Little did Raymeon Billings know that a small part playing James Brown in a play at The Floyd J. McCree Theatre would quickly lead to a starring role as the same character.
Billings, a graduate of E.A. Johnson High School in Mt. Morris, is still relatively new to theatre. He grew up singing and dancing, but also had a drama class in high school where he learned some basics of acting and performed in a few skits. He enjoyed the class and the artform and eventually decided to give it a try and auditioned for a show at McCree in 2023.
“I really got involved (in acting) later in life, after high school,” Billings said. “I always respected the craft, and I’ve always been a self-taught dancer, watching Michael Jackson videos and stuff like that and figuring out moves for myself. Acting and performing, I thought I had some talent for it and I know that I really respected it, so I auditioned for the Motown Story (at McCree), and that was my first singing role and my first musical. I had only been on stage one time before, in a dramatic play. Motown Story really capitalized on some of my dance skills and I was also teaching myself how to sign around that time.”
After playing Shorty Long in The Motown Story, Billings was then cast as James Brown in The Soul of Etta James, where he was initially intended to only have a few speaking lines. Charles Winfrey, executive director of the McCree Theatre and a prolific playwright, added a couple of singing opportunities for Billings in that play based on his performance in Motown Story. Then, audiences enjoyed Billings’ performance as Brown so much in that play that Winfrey was inspired to write an entire production around Billings’ take on the Godfather of Soul.
“He literally stole the show (in The Soul of Etta James),” Winfrey said. “He’s mesmerizing on stage, energetic, acrobatic, dynamic. He’s just a joy to watch. So the light bulb went off in my head and I said, you know, he’s an entertainer. He’s an exciting performer. So I put one and one together and decided to write a script, a tribute to James Brown.”
Winfrey quickly turned around a script for a play called Poppa’s Got a Brand New Bag, which opened in September and has three performances remaining: 7 p.m. on October 9 and 10 and 2 p.m. on October 10. Tickets are available online. In addition to being inspired as a writer by Billings’ performance, Winfrey was also inspired by what he saw in the theatre seats: near sell-outs with each performance.
“He was inspiring both as a writer and as an administrator,” Winfrey said. “As an administrator, I see the house being full and people really getting into the performance and the excitement and the glow in people’s eyes when they’re watching the play. And then as a writer, I just see limitless possibilities for the play and for Raymeon himself. The proof was in the pudding. We’re getting full houses at virtually every performance. Tickets are in very high demand.”
Billings said that, while playing the character during the Etta James play, he could tell from audience feedback he received that the performance was well-received.
“It made me feel my contribution was appreciated, just by him (Winfrey) adding two songs (to the Etta James play) and believing I could do well as the Godfather of Soul,” Billings said. “And then I could tell after shows and we would greet people at the door, I heard a lot of people say, ‘Oh, you need to be James Brown again.” And I think Mr. Winfrey heard that too, and a few months later wrote the script. I’m just deeply honored he did that for me and believed I could carry an entire play. I’m thankful and honored.”
As far as what is next for Billings, he’s excited about whatever possibilities to perform come his way. He said he would like to act in another dramatic play, and he also has some opportunities to act in some independent and short films. He even said some people have encouraged him to go to Las Vegas and work as a James Brown impersonator after his performance in this play.
“I would be very down for that,” Billings said.
For more about him and any upcoming projects, he’s active on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Wherever his career takes him, he’s grateful for the support he’s received at McCree – Winfrey added that he’s, “Going to do my best to get Raymeon out there as far as possible and get him as much exposure as possible.”
“I have so much respect for acting,” Billings said. “It’s a very intellectual artform. It’s not faking, it’s embodying. You have to have the ability to embody a character, know what drives them to say something or express something. That part is just very amazing to me. It’s a craft I’ve been honored to be able to hone with McCree Theatre.”
For Winfrey and the theatre, they have several productions remaining in their season, including A Very Merry McCree Christmas performances on December 19, Voices From Heaven February 12-March 6, 2027, and Chicken and Biscuits May 7-29, 2027. He’s also busy working on another script, inspired by another young local performer.
“Amazingly, we came across a young talent during our summer camp,” Winfrey said. “A young man who replicates Michael Jackson. So I want to showcase him as well and do a script around Michael Jackson’s early years. That’s the next thought in my head.”
Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to catch up on all of our headlines every Wednesday.
