Ariana Ajené's interest in the performing arts peaked at a young age. From the time she could walk, Ariana’s family was sure that there was no place she was more destined for than the stage. Ariana is thankful to have been raised in an arts infused city, and by the time she was four her mother enrolled her in dance classes. Though financial troubles caused her to pause her dance training, her enthusiasm for performing continued to grow. It would not be until she began middle school that she would continue her dance training. Ariana attended Manatee School for the Arts (MSA) in Palmetto, Florida from 6th to 12th grade. By the end of her 7th grade year, Ariana had participated in her first school musical. She made her middle school theater debut as a Dynamite in her school’s production of Hairspray Jr.. Little did she know that would fuel the fire she had for performing. Ariana went on to audition for and make the Junior Varsity dance team at the end of that same school year. Ariana danced with MSA's Junior Varsity HEAT for two years. During both years the team went on to win several local and statewide competitions. Though Ariana was no stranger to the stage, musical theater was still foreign land to her. During the Fall of her 9th grade year, she auditioned for what would be her second school musical, and to Ariana's surprise she would land her first lead role. She had the pleasure of playing Dorothy in her high school’s production of The Wiz. Ariana had been bitten by the theater bug and continued to audition for and get cast in school's theater productions. That same year she would play Brooke Wyndham in Legally Blonde Jr.. Musical theater consumed Ariana’s life for the next four years of high school. Roles that came in the years to follow are Matron Mama Morton (2018) and Velma Kelly (2019) in Chicago the High School Edition. In her senior year at Manatee School for the Arts she would be cast in Pippin as Leading Player in her final MainStage production. Unfortunately, her senior year was cut short due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This would not stop Ariana's search for opportunities to perform and higher education. She was determined to continue her training within the fine arts. In her search for a place to call her collegiate home she decided upon Jacksonville University. Where she received her Bachelor’s of Fine Arts in Musical Theater and a minor in Marketing in the Spring of 2024. Some of her collegiate credits include A…My Name Will Always be Alice (Lead), Nine: The Musical (Our Lady of the Spa) where Ariana also received her first assistant directing credit, and in the Fall of her senior year she played Mary in Vanities: The Musical. Jacksonville University allowed Ariana to study under many wonderful and knowledgeable professors. Jacksonville University has also granted many opportunities. During her senior year Ariana competed in the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) Student Auditions where she placed first in both the Northeast Florida and Southeastern Regionals. She went on to National Student Auditions where she placed third in the MT 7 category. Since graduating college Ariana has returned home and is continuing to pursue theater full-time. She can be found on stages around the Sarasota/Bradenton area. Her most recent shows post-grad include Pippin where she reprised the role of Leading Player, Rent (Joanne), and The Crucible (Elizabeth Proctor). Ariana cannot express enough how much theater has shaped her. She is very grateful to the art form, not only for what it has provided her but what it can provide for audiences as well. We currently live in a time where the arts are important now more than ever. Theater is impactful, and Ariana cherishes being apart of the conversations that theater can provoke. The performing arts is instrumental in molding Ariana into who she is today. She is very appreciative to have the ability to perform and wants to be able to share her gifts for many years to come.
