Kris Jai is a 5 '10”, NYC based artist who has studied at the Alabama School of Fine Arts, and recently graduated with honors from the Sands College of Performing Arts at Pace University with a BFA Acting degree [Wendy Kurtzman, Gayle Pillsbury, Candido Cornejo, Jamibeth Margolis, Maria Hubbard, Stacy Tea, Lester Thomas Shane, Keelay Gipson, Phillip Christian Smith, Justin Cimino, Robin Miles, Julie Lawrence, Grant Kretchik, David Bellantoni, Chris Coffey, & Morgan Jenness]. Kris has been performing since the age of six, starting out in plays at Mount Pilgrim Baptist Church, which quickly progressed to being cast as Billy Sandford in School of Rock (dir. Bradford Forehand)  at Red Mountain Theatre Company, and participating in their musical theatre conservatory program.  During their time at Pace, they were cast as Ilse in Spring Awakening (dir. Will Detlefsen), as Howard in Picnic (dir. Lester Thomas Shane), and will be Canewell in Seven Guitars (dir. Philip Christian Smith). This past winter Kris appeared in their first off-off-Broadway production; The Divine Dating Game (dir. Sam Gordon); a campy new work comedy where they originate the role of God. The show ran for four weekends at the Players Theatre. Kris has also been seen as Star in Bootz, a short film (dir. Davi Osborne). They have even participated in, not only acting, but also devising pieces such as The Birds as Procne, and in 1987:A Clown Show as J (dir. Jay Giffin). With their training, and experience they have become a well-rounded artist containing multitudes of inspirations from various areas of study. As a gender-expansive artist from the deep south, they are passionate about roles that tell the big stories that’ve been tucked away into cramped places. These roles explore the bravery, charisma, and vulnerability that it takes to operate in said places.