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Where?
I grew up flitting between the Blue Ridge Mountains and Central New York, to a British father and a Soutern mother (with a very strange accent as a child and a somewhat normal one now). I am passionate about bringing Appalachian stories to New York City stages.
After four years at Barnard College, I’ve found I love NYC for its cultural diversity and chaotic beauty. But I still retreat to my family’s farm every once and a while when I need a bit of quiet and/or fresh eggs.
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Who?
My full name is Jasmine Kate Richards: and I have no relation to the Jasmine Richards of Camp Rock fame.
I began writing and performing under J.K. Richards to establish a unique identity under my work, but you can just call me Jasmine.
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Why?
Stories are at the heart of humanity—and I truly believe that collaborative, live storytelling is our best way to reflect our present moment and to change our collective future.
Live theater helps us connect in space and film helps us connect across it. Words can change your life, and equitable artistic processes can be the foundation for a more fair, just world.
I am driven to explore how people relate to one another and the world around them, and I am passionate about exploring the difficult—and at times dangerous or crazy—choices these people make. I have embodied a wide variety of characters (clowns, boxers, and wicked spinsters) and pride myself on my versatility and curiosity. I don’t like to limit myself in the kind of people I play—if there is some pulse of action I can tap into, I revel in bringing anybody to life on stage or screen.
As an actor…
I tell stories that are weird and wonderful, frightening and beautiful. I tend to focus on the contemporary American experience, but I am always drawing from, responding to, and criticizing (sometimes all at once) the theatrical traditions and cultural stories we have inherited. A majority of my plays center queer and trans characters, who must face themselves, their loved ones, and the world around them transforming, for better or worse.