To Whom This May Concern:
My name is Jaz Wilson, and I am one of many who has found themselves scammed by Cynthia Wilson. I was presented with an opportunity to audition for the stage play Battered But Not Broken back in July of 2015 after speaking with my good friend and mentor Sherri Hill. She explained to me that the actress they were considering for the lead role in the play had explored another opportunity and that she would like for me to submit an audition tape ASAP. I sent a video the same night.
After a few days, I was contacted by Ms Hill and told that the writer of the play, Cynthia Wilson, loved my audition and wanted to offer me the role. I was given the dates that I would need to be available and told that I needed to have a valid passport because the writer of the play was taking it to London, South Africa, Belgium and a number of other international cities. According to Cynthia, my entire life was about to change.
Cynthia Wilson advised that the role of my mother in this play would be portrayed by Patti LaBelle. This play was to be quite a production, and everyone involved was blessed and "chosen by God" to carry out the mission of exposing and eradicating Domestic Violence. Ms Wilson explained that we had several sponsorships that would be funding the play as we traveled from city to city, including a large monetary sponsorship from West Virginia University. I was told that this play was the opportunity of a lifetime and that it was only the beginning for me, and for my cast mates. We began rehearsals immediately. The cast became very close, even having never met in person until the week before the production was to take place. It was odd that I was asked to provide my own clothing for the play, as similar productions provide wardrobe as a necessary component of the play itself; however, I was determined to help see Ms Wilson's vision brought to fruition.
I received a Letter of Intent a month prior to when the production was to take place, which I promptly signed, scanned and emailed back to Ms Wilson. The LOI stated that I was to receive a Signing Bonus of 1 half of 1 week's salary for agreeing to do the play. To date I have not received said signing bonus. I was told that we were waiting on the funds to be appropriated from West Virginia University so that signing bonuses and then salaries would be paid. I was also told not to worry, because the upcoming shows at WVU were practically sold out for each play, with the exception of about 200 of the 900 seat capacity.
As the final week of rehearsals began, it became clear that Patti LaBelle was not a part of the project. Ms Wilson had also mentioned that Lebron James would be playing the part of Chad, which also never happened. As the opening night approached, we were told that we had performances planned for every weekend of October, which spelled an income and and opportunity that I felt I could not pass up. I made the decision to leave my job, where I had been employed for 8 years, to embark upon a new career at Ms Wilson's behest. I am out $100's of dollars for clothing, hair, and shoes I purchased for the role I had in this play.
On our way to the performance (in what we were told would be a "tour bus" but turned out to be a Ford Expedition - driven by a non-professional driver), we were involved in an accident where we were hit from behind by another driver. Ms Wilson never discussed insurance compensation, although many of us complained and still complain of neck, back and leg pain. We were determined to carry on with this play, despite our own pain and suffering.
Opening night came and went. It was an amazing performance by my cast mates and myself, but we noticed that less than 1/3 of the seats were filled. We were all riding the high of the performance, but no one had been paid. Not a signing bonus, not a salary. We started to worry. We decided to have a meeting with Ms Wilson early the following morning, before performing 2 shows that night. We asked Ms Wilson how and when we could expect to be paid. She stated that we would be paid
IN CASH immediately following the final performance. She said she swore on her grandchildren's lives that she would have our payments IN HAND that night.
After the final performance, the cast waited, together, in the lobby of the hotel for 2 hours for Ms Wilson to return from the venue. When she finally arrived, she stated that she had $592 to split between 5 cast members and that the rest was "coming". Again, she swore on her grandchildren's lives that we would be paid. The morning of departure, I awoke and went to the lobby of the hotel, only to be told by Ms Wilson's boyfriend that I needed to remove my things from the truck we had ridden to West Virginia in. I was faced with the reality that I had no way to get home. I ended up charging a rental car to my personal credit card to get myself and the other cast mates who were left stranded safely home.
I have not received ONE DIME from Ms Wilson to date. Cash, check, money order or otherwise. As it stands today, I resigned from my job and have yet to be paid for the services I have already rendered to Ms Wilson. To say I feel slighted is an understatement. I feel like I was robbed. Abused. Battered. Ironic, I know.
This is my statement, to the very best of my recollection, and can be considered a true account of the events surrounding the Battered But Not Broken stage play, September 29 - October 4 2015.