Charmen Jackson is the Artistic Director and founder of Ascension Theatre Company founded in February 2008. With literature as her first love, she found theatre to be another effective way to touch people with the power of story. Charmen’s mantra is “Breathe with the Freedom of Truth, Endure with the Surety of Faith, Conquer with the Power of Love”, which reflects her goals with theatre to empower people. Naming the company “Ascension” represents her desire to enlighten audiences with a better, or more ascended, understanding of the human condition. She believes if we understand each other and relate with each other better, the world, and we individually, can be a better place to dwell. Charmen joined a program called Village of Promise (VOP) whose purpose is to provide long-term mentoring to middle-school children whose parents are incarcerated. Ascension offers theatre workshops and funds raised from productions to help the cause of VOP. Charmen was introduced to theatre in 2003 as a vocalist in Handel’s Messiah-A Soulful Celebration with Common Ground Theatre. Since then, she’s put her love of writing to use in a one-act play ‘Ain’t You Heard?’ which was also her directorial debut with the Ira Aldridge Repertory Players. She’s currently writing 5 other scripts both for the stage and for the big screen. Other credits include an ensemble role in ‘Dreamgirls’ with San Diego Musical Theatre, understudy for Mrs. Muller in ‘Doubt’ with San Diego Rep, Dussie Mae in ‘Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom’ with the San Diego Black Ensemble, Netta in ‘Black Girl’ with CUFAA, ensemble in ‘5 Shades of Blues’, ensemble in ‘Passion & Honey’, ensemble in ‘Dear Ella’ and Ernestine Anderson in ‘Raisin the Rent’ with IARP. While Charmen performed on stage with IARP, she was also their Associate Artistic Director, and prior to that, their Managing Director.

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