Team Bios

Portrait of a woman with long dark hair wearing a black leather jacket against a dark, neutral background.

Founder
Director/Producer “Black and Blue”
Kayla Raelle hails from Galena, IL, and is a graduate of The Theatre School at DePaul University (BFA Acting), with additional studies in Sociology. Post grad, she continued her training with Graham Shiels Studio and currently studies at The Prep LA with founder/coach Theresa Pittius. Her mission is to create art that challenges and inspires through the magic of human connection. Kayla’s been able to do just that through her work on stage and the screen, as well as the Director of The Theatre School at DePaul’s former High School Training Program. She continues to let this spirit lead her through her greatest honor yet: directing Black & Blue.
Now based in Los Angeles, she recently wrapped starring roles in the feature films Lethal Desire (Lifetime Movie Network), Brace for Danger (Lifetime TV), The Paradise Murders (Lifetime Movie Network), and The Clutterbucks (Good Rebel Productions). You can catch her next starring with Matthew Lawrence in A Royal Christmas Switch.
Her stage work includes collaborations with Writers Theatre, Remy Bumppo, Victory Gardens, TimeLine, Sideshow, First Floor, Redtwist, and more. VO/commercial credits include national ads for McDonalds, Turbo Tax, and Illinois Tourism alongside Jane Lynch.
She is proudly represented by Rebel Creative Group, Grossman & Jack Talent, and Feral Talent (commercial).

A young African American man with short hair and a goatee, wearing a black long-sleeve shirt, with a neutral background.

Founder
Writer/Performer “Black and Blue”
Jamar Gilbert is a Mississippi native and graduate of The Theatre School at DePaul University (BFA Acting, 2016). Now based in Los Angeles, he has appeared in acclaimed television series including Perimeter (BET), Shameless (Netflix), Chicago Med (NBC), Justified: City Primeval (FX), CSI: Vegas (CBS), and Work in Progress (Showtime).
On stage, Jamar has performed at Writers Theatre in Chicago, Studio Theatre in Washington, D.C., and the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles. He also has notable national commercial credits for McDonald’s, Walmart, Illinois Tourism and TXU energy.
He recently won first place in the 3rd Annual August Wilson Adult Monologue Competition in Los Angeles.
Jamar currently teaches/coaches acting at Graham Shiels Studios and is an ongoing coaching client of Theresa Pittius of The Prep LA.
Represented by Innovative Artists, Rebel Creative Group, and True Artists Agency (commercial), Jamar brings depth, urgency, and emotional authenticity to every role.

HOW SCENE MET CHRONICITY

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HOW SCENE MET CHRONICITY *

Scenechronicity is the creative hub of Kayla Raelle and Jamar Gilbert—two artists, educators, and storytellers with a shared commitment to crafting impactful, human-centered work.
This artistic home existed long before its name was known. On 11/11/2011, in a crowded Chicago audition room at The Theatre School at DePaul, two young souls, born miles and experiences apart, were being pulled quietly toward a twist of fate neither could foresee.
That twist arrived during a silent acting exercise when the boy looked up…and locked eyes with the girl. In that instant, something within them recognized the other and said, Ah. There you are. The scene changed. The world shifted. And a partnership built on instinct, imagination, and heart was born.
Needless to say, they both were invited to attend the conservatory. Their first encounter wasn’t just an audition—it was a doorway. One that led them into friendship, marriage, and a shared creative mission.
They like to call it scenechronicity…
Today, the duo has their sights set on touring theatrical work, developing original narrative projects, and leading workshops for universities, arts programs, and professional organizations. All while continuing to hone their personal acting careers.
Built on more than 20 years of combined experience across stage, screen, and arts education, Scenechronicity creates art that heals, awakens, and unites—work that invites people to be seen, to speak their truths, and to remember that we are all connected.
Their current touring show, Black and Blue (written & performed by Jamar, directed by Kayla), explores identity, empathy, and the complexities of the Black American experience through a rich blend of character, narrative, and conversation.
Black and Blue has garnered critical acclaim and is available for booking across universities, performing arts centers, and theatre circuits.
With Jamar’s ongoing faculty role at Graham Shiels Studio in Los Angeles and Kayla’s work as a private acting coach for high schoolers/background as Director of DePaul University’s Summer High School Training Program and director/teaching artist with Northwestern’s Cherubs, they bring a blend of artistic rigor, educational expertise, and authentic empathy to every venue.