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Derek Jackson

@itsderekjackson

1.7K

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1677

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NYC
Actor | Director | Writer | Teaching Artist
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Juilliard Drama MFA - 2027
CalArts Drama BFA - 2020

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Private Acting Coaching is BACK!
(Link in Bio - DM for any questions)

From audition prep to Drama school applications, or breaking free from your own limitations, these personalized coaching sessions are tailored to your needs!

By signing up for one of these sessions/packages you’re positioning yourself for intentional accountability, laser focused concentration on developing your artistic gifts, and unlimited support moving you forward towards your creative purpose.

This is open to ALL artists of ANY experience level. Whether you’re a working actor or looking for a place to start! Let’s do it, together. I can’t wait to be a part of your community.

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#Acting #Artist #Coaching #Juilliard #Yale #NYU #LAMDA #RADA #CALARTS #NewYork #California #Dreams #Community #AllTheThings by @itsderekjackson

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a year ago

Normally, I struggle with going back home. I feel like I’ve been so busy trying to build my life that home sometimes can feel like an enemy of progress? It’s been a real deep unpacking for me these last few years. BUT I recently went home to visit. And got my whole perspective shifted. I was able to turn my love and curiosity on for the people and places that raised me and (re)discover the beauty of where I come from, how far I’ve come, and who I am. I think we can be so focused on where we’re going that we forget to be present with where we are or who we are? Idk it’s been real special so here’s a photo dump of that experience 🤷🏽‍♂️ I just be taking pictures of anything lol

1.) Here’s a lil window…

2.) I went back to my high school theater and got to spend time with a few high school teachers! Full circle moment to now know them as an adult. (lol…adult)…

3.) Time spent with my best friend and brother

4.) My 2nd fam had me over the house and celebrated my birthday early.

5.) My family from high school Dre + Kayla got engaged and I got to BE there.

6.) My sister got married to her best friend and I got to BE there.

7.) This is from the reception…this video with the music that I’m probably gonna choose is gonna be funny

8.) Ari (from high school) got a whole human child. And she’s SO smart!

9.) Brazil Grill in Brockton will ALWAYS have my business. This plate SLAPPED. So good I couldn’t even put it in black and white

10.) okay so, Caitlin who’ve I know since elementary. And Blake who I’ve know since high school, found each other, got married, and now got two VERY special kids of their own

11.) My miracle of a sister Jackie who JUST DEFEATED CANCER!!! God is real and kind and able.

12.) this was supposed to be the ocean…man I almost died TWICE tryna take this video…and for WHAT?!

13.)I’m writing a play about home that is breaking my heart open/healing something inside me

14.) 😍

15.) eh…this almost didn’t make the dump

16.) I got to go back to the neighborhood grew up in. My old house was empty. I got to peek in and see a version of myself that would be so proud of where I am by @itsderekjackson

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4 months ago

Magic.

The only word to describe what four weeks ( five weeks?) spent in a room creating with these humans felt like.

So blessed to have brought Henry “Box” Brown’s story to Juilliard.

To every stage manager, light rigger, costume assistant, prop master, technician, usher, videographer, photographer, and audience member. Thank you for the special gift of community we shared in creating this experience.

To Empress, Jasmine, Lucas, and Jamonte. Yall are BEYOND.

BlackBox:
The Juilliard School - Dec 2025
Director: Derek Dubrae Jackson
Henry Box Brown - Jamonte Madison
Magician Assistant - Jasmine T.R. Gatewood and Empress Fogle
Magician Assistant- Lucas Looch Johnson

If you missed the magic this past weekend, don’t trip. I’m confident it will be back real soon. by @itsderekjackson

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10 months ago

Maaaaan, listen…

Quick check in post and then imma get out the way. I’ve just got so much gratitude for my life and the people in it.

A FEW of the things summer has taught me.

1.) This summer taught me the importance of making rest a requirement, not a luxury. -Rest is a deep DEEP intimate practice and it’s recently been redefined for me. I’m learning to work FROM that place and not FOR it.

2.) It taught me how to confront and heal. Serious note: whatever age you were when you received the dream or the calling on your life…if you don’t heal THAT version of you, you’ll spend the rest of your life trying to prove you’re worthy of the dream, rather than actually living in it.

3.) It reminded me that we were designed IN and FOR community. I love the community that I have and the ones that I’m forming! Yooo one of these slides is of us line dancing in my living room for my birthday…in that room were people from EVERY place I’ve EVER lived. Boston (Brockton), LA, and NYC…crazy…

4.) It taught me some lessons that I KNOW I didn’t need…like fr fr. 👀🤦🏽‍♂️ But me being me, every now and then will mess around and truly find out. Fr…*working on this*

5.) It taught me FAITH. In a different way. At the beginning of summer I went through some medical challenges that truly could’ve changed the trajectory of my life. (We can talk about it later, hmu if you wanna know…there’s a testimony in it for real, I’m not the same) but I’ve never had to call on God as the PHYSICAL HEALER of my body before. So it made me activate and locate faith from a different part of me, a place that’s tangible. I actually feel like I can put my hands on faith…I can touch it. It’s mine. It belongs to me.

6.) It taught me how to really stretch, take up space, and expand more fully into what is already for me. I’ve been really CREATING and I can’t wait to share everything that’s been downloaded in me. In time…

I say ALL of this to say, this is the most like myself I think I’ve ever felt. I’m thanking God for this life, my purpose, and my people. If you made it this far. Please be encouraged that life gets so good on the other side of surrender. (If you wanna know more hmu let’s talk 💙) by @itsderekjackson

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a year ago

I count it all joy. So so grateful 💙 by @itsderekjackson

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2 years ago

You will never meet me, without meeting them.
These people have fingerprints
all over my artistry and humanity. I’m better because of them.

First year is finished.
My cup is full.
My heart is open.
This process is changing my life on a soul level.

And the last slide is…spiritual…never has a picture captured the essence of what I experienced more internally 😂💙 by @itsderekjackson

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2 years ago

…and on Tuesday, I was a blade of grass… by @itsderekjackson

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3 years ago

My ability to step aside and let my creator take the lead makes me special. by @itsderekjackson

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3 years ago

All About Love…🖤 by @itsderekjackson

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3 years ago

Juilliard + Yale = Jale

Yeooo! Literally one of my favorite things to do is LAUGH and when I tell you there is no one in this WORLD who makes me laugh as hard and as consistently as @blvkmedusa I mean it! That’s my fam, y’all!

We started this journey together about a year ago of just thinking about auditioning. But to know that it’s actually happening, is wild! So happy to be on this journey wit da homie! Love you to life! Know the names and faces, cuz this thing is about to TAKE OFF 🚀 🖤

#GradSchool #Yale #Juilliard #Dreams #EastCoast #Goofy #Joy by @itsderekjackson

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3 years ago

Go where the love is. And be no where else 🖤 by @itsderekjackson

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3 years ago

Today’s Meditation: “Devil You Can’t Have My Sound” - @vocal_fiend

I’ve been trying to process the experience of this moment, since Friday. I had the opportunity to celebrate Aja’s birthday with her, as she performed her new EP “Off My Chest” streaming everywhere!!!

During the performance, the BGV’s couldn’t be heard. So instead, Aja stopped her song to get the sound right. Out of that was birthed this spontaneous, prophetic song declaring “Devil you can’t have my sound”.

The moment she finished she stated “I may get my song wrong but I’ll get yours right every time” 🥹

This song has stayed on my heart, not because it’s catchy (which it is) but because it’s the sound of heaven being released through Aja’s gift. This moment has left a mark on my life and I’m sharing it because I hope that it encourages you to make a declaration over whatever your sound, dream, thing, situation is.

@vocal_fiend ! Thank you for the invitation you offer to every room you enter, that reminds us to be free and fearless, that inspires us to mess up, that deepens our ability to be who we are to ourselves, in real life. I’m still so full from Friday. You teach us all.

Follow and stream her project “Off My Chest” we’re looking at a world changer and legend. Mark my words. by @itsderekjackson

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3 years ago