Virtual Program
Production Team
AHMED ALABACA (Music Director, Bayard) is an African American composer, conductor, song-writer, pianist, and community facilitator. Creating power and possibility, through music, for himself and the diverse communities he is a part of is the bases of Ahmed’s work. Raised in San Bernardino, CA, in a low-income community, Ahmed knows the value of hard work and perseverance in the face of systemic and interpersonal challenges. Ahmed’s vision is “a new renaissance” for underrepresented composers, which centers the works of people of color, and creates opportunities to perform, record, and archive their work. Ahmed received his B.A. in Music from Hunter College in New York, and attended advanced classes in film scoring at Juilliard and UCLA extension. While in New York, Ahmed also scored three new plays and one new musical, including Eaten Voices which won Best of Festival at the 2012 Thespis Theatre Festival and a cash prize of $5,000. In 2014 Ahmed moved to Los Angeles, CA where he has scored several web series, television shows, and short films including: "I Too Am America," written and directed by Shehkshem Ebron; Emmy award winning web
ANDREW FISH BOOTH (Sound Designer) is ecstatic to be back in his natural habitat working on theatrical productions. He has spent the past 8 years travelling to elementary schools in all 50 states as well as the UK, Canada, Scotland, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand doing character building motivational assemblies to over a million kids so far. In the past, he has performed on stage as Roger in “Rent”, Berger in “Hair” and being a part of the 9 Act, 2 part epic Kentucky Cycle that he was a part of at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Audio wise, he has done sound design for over 30 shows audio engineered many more. You can see more of his work currently making video content for kids at both his personal youtube channel www.youtube.com/thespianfish and at youtube.com/thenedshows.
web series, "Giants," featured on Issa Rae’s Youtube channel, written and directed by James Bland and produced by Jussie Smollett of the show "Empire"; and "Empire," created by Lee Daniels and Danny Strong for Fox. Ahmed received a 2017 Indie Series Award nomination for Best Song in a series for his work on Giants.
In 2014 Ahmed moved to Los Angeles, CA where he has scored several web series, television shows, and short films including: "I Too Am America," written and directed by Shehkshem Ebron; Emmy award winning web series, "Giants," featured on Issa Rae’s Youtube channel, written and directed by James Bland and produced by Jussie Smollett of the show "Empire"; and "Empire," created by Lee Daniels and Danny Strong for Fox. Ahmed received a 2017 Indie Series Award nomination for Best Song in a series for his work on Giants.
Ahmed has also received commissions for his concert works from presenters across the country including: the Colour of Music Festival with the world premiere of my work Across the Calm Waters of Heaven (2016); the world premiere of my work Ascension for Solo Clarinet and String Orchestra with the San Jose Chamber Orchestra (2018); and the world premiere of his work Las Mariposas at the Voiced Project in Chicago (2018). With countless arrangements from negro spirituals to showtunes, Ahmed is currently working on two new commissions: a Violin Sonata for Anyango Yarbo Davenport and a French Horn Sonata for David Dickerson.
Ahmed is a Guest Conductor for the DC Strings, a classical music collective bridging the gap between classical music to Washington DC historic Anacostia neighborhood; Artistic Director of The New Alchemists, an artist collective building power and possibility for diverse communities through theatre, film, and music; and Assistant Conductor of the South East Symphony, a group focused on equity and artistry within classical music. Ahmed is also the pianist, co-writer, and co-founder of The Humble Boys, a band that focuses on how music can heal, uplift and encourage individuals to live their most fulfilled lives.
Website www.ahmedalabaca.wixsite.com/ahmed
Social Media
MusicByAhmed Instagram
Facebook Ahmed Alabaca
BENJAMIN A. VIGIL (Production Stage Manager; Stage Manager, Freedom Riders, Walt and Roy) is a NYC-based stage manager and actor. He’s ecstatic to be back with Allen and Gray after collaborating on Freedom Riders and Bayard. Select SM credits: Much Ado About Nothing (Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival), Citizen Be Heard (Girl Be Heard), Vietnam..through my lens (LSNelson Productions), Keaton and the Whale (Amas Musical Theatre), Cabaret (The Gallery Players), How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying (PPAS), Galapagos (Arboretum Productions). Thanks to Mom, Dad, Sam, Brittany, and everyone who has helped, in any capacity, along the way! Please consider donating to the organization of your choice to help advance this country that so many individuals call home. @benjaminavigil
CHARITY FARRELL's (Festival Coordinator) live theatre credits include: Broadway Christmas Wonderland Tokyo (Principal Vocalist), Frozen: A Musical Spectacular (Elsa), Tangled the Musical (Rapunzel), and the original cast of the off-broadway production Peace Love and Cupcakes (Kylie). Film Credits include: "The Father and the Bear", "Forever's End", "How It Ends", to name a few, all of which can be found on streaming services Amazon Prime and/or Vimeo. @charityleanna
AEA, SAG/AFTRA
CHARLIE REUTER (Music Director, Walt and Roy) is a music director and conductor based out of NYC. Often developing new works, he served as the assistant conductor for A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder (The Old Globe), The Prince of Egypt (Tuacahn), was part of Peter and the Starcatcher (La Jolla Playhouse), and worked with Trevor Nunn to adapt an original score for Pericles (TFANA). He holds an MFA in Musical Theatre from San Diego State University, and studied orchestral conducting at Juilliard.
CHARLES SMITH II (Allen and Gray Associate)
CHRISTINE LAUER (Stage Manager, Legendary) received her B.A. in Technical Theatre with a concentration in Stage Management and minors in Voiceover and Fashion Business from Columbia College Chicago. Some of her favorite Chicago credits include: SM for Big Fish (BoHo Theatre), The Ballad of Lefty and Crabbe (Underscore Theatre), and ASM for Encounter Festival (Goodman Theatre). When she is not working Christine enjoys living her life like Elle Woods did after Warner told her she was not smart enough for Law School. “Don’t dream it, be it.”
KEVIN POLLACK (Technical Director, Festival Coordinators) is very excited to be part of Freedom Riders and Bayard as part of the Allen & Gray Theater Festival. Past favorite notable credits include playing Joe Cocker in Black Ensemble Theater's Jeff Award-Nominated production of Men of Soul, Roger Ebert in Black Ensemble Theater's The Black/White Love Play: The Story of Chaz and Roger Ebert and Male Understudy in Chicago Theatre Workshop's Midwest premiere of Little Miss Sunshine: The Musical. Throughout the year you can catch him as Joliet Jake in The Blooze Brothers, the #1 Blues Brothers tribute in the Midwest. He has also performed in Las Vegas to a sold-out audience at the Southpoint Casino and at The Smith Center. You can get his 3 singles, "Holiday," "Man About Town" and "Something Good (Is Comin' Down)" on iTunes, Amazon, Google Music and other music retailers online.
LORNE “LONNIE” HUGHES (Festival Producer; Co-Director, Bayard), manager and creative consultant at Hughes International, is a dream builder for small business and entrepreneurs. He specializes in helping high-level executives bridge the gap between their creative dreams and their business goals. Mr. Hughes has a long and successful track record of fusing leadership and artistic vision into a cohesive creative strategy.
He began his career at MTV Networks while pursuing a psychology degree at Adelphi University in New York. Recruited as an on-air dancer, he transitioned into an executive role in casting, while gaining renown for his performances on the hit show CLUB MTV. He became a network spokesman, representing CLUB MTV in live and television appearances, including “The Ace Awards,” the Joan Rivers Show, Rick Dees, Into the Night, and the Phil Donahue Show. Soon, Mr. Hughes became a regular entertainer for private events, on-air interviews, and publications, including People Magazine, The Daily News and Post Newspaper.
Building on his experience as an entertainer, leader, and entrepreneur, Mr. Hughes brought his brand of authentic inspiration to the entertainment
industry. In addition to appearing in TV series and movies, including "ER," "Mad Men," and "Desperate Housewives," he began writing, developing strong minority voices in several screenplays and a novel, Hollywood Junkie. He produced and directed Hollywood Junkie as a 10-minute short film called “ANONYMOUSLY FAMOUS,” which was featured in Talent in Motion magazine, garnering him the title “The Renaissance Man.” He has been a co-director on several projects, including “DRIVEN,” and most recently completed a provocative coffee Table book, “When was the last time you were Nice to someone” with illustrations and interviews from random strangers. Mr. Hughes was recently nominated BEST WRITER for an Original Play, at the 2019 Valley Village Awards with his sold out play TALKING TREES.
SAG/AFTRA
RACHEL ELISE JOHNSON (Associate Producer; Director, Legendary) is the Executive Director of Underscore Theatre Company, a producer, director, actor, and singer. She most recently co-directed The Last Five Years (JPAC) and Carrie 2: The Rage (Underscore) with Isaac Loomer. Rachel acts as the Producer for the Chicago Musical Theater Festival and co-producer of the Tiny Storefront Concerts. In her time in Chicago she acted in several plays and musicals throughout the Chicago-land area, including her roles as the Sour Kangaroo in Seussical (Big Noise Theater Company) and Diva in Priscilla Queen of the Desert (JPAC). Rachel lives in Chicago, is a math professor at Harry S Truman College and DePaul University, and couldn't be more grateful to have worked with such a talented team in this amazing festival.
RYAN NORTON (Producer; Co-Director, Bayard) served eight seasons as the Associate Artistic Producer and Casting Coordinator for Tuacahn Center for the Arts in St. George, Utah. There he produced over 25 large-scale musicals for the state of the art 2000 seat amphitheater. These musicals included regional premieres for Disney Theatrical Group such as Tarzan, The Little Mermaid, and Mary Poppins, as well as the original musical When You Wish a Disney Songbook. Mr. Norton also served as the associate director for several of the productions including the regional premiere of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Starlight Express for the Really Useful Group and the second US production of The Prince of Egypt with Stephen Schwartz and NBC-Universal. He produced three seasons of Tuacahn's New Works series providing opportunities for new musicals to perform as staged readings. In 2013, Mr. Norton made his Tuacahn and regional directorial debut with Tuacahn's premiere of Disney's Mulan. Other directing credits include Oliver!, Seussical the Musical, The Spitfire Grill, Disney's Beauty and the Beast and Disney's High School Musical. Film directing credit: "Austin's Christmas Wish." Mr. Norton has been a member of National Alliance For Musical Theatre and served on the membership and New Works Festival selection committees.
STEVEN CUEVAS (Music Director, Freedom Riders) is a music director, musician, actor, and singer. He was most recently the Music Director and Conductor of the first national tour of the Tony Award-winning revival of Once On This Island. Broadway: Once On This Island, Anastasia, Kinky Boots. Off-Broadway: I Spy a Spy, We Are The Tigers, Trip of Love, Closer Than Ever, Iron Curtain. Tours: Kinky Boots, Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical, Spring Awakening, My Fair Lady (Marina Bay Sands, Singapore). Recordings: Once On This Island, How the Grinch…, Monstersongs. Steven is the Chair of Local 802 AFM’s Diversity Committee and a voting member of the Recording Academy/Grammy Awards. BFA Musical Theatre: Emerson College. @StevenMCuevas
AFM, Local 802, AEA
TYLER TAFOLLA (Web Designer) is a Musical Theatre Composer and Book Writer. Tyler is best known for his new musical Scott Robbins and the Traveling Show, which premiered as a workshop at AMDA College and Conservatory of the Performing Arts in Hollywood and has since been performed in numerous locations in both New York and Los Angeles including The New York Theatre Festival: Summerfest and LA's Rockwell Table and Stage. Tyler is currently working on a new musical song-cycle called Seasons. A concept album of the show will be streaming on all streaming platforms later this year. Tyler is also well known as a performer in Cirque Electrique at Sea World San Diego. Favorite theatre credits include Scott (Scott Robbins and the Traveling Show), Princeton/Rod (Avenue Q), and Marius (Les Miserables).
Instagram:@tatafolla
Instagram: @scottrobbinsnewmusical
CHELSEA NICOLE LAPP (Choreographer, Walt and Roy) is an award-winning choreographer and performer from Southern California. Her work has been seen all over the United States, as well as in Uganda. Select performing credits: The Secret Garden (Martha), Little Women (U/S Jo & Meg), Carousel in Concert (Ensemble), Spring Awakening (Swing), Fiddler on the Roof (Hodel), All Shook Up (Natalie/Ed), Company (Marta), Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (Liza), Beauty and the Beast (Belle). Philippians 4:13.
ANDREA WALES (Stage Manager, Bayard) Broadway: First Date, Anything Goes, Cabaret. Regional: The Sting, Annie, A Christmas Story, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, and South Pacific at PMP. The Queens of the Golden Mask, The Girl with the Alkaline Eyes (The Chase Brock Experience), Hairspray, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Peter Pan, Tarzan, A Little Night Music, Romeo and Juliet, Love's Labour's Lost, and The 39 Steps. Industrials & Corporate Events.
AEA.
Actors
AJA DOWNING (Ella Baker, Bayard; Twilight, Legendary) is extremely pleased and excited to be a part of this project and ready for all the projects to come. Aja graduated from The American Musical Arts Academy in 2016. Some of Aja's previous roles were Annette in TjLovesSally4eva, Fairy Godmother in Cinderella, Jojo in Cher Chez Le Femme, Cassandra in Alex and Eugene, Christine Daè in The Phantom of the Opera, Aida in Aida, and Ella Baker in Bayard: a New Musical. Aja would like to thank her Mom and dad for all their support and love! And also thanks the incredible cast and crew of Bayard and Legendary!
AEA.
ALEX ARTHUR (Lilly Disney, Walt and Roy) is an actor, singer, and producer based in New York City. Favorite regional/university theatre credits include: Mother Courage (Bertolt Brecht’s Mother Courage and Her Children), Cinderella (Into the Woods), The Baker’s Wife (Into the Woods), Mrs Lovett (Sweeney Todd), Pooker (The Country Club), Maria Bertram (Mansfield Park), Eponine (Les Miserables), Mrs. Pennywise (Urinetown), Gabby Bobby (City of Angels), Rosa Bud (The Mystery of Edwin Drood), Fastrada (Pippin), and others. Film/television: "MORE" (James Morosini), "Via Dolorosa" (Jake Orthwein) "Kept" (Monica Zinn), "Stuck in the Middle" (Sam Hayes), "Splitting the Bill" (Austin Kolodney), and "Live, Laugh, Love" (Cannes Film Festival). She's a founding member of 501 (c)3 non-profit theatre company, New Guard Theater Company and Public Assembly Theatre Company in Los Angeles, CA. Graduate of The University of Southern California BFA Acting program.
SAG/AFTRA, AEA.
ANTHONY CHATMAN II (John Lewis, Freedom Riders) Broadway: Hadestown (Orpheus/Hermes Us), Be More Chill (Michael/Jake/Rich Us). National Tours: Fiasco Theater’s Into the Woods (Cinderella’s Prince), The Book of Mormon (Doctor). TV: “Bull” (CBS), “The Other Two” (Comedy Central), “Law & Order: SVU” (NBC), “Blue Bloods” (CBS).
AEA, SAG/AFTRA,
ASPEN VINCENT (Jane Tyler, Legendary) Broadway: American Idiot (swing, Extraordinary Girl Understudy); National Tours: Dirty Dancing (lead vocalist, Baby understudy); Broadway Las Vegas: We Will Rock You (Scaramouche); Regional: Sleeping Beauty Wakes (Rose), West Side Story (Maria), Grease (Sandy), Once Upon A Mattress (Princess Winnifred); Meat Loaf world tours '06-'07 (duet partner); Voiceovers: "As Told By Ginger" (Dodie Bishop), "Rugrats," "Fairly Odd Parents," "Everquest II."
AEA, SAG/AFTRA.
BARRY ANDERSON (Ben Zuchman, Legendary) previously collaborated with Richard and Taran on the 2017 NYMF production of Freedom Riders. He spent six years playing Bob Crewe in the Broadway and 2nd National Tour companies of Jersey Boys. Other Broadway: Legally Blonde The Musical (Aaron Schultz). Regional theatre: Ogunquit Playhouse, North Shore Music Theatre, The Fireside Theatre, Charleston Stage Company, Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre, The Little Theatre on the Square, Allenberry Playhouse. TV/Film: "30 Rock," "Alternatino," "As The World Turns," "Oblivio," "The Artifice," "Guided By Voices," "Rabbit Hole". Barry is a songwriter and holds a music degree from The University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire. Instagram: @barryanderson123 & @andersonandpetty.
AEA, SAG/AFTRA.
BRYAN BARBARIN (Reverend Abernathy, Freedom Riders; Russell Gibbs, Legendary) has worked in and out of the theatre for the past decade and now plays in two international touring bands, The Routine & Steam Powered Giraffe. He is honored to take part in these new works and happy to do it amongst such talent.
BRYAN PORTER (T-Bone, Walt and Roy) is a Los Angeles based Voiceover Artist and Actor. Originally from Minnesota, his voice can be heard in commercials for Microsoft, Target, Best Buy, Big Lots, Foot Locker, and others. His voice can also be heard on "Paw Patrol" (Nickelodeon), as well as in several nationally-distributed videogames (Ori and the Will O’ The Wisps as “Grom,” Magic the Gathering as “Ral Zarek”). As an actor, Bryan has appeared with "Dear White People" (Lionsgate), "In an Instant" (ABC), "Battle Universe" (Disney), and "Real Husbands of Hollywood" opposite Kevin Hart (BET).. He honed his acting skills in over 30 professional theater productions around the country; Including Tony Award-winning venues like the Mark Taper Forum, Guthrie Theater, and Children's Theater Company. He is represented for Voiceover by Dean Panaro of Dean Panaro Talent, Theatrically by KMR, and Commercially by Daniel Hoff.
AEA, SAG/AFTRA.
BRYNN WILLIAMS (Diane Nash, Freedom Riders; Rubee Scott, Legendary) was most recently seen as Violet Beaureguarde in the first national tour of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Favorite credits include understudy for Sandy Cheeks and Pearl Krabs in Spongebob Squarepants on Broadway, Cassie in the original Broadway cast of 13, and Diane Nash in Freedom Riders!
AEA.
CARTREZE TUCKER (Adam Clayton Powell, Bayard) Select credits: The Color Purple (National Tour), Motown: The Musical (National Tour), HAIR (National/International Tour), Trav’lin: The 1930s Harlem Musical, Raisin: The Musical, Disney's Tarzan: A New Musical, Sister Act, Disney's Little Mermaid, Miss Saigon, RENT, Hairspray.
EMC.
CAVIN MOHRHARDT (Fred, Walt and Roy) is originally from Grand Rapids, MI and now calls North Hollywood his home. A proud member of both AEA and SAG, Cavin splits his time between being a company member at the Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum in Topanga, and running Equerry and Ace; an equestrian center that specializes in training stunt performers for horse and weapons related work. Recent credits include: Sebastian in 12th Night, Ishmael in Moby Dick Rehearsed, and Utility stunt work on the FOX show "Deputy." Cavin is extremely grateful for this wonderful opportunity to collaborate with some exceptional artists for a truly phenomenal cause. Thanks to Richard for bringing him on board.
AEA, SAG/AFTRA.
CHARITY FARRELL's (Max Tyler, Legendary) live theatre credits include: Broadway Christmas Wonderland Tokyo (Principal Vocalist), Frozen: A Musical Spectacular (Elsa), Tangled the Musical (Rapunzel), and the original cast of the off-broadway production Peace Love and Cupcakes (Kylie). Film Credits include: "The Father and the Bear", "Forever's End", "How It Ends", to name a few, all of which can be found on streaming services Amazon Prime and/or Vimeo. @charityleanna
AEA, SAG/AFTRA
CHELSEA NICOLE LAPP (Edna Disney, Walt and Roy) is an award-winning choreographer and performer from Southern California. Her work has been seen all over the United States, as well as in Uganda. Select performing credits: The Secret Garden (Martha), Little Women (U/S Jo & Meg), Carousel in Concert (Ensemble), Spring Awakening (Swing), Fiddler on the Roof (Hodel), All Shook Up (Natalie/Ed), Company (Marta), Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (Liza), Beauty and the Beast (Belle). Philippians 4:13.
CLAYTON SNYDER (Robert F. Kennedy, Freedom Riders) is a film, television, and stage actor and producer most known for his role as Ethan Craft on Disney Channel’s "Lizzie McGuire." After filming "The Lizzie McGuire Movie" in 2002, Clayton put acting on hold to focus on academics and water polo, attending Pepperdine University and eventually playing with the US Senior National Team and professionally in Europe. Clayton returned to acting in Los Angeles, appearing in dozens of short films, graduate student films, multiple web series, several independent projects streaming on Amazon Prime and Netflix, guest starring on "NCIS," and occasionally performing in improv shows. He has performed in musical productions including A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and The Root Beer Bandits at the Garry Marshall Theatre in Burbank, CA, as well as concert performances of Freedom Riders: The Civil Rights Musical and Starry.
SAG/AFTRA.
CONNER PEIRSON (Ub Iwerks, Walt and Roy) Stage credits include The Book of Mormon on Broadway/US tour and UK/EU touring company (Elder Cunningham), Little shop of Horrors (Seymour).
AEA.
DAVID S. HUMPHREY (Bigsby, Legendary) is excited to be a part of this wonderful virtual production and this amazingly talented cast. Credits include, National Tour: Forever Plaid and Plaid Tidings. Regional Theatre San Diego County: Spamalot, Invention of Love, A Little Night Music with Cygnet; The Secret Garden, Return to the Forbidden Planet with NVA; Mamma Mia!, The Music Man (Critics Circle Nomination), Oklahoma, Forever Plaid, Plaid Tidings, Carousel with The Welk Resort Theatre; 9 to 5 The Musical with SDMT; MIXTAPE, Les Miserables, The 39 Steps, The Foreigner, Boomers, The Secret Garden, Into The Woods, South Pacific, 1776, Cotton Patch Gospel with Lambs Players Theatre; Bleeding Kansas with Moxie Theatre; Guys and Dolls with Moonlight Amphitheatre; Tom Foolery with NCRT/Renaissance Theatre; 1776, I Love You You're Perfect…, Forever Plaid with San Diego CLO; Plaid Tidings with Broadway/San Diego; Forever Plaid with The Theatre in Old Town. Regional Theatre LA/Riverside County: Forever Plaid with CLO South Bay (Ovation Nomination); Plaid Tidings with La Mirada (Ovation Nomination); 1776 with Performance Riverside (Ovation Nomination). David is the original voice of Shadow
Shadow the Hedgehog for the Sonic the Hedgehog video games with the Sega Corp., and the voice of Jack Keane for the action/adventure pc game Jack Keane. David has been a proud member of Actors' Equity Association since 1998.
AEA, SAG/AFTRA.
DAVID LaMARR (Chase Glass, Legendary) National Tour—Jersey Boys (2nd National). Regional—Prather Entertainment: Lola in Kinky Boots; Delaware Theatre Company: A Sign of the Times (regional premiere); Baltimore Center Stage: SOUL: The Stax Musical (world premiere); McCoy Rigby Entertainment: Dreamgirls (Ovation Award Nominee); Tuacahn Amphitheatre: Disney’s When You Wish (world premiere), Disney’s The Little Mermaid (US regional premiere), Disney’s Mulan (world premiere); Maltz Jupiter Theatre: The Wiz; Cape Fear Regional Theatre: Ain’t Misbehavin'; Sierra Rep: Hairspray. International—Universal Studios Japan; Carnival Cruise Lines; Princess Cruises; Disney Cruise Lines: Villains Tonight! (world premiere). IG: @davidlamarr / Twitter: @david_lamarr
AEA.
DAVON WILLIAMS (Martin Luther King, Jr., Freedom Riders) His TED Talk, “The Secret To Success: A Story About A Son, His Mom, Trauma, And Cartoons,” has trended all over the world. His band, Davon & The Spectacle has headlined shows all over Asia, America, and now digitally during quarantine. He has launched a show called “The Receipts” where he interviews members of the theatre community and examines institutionalized racism within the industry. A member of AEA and SAG, he has acted on many stages and has many film/TV projects under his belt. Davon challenges all performers along with himself to be more than their resumes and use their art to bring about a more equal, equitable, and empathetic world. Www.davonwilliams.com (@daywilling)
AEA, SAG/AFTRA.
DEON'TE GOODMAN (Bernard Lafayette, Freedom Riders; Bayard Rustin, Bayard) is an Actor, Singer-Songwriter based in New York City. He currently performs in the Broadway company of Hamilton as ens/us Aaron Burr, George Washington, and Mulligan/Madison. NYC and regional credits: In The Heights (Benny) Songbird (Rip), Caroline, or Change (Dryer/Bus), Freedom Riders (Bernard Lafayette), The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Comfort Counselor), The Toxic Avenger (Black Dude), as well as several operatic roles. Goodman holds a Bachelor’s Degree in classical voice performance from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
deontegoodman14.com
@thedeontegoodman
AEA.
EBONI MUSE (Ruby Doris Smith, Freedom Riders) is a Pacific Conservatory for the Performing Arts alumni and a recipient of the Craig Noel Award Winner: Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical for her role as MotorMouth Maybelle in Hairspray. Credits: Audrey Two in Little Shop of Horrors (New Village Arts), Lady in Red in For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf (La Jolla Theatre Ensemble), Smokey Joe’s Café (New Village Arts), Lead Female Vocalist in O’ Wondrous Night (SeaWorld San Diego), MotorMouth Maybelle in Hairspray (San Diego Musical Theatre), Ensemble in Freedom Riders: A Civil Rights Musical in Concert (Lamb’s Players Theatre), Leader in Father Comes Home from the Wars (Horton Grand Theatre), Marlena Madison in Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story (Horton Grand Theatre and New Village Arts), Gary Coleman in Avenue Q (OB Playhouse), Addaperle in The Wiz (The Lyceum Theatre), Female Vocalist for Shamu Christmas Miracles (SeaWorld San Diego).
"It's always hard for people of color to live in their truth; I thank God that I've been able to breathe in mine.”
EBONY PULLUM (Etta Simpson, Freedom Riders) is a Philadelphia based actress, singer and teaching Artist. One of her most recent credits include “Shug Avery”(Barrymore Winner) in The Color Purple at Theater Horizon in Phila, PA.
EDRED UTOMI (John Lewis, Bayard) currently stars as Alexander Hamilton in the musical Hamilton. After graduating from the University of San Diego in 2013, he worked professionally in many Southern California theatres (Moonlight, 3DT, Old Globe, etc.) for five years before moving and setting up shop in New York City. You can follow all of his adventures on Instagram. @edredutomi
AEA.
ERIN VANDERHYDE (Lucretia Collins, Freedom Riders) graduated from San Diego State University where she received her Bachelors in Theatre. She is grateful to have been apart of Freedom Riders: The Civil Rights Musical performing in concerts in San Diego, Los Angeles, and New York. Other notable performances for Vanderhyde include but are not limited to: Sylvia in All Shook Up (SDMT), Matron Mama Morton in Chicago (Torentino Music Festival), Enid in Legally Blonde the Musical (New Village Arts), Motormouth Maybelle in Hairspray, and Sarah’s Friend in Ragtime. Erin also performs regularly at Legoland California as a singer/performer.
GRANDISON M PHELPS, III (Jim Scott, Legendary) is an award winning actor, having performed in numerous productions throughout Southern California including: The Ballad of Emmitt Till (Ion Theatre), six of August Wilson’s 10-Cycle Plays (Cygnet Theatre and Octad Productions), Camelot in Concert (The Barnstage Company), And Still I Rise (one-man show), the title role in Othello (Octad Productions), The Gospel of Colonus (Ira Aldrige Players), As You Like It (New Village Arts Theatre), I Am A Man (San Diego Black Ensemble), Sweet Bird of Youth (La Jolla P;ayhouse), Kill A Mockingbird and the annual productions (25yrs) of An American Christmas (Lambs Players), where he had the joy of performing with a young Taran Gray and watching him grow into the talented man he is today! Grandison is excited to be involved with Taran and this talented cast and crew to tell this story in an innovative way. Coming together in a positive way despite the viral and racial pandemics facing this country and this world!
EMC.
JAMILAH ROSEMOND (Dorothy Height, Bayard) is so excited and grateful to be apart of the cast of Bayard. She is a musical theater major, minoring in business in entertainment at NYU Tisch and some of her favorite credits include: Robinette in the U.S. touring show, Henry Box Brown; the host of American Girl’s web series, "AG Life;" host of Youtube web series, "Dream Mining;" performer/writer in Girl Be Heard’s mainstage show, 2030: The Future is Ours; and Emily (supporting) in the NYMF’s Peace, Love, and Cupcakes. When Jamilah is not performing, she is working on her girl empowerment blog, "Girls with Beauty & Brains"! A huge thanks to the directors, cast, and crew. She would also like to thank God for this opportunity.
Instagram: @jmils
JENNIFER LEIGH WARREN (Julia Rustin, Bayard) is a critically acclaimed actress/singer lauded for her show-stopping Broadway performances as the original "Alice's Daughter" in Big River (singing the song "How Blest We Are" written for her by Roger Miller), the original "Crystal" in the Howard Ashman/Alan Menken hit Little Shop of Horrors, the original Lincoln Center cast of Marie Christine, and the Muse in the original Off-Broadway Drama Desk Award nominated Lonesome Traveler.
She recently performed with the LA Philharmonic in the Power To The People concert at the Disney Concert Hall and last year in the FOX television musical event "Rent: Live" showcasing her acting and singing versatility as Mrs. Jefferson, Mrs. Cohen, Support Sue, and the Homeless bag lady known as the “who the F lady.”
She is featured on the Grammy award nominated cast albums of both Big River and Little Shop of Horrors and sang on the "Stephen Schwartz Album" and in the Stephen Schwartz Concert at the Ford Amphitheatre.
She starred as “the Blues Singer” in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd & 4th National tours of A Night with
Janis Joplin (USA, Canada) with independent productions at Houston’s Alley Theater, North Carolina Theatre, LaMirada, CA Theater and Ivoryton, CT Theatre. A Night with Janis Joplin was filmed and recently released in movie theaters across the country and is now streaming at BroadwayHD.com.
Regional credits include: Miss Emma in the beautiful new Brett Ryback/Eric Ulloa musical Passing Through (Goodspeed Musicals), Lalume in Kismet, Cleo in The Most Happy Fella, and a show stopping Sheila in Hair with a vocal arrangement made for her by the great Peter Matz (Reprise!), Medda in Newsies, and Dragon in Shrek (Tuacahn), BOTH Addaperle AND Evilene in the same production of The Wiz (Arkansas Rep), proudly portrayed Thelma Mothershed in Little Rock: the story of the Little Rock Nine (TheatreWorks), Gretchen Cryer’s I’m Still Getting My Act Together (Laguna Playhouse), her NAACP Theatre award-nominated performance as Julia in Having It All (NoHo Arts), The Education of Randy Newman (South Coast Rep), The Princess & the Black-Eyed Pea (San Diego Rep), The Muse in Lonesome Traveler (Rubicon Theatre) and she was a member of Sir Peter Hall’s Shakespeare Repertory Company at the Ahmanson Theater. Warren’s international credits include singing a duet with Al Jarreau in Denmark in the TV special entitled, “Musical Of The Year,” televised live to thirty countries. She re-created her Broadway role of Alice’s Daughter in Big River in Japan with a Japanese cast, singing her gospel number in Japanese. She also appeared in the musical Juni Ka Getsu No Nina (“Nina & The 12 Months”), in the role of Noyabre, with a song written for her by Bolshoi Ballet composer, Rodion Schedrin, and choreographed by Maya Plisetskaya. This show represented the first American, Russian and Japanese collaboration on a new musical. On "The Tonight Show," Conan and Jimmy Kimmel, she performed with Broken Bells, The Kills, Trombone Shorty, Moon Taxi, Lisa Loeb and OK Go. At Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Rose Hall she performed honoring Ron Howard, Brian Grazer, and Marcia Gaye Harden and opened for Steve Tyrell at the Americana at Brand. Feature films include: Garry Marshall’s "Valentine’s Day," "The Other Sister," and "Dear God," Allison Anders & Martin Scorsese’s "Grace of my Heart," Sean Penn’s "The Crossing Guard," Larry David’s "Sour Grapes." Television includes: "Pretty Little Liars," "Lipstick Jungle," "Dirt," "ER," "Scrubs," "The Game," "Touched by an Angel," "All my Children." Awards: LA Ovation Award winner with multiple nominations, Backstage Award, Dartmouth College Creative Arts Award, two BroadwayWorld awards (seven nominations) for her solo concert show, Diamonds Are Forever: Songs of Dame Shirley Bassey directed by Richard Jay-Alexander and for the Lythgoe Family Cinderella Christmas Panto in the same year. She is a proud AEA, SAG/AFTRA member. www.JenniferLeighWarren.com @theOriginalJLW
AEA, SAG/AFTRA.
Virtual Program
Production Team
AHMED ALABACA (Music Director, Bayard) is an African American composer, conductor, song-writer, pianist, and community facilitator. Creating power and possibility, through music, for himself and the diverse communities he is a part of is the bases of Ahmed’s work. Raised in San Bernardino, CA, in a low-income community, Ahmed knows the value of hard work and perseverance in the face of systemic and interpersonal challenges. Ahmed’s vision is “a new renaissance” for underrepresented composers, which centers the works of people of color, and creates opportunities to perform, record, and archive their work. Ahmed received his B.A. in Music from Hunter College in New York, and attended advanced classes in film scoring at Juilliard and UCLA extension. While in New York, Ahmed also scored three new plays and one new musical, including Eaten Voices which won Best of Festival at the 2012 Thespis Theatre Festival and a cash prize of $5,000. In 2014 Ahmed moved to Los Angeles, CA where he has scored several web series, television shows, and short films including: "I Too Am America," written and directed by Shehkshem Ebron; Emmy award winning web
ANDREW FISH BOOTH (Sound Designer) is ecstatic to be back in his natural habitat working on theatrical productions. He has spent the past 8 years travelling to elementary schools in all 50 states as well as the UK, Canada, Scotland, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand doing character building motivational assemblies to over a million kids so far. In the past, he has performed on stage as Roger in “Rent”, Berger in “Hair” and being a part of the 9 Act, 2 part epic Kentucky Cycle that he was a part of at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Audio wise, he has done sound design for over 30 shows audio engineered many more. You can see more of his work currently making video content for kids at both his personal youtube channel www.youtube.com/thespianfish and at youtube.com/thenedshows.
web series, "Giants," featured on Issa Rae’s Youtube channel, written and directed by James Bland and produced by Jussie Smollett of the show "Empire"; and "Empire," created by Lee Daniels and Danny Strong for Fox. Ahmed received a 2017 Indie Series Award nomination for Best Song in a series for his work on Giants.
In 2014 Ahmed moved to Los Angeles, CA where he has scored several web series, television shows, and short films including: "I Too Am America," written and directed by Shehkshem Ebron; Emmy award winning web series, "Giants," featured on Issa Rae’s Youtube channel, written and directed by James Bland and produced by Jussie Smollett of the show "Empire"; and "Empire," created by Lee Daniels and Danny Strong for Fox. Ahmed received a 2017 Indie Series Award nomination for Best Song in a series for his work on Giants.
Ahmed has also received commissions for his concert works from presenters across the country including: the Colour of Music Festival with the world premiere of my work Across the Calm Waters of Heaven (2016); the world premiere of my work Ascension for Solo Clarinet and String Orchestra with the San Jose Chamber Orchestra (2018); and the world premiere of his work Las Mariposas at the Voiced Project in Chicago (2018). With countless arrangements from negro spirituals to showtunes, Ahmed is currently working on two new commissions: a Violin Sonata for Anyango Yarbo Davenport and a French Horn Sonata for David Dickerson.
Ahmed is a Guest Conductor for the DC Strings, a classical music collective bridging the gap between classical music to Washington DC historic Anacostia neighborhood; Artistic Director of The New Alchemists, an artist collective building power and possibility for diverse communities through theatre, film, and music; and Assistant Conductor of the South East Symphony, a group focused on equity and artistry within classical music. Ahmed is also the pianist, co-writer, and co-founder of The Humble Boys, a band that focuses on how music can heal, uplift and encourage individuals to live their most fulfilled lives.
Website www.ahmedalabaca.wixsite.com/ahmed
Social Media
MusicByAhmed Instagram
Facebook Ahmed Alabaca
BENJAMIN A. VIGIL (Production Stage Manager; Stage Manager, Freedom Riders, Walt and Roy) is a NYC-based stage manager and actor. He’s ecstatic to be back with Allen and Gray after collaborating on Freedom Riders and Bayard. Select SM credits: Much Ado About Nothing (Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival), Citizen Be Heard (Girl Be Heard), Vietnam..through my lens (LSNelson Productions), Keaton and the Whale (Amas Musical Theatre), Cabaret (The Gallery Players), How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying (PPAS), Galapagos (Arboretum Productions). Thanks to Mom, Dad, Sam, Brittany, and everyone who has helped, in any capacity, along the way! Please consider donating to the organization of your choice to help advance this country that so many individuals call home. @benjaminavigil
CHARITY FARRELL's (Festival Coordinator) live theatre credits include: Broadway Christmas Wonderland Tokyo (Principal Vocalist), Frozen: A Musical Spectacular (Elsa), Tangled the Musical (Rapunzel), and the original cast of the off-broadway production Peace Love and Cupcakes (Kylie). Film Credits include: "The Father and the Bear", "Forever's End", "How It Ends", to name a few, all of which can be found on streaming services Amazon Prime and/or Vimeo. @charityleanna
AEA, SAG/AFTRA
CHARLIE REUTER (Music Director, Walt and Roy) is a music director and conductor based out of NYC. Often developing new works, he served as the assistant conductor for A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder (The Old Globe), The Prince of Egypt (Tuacahn), was part of Peter and the Starcatcher (La Jolla Playhouse), and worked with Trevor Nunn to adapt an original score for Pericles (TFANA). He holds an MFA in Musical Theatre from San Diego State University, and studied orchestral conducting at Juilliard.
CHARLES SMITH II (Allen and Gray Associate)
CHRISTINE LAUER (Stage Manager, Legendary) received her B.A. in Technical Theatre with a concentration in Stage Management and minors in Voiceover and Fashion Business from Columbia College Chicago. Some of her favorite Chicago credits include: SM for Big Fish (BoHo Theatre), The Ballad of Lefty and Crabbe (Underscore Theatre), and ASM for Encounter Festival (Goodman Theatre). When she is not working Christine enjoys living her life like Elle Woods did after Warner told her she was not smart enough for Law School. “Don’t dream it, be it.”
KEVIN POLLACK (Technical Director, Festival Coordinators) is very excited to be part of Freedom Riders and Bayard as part of the Allen & Gray Theater Festival. Past favorite notable credits include playing Joe Cocker in Black Ensemble Theater's Jeff Award-Nominated production of Men of Soul, Roger Ebert in Black Ensemble Theater's The Black/White Love Play: The Story of Chaz and Roger Ebert and Male Understudy in Chicago Theatre Workshop's Midwest premiere of Little Miss Sunshine: The Musical. Throughout the year you can catch him as Joliet Jake in The Blooze Brothers, the #1 Blues Brothers tribute in the Midwest. He has also performed in Las Vegas to a sold-out audience at the Southpoint Casino and at The Smith Center. You can get his 3 singles, "Holiday," "Man About Town" and "Something Good (Is Comin' Down)" on iTunes, Amazon, Google Music and other music retailers online.
LORNE “LONNIE” HUGHES (Festival Producer; Co-Director, Bayard), manager and creative consultant at Hughes International, is a dream builder for small business and entrepreneurs. He specializes in helping high-level executives bridge the gap between their creative dreams and their business goals. Mr. Hughes has a long and successful track record of fusing leadership and artistic vision into a cohesive creative strategy.
He began his career at MTV Networks while pursuing a psychology degree at Adelphi University in New York. Recruited as an on-air dancer, he transitioned into an executive role in casting, while gaining renown for his performances on the hit show CLUB MTV. He became a network spokesman, representing CLUB MTV in live and television appearances, including “The Ace Awards,” the Joan Rivers Show, Rick Dees, Into the Night, and the Phil Donahue Show. Soon, Mr. Hughes became a regular entertainer for private events, on-air interviews, and publications, including People Magazine, The Daily News and Post Newspaper.
Building on his experience as an entertainer, leader, and entrepreneur, Mr. Hughes brought his brand of authentic inspiration to the entertainment
industry. In addition to appearing in TV series and movies, including "ER," "Mad Men," and "Desperate Housewives," he began writing, developing strong minority voices in several screenplays and a novel, Hollywood Junkie. He produced and directed Hollywood Junkie as a 10-minute short film called “ANONYMOUSLY FAMOUS,” which was featured in Talent in Motion magazine, garnering him the title “The Renaissance Man.” He has been a co-director on several projects, including “DRIVEN,” and most recently completed a provocative coffee Table book, “When was the last time you were Nice to someone” with illustrations and interviews from random strangers. Mr. Hughes was recently nominated BEST WRITER for an Original Play, at the 2019 Valley Village Awards with his sold out play TALKING TREES.
SAG/AFTRA
RACHEL ELISE JOHNSON (Associate Producer; Director, Legendary) is the Executive Director of Underscore Theatre Company, a producer, director, actor, and singer. She most recently co-directed The Last Five Years (JPAC) and Carrie 2: The Rage (Underscore) with Isaac Loomer. Rachel acts as the Producer for the Chicago Musical Theater Festival and co-producer of the Tiny Storefront Concerts. In her time in Chicago she acted in several plays and musicals throughout the Chicago-land area, including her roles as the Sour Kangaroo in Seussical (Big Noise Theater Company) and Diva in Priscilla Queen of the Desert (JPAC). Rachel lives in Chicago, is a math professor at Harry S Truman College and DePaul University, and couldn't be more grateful to have worked with such a talented team in this amazing festival.
RYAN NORTON (Producer; Co-Director, Bayard) served eight seasons as the Associate Artistic Producer and Casting Coordinator for Tuacahn Center for the Arts in St. George, Utah. There he produced over 25 large-scale musicals for the state of the art 2000 seat amphitheater. These musicals included regional premieres for Disney Theatrical Group such as Tarzan, The Little Mermaid, and Mary Poppins, as well as the original musical When You Wish a Disney Songbook. Mr. Norton also served as the associate director for several of the productions including the regional premiere of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Starlight Express for the Really Useful Group and the second US production of The Prince of Egypt with Stephen Schwartz and NBC-Universal. He produced three seasons of Tuacahn's New Works series providing opportunities for new musicals to perform as staged readings. In 2013, Mr. Norton made his Tuacahn and regional directorial debut with Tuacahn's premiere of Disney's Mulan. Other directing credits include Oliver!, Seussical the Musical, The Spitfire Grill, Disney's Beauty and the Beast and Disney's High School Musical. Film directing credit: "Austin's Christmas Wish." Mr. Norton has been a member of National Alliance For Musical Theatre and served on the membership and New Works Festival selection committees.
STEVEN CUEVAS (Music Director, Freedom Riders) is a music director, musician, actor, and singer. He was most recently the Music Director and Conductor of the first national tour of the Tony Award-winning revival of Once On This Island. Broadway: Once On This Island, Anastasia, Kinky Boots. Off-Broadway: I Spy a Spy, We Are The Tigers, Trip of Love, Closer Than Ever, Iron Curtain. Tours: Kinky Boots, Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical, Spring Awakening, My Fair Lady (Marina Bay Sands, Singapore). Recordings: Once On This Island, How the Grinch…, Monstersongs. Steven is the Chair of Local 802 AFM’s Diversity Committee and a voting member of the Recording Academy/Grammy Awards. BFA Musical Theatre: Emerson College. @StevenMCuevas
AFM, Local 802, AEA
TYLER TAFOLLA (Web Designer) is a Musical Theatre Composer and Book Writer. Tyler is best known for his new musical Scott Robbins and the Traveling Show, which premiered as a workshop at AMDA College and Conservatory of the Performing Arts in Hollywood and has since been performed in numerous locations in both New York and Los Angeles including The New York Theatre Festival: Summerfest and LA's Rockwell Table and Stage. Tyler is currently working on a new musical song-cycle called Seasons. A concept album of the show will be streaming on all streaming platforms later this year. Tyler is also well known as a performer in Cirque Electrique at Sea World San Diego. Favorite theatre credits include Scott (Scott Robbins and the Traveling Show), Princeton/Rod (Avenue Q), and Marius (Les Miserables).
Instagram:@tatafolla
Instagram: @scottrobbinsnewmusical
CHELSEA NICOLE LAPP (Choreographer, Walt and Roy) is an award-winning choreographer and performer from Southern California. Her work has been seen all over the United States, as well as in Uganda. Select performing credits: The Secret Garden (Martha), Little Women (U/S Jo & Meg), Carousel in Concert (Ensemble), Spring Awakening (Swing), Fiddler on the Roof (Hodel), All Shook Up (Natalie/Ed), Company (Marta), Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (Liza), Beauty and the Beast (Belle). Philippians 4:13.
ANDREA WALES (Stage Manager, Bayard) Broadway: First Date, Anything Goes, Cabaret. Regional: The Sting, Annie, A Christmas Story, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, and South Pacific at PMP. The Queens of the Golden Mask, The Girl with the Alkaline Eyes (The Chase Brock Experience), Hairspray, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Peter Pan, Tarzan, A Little Night Music, Romeo and Juliet, Love's Labour's Lost, and The 39 Steps. Industrials & Corporate Events.
AEA.
Actors
AJA DOWNING (Ella Baker, Bayard; Twilight, Legendary) is extremely pleased and excited to be a part of this project and ready for all the projects to come. Aja graduated from The American Musical Arts Academy in 2016. Some of Aja's previous roles were Annette in TjLovesSally4eva, Fairy Godmother in Cinderella, Jojo in Cher Chez Le Femme, Cassandra in Alex and Eugene, Christine Daè in The Phantom of the Opera, Aida in Aida, and Ella Baker in Bayard: a New Musical. Aja would like to thank her Mom and dad for all their support and love! And also thanks the incredible cast and crew of Bayard and Legendary!
AEA.
ALEX ARTHUR (Lilly Disney, Walt and Roy) is an actor, singer, and producer based in New York City. Favorite regional/university theatre credits include: Mother Courage (Bertolt Brecht’s Mother Courage and Her Children), Cinderella (Into the Woods), The Baker’s Wife (Into the Woods), Mrs Lovett (Sweeney Todd), Pooker (The Country Club), Maria Bertram (Mansfield Park), Eponine (Les Miserables), Mrs. Pennywise (Urinetown), Gabby Bobby (City of Angels), Rosa Bud (The Mystery of Edwin Drood), Fastrada (Pippin), and others. Film/television: "MORE" (James Morosini), "Via Dolorosa" (Jake Orthwein) "Kept" (Monica Zinn), "Stuck in the Middle" (Sam Hayes), "Splitting the Bill" (Austin Kolodney), and "Live, Laugh, Love" (Cannes Film Festival). She's a founding member of 501 (c)3 non-profit theatre company, New Guard Theater Company and Public Assembly Theatre Company in Los Angeles, CA. Graduate of The University of Southern California BFA Acting program.
SAG/AFTRA, AEA.
ANTHONY CHATMAN II (John Lewis, Freedom Riders) Broadway: Hadestown (Orpheus/Hermes Us), Be More Chill (Michael/Jake/Rich Us). National Tours: Fiasco Theater’s Into the Woods (Cinderella’s Prince), The Book of Mormon (Doctor). TV: “Bull” (CBS), “The Other Two” (Comedy Central), “Law & Order: SVU” (NBC), “Blue Bloods” (CBS).
AEA, SAG/AFTRA,
ASPEN VINCENT (Jane Tyler, Legendary) Broadway: American Idiot (swing, Extraordinary Girl Understudy); National Tours: Dirty Dancing (lead vocalist, Baby understudy); Broadway Las Vegas: We Will Rock You (Scaramouche); Regional: Sleeping Beauty Wakes (Rose), West Side Story (Maria), Grease (Sandy), Once Upon A Mattress (Princess Winnifred); Meat Loaf world tours '06-'07 (duet partner); Voiceovers: "As Told By Ginger" (Dodie Bishop), "Rugrats," "Fairly Odd Parents," "Everquest II."
AEA, SAG/AFTRA.
BARRY ANDERSON (Ben Zuchman, Legendary) previously collaborated with Richard and Taran on the 2017 NYMF production of Freedom Riders. He spent six years playing Bob Crewe in the Broadway and 2nd National Tour companies of Jersey Boys. Other Broadway: Legally Blonde The Musical (Aaron Schultz). Regional theatre: Ogunquit Playhouse, North Shore Music Theatre, The Fireside Theatre, Charleston Stage Company, Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre, The Little Theatre on the Square, Allenberry Playhouse. TV/Film: "30 Rock," "Alternatino," "As The World Turns," "Oblivio," "The Artifice," "Guided By Voices," "Rabbit Hole". Barry is a songwriter and holds a music degree from The University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire. Instagram: @barryanderson123 & @andersonandpetty.
AEA, SAG/AFTRA.
BRYAN BARBARIN (Reverend Abernathy, Freedom Riders; Russell Gibbs, Legendary) has worked in and out of the theatre for the past decade and now plays in two international touring bands, The Routine & Steam Powered Giraffe. He is honored to take part in these new works and happy to do it amongst such talent.
BRYAN PORTER (T-Bone, Walt and Roy) is a Los Angeles based Voiceover Artist and Actor. Originally from Minnesota, his voice can be heard in commercials for Microsoft, Target, Best Buy, Big Lots, Foot Locker, and others. His voice can also be heard on "Paw Patrol" (Nickelodeon), as well as in several nationally-distributed videogames (Ori and the Will O’ The Wisps as “Grom,” Magic the Gathering as “Ral Zarek”). As an actor, Bryan has appeared with "Dear White People" (Lionsgate), "In an Instant" (ABC), "Battle Universe" (Disney), and "Real Husbands of Hollywood" opposite Kevin Hart (BET).. He honed his acting skills in over 30 professional theater productions around the country; Including Tony Award-winning venues like the Mark Taper Forum, Guthrie Theater, and Children's Theater Company. He is represented for Voiceover by Dean Panaro of Dean Panaro Talent, Theatrically by KMR, and Commercially by Daniel Hoff.
AEA, SAG/AFTRA.
BRYNN WILLIAMS (Diane Nash, Freedom Riders; Rubee Scott, Legendary) was most recently seen as Violet Beaureguarde in the first national tour of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Favorite credits include understudy for Sandy Cheeks and Pearl Krabs in Spongebob Squarepants on Broadway, Cassie in the original Broadway cast of 13, and Diane Nash in Freedom Riders!
AEA.
CARTREZE TUCKER (Adam Clayton Powell, Bayard) Select credits: The Color Purple (National Tour), Motown: The Musical (National Tour), HAIR (National/International Tour), Trav’lin: The 1930s Harlem Musical, Raisin: The Musical, Disney's Tarzan: A New Musical, Sister Act, Disney's Little Mermaid, Miss Saigon, RENT, Hairspray.
EMC.
CAVIN MOHRHARDT (Fred, Walt and Roy) is originally from Grand Rapids, MI and now calls North Hollywood his home. A proud member of both AEA and SAG, Cavin splits his time between being a company member at the Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum in Topanga, and running Equerry and Ace; an equestrian center that specializes in training stunt performers for horse and weapons related work. Recent credits include: Sebastian in 12th Night, Ishmael in Moby Dick Rehearsed, and Utility stunt work on the FOX show "Deputy." Cavin is extremely grateful for this wonderful opportunity to collaborate with some exceptional artists for a truly phenomenal cause. Thanks to Richard for bringing him on board.
AEA, SAG/AFTRA.
CHARITY FARRELL's (Max Tyler, Legendary) live theatre credits include: Broadway Christmas Wonderland Tokyo (Principal Vocalist), Frozen: A Musical Spectacular (Elsa), Tangled the Musical (Rapunzel), and the original cast of the off-broadway production Peace Love and Cupcakes (Kylie). Film Credits include: "The Father and the Bear", "Forever's End", "How It Ends", to name a few, all of which can be found on streaming services Amazon Prime and/or Vimeo. @charityleanna
AEA, SAG/AFTRA
CHELSEA NICOLE LAPP (Edna Disney, Walt and Roy) is an award-winning choreographer and performer from Southern California. Her work has been seen all over the United States, as well as in Uganda. Select performing credits: The Secret Garden (Martha), Little Women (U/S Jo & Meg), Carousel in Concert (Ensemble), Spring Awakening (Swing), Fiddler on the Roof (Hodel), All Shook Up (Natalie/Ed), Company (Marta), Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (Liza), Beauty and the Beast (Belle). Philippians 4:13.
CLAYTON SNYDER (Robert F. Kennedy, Freedom Riders) is a film, television, and stage actor and producer most known for his role as Ethan Craft on Disney Channel’s "Lizzie McGuire." After filming "The Lizzie McGuire Movie" in 2002, Clayton put acting on hold to focus on academics and water polo, attending Pepperdine University and eventually playing with the US Senior National Team and professionally in Europe. Clayton returned to acting in Los Angeles, appearing in dozens of short films, graduate student films, multiple web series, several independent projects streaming on Amazon Prime and Netflix, guest starring on "NCIS," and occasionally performing in improv shows. He has performed in musical productions including A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and The Root Beer Bandits at the Garry Marshall Theatre in Burbank, CA, as well as concert performances of Freedom Riders: The Civil Rights Musical and Starry.
SAG/AFTRA.
CONNER PEIRSON (Ub Iwerks, Walt and Roy) Stage credits include The Book of Mormon on Broadway/US tour and UK/EU touring company (Elder Cunningham), Little shop of Horrors (Seymour).
AEA.
DAVID S. HUMPHREY (Bigsby, Legendary) is excited to be a part of this wonderful virtual production and this amazingly talented cast. Credits include, National Tour: Forever Plaid and Plaid Tidings. Regional Theatre San Diego County: Spamalot, Invention of Love, A Little Night Music with Cygnet; The Secret Garden, Return to the Forbidden Planet with NVA; Mamma Mia!, The Music Man (Critics Circle Nomination), Oklahoma, Forever Plaid, Plaid Tidings, Carousel with The Welk Resort Theatre; 9 to 5 The Musical with SDMT; MIXTAPE, Les Miserables, The 39 Steps, The Foreigner, Boomers, The Secret Garden, Into The Woods, South Pacific, 1776, Cotton Patch Gospel with Lambs Players Theatre; Bleeding Kansas with Moxie Theatre; Guys and Dolls with Moonlight Amphitheatre; Tom Foolery with NCRT/Renaissance Theatre; 1776, I Love You You're Perfect…, Forever Plaid with San Diego CLO; Plaid Tidings with Broadway/San Diego; Forever Plaid with The Theatre in Old Town. Regional Theatre LA/Riverside County: Forever Plaid with CLO South Bay (Ovation Nomination); Plaid Tidings with La Mirada (Ovation Nomination); 1776 with Performance Riverside (Ovation Nomination). David is the original voice of Shadow
Shadow the Hedgehog for the Sonic the Hedgehog video games with the Sega Corp., and the voice of Jack Keane for the action/adventure pc game Jack Keane. David has been a proud member of Actors' Equity Association since 1998.
AEA, SAG/AFTRA.
DAVID LaMARR (Chase Glass, Legendary) National Tour—Jersey Boys (2nd National). Regional—Prather Entertainment: Lola in Kinky Boots; Delaware Theatre Company: A Sign of the Times (regional premiere); Baltimore Center Stage: SOUL: The Stax Musical (world premiere); McCoy Rigby Entertainment: Dreamgirls (Ovation Award Nominee); Tuacahn Amphitheatre: Disney’s When You Wish (world premiere), Disney’s The Little Mermaid (US regional premiere), Disney’s Mulan (world premiere); Maltz Jupiter Theatre: The Wiz; Cape Fear Regional Theatre: Ain’t Misbehavin'; Sierra Rep: Hairspray. International—Universal Studios Japan; Carnival Cruise Lines; Princess Cruises; Disney Cruise Lines: Villains Tonight! (world premiere). IG: @davidlamarr / Twitter: @david_lamarr
AEA.
DAVON WILLIAMS (Martin Luther King, Jr., Freedom Riders) His TED Talk, “The Secret To Success: A Story About A Son, His Mom, Trauma, And Cartoons,” has trended all over the world. His band, Davon & The Spectacle has headlined shows all over Asia, America, and now digitally during quarantine. He has launched a show called “The Receipts” where he interviews members of the theatre community and examines institutionalized racism within the industry. A member of AEA and SAG, he has acted on many stages and has many film/TV projects under his belt. Davon challenges all performers along with himself to be more than their resumes and use their art to bring about a more equal, equitable, and empathetic world. Www.davonwilliams.com (@daywilling)
AEA, SAG/AFTRA.
DEON'TE GOODMAN (Bernard Lafayette, Freedom Riders; Bayard Rustin, Bayard) is an Actor, Singer-Songwriter based in New York City. He currently performs in the Broadway company of Hamilton as ens/us Aaron Burr, George Washington, and Mulligan/Madison. NYC and regional credits: In The Heights (Benny) Songbird (Rip), Caroline, or Change (Dryer/Bus), Freedom Riders (Bernard Lafayette), The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Comfort Counselor), The Toxic Avenger (Black Dude), as well as several operatic roles. Goodman holds a Bachelor’s Degree in classical voice performance from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
deontegoodman14.com
@thedeontegoodman
AEA.
EBONI MUSE (Ruby Doris Smith, Freedom Riders) is a Pacific Conservatory for the Performing Arts alumni and a recipient of the Craig Noel Award Winner: Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical for her role as MotorMouth Maybelle in Hairspray. Credits: Audrey Two in Little Shop of Horrors (New Village Arts), Lady in Red in For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf (La Jolla Theatre Ensemble), Smokey Joe’s Café (New Village Arts), Lead Female Vocalist in O’ Wondrous Night (SeaWorld San Diego), MotorMouth Maybelle in Hairspray (San Diego Musical Theatre), Ensemble in Freedom Riders: A Civil Rights Musical in Concert (Lamb’s Players Theatre), Leader in Father Comes Home from the Wars (Horton Grand Theatre), Marlena Madison in Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story (Horton Grand Theatre and New Village Arts), Gary Coleman in Avenue Q (OB Playhouse), Addaperle in The Wiz (The Lyceum Theatre), Female Vocalist for Shamu Christmas Miracles (SeaWorld San Diego).
"It's always hard for people of color to live in their truth; I thank God that I've been able to breathe in mine.”
EBONY PULLUM (Etta Simpson, Freedom Riders) is a Philadelphia based actress, singer and teaching Artist. One of her most recent credits include “Shug Avery”(Barrymore Winner) in The Color Purple at Theater Horizon in Phila, PA.
EDRED UTOMI (John Lewis, Bayard) currently stars as Alexander Hamilton in the musical Hamilton. After graduating from the University of San Diego in 2013, he worked professionally in many Southern California theatres (Moonlight, 3DT, Old Globe, etc.) for five years before moving and setting up shop in New York City. You can follow all of his adventures on Instagram. @edredutomi
AEA.
ERIN VANDERHYDE (Lucretia Collins, Freedom Riders) graduated from San Diego State University where she received her Bachelors in Theatre. She is grateful to have been apart of Freedom Riders: The Civil Rights Musical performing in concerts in San Diego, Los Angeles, and New York. Other notable performances for Vanderhyde include but are not limited to: Sylvia in All Shook Up (SDMT), Matron Mama Morton in Chicago (Torentino Music Festival), Enid in Legally Blonde the Musical (New Village Arts), Motormouth Maybelle in Hairspray, and Sarah’s Friend in Ragtime. Erin also performs regularly at Legoland California as a singer/performer.
GRANDISON M PHELPS, III (Jim Scott, Legendary) is an award winning actor, having performed in numerous productions throughout Southern California including: The Ballad of Emmitt Till (Ion Theatre), six of August Wilson’s 10-Cycle Plays (Cygnet Theatre and Octad Productions), Camelot in Concert (The Barnstage Company), And Still I Rise (one-man show), the title role in Othello (Octad Productions), The Gospel of Colonus (Ira Aldrige Players), As You Like It (New Village Arts Theatre), I Am A Man (San Diego Black Ensemble), Sweet Bird of Youth (La Jolla P;ayhouse), Kill A Mockingbird and the annual productions (25yrs) of An American Christmas (Lambs Players), where he had the joy of performing with a young Taran Gray and watching him grow into the talented man he is today! Grandison is excited to be involved with Taran and this talented cast and crew to tell this story in an innovative way. Coming together in a positive way despite the viral and racial pandemics facing this country and this world!
EMC.
JAMILAH ROSEMOND (Dorothy Height, Bayard) is so excited and grateful to be apart of the cast of Bayard. She is a musical theater major, minoring in business in entertainment at NYU Tisch and some of her favorite credits include: Robinette in the U.S. touring show, Henry Box Brown; the host of American Girl’s web series, "AG Life;" host of Youtube web series, "Dream Mining;" performer/writer in Girl Be Heard’s mainstage show, 2030: The Future is Ours; and Emily (supporting) in the NYMF’s Peace, Love, and Cupcakes. When Jamilah is not performing, she is working on her girl empowerment blog, "Girls with Beauty & Brains"! A huge thanks to the directors, cast, and crew. She would also like to thank God for this opportunity.
Instagram: @jmils
JENNIFER LEIGH WARREN (Julia Rustin, Bayard) is a critically acclaimed actress/singer lauded for her show-stopping Broadway performances as the original "Alice's Daughter" in Big River (singing the song "How Blest We Are" written for her by Roger Miller), the original "Crystal" in the Howard Ashman/Alan Menken hit Little Shop of Horrors, the original Lincoln Center cast of Marie Christine, and the Muse in the original Off-Broadway Drama Desk Award nominated Lonesome Traveler.
She recently performed with the LA Philharmonic in the Power To The People concert at the Disney Concert Hall and last year in the FOX television musical event "Rent: Live" showcasing her acting and singing versatility as Mrs. Jefferson, Mrs. Cohen, Support Sue, and the Homeless bag lady known as the “who the F lady.”
She is featured on the Grammy award nominated cast albums of both Big River and Little Shop of Horrors and sang on the "Stephen Schwartz Album" and in the Stephen Schwartz Concert at the Ford Amphitheatre.
She starred as “the Blues Singer” in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd & 4th National tours of A Night with
Janis Joplin (USA, Canada) with independent productions at Houston’s Alley Theater, North Carolina Theatre, LaMirada, CA Theater and Ivoryton, CT Theatre. A Night with Janis Joplin was filmed and recently released in movie theaters across the country and is now streaming at BroadwayHD.com.
Regional credits include: Miss Emma in the beautiful new Brett Ryback/Eric Ulloa musical Passing Through (Goodspeed Musicals), Lalume in Kismet, Cleo in The Most Happy Fella, and a show stopping Sheila in Hair with a vocal arrangement made for her by the great Peter Matz (Reprise!), Medda in Newsies, and Dragon in Shrek (Tuacahn), BOTH Addaperle AND Evilene in the same production of The Wiz (Arkansas Rep), proudly portrayed Thelma Mothershed in Little Rock: the story of the Little Rock Nine (TheatreWorks), Gretchen Cryer’s I’m Still Getting My Act Together (Laguna Playhouse), her NAACP Theatre award-nominated performance as Julia in Having It All (NoHo Arts), The Education of Randy Newman (South Coast Rep), The Princess & the Black-Eyed Pea (San Diego Rep), The Muse in Lonesome Traveler (Rubicon Theatre) and she was a member of Sir Peter Hall’s Shakespeare Repertory Company at the Ahmanson Theater. Warren’s international credits include singing a duet with Al Jarreau in Denmark in the TV special entitled, “Musical Of The Year,” televised live to thirty countries. She re-created her Broadway role of Alice’s Daughter in Big River in Japan with a Japanese cast, singing her gospel number in Japanese. She also appeared in the musical Juni Ka Getsu No Nina (“Nina & The 12 Months”), in the role of Noyabre, with a song written for her by Bolshoi Ballet composer, Rodion Schedrin, and choreographed by Maya Plisetskaya. This show represented the first American, Russian and Japanese collaboration on a new musical. On "The Tonight Show," Conan and Jimmy Kimmel, she performed with Broken Bells, The Kills, Trombone Shorty, Moon Taxi, Lisa Loeb and OK Go. At Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Rose Hall she performed honoring Ron Howard, Brian Grazer, and Marcia Gaye Harden and opened for Steve Tyrell at the Americana at Brand. Feature films include: Garry Marshall’s "Valentine’s Day," "The Other Sister," and "Dear God," Allison Anders & Martin Scorsese’s "Grace of my Heart," Sean Penn’s "The Crossing Guard," Larry David’s "Sour Grapes." Television includes: "Pretty Little Liars," "Lipstick Jungle," "Dirt," "ER," "Scrubs," "The Game," "Touched by an Angel," "All my Children." Awards: LA Ovation Award winner with multiple nominations, Backstage Award, Dartmouth College Creative Arts Award, two BroadwayWorld awards (seven nominations) for her solo concert show, Diamonds Are Forever: Songs of Dame Shirley Bassey directed by Richard Jay-Alexander and for the Lythgoe Family Cinderella Christmas Panto in the same year. She is a proud AEA, SAG/AFTRA member. www.JenniferLeighWarren.com @theOriginalJLW
AEA, SAG/AFTRA.
Virtual Program
Production Team
AHMED ALABACA (Music Director, Bayard) is an African American composer, conductor, song-writer, pianist, and community facilitator. Creating power and possibility, through music, for himself and the diverse communities he is a part of is the bases of Ahmed’s work. Raised in San Bernardino, CA, in a low-income community, Ahmed knows the value of hard work and perseverance in the face of systemic and interpersonal challenges. Ahmed’s vision is “a new renaissance” for underrepresented composers, which centers the works of people of color, and creates opportunities to perform, record, and archive their work. Ahmed received his B.A. in Music from Hunter College in New York, and attended advanced classes in film scoring at Juilliard and UCLA extension. While in New York, Ahmed also scored three new plays and one new musical, including Eaten Voices which won Best of Festival at the 2012 Thespis Theatre Festival and a cash prize of $5,000. In 2014 Ahmed moved to Los Angeles, CA where he has scored several web series, television shows, and short films including: "I Too Am America," written and directed by Shehkshem Ebron; Emmy award winning web
ANDREW FISH BOOTH (Sound Designer) is ecstatic to be back in his natural habitat working on theatrical productions. He has spent the past 8 years travelling to elementary schools in all 50 states as well as the UK, Canada, Scotland, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand doing character building motivational assemblies to over a million kids so far. In the past, he has performed on stage as Roger in “Rent”, Berger in “Hair” and being a part of the 9 Act, 2 part epic Kentucky Cycle that he was a part of at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Audio wise, he has done sound design for over 30 shows audio engineered many more. You can see more of his work currently making video content for kids at both his personal youtube channel www.youtube.com/thespianfish and at youtube.com/thenedshows.
BENJAMIN A. VIGIL (Production Stage Manager; Stage Manager, Freedom Riders, Walt and Roy) is a NYC-based stage manager and actor. He’s ecstatic to be back with Allen and Gray after collaborating on Freedom Riders and Bayard. Select SM credits: Much Ado About Nothing (Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival), Citizen Be Heard (Girl Be Heard), Vietnam..through my lens (LSNelson Productions), Keaton and the Whale (Amas Musical Theatre), Cabaret (The Gallery Players), How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying (PPAS), Galapagos (Arboretum Productions). Thanks to Mom, Dad, Sam, Brittany, and everyone who has helped, in any capacity, along the way! Please consider donating to the organization of your choice to help advance this country that so many individuals call home. @benjaminavigil
CHARITY FARRELL's (Festival Coordinator) live theatre credits include: Broadway Christmas Wonderland Tokyo (Principal Vocalist), Frozen: A Musical Spectacular (Elsa), Tangled the Musical (Rapunzel), and the original cast of the off-broadway production Peace Love and Cupcakes (Kylie). Film Credits include: "The Father and the Bear", "Forever's End", "How It Ends", to name a few, all of which can be found on streaming services Amazon Prime and/or Vimeo. @charityleanna
AEA, SAG/AFTRA
CHARLIE REUTER (Music Director, Walt and Roy) is a music director and conductor based out of NYC. Often developing new works, he served as the assistant conductor for A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder (The Old Globe), The Prince of Egypt (Tuacahn), was part of Peter and the Starcatcher (La Jolla Playhouse), and worked with Trevor Nunn to adapt an original score for Pericles (TFANA). He holds an MFA in Musical Theatre from San Diego State University, and studied orchestral conducting at Juilliard.
CHARLES SMITH II (Allen and Gray Associate)
CHRISTINE LAUER (Stage Manager, Legendary) received her B.A. in Technical Theatre with a concentration in Stage Management and minors in Voiceover and Fashion Business from Columbia College Chicago. Some of her favorite Chicago credits include: SM for Big Fish (BoHo Theatre), The Ballad of Lefty and Crabbe (Underscore Theatre), and ASM for Encounter Festival (Goodman Theatre). When she is not working Christine enjoys living her life like Elle Woods did after Warner told her she was not smart enough for Law School. “Don’t dream it, be it.”
KEVIN POLLACK (Technical Director, Festival Coordinators) is very excited to be part of Freedom Riders and Bayard as part of the Allen & Gray Theater Festival. Past favorite notable credits include playing Joe Cocker in Black Ensemble Theater's Jeff Award-Nominated production of Men of Soul, Roger Ebert in Black Ensemble Theater's The Black/White Love Play: The Story of Chaz and Roger Ebert and Male Understudy in Chicago Theatre Workshop's Midwest premiere of Little Miss Sunshine: The Musical. Throughout the year you can catch him as Joliet Jake in The Blooze Brothers, the #1 Blues Brothers tribute in the Midwest. He has also performed in Las Vegas to a sold-out audience at the Southpoint Casino and at The Smith Center. You can get his 3 singles, "Holiday," "Man About Town" and "Something Good (Is Comin' Down)" on iTunes, Amazon, Google Music and other music retailers online.
LORNE “LONNIE” HUGHES (Festival Producer; Co-Director, Bayard), manager and creative consultant at Hughes International, is a dream builder for small business and entrepreneurs. He specializes in helping high-level executives bridge the gap between their creative dreams and their business goals. Mr. Hughes has a long and successful track record of fusing leadership and artistic vision into a cohesive creative strategy.
He began his career at MTV Networks while pursuing a psychology degree at Adelphi University in New York. Recruited as an on-air dancer, he transitioned into an executive role in casting, while gaining renown for his performances on the hit show CLUB MTV. He became a network spokesman, representing CLUB MTV in live and television appearances, including “The Ace Awards,” the Joan Rivers Show, Rick Dees, Into the Night, and the Phil Donahue Show. Soon, Mr. Hughes became a regular entertainer for private events, on-air interviews, and publications, including People Magazine, The Daily News and Post Newspaper.
Building on his experience as an entertainer, leader, and entrepreneur, Mr. Hughes brought his brand of authentic inspiration to the entertainment
industry. In addition to appearing in TV series and movies, including "ER," "Mad Men," and "Desperate Housewives," he began writing, developing strong minority voices in several screenplays and a novel, Hollywood Junkie. He produced and directed Hollywood Junkie as a 10-minute short film called “ANONYMOUSLY FAMOUS,” which was featured in Talent in Motion magazine, garnering him the title “The Renaissance Man.” He has been a co-director on several projects, including “DRIVEN,” and most recently completed a provocative coffee Table book, “When was the last time you were Nice to someone” with illustrations and interviews from random strangers. Mr. Hughes was recently nominated BEST WRITER for an Original Play, at the 2019 Valley Village Awards with his sold out play TALKING TREES.
SAG/AFTRA
RACHEL ELISE JOHNSON (Associate Producer; Director, Legendary) is the Executive Director of Underscore Theatre Company, a producer, director, actor, and singer. She most recently co-directed The Last Five Years (JPAC) and Carrie 2: The Rage (Underscore) with Isaac Loomer. Rachel acts as the Producer for the Chicago Musical Theater Festival and co-producer of the Tiny Storefront Concerts. In her time in Chicago she acted in several plays and musicals throughout the Chicago-land area, including her roles as the Sour Kangaroo in Seussical (Big Noise Theater Company) and Diva in Priscilla Queen of the Desert (JPAC). Rachel lives in Chicago, is a math professor at Harry S Truman College and DePaul University, and couldn't be more grateful to have worked with such a talented team in this amazing festival.
RYAN NORTON (Producer; Co-Director, Bayard) served eight seasons as the Associate Artistic Producer and Casting Coordinator for Tuacahn Center for the Arts in St. George, Utah. There he produced over 25 large-scale musicals for the state of the art 2000 seat amphitheater. These musicals included regional premieres for Disney Theatrical Group such as Tarzan, The Little Mermaid, and Mary Poppins, as well as the original musical When You Wish a Disney Songbook. Mr. Norton also served as the associate director for several of the productions including the regional premiere of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Starlight Express for the Really Useful Group and the second US production of The Prince of Egypt with Stephen Schwartz and NBC-Universal. He produced three seasons of Tuacahn's New Works series providing opportunities for new musicals to perform as staged readings. In 2013, Mr. Norton made his Tuacahn and regional directorial debut with Tuacahn's premiere of Disney's Mulan. Other directing credits include Oliver!, Seussical the Musical, The Spitfire Grill, Disney's Beauty and the Beast and Disney's High School Musical. Film directing credit: "Austin's Christmas Wish." Mr. Norton has been a member of National Alliance For Musical Theatre and served on the membership and New Works Festival selection committees.
STEVEN CUEVAS (Music Director, Freedom Riders) is a music director, musician, actor, and singer. He was most recently the Music Director and Conductor of the first national tour of the Tony Award-winning revival of Once On This Island. Broadway: Once On This Island, Anastasia, Kinky Boots. Off-Broadway: I Spy a Spy, We Are The Tigers, Trip of Love, Closer Than Ever, Iron Curtain. Tours: Kinky Boots, Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical, Spring Awakening, My Fair Lady (Marina Bay Sands, Singapore). Recordings: Once On This Island, How the Grinch…, Monstersongs. Steven is the Chair of Local 802 AFM’s Diversity Committee and a voting member of the Recording Academy/Grammy Awards. BFA Musical Theatre: Emerson College. @StevenMCuevas
AFM, Local 802, AEA
TYLER TAFOLLA (Web Designer) is a Musical Theatre Composer and Book Writer. Tyler is best known for his new musical Scott Robbins and the Traveling Show, which premiered as a workshop at AMDA College and Conservatory of the Performing Arts in Hollywood and has since been performed in numerous locations in both New York and Los Angeles including The New York Theatre Festival: Summerfest and LA's Rockwell Table and Stage. Tyler is currently working on a new musical song-cycle called Seasons. A concept album of the show will be streaming on all streaming platforms later this year. Tyler is also well known as a performer in Cirque Electrique at Sea World San Diego. Favorite theatre credits include Scott (Scott Robbins and the Traveling Show), Princeton/Rod (Avenue Q), and Marius (Les Miserables).
Instagram:@tatafolla
Instagram: @scottrobbinsnewmusical
CHELSEA NICOLE LAPP (Choreographer, Walt and Roy) is an award-winning choreographer and performer from Southern California. Her work has been seen all over the United States, as well as in Uganda. Select performing credits: The Secret Garden (Martha), Little Women (U/S Jo & Meg), Carousel in Concert (Ensemble), Spring Awakening (Swing), Fiddler on the Roof (Hodel), All Shook Up (Natalie/Ed), Company (Marta), Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (Liza), Beauty and the Beast (Belle). Philippians 4:13.
ANDREA WALES (Stage Manager, Bayard) Broadway: First Date, Anything Goes, Cabaret. Regional: The Sting, Annie, A Christmas Story, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, and South Pacific at PMP. The Queens of the Golden Mask, The Girl with the Alkaline Eyes (The Chase Brock Experience), Hairspray, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Peter Pan, Tarzan, A Little Night Music, Romeo and Juliet, Love's Labour's Lost, and The 39 Steps. Industrials & Corporate Events.
AEA.
Actors
AJA DOWNING (Ella Baker, Bayard; Twilight, Legendary) is extremely pleased and excited to be a part of this project and ready for all the projects to come. Aja graduated from The American Musical Arts Academy in 2016. Some of Aja's previous roles were Annette in TjLovesSally4eva, Fairy Godmother in Cinderella, Jojo in Cher Chez Le Femme, Cassandra in Alex and Eugene, Christine Daè in The Phantom of the Opera, Aida in Aida, and Ella Baker in Bayard: a New Musical. Aja would like to thank her Mom and dad for all their support and love! And also thanks the incredible cast and crew of Bayard and Legendary!
AEA.
ALEX ARTHUR (Lilly Disney, Walt and Roy) is an actor, singer, and producer based in New York City. Favorite regional/university theatre credits include: Mother Courage (Bertolt Brecht’s Mother Courage and Her Children), Cinderella (Into the Woods), The Baker’s Wife (Into the Woods), Mrs Lovett (Sweeney Todd), Pooker (The Country Club), Maria Bertram (Mansfield Park), Eponine (Les Miserables), Mrs. Pennywise (Urinetown), Gabby Bobby (City of Angels), Rosa Bud (The Mystery of Edwin Drood), Fastrada (Pippin), and others. Film/television: "MORE" (James Morosini), "Via Dolorosa" (Jake Orthwein) "Kept" (Monica Zinn), "Stuck in the Middle" (Sam Hayes), "Splitting the Bill" (Austin Kolodney), and "Live, Laugh, Love" (Cannes Film Festival). She's a founding member of 501 (c)3 non-profit theatre company, New Guard Theater Company and Public Assembly Theatre Company in Los Angeles, CA. Graduate of The University of Southern California BFA Acting program.
SAG/AFTRA, AEA.
ANTHONY CHATMAN II (John Lewis, Freedom Riders) Broadway: Hadestown (Orpheus/Hermes Us), Be More Chill (Michael/Jake/Rich Us). National Tours: Fiasco Theater’s Into the Woods (Cinderella’s Prince), The Book of Mormon (Doctor). TV: “Bull” (CBS), “The Other Two” (Comedy Central), “Law & Order: SVU” (NBC), “Blue Bloods” (CBS).
AEA, SAG/AFTRA,
ASPEN VINCENT (Jane Tyler, Legendary) Broadway: American Idiot (swing, Extraordinary Girl Understudy); National Tours: Dirty Dancing (lead vocalist, Baby understudy); Broadway Las Vegas: We Will Rock You (Scaramouche); Regional: Sleeping Beauty Wakes (Rose), West Side Story (Maria), Grease (Sandy), Once Upon A Mattress (Princess Winnifred); Meat Loaf world tours '06-'07 (duet partner); Voiceovers: "As Told By Ginger" (Dodie Bishop), "Rugrats," "Fairly Odd Parents," "Everquest II."
AEA, SAG/AFTRA.
BARRY ANDERSON (Ben Zuchman, Legendary) previously collaborated with Richard and Taran on the 2017 NYMF production of Freedom Riders. He spent six years playing Bob Crewe in the Broadway and 2nd National Tour companies of Jersey Boys. Other Broadway: Legally Blonde The Musical (Aaron Schultz). Regional theatre: Ogunquit Playhouse, North Shore Music Theatre, The Fireside Theatre, Charleston Stage Company, Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre, The Little Theatre on the Square, Allenberry Playhouse. TV/Film: "30 Rock," "Alternatino," "As The World Turns," "Oblivio," "The Artifice," "Guided By Voices," "Rabbit Hole". Barry is a songwriter and holds a music degree from The University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire. Instagram: @barryanderson123 & @andersonandpetty.
AEA, SAG/AFTRA.
BRYAN BARBARIN (Reverend Abernathy, Freedom Riders; Russell Gibbs, Legendary) has worked in and out of the theatre for the past decade and now plays in two international touring bands, The Routine & Steam Powered Giraffe. He is honored to take part in these new works and happy to do it amongst such talent.
BRYAN PORTER (T-Bone, Walt and Roy) is a Los Angeles based Voiceover Artist and Actor. Originally from Minnesota, his voice can be heard in commercials for Microsoft, Target, Best Buy, Big Lots, Foot Locker, and others. His voice can also be heard on "Paw Patrol" (Nickelodeon), as well as in several nationally-distributed videogames (Ori and the Will O’ The Wisps as “Grom,” Magic the Gathering as “Ral Zarek”). As an actor, Bryan has appeared with "Dear White People" (Lionsgate), "In an Instant" (ABC), "Battle Universe" (Disney), and "Real Husbands of Hollywood" opposite Kevin Hart (BET).. He honed his acting skills in over 30 professional theater productions around the country; Including Tony Award-winning venues like the Mark Taper Forum, Guthrie Theater, and Children's Theater Company. He is represented for Voiceover by Dean Panaro of Dean Panaro Talent, Theatrically by KMR, and Commercially by Daniel Hoff.
AEA, SAG/AFTRA.
BRYNN WILLIAMS (Diane Nash, Freedom Riders; Rubee Scott, Legendary) was most recently seen as Violet Beaureguarde in the first national tour of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Favorite credits include understudy for Sandy Cheeks and Pearl Krabs in Spongebob Squarepants on Broadway, Cassie in the original Broadway cast of 13, and Diane Nash in Freedom Riders!
AEA.
CARTREZE TUCKER (Adam Clayton Powell, Bayard) Select credits: The Color Purple (National Tour), Motown: The Musical (National Tour), HAIR (National/International Tour), Trav’lin: The 1930s Harlem Musical, Raisin: The Musical, Disney's Tarzan: A New Musical, Sister Act, Disney's Little Mermaid, Miss Saigon, RENT, Hairspray.
EMC.
CAVIN MOHRHARDT (Fred, Walt and Roy) is originally from Grand Rapids, MI and now calls North Hollywood his home. A proud member of both AEA and SAG, Cavin splits his time between being a company member at the Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum in Topanga, and running Equerry and Ace; an equestrian center that specializes in training stunt performers for horse and weapons related work. Recent credits include: Sebastian in 12th Night, Ishmael in Moby Dick Rehearsed, and Utility stunt work on the FOX show "Deputy." Cavin is extremely grateful for this wonderful opportunity to collaborate with some exceptional artists for a truly phenomenal cause. Thanks to Richard for bringing him on board.
AEA, SAG/AFTRA.
CHARITY FARRELL's (Max Tyler, Legendary) live theatre credits include: Broadway Christmas Wonderland Tokyo (Principal Vocalist), Frozen: A Musical Spectacular (Elsa), Tangled the Musical (Rapunzel), and the original cast of the off-broadway production Peace Love and Cupcakes (Kylie). Film Credits include: "The Father and the Bear", "Forever's End", "How It Ends", to name a few, all of which can be found on streaming services Amazon Prime and/or Vimeo. @charityleanna
AEA, SAG/AFTRA
CHELSEA NICOLE LAPP (Edna Disney, Walt and Roy) is an award-winning choreographer and performer from Southern California. Her work has been seen all over the United States, as well as in Uganda. Select performing credits: The Secret Garden (Martha), Little Women (U/S Jo & Meg), Carousel in Concert (Ensemble), Spring Awakening (Swing), Fiddler on the Roof (Hodel), All Shook Up (Natalie/Ed), Company (Marta), Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (Liza), Beauty and the Beast (Belle). Philippians 4:13.
CLAYTON SNYDER (Robert F. Kennedy, Freedom Riders) is a film, television, and stage actor and producer most known for his role as Ethan Craft on Disney Channel’s "Lizzie McGuire." After filming "The Lizzie McGuire Movie" in 2002, Clayton put acting on hold to focus on academics and water polo, attending Pepperdine University and eventually playing with the US Senior National Team and professionally in Europe. Clayton returned to acting in Los Angeles, appearing in dozens of short films, graduate student films, multiple web series, several independent projects streaming on Amazon Prime and Netflix, guest starring on "NCIS," and occasionally performing in improv shows. He has performed in musical productions including A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and The Root Beer Bandits at the Garry Marshall Theatre in Burbank, CA, as well as concert performances of Freedom Riders: The Civil Rights Musical and Starry.
SAG/AFTRA.
CONNER PEIRSON (Ub Iwerks, Walt and Roy) Stage credits include The Book of Mormon on Broadway/US tour and UK/EU touring company (Elder Cunningham), Little shop of Horrors (Seymour).
AEA.
DAVID S. HUMPHREY (Bigsby, Legendary) is excited to be a part of this wonderful virtual production and this amazingly talented cast. Credits include, National Tour: Forever Plaid and Plaid Tidings. Regional Theatre San Diego County: Spamalot, Invention of Love, A Little Night Music with Cygnet; The Secret Garden, Return to the Forbidden Planet with NVA; Mamma Mia!, The Music Man (Critics Circle Nomination), Oklahoma, Forever Plaid, Plaid Tidings, Carousel with The Welk Resort Theatre; 9 to 5 The Musical with SDMT; MIXTAPE, Les Miserables, The 39 Steps, The Foreigner, Boomers, The Secret Garden, Into The Woods, South Pacific, 1776, Cotton Patch Gospel with Lambs Players Theatre; Bleeding Kansas with Moxie Theatre; Guys and Dolls with Moonlight Amphitheatre; Tom Foolery with NCRT/Renaissance Theatre; 1776, I Love You You're Perfect…, Forever Plaid with San Diego CLO; Plaid Tidings with Broadway/San Diego; Forever Plaid with The Theatre in Old Town. Regional Theatre LA/Riverside County: Forever Plaid with CLO South Bay (Ovation Nomination); Plaid Tidings with La Mirada (Ovation Nomination); 1776 with Performance Riverside (Ovation Nomination). David is the original voice of Shadow
Shadow the Hedgehog for the Sonic the Hedgehog video games with the Sega Corp., and the voice of Jack Keane for the action/adventure pc game Jack Keane. David has been a proud member of Actors' Equity Association since 1998.
AEA, SAG/AFTRA.
DAVID LaMARR (Chase Glass, Legendary) National Tour—Jersey Boys (2nd National). Regional—Prather Entertainment: Lola in Kinky Boots; Delaware Theatre Company: A Sign of the Times (regional premiere); Baltimore Center Stage: SOUL: The Stax Musical (world premiere); McCoy Rigby Entertainment: Dreamgirls (Ovation Award Nominee); Tuacahn Amphitheatre: Disney’s When You Wish (world premiere), Disney’s The Little Mermaid (US regional premiere), Disney’s Mulan (world premiere); Maltz Jupiter Theatre: The Wiz; Cape Fear Regional Theatre: Ain’t Misbehavin'; Sierra Rep: Hairspray. International—Universal Studios Japan; Carnival Cruise Lines; Princess Cruises; Disney Cruise Lines: Villains Tonight! (world premiere). IG: @davidlamarr / Twitter: @david_lamarr
AEA.
DAVON WILLIAMS (Martin Luther King, Jr., Freedom Riders) His TED Talk, “The Secret To Success: A Story About A Son, His Mom, Trauma, And Cartoons,” has trended all over the world. His band, Davon & The Spectacle has headlined shows all over Asia, America, and now digitally during quarantine. He has launched a show called “The Receipts” where he interviews members of the theatre community and examines institutionalized racism within the industry. A member of AEA and SAG, he has acted on many stages and has many film/TV projects under his belt. Davon challenges all performers along with himself to be more than their resumes and use their art to bring about a more equal, equitable, and empathetic world. Www.davonwilliams.com (@daywilling)
AEA, SAG/AFTRA.
DEON'TE GOODMAN (Bernard Lafayette, Freedom Riders; Bayard Rustin, Bayard) is an Actor, Singer-Songwriter based in New York City. He currently performs in the Broadway company of Hamilton as ens/us Aaron Burr, George Washington, and Mulligan/Madison. NYC and regional credits: In The Heights (Benny) Songbird (Rip), Caroline, or Change (Dryer/Bus), Freedom Riders (Bernard Lafayette), The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Comfort Counselor), The Toxic Avenger (Black Dude), as well as several operatic roles. Goodman holds a Bachelor’s Degree in classical voice performance from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
deontegoodman14.com
@thedeontegoodman
AEA.
EBONI MUSE (Ruby Doris Smith, Freedom Riders) is a Pacific Conservatory for the Performing Arts alumni and a recipient of the Craig Noel Award Winner: Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical for her role as MotorMouth Maybelle in Hairspray. Credits: Audrey Two in Little Shop of Horrors (New Village Arts), Lady in Red in For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf (La Jolla Theatre Ensemble), Smokey Joe’s Café (New Village Arts), Lead Female Vocalist in O’ Wondrous Night (SeaWorld San Diego), MotorMouth Maybelle in Hairspray (San Diego Musical Theatre), Ensemble in Freedom Riders: A Civil Rights Musical in Concert (Lamb’s Players Theatre), Leader in Father Comes Home from the Wars (Horton Grand Theatre), Marlena Madison in Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story (Horton Grand Theatre and New Village Arts), Gary Coleman in Avenue Q (OB Playhouse), Addaperle in The Wiz (The Lyceum Theatre), Female Vocalist for Shamu Christmas Miracles (SeaWorld San Diego).
"It's always hard for people of color to live in their truth; I thank God that I've been able to breathe in mine.”
EBONY PULLUM (Etta Simpson, Freedom Riders) is a Philadelphia based actress, singer and teaching Artist. One of her most recent credits include “Shug Avery”(Barrymore Winner) in The Color Purple at Theater Horizon in Phila, PA.
EDRED UTOMI (John Lewis, Bayard) currently stars as Alexander Hamilton in the musical Hamilton. After graduating from the University of San Diego in 2013, he worked professionally in many Southern California theatres (Moonlight, 3DT, Old Globe, etc.) for five years before moving and setting up shop in New York City. You can follow all of his adventures on Instagram. @edredutomi
AEA.
ERIN VANDERHYDE (Lucretia Collins, Freedom Riders) graduated from San Diego State University where she received her Bachelors in Theatre. She is grateful to have been apart of Freedom Riders: The Civil Rights Musical performing in concerts in San Diego, Los Angeles, and New York. Other notable performances for Vanderhyde include but are not limited to: Sylvia in All Shook Up (SDMT), Matron Mama Morton in Chicago (Torentino Music Festival), Enid in Legally Blonde the Musical (New Village Arts), Motormouth Maybelle in Hairspray, and Sarah’s Friend in Ragtime. Erin also performs regularly at Legoland California as a singer/performer.
GRANDISON M PHELPS, III (Jim Scott, Legendary) is an award winning actor, having performed in numerous productions throughout Southern California including: The Ballad of Emmitt Till (Ion Theatre), six of August Wilson’s 10-Cycle Plays (Cygnet Theatre and Octad Productions), Camelot in Concert (The Barnstage Company), And Still I Rise (one-man show), the title role in Othello (Octad Productions), The Gospel of Colonus (Ira Aldrige Players), As You Like It (New Village Arts Theatre), I Am A Man (San Diego Black Ensemble), Sweet Bird of Youth (La Jolla P;ayhouse), Kill A Mockingbird and the annual productions (25yrs) of An American Christmas (Lambs Players), where he had the joy of performing with a young Taran Gray and watching him grow into the talented man he is today! Grandison is excited to be involved with Taran and this talented cast and crew to tell this story in an innovative way. Coming together in a positive way despite the viral and racial pandemics facing this country and this world!
EMC.
JAMILAH ROSEMOND (Dorothy Height, Bayard) is so excited and grateful to be apart of the cast of Bayard. She is a musical theater major, minoring in business in entertainment at NYU Tisch and some of her favorite credits include: Robinette in the U.S. touring show, Henry Box Brown; the host of American Girl’s web series, "AG Life;" host of Youtube web series, "Dream Mining;" performer/writer in Girl Be Heard’s mainstage show, 2030: The Future is Ours; and Emily (supporting) in the NYMF’s Peace, Love, and Cupcakes. When Jamilah is not performing, she is working on her girl empowerment blog, "Girls with Beauty & Brains"! A huge thanks to the directors, cast, and crew. She would also like to thank God for this opportunity.
Instagram: @jmils
JENNIFER LEIGH WARREN (Julia Rustin, Bayard) is a critically acclaimed actress/singer lauded for her show-stopping Broadway performances as the original "Alice's Daughter" in Big River (singing the song "How Blest We Are" written for her by Roger Miller), the original "Crystal" in the Howard Ashman/Alan Menken hit Little Shop of Horrors, the original Lincoln Center cast of Marie Christine, and the Muse in the original Off-Broadway Drama Desk Award nominated Lonesome Traveler.
She recently performed with the LA Philharmonic in the Power To The People concert at the Disney Concert Hall and last year in the FOX television musical event "Rent: Live" showcasing her acting and singing versatility as Mrs. Jefferson, Mrs. Cohen, Support Sue, and the Homeless bag lady known as the “who the F lady.”
She is featured on the Grammy award nominated cast albums of both Big River and Little Shop of Horrors and sang on the "Stephen Schwartz Album" and in the Stephen Schwartz Concert at the Ford Amphitheatre.
She starred as “the Blues Singer” in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd & 4th National tours of A Night with
Janis Joplin (USA, Canada) with independent productions at Houston’s Alley Theater, North Carolina Theatre, LaMirada, CA Theater and Ivoryton, CT Theatre. A Night with Janis Joplin was filmed and recently released in movie theaters across the country and is now streaming at BroadwayHD.com.
Regional credits include: Miss Emma in the beautiful new Brett Ryback/Eric Ulloa musical Passing Through (Goodspeed Musicals), Lalume in Kismet, Cleo in The Most Happy Fella, and a show stopping Sheila in Hair with a vocal arrangement made for her by the great Peter Matz (Reprise!), Medda in Newsies, and Dragon in Shrek (Tuacahn), BOTH Addaperle AND Evilene in the same production of The Wiz (Arkansas Rep), proudly portrayed Thelma Mothershed in Little Rock: the story of the Little Rock Nine (TheatreWorks), Gretchen Cryer’s I’m Still Getting My Act Together (Laguna Playhouse), her NAACP Theatre award-nominated performance as Julia in Having It All (NoHo Arts), The Education of Randy Newman (South Coast Rep), The Princess & the Black-Eyed Pea (San Diego Rep), The Muse in Lonesome Traveler (Rubicon Theatre) and she was a member of Sir Peter Hall’s Shakespeare Repertory Company at the Ahmanson Theater. Warren’s international credits include singing a duet with Al Jarreau in Denmark in the TV special entitled, “Musical Of The Year,” televised live to thirty countries. She re-created her Broadway role of Alice’s Daughter in Big River in Japan with a Japanese cast, singing her gospel number in Japanese. She also appeared in the musical Juni Ka Getsu No Nina (“Nina & The 12 Months”), in the role of Noyabre, with a song written for her by Bolshoi Ballet composer, Rodion Schedrin, and choreographed by Maya Plisetskaya. This show represented the first American, Russian and Japanese collaboration on a new musical. On "The Tonight Show," Conan and Jimmy Kimmel, she performed with Broken Bells, The Kills, Trombone Shorty, Moon Taxi, Lisa Loeb and OK Go. At Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Rose Hall she performed honoring Ron Howard, Brian Grazer, and Marcia Gaye Harden and opened for Steve Tyrell at the Americana at Brand. Feature films include: Garry Marshall’s "Valentine’s Day," "The Other Sister," and "Dear God," Allison Anders & Martin Scorsese’s "Grace of my Heart," Sean Penn’s "The Crossing Guard," Larry David’s "Sour Grapes." Television includes: "Pretty Little Liars," "Lipstick Jungle," "Dirt," "ER," "Scrubs," "The Game," "Touched by an Angel," "All my Children." Awards: LA Ovation Award winner with multiple nominations, Backstage Award, Dartmouth College Creative Arts Award, two BroadwayWorld awards (seven nominations) for her solo concert show, Diamonds Are Forever: Songs of Dame Shirley Bassey directed by Richard Jay-Alexander and for the Lythgoe Family Cinderella Christmas Panto in the same year. She is a proud AEA, SAG/AFTRA member. www.JenniferLeighWarren.com @theOriginalJLW
AEA, SAG/AFTRA.
Virtual Program
Production Team
RICHARD ALLEN (Book, Music, and Lyrics; Director, Freedom Riders, Walt and Roy) and TARAN GRAY (Music and Lyrics; Music Director, Legendary) are award winning musical theater writers with bent on social justice and reform. With a bent on historical accuracy, they created FREEDOM RIDERS: The Civil Rights Musical about the 1961 freedom rides, BAYARD: A New Musical about Bayard Rustin’s creation of the 1963 March on Washington, and WALT AND ROY about Walt and Roy Disney’s startup of the Disney empire in the 1920’s - 30’s. Their newest musical LEGENDARY is an original story dealing with the silencing women face in the music industry.
When you think of San Diego, images of teen beach parties, surfing, and tacos come to mind, laid back dudes preaching a “one love” philosophy and spouting “no worries, Bro” as their mantra to the world. These stereotypes are a far cry from the civil rights activist duo of Richard Allen and Taran Gray who don’t ever seem to take a break or rest from their mission to initiate conversation on equality and acceptance through their historically accurate musicals; FREEDOM RIDERS: The Civil Rights Musical, BAYARD: A New Musical, and WALT AND ROY and their original story musical LEGENDARY. Perhaps it is their San Diego upbringing that leaves you feeling like you’ve met two old friends who always have time for you and are rather unassuming regardless of the fact that they hold relationships with political powerhouses like Congressman John Lewis, Congressman Adam Schiff, Rev. James Lawson, Diane Nash, and Lew Zuchman, to name a few.
RYAN NORTON (Producer; Co-Director, Bayard) served eight seasons as the Associate Artistic Producer and Casting Coordinator for Tuacahn Center for the Arts in St. George, Utah. There he produced over 25 large-scale musicals for the state of the art 2000 seat amphitheater. These musicals included regional premieres for Disney Theatrical Group such as Tarzan, The Little Mermaid, and Mary Poppins, as well as the original musical When You Wish a Disney Songbook. Mr. Norton also served as the associate director for several of the productions including the regional premiere of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Starlight Express for the Really Useful Group and the second US production of The Prince of Egypt with Stephen Schwartz and NBC-Universal. He produced three seasons of Tuacahn's New Works series providing opportunities for new musicals to perform as staged readings. In 2013, Mr. Norton made his Tuacahn and regional directorial debut with Tuacahn's premiere of Disney's Mulan. Other directing credits include Oliver!, Seussical the Musical, The Spitfire Grill, Disney's Beauty and the Beast and Disney's High
High School Musical. Film directing credit: "Austin's Christmas Wish." Mr. Norton has been a member of National Alliance For Musical Theatre and served on the membership and New Works Festival selection committees.
RACHEL ELISE JOHNSON (Associate Producer; Director, Legendary) is the Executive Director of Underscore Theatre Company, a producer, director, actor, and singer. She most recently co-directed The Last Five Years (JPAC) and Carrie 2: The Rage (Underscore) with Isaac Loomer. Rachel acts as the Producer for the Chicago Musical Theater Festival and co-producer of the Tiny Storefront Concerts. In her time in Chicago she acted in several plays and musicals throughout the Chicago-land area, including her roles as the Sour Kangaroo in Seussical (Big Noise Theater Company) and Diva in Priscilla Queen of the Desert (JPAC). Rachel lives in Chicago, is a math professor at Harry S Truman College and DePaul University, and couldn't be more grateful to have worked with such a talented team in this amazing festival.
LORNE “LONNIE” HUGHES (Producer; Co-Director, Bayard), manager and creative consultant at Hughes International, is a dream builder for small business and entrepreneurs. He specializes in helping high-level executives bridge the gap between their creative dreams and their business goals. Mr. Hughes has a long and successful track record of fusing leadership and artistic vision into a cohesive creative strategy.
He began his career at MTV Networks while pursuing a psychology degree at Adelphi University in New York. Recruited as an on-air dancer, he transitioned into an executive role in casting, while gaining renown for his performances on the hit show CLUB MTV. He became a network spokesman, representing CLUB MTV in live and television appearances, including “The Ace Awards,” "The Joan Rivers Show," "Rick Dees," "Into the Night," and "The Phil Donahue Show." Soon, Mr. Hughes became a regular entertainer for private events, on-air interviews, and publications, including People Magazine, The Daily News and Post Newspaper.
Building on his experience as an entertainer, leader, and entrepreneur, Mr. Hughes brought his brand of authentic inspiration to the entertainment industry. In addition to appearing in TV series and movies, including "ER," "Mad Men," and "Desperate Housewives," he began writing, developing strong minority voices in several screenplays and a novel, Hollywood Junkie. He produced and directed Hollywood Junkie as a 10-minute short film called “Anonymously Famous” which was featured in Talent in Motion magazine, garnering him the title “The Renaissance Man.” He has been a co-director on several projects, including “Driven,” and most recently completed a provocative coffee Table book, “When was the last time you were Nice to someone” with illustrations and interviews from random strangers. Mr. Hughes was recently nominated BEST WRITER for an Original Play, at the 2019 Valley Village Awards with his sold out play Talking Trees.
SAG/AFTRA
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SIERRA NAOMI (Live Director) is a singer, actor, and creator based in NYC and she is so grateful to be involved with the Allen and Gray Musical Festival! How wonderful is it to find new ways to share stories with the world during this unique time?! She holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from CCPA at Roosevelt University and trained at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting here in New York. Prior to the shutdown, Sierra was primarily seen ON the stage as Mme de la Grande Bouche in Beauty and the Beast, Fantine in Les Miserables, Lucille in Parade and numerous concerts at venues such at Feinstein’s/54 Below. Two of the best roles she plays are wife to Matthew and dog mom to Potter! Thank you for continuing to support the arts! Philippians 4:13. @sierranaomi_nyc
KEVIN POLLACK (Technical Director, Festival Coordinator) is very excited to be part of Freedom Riders and Bayard as part of the Allen & Gray Theater Festival. Past favorite notable credits include playing Joe Cocker in Black Ensemble Theater's Jeff Award-Nominated production of Men of Soul, Roger Ebert in Black Ensemble Theater's The Black/White Love Play: The Story of Chaz and Roger Ebert and Male Understudy in Chicago Theatre Workshop's Midwest premiere of Little Miss Sunshine: The Musical. Throughout the year you can catch him as Joliet Jake in The Blooze Brothers, the #1 Blues Brothers tribute in the Midwest. He has also performed in Las Vegas to a sold-out audience at the Southpoint Casino and at The Smith Center. You can get his 3 singles, "Holiday," "Man About Town" and "Something Good (Is Comin' Down)" on iTunes, Amazon, Google Music and other music retailers online.
STEVEN CUEVAS (Music Director, Freedom Riders) is a music director, musician, actor, and singer. He was most recently the Music Director and Conductor of the first national tour of the Tony Award-winning revival of Once On This Island. Broadway: Once On This Island, Anastasia, Kinky Boots. Off-Broadway: I Spy a Spy, We Are The Tigers, Trip of Love, Closer Than Ever, Iron Curtain. Tours: Kinky Boots, Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical, Spring Awakening, My Fair Lady (Marina Bay Sands, Singapore). Recordings: Once On This Island, How the Grinch…, Monstersongs. Steven is the Chair of Local 802 AFM’s Diversity Committee and a voting member of the Recording Academy/Grammy Awards. BFA Musical Theatre: Emerson College. @StevenMCuevas
AFM, Local 802, AEA
AHMED ALABACA (Music Director, Bayard) is an African American composer, conductor, song-writer, pianist, and community facilitator. Creating power and possibility, through music, for himself and the diverse communities he is a part of is the bases of Ahmed’s work. Raised in San Bernardino, CA, in a low-income community, Ahmed knows the value of hard work and perseverance in the face of systemic and interpersonal challenges. Ahmed’s vision is “a new renaissance” for underrepresented composers, which centers the works of people of color, and creates opportunities to perform, record, and archive their work. Ahmed received his B.A. in Music from Hunter College in New York, and attended advanced classes in film scoring at Juilliard and UCLA extension. While in New York, Ahmed also scored three new plays and one new musical, including Eaten Voices which won Best of Festival at the 2012 Thespis Theatre Festival and a cash prize of $5,000. In 2014 Ahmed moved to Los Angeles, CA where he has scored several web series, television shows, and short films including: "I Too Am
Am America," written and directed by Shehkshem Ebron; Emmy award winning web series, "Giants," featured on Issa Rae’s Youtube channel, written and directed by James Bland and produced by Jussie Smollett of the show "Empire;" and "Empire," created by Lee Daniels and Danny Strong for Fox. Ahmed received a 2017 Indie Series Award nomination for Best Song in a series for his work on Giants.
Ahmed has also received commissions for his concert works from presenters across the country including: the Colour of Music Festival with the world premiere of my work Across the Calm Waters of Heaven (2016); the world premiere of my work Ascension for Solo Clarinet and String Orchestra with the San Jose Chamber Orchestra (2018); and the world premiere of his work Las Mariposas at the Voiced Project in Chicago (2018). With countless arrangements from negro spirituals to showtunes, Ahmed is currently working on two new commissions: a Violin Sonata for Anyango Yarbo Davenport and a French Horn Sonata for David Dickerson.
Ahmed is a Guest Conductor for the DC Strings, a classical music collective bridging the gap between classical music to Washington DC historic Anacostia neighborhood; Artistic Director of The New Alchemists, an artist collective building power and possibility for diverse communities through theatre, film, and music. Ahmed is also the pianist, co-writer, and co-founder of The Humble Boys, a band that focuses on how music can heal, uplift and encourage individuals to live their most fulfilled lives.
Website www.ahmedalabaca.wixsite.com/ahmed
Social Media
MusicByAhmed Instagram
Facebook Ahmed Alabaca
CHARLIE REUTER (Music Director, Walt and Roy) is a music director and conductor based out of NYC. Often developing new works, he served as the assistant conductor for A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder (The Old Globe), The Prince of Egypt (Tuacahn), was part of Peter and the Starcatcher (La Jolla Playhouse), and worked with Trevor Nunn to adapt an original score for Pericles (TFANA). He holds an MFA in Musical Theatre from San Diego State University, and studied orchestral conducting at Juilliard.
CHELSEA NICOLE LAPP (Choreographer, Walt and Roy) is an award-winning choreographer and performer from Southern California. Her work has been seen all over the United States, as well as in Uganda. Select performing credits: The Secret Garden (Martha), Little Women (U/S Jo & Meg), Carousel in Concert (Ensemble), Spring Awakening (Swing), Fiddler on the Roof (Hodel), All Shook Up (Natalie/Ed), Company (Marta), Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (Liza), Beauty and the Beast (Belle).
Philippians 4:13.
ANDREW FISH BOOTH (Sound Designer) is ecstatic to be back in his natural habitat working on theatrical productions. He has spent the past 8 years travelling to elementary schools in all 50 states as well as the UK, Canada, Scotland, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand doing character building motivational assemblies to over a million kids so far. In the past, he has performed on stage as Roger in Rent, Berger in Hair, and being a part of the 9 Act, 2 part epic Kentucky Cycle that he was a part of at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Audio wise, he has done sound design for over 30 shows audio engineered many more. You can see more of his work currently making video content for kids at both his personal youtube channel www.youtube.com/thespianfish and at youtube.com/thenedshows.
CHRISTINA LEINICKE (Costume Designer) Off-Broadway: Othello: the Remix (Westside Theater) Regional Credits: Bayard, Freedom Riders, Legendary, Walt & Roy (Allen & Gray Musical Theater Festival), Dressing the Part (Shakespeare Festival St. Louis), Big Fish, A Little Night Music, Cyrano (BoHo Theatre), Proxy, Haymarket, Wife Material (Underscore), Birds of a Feather, Machinal (Greenhouse Theatre Center), Long Way Home (CCC), Shakespeare in Love, I Heart Juliet, Q-Gents (ISF), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Deathtrap (Palace Theatre), The Importance of Being Earnest (ASC), Star Girl (FSM), Educational Tours: Taming of the Shrew, Macbeth, Romeo & Juliet (USF). Costume Shop and Design Associate, Paramount Theatre, Aurora. MFA University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa. www.christinaleinicke.com
TYLER TAFOLLA (Web Designer) is a Musical Theatre Composer and Book Writer. Tyler is best known for his new musical Scott Robbins and the Traveling Show, which premiered as a workshop at AMDA College and Conservatory of the Performing Arts in Hollywood and has since been performed in numerous locations in both New York and Los Angeles including The New York Theatre Festival: Summerfest and LA's Rockwell Table and Stage. Tyler is currently working on a new musical song-cycle called Seasons. A concept album of the show will be streaming on all streaming platforms later this year. Tyler is also well known as a performer in Cirque Electrique at Sea World San Diego. Favorite theatre credits include Scott (Scott Robbins and the Traveling Show), Princeton/Rod (Avenue Q), and Marius (Les Miserables).
Instagram:@tatafolla
Instagram: @scottrobbinsnewmusical
R.J. Givens ( Audio Engineer ) is a San Diego native with a vast background in theatre and corporate events. He started out acting in theater as a child , and quickly fell in love with everything behind the scenes. Since the summer of 2015, R.J. has resided at the Master Sound Technician for The Old Globe Theater’s Lowell Davies Festival Theater, where he mixes multiple Shakespeare productions each year. Other mixing credits for The Old Globe include the annual production of How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and the world premier of Clint Black’s Looking For Christmas. When not locked away in a theater, R.J. freelances through his company, “Drummerguy Music, Audio, and Lighting”, providing the set up and operation of lighting and audio for galas, corporate dinner, concerts, and other various live events.
RACHEL MINK (Dramaturg) is thrilled to contribute to Richard and Taran's wonderful shows, and especially to be back on the bus with Freedom Riders yet again. Rachel served as a production assistant and prop master for Freedom Riders at the New York Musical Festival in 2017, and stage managed concert presentations of the show in San Diego and Temecula. Having recently completed her Master's Degree in Theatre Arts from SDSU in 2017, Rachel has been pursuing work as a director, dramaturg, playwright, and producer. Most recently, she directed It's A Wondetful Life: A Live Radio Play with PowPAC and Heathers: The Musical with Wildsong Productions in Escondido. She has also had the privilege to work as an assistant director and dramaturg with several of San Diego's landmark theatre companies; favorite credits include: Life After at The Old Globe, Hairspray at San Diego Musical Theatre, A Doll's House: Part 2, Hand to God, and Roz & Ray at San Diego REP, Little Women with Barn Stage Company, Tobacco Road at La Jolla Playhouse, and an all-female production
production of Julius Caesar at SDSU. When she's not working on a stage, she's producing STAGE, a web-series about community theatre, with typeSOMETHING Productions.
BENJAMIN A. VIGIL (Production Stage Manager; Stage Manager, Freedom Riders, Walt and Roy) is a NYC-based stage manager and actor. He’s ecstatic to be back with Allen and Gray after collaborating on Freedom Riders and Bayard. Select SM credits: Much Ado About Nothing (Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival), Citizen Be Heard (Girl Be Heard), Vietnam..through my lens (LSNelson Productions), Keaton and the Whale (Amas Musical Theatre), Cabaret (The Gallery Players), How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying (PPAS), Galapagos (Arboretum Productions). Thanks to Mom, Dad, Sam, Brittany, and everyone who has helped, in any capacity, along the way! Please consider donating to the organization of your choice to help advance this country that so many individuals call home. @benjaminavigil
ANDREA WALES (Stage Manager, Bayard) Broadway: First Date, Anything Goes, Cabaret. Regional: The Sting, Annie, A Christmas Story, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, and South Pacific at PMP. The Queens of the Golden Mask, The Girl with the Alkaline Eyes (The Chase Brock Experience), Hairspray, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Peter Pan, Tarzan, A Little Night Music, Romeo and Juliet, Love's Labour's Lost, and The 39 Steps, Industrials & Corporate Events.
AEA.
CHRISTINE LAUER (Stage Manager, Legendary) received her B.A. in Technical Theatre with a concentration in Stage Management and minors in Voiceover and Fashion Business from Columbia College Chicago. Some of her favorite Chicago credits include: Bright Star, Big Fish (BoHo Theatre), Haymarket, Wife Material, The Ballad of Lefty and Crabbe (Underscore Theatre), King Liz, The Boys in the Band (Windy City Playhouse), and Encounter Festival (Goodman Theatre). When she is not working, Christine enjoys living her life like Elle Woods did after Warner told her she was not smart enough for Law School. “Don’t dream it, be it.”
CHARITY FARRELL's (Festival Coordinator) live theatre credits include: Broadway Christmas Wonderland Tokyo (Principal Vocalist), Frozen: A Musical Spectacular (Elsa), Tangled the Musical (Rapunzel), and the original cast of the off-broadway production Peace Love and Cupcakes (Kylie). Film Credits include: "The Father and the Bear", "Forever's End", "How It Ends", to name a few, all of which can be found on streaming services Amazon Prime and/or Vimeo. @charityleanna
AEA, SAG/AFTRA
HAILEE LIPSCOMB (Festival Coordinator) has been acting, singing and dancing since she was 5 years old! She has had a long background on the stage ranging from roles such as Shakespeare's Marc Antony to Audrey from Little Shop of Horrors. Hailee graduated from Cal State Northridge with a BA in Film and TV production. She continues to develop her craft by writing, directing and creating characters she plays both on the screen and on the stage. Hailee believes that as an artist it is her duty to promote change and growth in humanity through her work
NATHAN NONHOF (Box Office, Allen and Gray Staff) is a Kansas native and a graduate of the CalArts MFA School of Theatre. He currently lives in Los Angeles and works in voice-over, film, TV and theatre. His mission is to encourage growth, foster joy, and bind through genuine connection.
SAG/AFTRA, EMC.
CHARLES SMITH II (Allen and Gray Associate)
Actors
AJA DOWNING (Ella Baker, Bayard; Twilight, Legendary) is extremely pleased and excited to be a part of this project and ready for all the projects to come. Aja graduated from The American Musical Arts Academy in 2016. Some of Aja's previous roles were Annette in TjLovesSally4eva, Fairy Godmother in Cinderella, Jojo in Cher Chez Le Femme, Cassandra in Alex and Eugene, Christine Daè in The Phantom of the Opera, Aida in Aida, and Ella Baker in Bayard: a New Musical. Aja would like to thank her Mom and dad for all their support and love! And also thanks the incredible cast and crew of Bayard and Legendary!
AEA.
ALEX ARTHUR (Lilly Disney, Walt and Roy) is an actor, singer, and producer based in New York City. Favorite regional/university theatre credits include: Mother Courage (Bertolt Brecht’s Mother Courage and Her Children), Cinderella (Into the Woods), The Baker’s Wife (Into the Woods), Mrs Lovett (Sweeney Todd), Pooker (The Country Club), Maria Bertram (Mansfield Park), Eponine (Les Miserables), Mrs. Pennywise (Urinetown), Gabby Bobby (City of Angels), Rosa Bud (The Mystery of Edwin Drood), Fastrada (Pippin), and others. Film/television: "MORE" (James Morosini), "Via Dolorosa" (Jake Orthwein) "Kept" (Monica Zinn), "Stuck in the Middle" (Sam Hayes), "Splitting the Bill" (Austin Kolodney), and "Live, Laugh, Love" (Cannes Film Festival). She's a founding member of 501 (c)3 non-profit theatre company, New Guard Theater Company and Public Assembly Theatre Company in Los Angeles, CA. Graduate of The University of Southern California BFA Acting program.
SAG/AFTRA, AEA.
ANTHONY CHATMAN II (John Lewis, Freedom Riders) Broadway: Hadestown (Orpheus/Hermes Us), Be More Chill (Michael/Jake/Rich Us). National Tours: Fiasco Theater’s Into the Woods (Cinderella’s Prince), The Book of Mormon (Doctor). TV: “Bull” (CBS), “The Other Two” (Comedy Central), “Law & Order: SVU” (NBC), “Blue Bloods” (CBS).
AEA, SAG/AFTRA,
APRIL JOSEPHINE (Tammy/Susanna McBee, Bayard) lives on the great island of Manhattan, and is reprising her role in Bayard, The Musical, which had its East Coast debut in Harlem in 2019. Select regional credits: The George Theater, Houston, Texas West Side Story (Anita), La Jolla Playhouse: Up Here; La Mirada Theater: West Side Story; 3-D Theatricals: Seussical The Musical, Side Show, Musical Theater West: 42nd Street; Lamb’s Players’ Theater: The Music Man, Guys And Dolls; Moonlight Stage Productions: Anything Goes, My Fair Lady.
AEA.
ASPEN VINCENT (Jane Tyler, Legendary) Broadway: American Idiot (swing, Extraordinary Girl Understudy); National Tours: Dirty Dancing (lead vocalist, Baby understudy); Broadway Las Vegas: We Will Rock You (Scaramouche); Regional: Sleeping Beauty Wakes (Rose), West Side Story (Maria), Grease (Sandy), Once Upon A Mattress (Princess Winnifred); Meat Loaf world tours '06-'07 (duet partner); Voiceovers: "As Told By Ginger" (Dodie Bishop), "Rugrats," "Fairly Odd Parents," "Everquest II."
AEA, SAG/AFTRA.
BARRY ANDERSON (Ben Zuchman, Legendary) previously collaborated with Richard and Taran on the 2017 NYMF production of Freedom Riders. He spent six years playing Bob Crewe in the Broadway and 2nd National Tour companies of Jersey Boys. Other Broadway: Legally Blonde The Musical (Aaron Schultz). Regional theatre: Ogunquit Playhouse, North Shore Music Theatre, The Fireside Theatre, Charleston Stage Company, Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre, The Little Theatre on the Square, Allenberry Playhouse. TV/Film: "30 Rock," "Alternatino," "As The World Turns," "Oblivio," "The Artifice," "Guided By Voices," "Rabbit Hole". Barry is a songwriter and holds a music degree from The University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire. Instagram: @barryanderson123 & @andersonandpetty.
AEA, SAG/AFTRA.
BRYAN BARBARIN (Reverend Abernathy, Freedom Riders; Russell Gibbs, Legendary) has worked in and out of the theatre for the past decade and now plays in two international touring bands, The Routine & Steam Powered Giraffe. He is honored to take part in these new works and happy to do it amongst such talent.
BRYAN PORTER (T-Bone, Walt and Roy) is a Los Angeles based Voiceover Artist and Actor. Originally from Minnesota, his voice can be heard in commercials for Microsoft, Target, Best Buy, Big Lots, Foot Locker, and others. His voice can also be heard on "Paw Patrol" (Nickelodeon), as well as in several nationally-distributed videogames (Ori and the Will O’ The Wisps as “Grom,” Magic the Gathering as “Ral Zarek”). As an actor, Bryan has appeared with "Dear White People" (Lionsgate), "In an Instant" (ABC), "Battle Universe" (Disney), and "Real Husbands of Hollywood" opposite Kevin Hart (BET).. He honed his acting skills in over 30 professional theater productions around the country; Including Tony Award-winning venues like the Mark Taper Forum, Guthrie Theater, and Children's Theater Company. He is represented for Voiceover by Dean Panaro of Dean Panaro Talent, Theatrically by KMR, and Commercially by Daniel Hoff.
AEA, SAG/AFTRA.
BRYNN WILLIAMS (Diane Nash, Freedom Riders; Rubee Scott, Legendary) was most recently seen as Violet Beaureguarde in the first national tour of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Favorite credits include understudy for Sandy Cheeks and Pearl Krabs in Spongebob Squarepants on Broadway, Cassie in the original Broadway cast of 13, and Diane Nash in Freedom Riders!
AEA.
CARTREZE TUCKER (Adam Clayton Powell, Bayard) Select credits: The Color Purple (National Tour), Motown: The Musical (National Tour), HAIR (National/International Tour), Trav’lin: The 1930s Harlem Musical, Raisin: The Musical, Disney's Tarzan: A New Musical, Sister Act, Disney's Little Mermaid, Miss Saigon, RENT, Hairspray.
EMC.
CAVIN MOHRHARDT (Fred, Walt and Roy) is originally from Grand Rapids, MI and now calls North Hollywood his home. A proud member of both AEA and SAG, Cavin splits his time between being a company member at the Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum in Topanga, and running Equerry and Ace; an equestrian center that specializes in training stunt performers for horse and weapons related work. Recent credits include: Sebastian in 12th Night, Ishmael in Moby Dick Rehearsed, and Utility stunt work on the FOX show "Deputy." Cavin is extremely grateful for this wonderful opportunity to collaborate with some exceptional artists for a truly phenomenal cause. Thanks to Richard for bringing him on board.
AEA, SAG/AFTRA.
CHARITY FARRELL's (Max Tyler, Legendary) live theatre credits include: Broadway Christmas Wonderland Tokyo (Principal Vocalist), Frozen: A Musical Spectacular (Elsa), Tangled the Musical (Rapunzel), and the original cast of the off-broadway production Peace Love and Cupcakes (Kylie). Film Credits include: "The Father and the Bear", "Forever's End", "How It Ends", to name a few, all of which can be found on streaming services Amazon Prime and/or Vimeo. @charityleanna
AEA, SAG/AFTRA
CHELSEA NICOLE LAPP (Edna Disney, Walt and Roy) is an award-winning choreographer and performer from Southern California. Her work has been seen all over the United States, as well as in Uganda. Select performing credits: The Secret Garden (Martha), Little Women (U/S Jo & Meg), Carousel in Concert (Ensemble), Spring Awakening (Swing), Fiddler on the Roof (Hodel), All Shook Up (Natalie/Ed), Company (Marta), Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (Liza), Beauty and the Beast (Belle). Philippians 4:13.
CLAYTON SNYDER (Robert F. Kennedy, Freedom Riders) is a film, television, and stage actor and producer most known for his role as Ethan Craft on Disney Channel’s "Lizzie McGuire." After filming "The Lizzie McGuire Movie" in 2002, Clayton put acting on hold to focus on academics and water polo, attending Pepperdine University and eventually playing with the US Senior National Team and professionally in Europe. Clayton returned to acting in Los Angeles, appearing in dozens of short films, graduate student films, multiple web series, several independent projects streaming on Amazon Prime and Netflix, guest starring on "NCIS," and occasionally performing in improv shows. He has performed in musical productions including A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and The Root Beer Bandits at the Garry Marshall Theatre in Burbank, CA, as well as concert performances of Freedom Riders: The Civil Rights Musical and Starry.
SAG/AFTRA.
CONNER PEIRSON (Ub Iwerks, Walt and Roy) Stage credits include The Book of Mormon on Broadway/US tour and UK/EU touring company (Elder Cunningham), Little shop of Horrors (Seymour).
AEA.
DAVID S. HUMPHREY (Bigsby, Legendary) is excited to be a part of this wonderful virtual production and this amazingly talented cast. Credits include, National Tour: Forever Plaid and Plaid Tidings. Regional Theatre San Diego County: Spamalot, Invention of Love, A Little Night Music with Cygnet; The Secret Garden, Return to the Forbidden Planet with NVA; Mamma Mia!, The Music Man (Critics Circle Nomination), Oklahoma, Forever Plaid, Plaid Tidings, Carousel with The Welk Resort Theatre; 9 to 5 The Musical with SDMT; MIXTAPE, Les Miserables, The 39 Steps, The Foreigner, Boomers, The Secret Garden, Into The Woods, South Pacific, 1776, Cotton Patch Gospel with Lambs Players Theatre; Bleeding Kansas with Moxie Theatre; Guys and Dolls with Moonlight Amphitheatre; Tom Foolery with NCRT/Renaissance Theatre; 1776, I Love You You're Perfect…, Forever Plaid with San Diego CLO; Plaid Tidings with Broadway/San Diego; Forever Plaid with The Theatre in Old Town. Regional Theatre LA/Riverside County: Forever Plaid with CLO South Bay (Ovation Nomination); Plaid Tidings with La Mirada (Ovation Shadow
Nomination); 1776 with Performance Riverside (Ovation Nomination). David is the original voice of Shadow the Hedgehog for the Sonic the Hedgehog video games with the Sega Corp., and the voice of Jack Keane for the action/adventure pc game Jack Keane. David has been a proud member of Actors' Equity Association since 1998.
AEA, SAG/AFTRA.
DAVID LaMARR (Chase Glass, Legendary) National Tour—Jersey Boys (2nd National). Regional—Prather Entertainment: Lola in Kinky Boots; Delaware Theatre Company: A Sign of the Times (regional premiere); Baltimore Center Stage: SOUL: The Stax Musical (world premiere); McCoy Rigby Entertainment: Dreamgirls (Ovation Award Nominee); Tuacahn Amphitheatre: Disney’s When You Wish (world premiere), Disney’s The Little Mermaid (US regional premiere), Disney’s Mulan (world premiere); Maltz Jupiter Theatre: The Wiz; Cape Fear Regional Theatre: Ain’t Misbehavin'; Sierra Rep: Hairspray. International—Universal Studios Japan; Carnival Cruise Lines; Princess Cruises; Disney Cruise Lines: Villains Tonight! (world premiere). IG: @davidlamarr / Twitter: @david_lamarr
AEA.
DAVON WILLIAMS (Martin Luther King, Jr., Freedom Riders) His TED Talk, “The Secret To Success: A Story About A Son, His Mom, Trauma, And Cartoons,” has trended all over the world. His band, Davon & The Spectacle has headlined shows all over Asia, America, and now digitally during quarantine. He has launched a show called “The Receipts” where he interviews members of the theatre community and examines institutionalized racism within the industry. A member of AEA and SAG, he has acted on many stages and has many film/TV projects under his belt. Davon challenges all performers along with himself to be more than their resumes and use their art to bring about a more equal, equitable, and empathetic world. Www.davonwilliams.com (@daywilling)
AEA, SAG/AFTRA.
DEON'TE GOODMAN (Bernard Lafayette, Freedom Riders; Bayard Rustin, Bayard) is an Actor, Singer-Songwriter based in New York City. He currently performs in the Broadway company of Hamilton as ens/us Aaron Burr, George Washington, and Mulligan/Madison. NYC and regional credits: In The Heights (Benny) Songbird (Rip), Caroline, or Change (Dryer/Bus), Freedom Riders (Bernard Lafayette), The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Comfort Counselor), The Toxic Avenger (Black Dude), as well as several operatic roles. Goodman holds a Bachelor’s Degree in classical voice performance from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
deontegoodman14.com
@thedeontegoodman
AEA.
EBONI MUSE (Ruby Doris Smith, Freedom Riders) is a Pacific Conservatory for the Performing Arts alumni and a recipient of the Craig Noel Award Winner: Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical for her role as MotorMouth Maybelle in Hairspray. Credits: Audrey Two in Little Shop of Horrors (New Village Arts), Lady in Red in For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf (La Jolla Theatre Ensemble), Smokey Joe’s Café (New Village Arts), Lead Female Vocalist in O’ Wondrous Night (SeaWorld San Diego), MotorMouth Maybelle in Hairspray (San Diego Musical Theatre), Ensemble in Freedom Riders: A Civil Rights Musical in Concert (Lamb’s Players Theatre), Leader in Father Comes Home from the Wars (Horton Grand Theatre), Marlena Madison in Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story (Horton Grand Theatre and New Village Arts), Gary Coleman in Avenue Q (OB Playhouse), Addaperle in The Wiz (The Lyceum Theatre), Female Vocalist for Shamu Christmas Miracles (SeaWorld San Diego).
"It's always hard for people of color to live in their truth; I thank God that I've been able to breathe in mine.”
EBONY PULLUM (Etta Simpson, Freedom Riders) is a Philadelphia based actress, singer and teaching Artist. One of her most recent credits include “Shug Avery”(Barrymore Winner) in The Color Purple at Theater Horizon in Phila, PA.
EDRED UTOMI (John Lewis, Bayard) currently stars as Alexander Hamilton in the musical Hamilton. After graduating from the University of San Diego in 2013, he worked professionally in many Southern California theatres (Moonlight, 3DT, Old Globe, etc.) for five years before moving and setting up shop in New York City. You can follow all of his adventures on Instagram. @edredutomi
AEA.
ERIN VANDERHYDE (Lucretia Collins, Freedom Riders) graduated from San Diego State University where she received her Bachelors in Theatre. She is grateful to have been apart of Freedom Riders: The Civil Rights Musical performing in concerts in San Diego, Los Angeles, and New York. Other notable performances for Vanderhyde include but are not limited to: Sylvia in All Shook Up (SDMT), Matron Mama Morton in Chicago (Torentino Music Festival), Enid in Legally Blonde the Musical (New Village Arts), Motormouth Maybelle in Hairspray, and Sarah’s Friend in Ragtime. Erin also performs regularly at Legoland California as a singer/performer.
GRANDISON M PHELPS, III (Jim Scott, Legendary) is an award winning actor, having performed in numerous productions throughout Southern California including: The Ballad of Emmitt Till (Ion Theatre), six of August Wilson’s 10-Cycle Plays (Cygnet Theatre and Octad Productions), Camelot in Concert (The Barnstage Company), And Still I Rise (one-man show), the title role in Othello (Octad Productions), The Gospel of Colonus (Ira Aldrige Players), As You Like It (New Village Arts Theatre), I Am A Man (San Diego Black Ensemble), Sweet Bird of Youth (La Jolla P;ayhouse), Kill A Mockingbird and the annual productions (25yrs) of An American Christmas (Lambs Players), where he had the joy of performing with a young Taran Gray and watching him grow into the talented man he is today! Grandison is excited to be involved with Taran and this talented cast and crew to tell this story in an innovative way. Coming together in a positive way despite the viral and racial pandemics facing this country and this world!
EMC.
JAMILAH ROSEMOND (Dorothy Haight, Bayard) is so excited and grateful to be apart of the cast of Bayard. She is a musical theater major, minoring in business in entertainment at NYU Tisch and some of her favorite credits include: Robinette in the U.S. touring show, Henry Box Brown; the host of American Girl’s web series, "AG Life;" host of Youtube web series, "Dream Mining;" performer/writer in Girl Be Heard’s mainstage show, 2030: The Future is Ours; and Emily (supporting) in the NYMF’s Peace, Love, and Cupcakes. When Jamilah is not performing, she is working on her girl empowerment blog, "Girls with Beauty & Brains"! A huge thanks to the directors, cast, and crew. She would also like to thank God for this opportunity.
Instagram: @jmils
JENNIFER LEIGH WARREN (Julia Rustin, Bayard) is a critically acclaimed actress/singer lauded for her show-stopping Broadway performances as the original "Alice's Daughter" in Big River (singing the song "How Blest We Are" written for her by Roger Miller), the original "Crystal" in the Howard Ashman/Alan Menken hit Little Shop of Horrors, the original Lincoln Center cast of Marie Christine, and the Muse in the original Off-Broadway Drama Desk Award nominated Lonesome Traveler.
She recently performed with the LA Philharmonic in the Power To The People concert at the Disney Concert Hall and last year in the FOX television musical event "Rent: Live" showcasing her acting and singing versatility as Mrs. Jefferson, Mrs. Cohen, Support Sue, and the Homeless bag lady known as the “who the F lady.”
She is featured on the Grammy award nominated cast albums of both Big River and Little Shop of Horrors and sang on the "Stephen Schwartz Album" and in the Stephen Schwartz Concert at the Ford Amphitheatre.
She starred as “the Blues Singer” in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd & 4th National tours of A Night with Janis Joplin (USA, Canada) with independent productions at Houston’s Alley Theater, North Carolina Theatre, LaMirada, CA Theater and Ivoryton, CT Theatre. A Night with Janis Joplin was filmed and recently released in movie theaters across the country and is now streaming at BroadwayHD.com.
Regional credits include: Miss Emma in the beautiful new Brett Ryback/Eric Ulloa musical Passing Through (Goodspeed Musicals), Lalume in Kismet, Cleo in The Most Happy Fella, and a show stopping Sheila in Hair with a vocal arrangement made for her by the great Peter Matz (Reprise!), Medda in Newsies, and Dragon in Shrek (Tuacahn), BOTH Addaperle AND Evilene in the same production of The Wiz (Arkansas Rep), proudly portrayed Thelma Mothershed in Little Rock: the story of the Little Rock Nine (TheatreWorks), Gretchen Cryer’s I’m Still Getting My Act Together (Laguna Playhouse), her NAACP Theatre award-nominated performance as Julia in Having It All (NoHo Arts), The Education of Randy Newman (South Coast Rep), The Princess & the Black-Eyed Pea (San Diego Rep), The Muse in Lonesome Traveler (Rubicon Theatre) and she was a member of Sir Peter Hall’s Shakespeare Repertory Company at the Ahmanson Theater. Warren’s international credits include singing a duet with Al Jarreau in Denmark in the TV special entitled, “Musical Of The Year,” televised live to thirty countries. She re-created her Broadway role of Alice’s Daughter in Big River in Japan with a Japanese cast, singing her gospel number in Japanese. She also appeared in the musical Juni Ka Getsu No Nina (“Nina & The 12 Months”), in the role of Noyabre, with a song written for her by Bolshoi Ballet composer, Rodion Schedrin, and choreographed by Maya Plisetskaya. This show represented the first American, Russian and Japanese collaboration on a new musical. On "The Tonight Show," Conan and Jimmy Kimmel, she performed with Broken Bells, The Kills, Trombone Shorty, Moon Taxi, Lisa Loeb and OK Go. At Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Rose Hall she performed honoring Ron Howard, Brian Grazer, and Marcia Gaye Harden and opened for Steve Tyrell at the Americana at Brand. Feature films include: Garry Marshall’s "Valentine’s Day," "The Other Sister," and "Dear God," Allison Anders & Martin Scorsese’s "Grace of my Heart," Sean Penn’s "The Crossing Guard," Larry David’s "Sour Grapes." Television includes: "Pretty Little Liars," "Lipstick Jungle," "Dirt," "ER," "Scrubs," "The Game," "Touched by an Angel," "All my Children." Awards: LA Ovation Award winner with multiple nominations, Backstage Award, Dartmouth College Creative Arts Award, two BroadwayWorld awards (seven nominations) for her solo concert show, Diamonds Are Forever: Songs of Dame Shirley Bassey directed by Richard Jay-Alexander and for the Lythgoe Family Cinderella Christmas Panto in the same year. She is a proud AEA, SAG/AFTRA member. www.JenniferLeighWarren.com @theOriginalJLW
AEA, SAG/AFTRA.
JENNIFER SUN BELL (Mary Harrison, Freedom Riders) is humbled and excited to be part of the powerful and inspiring musical Freedom Riders! There is no greater time to bring awareness and raise our voices for freedom from fear and social injustice. Jennifer most recently appeared as Namsoon Lee in the award winning new musical Comfort Women: A New Musical and as the infamous pirate lord Ching Shih in the new musical Glass Ceilings. All of these musicals are inspired from history and truly inspire all of us to continue to fight for humanity. Off-stage she recently appeared on CBS’s "NCIS" and has worked with the amazing Jim Carrey (Showtime’s Kidding) and Kristen Bell (Showtime’s House of Lies). Jennifer is currently working on her first EP. She sends love to her beautiful family and friends and gratitude to the creators of Freedom Riders for their passion and empowerment through the art of storytelling. God Bless!
SAG/AFTRA.
JONAH PLATT (Roy Disney, Walt and Roy) is a multi-platform creator and performer, working across many aspects of the entertainment industry. Some of Jonah's best known theater credits include "Fiyero" in Broadway's smash hit Wicked, “Davy” in Found (West Coast Premiere), "Marty" in A Walk On The Moon (World Premiere), and “Jason” in the LA Revival of the beloved musical BARE. His TV/streaming credits include voicing the beloved “Milton Moss” on Netflix’s animated "Trolls: The Beat Goes On," "Jack" in Lifetime's "I'll Be Watching" opposite Janel Parrish, as well as appearances on "Liza On Demand," "Parenthood," the series finale of "The Office," "Curb Your Enthusiasm," and most recently NBC's Emmy-winning "Jesus Christ Superstar: Live" starring John Legend. He is a sought-after singer and musician, having performed for millions of people on TV, international streaming events, as well as music venues and charity events all over the country. Jonah is also an accomplished director of theater and improv comedy, an award-winning vocal arranger and music director, and veteran
veteran TV writer. He is currently co-writing the music and lyrics for the stage musical adaptation of Lois Lowry’s bestselling novel "The Giver," and has an original animated series in development with ShadowMachine Animation.
AEA, SAG/AFTRA.
JOHN DEVEREAUX (Roy Wilkins, Bayard) I am here because others before me have paved the way. I stand on their shoulders. Black Lives Mattered then, they matter now, and they will matter forever.
AEA.
JONATHAN SANGSTER (Otto Englander, Walt and Roy) National Tour: The Book of Mormon (Elder Cunningham standby). Select Regional: Young Frankenstein (Igor), Spamalot (Patsy), First Date (Man 2), The Old Globe’s Looking For Christmas (Swing). Endless gratitude to family and friends, Nicole and FSE.
AEA.
JOY YANDELL (Mrs. Perlman, Freedom Riders) is humbled to return to Freedom Riders! Credits include: Jersey Boys, Dracula the Musical with La Jolla Playhouse; Billy Elliot (Mrs. Wilkinson), 9 to 5 (Violet), The Full Monty (Georgie) with San Diego Musical Theatre; MiXtape, (Craig Noel Award), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, American Rhythm with Lamb’s Players Theatre; Cabaret (Sally) with Cygnet Theatre; I Love You, You're Perfect….(Woman #2) with Candlelight Pavilion and San Diego CLO; Beehive, the 60's Musical with Miracle Theatre Productions; Annie Get Your Gun, I Love You, You're Perfect…. with Welk Resort Theatre; Man of La Mancha, Defying Gravity with North Coast Rep. I WILL RIDE WITH YOU!!!
AEA.
JUSTIN KENT (Doc/George, Walt and Roy; James Mink, Legendary) is delighted to be taking part in such an important work from Allen and Gray. Favorite credits include Biff in Clyde and Seamore's Christmas Special and Host for the "Dolphin Show" at SeaWorld, Jesus in Godspell (CCT), Gaston in Disney's Beauty and the Beast (CCT), and Roy in a reading for Allen and Gray's Walt and Roy. Justin was proud to serve the students of CYT as Artistic Director in CYT San Diego. He has been trained by Dr. John Reinebach and Alison England.
KERI MILLER (MJ Winkler/Secretary/Waiter, Walt & Roy) is an elementary school teacher. Her San Diego theater credits include Mrs. Lovett (Sweeney Todd), Luisa Contini (Nine), Adelaide (Guys & Dolls), Betty (The Great American Trailer Park Musical), Mary Magdalene (JCS), Diana Goodman (Next to Normal), The Baker’s Wife (Into the Woods), Helen Bechdel (Fun Home), Mrs. Walker (The Who’s Tommy). Next, Keri will play The Lady of the Lake in Spamalot at OB Playhouse. Love to family, friends, and her talented hubby Chris.
KEVIN "BLAX” BURROUGHS (Marion Berry, Freedom Riders) is incredibly thankful for each and every opportunity he comes across, large or small. He has been a part of Freedom Riders for quite some time now. He is also the Director of Choreography and Resident Lighting Designer at STAR Repertory Theatre in Escondido, CA. Select Directorial Credits: CARRIE, Next To Normal, James...Giant Peach; Co-Director: All Shook Up; Assistant Director: Wizard of Oz; Assistant: (STAR Rep), and others. Select Choreographer Credits: CARRIE, Legally Blonde, All Shook Up, James...Giant Peach, Matilda, Grease, The Addams Family, Jesus Christ Superstar (STAR Rep), Little Shop Of Horrors (New Village Arts), Hairspray (Southwestern College), The Wiz (Common Ground Theatre), and others. Select Performance Credits: Smokey Joe’s Cafe (New Village Arts), Benny in In The Heights (UCSD), Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar, Enjolras in Les Miserables, Emmett in Legally Blonde (STAR Rep), Seaweed in Hairspray (Southwestern College), Flick in Violet (Coronado Playhouse), and others. Lighting Design: CARRIE Next To Normal, (Onstage ffdaffdsafdsafad
James...Giant Peach, Matilda, The Addams Family, Legally Blonde, All Shook Up, The Wizard of Oz, Jesus Christ Superstar (STAR \Rep), CARRIE (Onstage Playhouse), Italian American Reconciliation (Scripps Ranch Theatre), Seussical (The 413 Project), and others. He has worked with and performed in ensemble roles with companies such as San Diego Repertory Theatre, Cygnet Theatre, Moonlight Stage Productions, LEGOLAND California Resort, and more. Instagram: @KevinBlaxBurroughs blaxburroughs.wixsite.com/blax
KEVIN POLLACK (John Doar/Bull Conner, Freedom Riders; Walter White, Bayard) is very excited to be part of Freedom Riders and Bayard as part of the Allen & Gray Theater Festival. Past favorite notable credits include playing Joe Cocker in Black Ensemble Theater's Jeff Award-Nominated production of Men of Soul, Roger Ebert in Black Ensemble Theater's The Black/White Love Play: The Story of Chaz and Roger Ebert and Male Understudy in Chicago Theatre Workshop's Midwest premiere of Little Miss Sunshine: The Musical. Throughout the year you can catch him as Joliet Jake in The Blooze Brothers, the #1 Blues Brothers tribute in the Midwest. He has also performed in Las Vegas to a sold-out audience at the Southpoint Casino and at The Smith Center. You can get his 3 singles, "Holiday," "Man About Town" and "Something Good (Is Comin' Down)" on iTunes, Amazon, Google Music and other music retailers online.
KÜRT NORBY (Strom Thurman, Bayard; Uncle Rob/Charles Mintz/Pat, Walt and Roy) World Premieres: Miss You Like Hell, Limelight: The Story of Charlie Chaplin, Zhivago (La Jolla Playhouse) Allegiance (Old Globe), Everybody's Talkin': The Music of Harry Nilsson starring alongside Alice Ripley and Gregory Jbara (San Diego Rep). Regional: Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (Old Globe), Assassins, Man of La Mancha, Sweeney Todd (Cygnet Theatre), Mixtape, Leaving Iowa (Lamb’s Players Theatre), Cats (SDMT). www.kurtnorby.com
AEA.
LAFRAS le ROUX (Ted Sears, Walt and Roy) is an actor/singer who has his roots in community theater, studied theater arts at PCPA, and has had the pleasure of working with many companies all over California. His most notable credits include Prince Ferdinand in The Tempest (PCPA Theaterfest), Clyde Barrow in Bonnie and Clyde the Musical (Out of the Box Theatre Co.), Bobby Strong in Urinetown (Flying Monkey Productions), Chad in All Shook Up (Woodland Opera House), Enjolras in Les Miserables (River City Theater Company), and Smokey in Damn Yankees (San Diego Musical Theater). He is honored to be a part of this festival, and grateful for the incredible art that Taran and Richard create together.
LEONARD PATTON (Wyatt Walker, Freedom Riders; Phil Logan, Legendary) has worked as a professional singer, musician, actor, and composer in San Diego for many years and has been a familiar face in many Lamb's Players Theatre productions including San Diego's longest running original musical Mixtape, Hello Dolly, Godspell, Boomers, Festival of Christmas, and Pump Boys and Dinettes. Recently, Leonard was a part of the acclaimed and award-nominated play, Father Comes Home From The Wars with Intrepid Theatre. Leonard holds the first master's degree in jazz studies from SDSU as a vocalist. Leonard is currently working with two-time Grammy winning producer, Kamau Kenyatta (Gregory Porter), on a new recording project. On August 8, 2017, Leonard, along with his group, attempted and broke the Guinness world record for the most concerts in 24 hours (70)...all to garner attention for his nonprofit, Jazz Vocal Workshop.
MALCOLM FRANKLIN (Josh, Bayard) is an American Musical and Dramatic Academy alumni. His theatre work since then includes Seaweed in Hairspray and Pepper in Mamma Mia. As the artists find their way out of the quarantine hole, Malcolm is excited to emerge as part of such a relevant and necessary project.
MEAGAN FLINT (Susan Wilbur, Freedom Riders) has had the wonderful opportunity to be able to work alongside Ricky and Taran for many years now! I am so excited to add this project to the list as well! Their talents are endless, and I cannot thank God enough for putting them in my life. Growing up in a children’s theater program (CYT) definitely gave me the bug, that passion for performing! In this crazy world we live in, being able to create, sing and share those gifts still, is irreplaceable.
MICHAEL WILLIAM NIGRO (Jim Zwerg, Freedom Riders) is grateful to take another ride to glory, after playing the role in Freedom Riders at NYMF (2017). You may recognize him from playing Friedrich in "The Sound of Music LIVE" on NBC. Michael would like to thank his family, Sherry at Moxie Artists, and Eddie at Take 3 Talent for their enduring support. In a time of uncertainty and division, we are called upon as artists to listen and react. Please consider donating to www.gofundme.com/f/georgefloyd Instagram: @mwnigro
NATHAN NONHOF (A. Phillip Randolph, Bayard; Tree/Flowers, Walt and Roy) is a Kansas native and a graduate of the CalArts MFA School of Theatre. He currently lives in Los Angeles and works in voice-over, film, TV and theatre. His mission is to encourage growth, foster joy, and bind through genuine connection.
SAG/AFTRA, EMC.
NYGEL D. ROBINSON (Stokely Carmichael, Freedom Riders; Chandler Douglas, Legendary) is a Singer/Actor and multi-instrumentalist. His recent theatre credits include That’s Amore (Singer/Bassist) at Florida Studio Theatre, Five Guys Named Moe (Nomax) at Opera House Theatre Company, Godspell (Jesus/Musician) at St. Michael’s Playhouse, Beau (Larry/Musician) at MTF and Lincoln center, and The All Night Strut (Actor/Musician) at Milwaukee Rep. His single “One More Chance” is available on Spotify and Apple Music! GIIHHP.
AEA.
PATRICK ORTIZ (Paolo Santiago, Bayard) TV: "Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist" (Eddie), "One Life To Live," "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt." BROADWAY: West Side Story (Indio, Chino u/s), Mamma Mia! (Ensemble, Eddie u/s), 1st NAT’L TOURS: West Side Story (Pepe/Shark Swing), We Will Rock You (Brit u/s) REGIONAL: BAZ Star Crossed Love, Palazzo, Las Vegas (Romeo/Ballroom Cover), The Brat Pack LA (The Jock), Altar Boyz (Juan), the MUNY West Side Story (Pepe), Mamma Mia! (Las Vegas), Cathy Rigby's Peter Pan, Orchid: A Burlesque Circus (Lead Vocalist). BFA, Cal. State-Fullerton. Instagram: @patrick.m.ortiz
AEA, SAG/AFTRA.
PAYSON LEWIS (John Siegenthaler, Freedom Riders; Walt Disney, Walt and Roy) originally hails from the mean suburban streets outside Philadelphia, but is now an LA based Actor, Singer, Songwriter, and, by all accounts, generally a nice guy. His TV credits include: "Jane The Virgin" (CW), "The People vs. OJ Simpson" (FX), "How I Met Your Mother" (CBS), "Revenge" (ABC), "Rules of Engagement" (CBS) and top-4 finalist on The Sing-Off (NBC). His stage credits include: BAZ: Star Crossed Love (Las Vegas), Mamma Mia! (Hollywood Bowl), Dogfight (LA), American Idiot (LA), For The Record (LA), Spring Awakening (LA), and was named "Best Lead Actor in a Musical" by Broadway World LA for his work in BARE (LA). However, the majority of his time is spent as an independent recording artist with over over half a million streams to his name. His music can be found on every streaming platform and his music videos are available on youtube. Follow @paysonlewis
AEA, SAG/AFTRA.
SCOTT REDMOND (James Bevel, Freedom Riders; Harry Belafonte, Bayard; Earl, Walt and Roy) is a New York-based actor, most recently seen at the Alliance Theatre as Ricky Potts in Ride the Cyclone and as Geoffrey in the Amazon Prime series "After Forever." A graduate of the University of Connecticut with a BFA in Acting, recent NYC credits include Freedom Riders (NYMF), Bayard (El Museo del Barrio) and Fat Kid Rules the World (Theatre Row). scottredmondactor.com
AEA.
THOMAS REASONER (Lew Zuchman, Freedom Riders; Ward Kimball, Walt and Roy) is a San Diego native who has performed his whole life. National Tours: Evita (Theatre League) Off-Broadway: Lily Marlene (St Luke’s) Regional: Damn Yankees, Billy Elliot (SDMT) Legally Blonde (NVA), and O’ Wondrous Night (Seaworld San Diego). He is also currently a performer at Seaworld San Diego. He is currently represented by Abstract Talent Agency and Shushu Entertainment. Instagram: @thomasreasoner_
TYLA COLLIER (Catherine Burkes, Freedom Riders) is grateful to be a part of Freedom Riders! Select credits: Off-Broadway: Sistas the Musical (Tamika/Dance Captian), Till (Woman 2). Regional: Once on This Island (Ti Moune), Hairspray (Little Inez), Sister Act (Tina/Deloris u/s). BFA Musical Theatre from The Boston Conservatory. Follow her journey @tyla_collier and www.TylaCollier.com
AEA.
VICTORIA BEALL (Dorothy Ann Blank, Walt and Roy) has been trained at the Groundlings in improv comedy. That's about it. And now here we are. Hard work pays off.
We wish to express our gratitude to the Performers’ Unions:
ACTORS’ EQUITY ASSOCIATION, AMERICAN GUILD OF MUSICAL ARTISTS,
AMERICAN GUILD OF VARIETY ARTISTS, SAG-AFTRA
through Theatre Authority, Inc. for their cooperation in permitting the Artists to appear on this program.