Ariana Ajené 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 town 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.. This only fueled the fire that was 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. To Ariana's surprise and pure amazement she landed her first lead role. She had the pleasure of playing Dorothy in her high school’s production of The Wiz. She was enthralled by her experience. 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 included 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 was cast as the Leading Player in her school’s production of Pippin. This was the most fun she had ever had during her time doing high school theater. Unfortunately, her senior year was cut short due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This would not stop Ariana's search for theater and higher education. She was also determined to continue her training within the fine arts. In her search for a place to call her collegiate home she stumbled upon and is a recent graduate of Jacksonville University, where she received her Bachelor’s of Fine Arts in Musical Theater and a minor in Marketing in the Spring of 2024. She was admitted into the Fall class of 2020 and though she entered college during the height of the pandemic Ariana still was able to participate and engage in theatrical arts, she even explored the world of technical theater. Her collegiate credits include A…My Name Will Always be Alice (Lead), The Mystery of Edwin Drood (Horace/Ensemble), 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 at Jacksonville University Ariana starred as Mary in Vanities: The Musical. Jacksonville University allowed Ariana to study under many wonderful and knowledgeable professors, including her private voice teacher Dina Barone. 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 . She is grateful for all the opportunities that Jacksonville University has had to offer her on stage and in the community. Ariana enjoys every moment she gets to perform. She cherishes not only what theater and the performing arts gives her but what it can provide for theatergoers. Art is impactful and it is important to Ariana that she can be part of the conversations that theater can provoke. The performing arts has shaped Ariana into who she is today and will always be grateful to the art form. She is very appreciative to have been gifted the ability to perform and wants to be able to share her gift for many years to come.
