About Us
Who We Are:
Samuel Edward Westry was a man born in Mobile, Alabama who inspired his daughter, Japonica Brown, to work hard, be resilient, and dream beyond what she could see. Samuel Edward served his country in the United States Navy for a number of years and lived the remainder of his life in Jacksonville, Florida after retiring from the Navy. He often would tell his children "Nothing lasts forever." He worked to provide his children with the gift of dreaming for their future. Japonica Brown, founder of S.E.T., takes the same vigor and implores it to her students, actors, and clients. Life is to be lived and experienced. S.E.T. gives voices to the stories that empowers people to truly be present in their life.
Our Mission:
Samuel Edward Theater Company is a nonprofit performing arts organization based in Mobile, Alabama. S.E.T. is dedicated to fostering creativity and providing a platform for talented actors and artists to express their creativity and entertain audiences. Our mission is to empower the creative voices of local artists, provide opportunities for young people to have self-expression in a safe and innovative way, offer mentorship to aspiring artists, and provide theater educational opportunities. S.E.T. also offers theater classes after school, produces main stage productions, and offers mental health services to marginalized communities in Mobile, Alabama.
Director of S.E.T.
Japonica Brown
Motivational Speaker, Teacher, Director, Writer
Japonica Brown graduated from Tougaloo College in 2008 with a Bachelors in English & Creative Writing. In 2011, Japonica Brown received a Masters of Fine Arts in Acting from Brandeis University. She made her television debut on ABC's Body of Proof playing the character “Amy.” In Spring 2014, she was named the Thad Cochran Distinguished Arts Educator of the Year by the Mississippi Alliance for Arts Education. In September 2014, she launched a mentoring program entitled Loving L.E.A.H. (Loving, Empowering, and Accepting Herself) for girls ages 14 to 18. In 2016, she became the Director of Theatre Arts at Bevill State Community College, where she created a theater department and program. Japonica Brown successfully started I Am Japonica, which provided motivational speaking, directing, producing, writing, and counseling services. In August 2019, she published a best-selling novel entitled, “I Have Something To Say” and the following year, May of 2020, Japonica completed her second Masters in School Counseling. In August 2020, Japonica Brown was asked to write and perform an original poem entitled “That’s Something To Be” for the Democratic National Convention Women’s Caucus Meeting. In 2021, Japonica Brown co-starred in the movie “A Day to Die” with Bruce Willis, Leon, and Kevin Dillon. From 2022 to 2024, Japonica Brown served as the Fine Arts Department Chair and Theater Arts Instructor at her Alma Mater John L. LeFlore Magnet High School. She also has been an adjunct professor at various colleges and universities for the past 6 years. In 2023, she was commissioned by Mobile County Board of Commissioners to write and direct an original production that educated the city of Mobile residents on local Black history. She titled her original production “Souls of Time”. In 2024, “Souls of Time” debuted at the Mobile Civic Center Theater to an audience of over 1,500. Soon after, Japonica Brown started her own theater company called Samuel Edward Theater Company, named after her late father. Japonica Brown has been a public educator for over 13 years and has taught hundreds, from 4th grade to undergraduate students. She now travels providing Arts Integration Professional Development training for teachers, providing acting training for children, directing, and writing new productions.
