last query. In case your soul had been repeating lives to study a lesson, what do you suppose that lesson could be?
Nicholson: It might be to learn to forgive your mother and father for the issues they didn’t know easy methods to inform you or train you. As you become old and change into a dad or mum your self, you notice how these issues impression you.
You study the worth of being clear together with your children in order that they aren’t naive to the world. So sure, study to forgive your mother and father, and break the cycles they didn’t know easy methods to.
Freight: The 5 Incarnations of Abel Inexperienced premieres right now on the 2025 American Black Movie Competition. The competition runs June eleventh – fifteenth in South Seashore Miami.