Charlene Jacobs never thought she would be an actress.
That changed when she went shopping one day in May 2008.
“It was just a sunny day at the Dollar Tree and Mr. Gullage just walked up to me and said he liked my demeanor,” said Jacobs, a hair salon owner and mother of two. “He gave me his card and asked me if I was interested in doing a play.”
The man she spoke of is Tony Gullage, the famed musical director for many of Tyler Perry’s productions and a St. Charles Parish resident. The play, “Did Love Cause Me To Hurt?,” is the first that Gullage has written by himself.
Jacobs, a Luling resident, was already involved in the community so much that she said she didn’t really consider trying out for the play.
“I didn’t really think about it, but then God just spoke in my spirit,” she said. “The card fell out of my purse as I was digging for something else, so I called him up.”
Two years later, Gullage said that it seems like Jacobs has been acting all her life.
“She uses a lot of things she experiences in life in some of her ad lib,” Gullage said. “It was kind of fun for me to see someone who had never done theater before using some of the tools that the veteran actors use.”
Coming up on her third performance with the group, Jacobs feels like she was made to play her character, Lisa.
“As a writer…when it comes down to casting you go and look for this character you have created,” Gullage said. “Most of the time, you will know when you come across that character.”
Gullage said that as soon as he heard Jacobs speak he knew she was supposed to play Lisa.
Like the character of Lisa, Jacobs’ mother battled drug addiction for 20 years before Jacobs was able to help her.
“My real mother is a recovering drug addict and that’s why I started my non-profit organization, Building Bridges in Our Community. It helps children of substance abuse parents,” Jacobs said. “I am a testimony that you can make a difference.”
Her mother has been drug-free for three years now.
“It’s a really touching story and it’s kind of my life story because I’ve been through it,” Jacobs said. “I do have a testimony, that’s also why I’m doing the play – because I want to get out and reach people and let them know that we are there.
“It’s not just them going through it and I want to help them see God.”
See Jacobs perform as Lisa in the play at Hahnville High School on May 8 at 2 p.m. or 7:30 p.m. and May 9 at 3 p.m. Tickets are $25 in advance and $32 at the door. Find more information at www.DidLoveCauseMeToHurt.com.
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