Artists

Directors

Elizabeth Carter

Elizabeth Carter has performed with numerous Bay Area theaters including California Shakespeare Theater, San Francisco Shakespeare Festival, Magic Theatre, Word for Word, Lorraine Hansberry Theatre, San Jose Stage, TheatreWorks, and the Aurora Theatre Company. Her favorite roles include Rose in Fences, the Bawd in Pericles, Effie in Dreamgirls, Mistress Ford in Merry Wives of Windsor, and Agnes in Agnes of God. She was in the Aurora Theatre Company production of Trouble in Mind, which won 6 Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Awards. Elizabeth has been featured in Theatre Bay Area Magazine as someone to “Keep an Eye On”. As an artist, Elizabeth has been a part of the SOTA Theatre Department since 2005. Her teaching career has led her to work with students from of all ages from kindergarten to adult actors, and she has trained teachers in alternative ways to access literature through theater. Elizabeth has spent the last 17 years teaching acting, voice and Shakespeare performance across the Bay Area for companies such as California Shakespeare Theatre, Berkeley Rep, and Brava!

Mark Allan Davis

A native New Yorker, Mark Allan Davis is an accomplished director, choreographer, playwright, and actor. After 11 years in Europe, primarily in Germany, he performed for two seasons with Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company. He’s an original cast member of the Broadway production of The Lion King and appeared at the Minskoff Theatre (NYC) for the twentieth anniversary gala reunion with Sir Elton John in 2017. Recent productions as director and/or choreographer: Mahalia, Raisin, Aida, Chicago, H2$, Dutchman, The Drowsy Chaperone, Art, Die Fledermaus, Ragtime, Threepenny Opera, Phantom of the Opera, On the Twentieth Century, and Little Shop of Horrors. His choreography was recently seen this fall in Crowded Fire Theatre Company’s recent production of Young Jean Lee’s Church. His musical (Book/Lyrics) The Last Blues of the Empress will have a staged reading in New York City in 2019. He received his BA in Dance & Performance from UMass Amherst and his MFA in Theatre/Dramatic Literature from Smith College. He holds a Gold Medal in Ice Dancing from the USFS. He’s a member of the Society of Directors & Choreographers, The Writers Guild of America, Actors Equity Association, and the Musical Theatre Educators Alliance. This is his first production with African-American Shakespeare Company (AASC). Thank you AASC for this great honor!! For more information please check out www.mallandavis.com.

Actors

For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf

Jan Hunter — Lady in Brown

Jan Hunter is excited to return to the African-American Shakespeare Company stage, having previously performed with them as Jocasta in Oedipus, Lady Teazle in School for Scandal, Mrs. Higgins in Pygmalion, and most recently as the Neighbor “Ms. Ruth” and the Nurse in A Streetcar Named Desire. She has also performed with the Lorraine Hansberry Theatre in their heyday. Jan was born and raised in Los Angeles and was one of the Original Soul Train dancers. She received her B.A. in Drama, M.A. in Education and M.A. in Teacher of the Arts. A newly retired Theatre Educator, she was the Director of the Performing Arts Academy at Skyline High School for 24 years, directing and producing 4 shows a year, escorting students to NYC every year for a Theatre intensive. Jan does dramatic storytelling at a private school in the Bay area for youths. She thanks God for this blessing, and her family and community for their loving support. The Drama Lives!!!

Bobbi Kindred — Lady in Purple

Cierra Green, Bobbi Kindred, Jolinda’s baby, and Storyteller, because there are multiple energetic beings that exist within Them and each must be honored. Storytelling is how they honor the wounds within themself that still gape, and how they invoke the spirit of their ancestors’ tongue when they share communally, and they deeply believe in the power of storytelling to heal the inner child. They have just published their first book, This (Boi)yant Body: Narratives of a Queer Black Boi and the Waters that Carry Them, and are preparing for their fall book tour. This is their first ever major theater production and they are humbled by the opportunity to embody the work of Ntozake Shange’s Lady in Purple, and to work closely with their favorite customer at Trader Joes, Elizabeth Carter.

Brittany Nicole Sims — Lady in Green

Brittany Nicole Sims is an actress, singer and native of the Bay Area from San Leandro, CA, and is thrilled to be working with the African-American Shakespeare Company for the fourth time! Brittany was last seen in Richard III as the Duchess of York, and as Paulina in The Winter’s Tale! She received her B.A. in Theater Arts from Sacramento State University (CSUS). Brittany’s recent works have been with All Terrain Theater, Inferno Theater, Vallejo Shakespeare in the Park, Those Women Productions, The SF Olympians Festival, Playwrights Center of SF, Ubuntu Theater and The Exit Theater. Brittany Sims would like to thank her family and friends for all their love and support, especially her mom who has always told her to never stop reaching for your dreams.

Regina Monique — Lady in Orange

Regina Monique is thrilled to be making her African-American Shakespeare Company debut! A graduate of San Francisco State University’s Theatre Program, other training include CSU Summer Arts: Michael Chekhov Technique, The Voice Actor’s Ultimate Tool Kit, and Acting on Camera. Recent regional theater credits include: Everybody at Cal Shakes (u/s: Usher, God, Understanding, Love); Dry Land at Shotgun Players (Ensemble); A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Pacifica Spindrift Players (Hermia). She gives all glory to God and her family for their support. Check her out at reginamonique.com.

Tiffany Tenille — Lady in Yellow

Tiffany Tenille is proud to be making her African-American Shakespeare Company debut in For Colored Girls. Tiffany is a native of Chicago, where she obtained her BFA in Acting from The Theatre School at DePaul University. She enjoys her successes in film, appearing in the title role in Jezebel, in The Joel McHale Show on Netflix, several media prints; and will soon appear as Lulu in Between Riverside and Crazy at San Jose Stage Company and as Felice in Jazz at Marin Theatre Company. She sends her love and special thanks to her loving family, supporting mentors and dear friends. To stay up to date about her career happenings follow her on Instagram @TiffanyTenille.

Paige Mayes — Lady in Red

Paige Mayes is a dancer, singer, and actress based in the Bay Area from Denver, CO by the way of Arizona. She attended Arizona State University and studied Performing Arts and Dance. Paige also studied at the American Conservatory Theater, where she participated in the Summer Training Congress and the San Francisco Semester. She is truly blessed to be a part of For Colored Girls! Paige had the honor of appearing in the African-American Shakespeare Company’s Cinderella, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and The Colored Museum. She is beyond grateful that AASC grants her the opportunity of storytelling.

Natasha LaGrone — Lady in Blue

Natasha LaGrone is excited to be making her debut with the African-American Shakespeare Company. She hails from Flint, Michigan, and is a proud alumna of Michigan State University (B.A. in Communication) and the American Conservatory Theater’s (A.C.T.) San Francisco Semester. She has been seen recently in productions with the San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Company (BATCO) including, I, Too, Sing America, How To Be A White Man, and La Posarela. Natasha has performed with A.C.T. in The Taming of the Shrew, Every 28 Hours, and The Insurgents. She was also spotted in the summer 2018 Feature Film Sorry To Bother You. Natasha is grateful to God for every blessing and to her family for their continued love and support.

Cinderella 2018

Cinderella — Loreigna Sinclair

Loreigna Sinclair is so excited to be in her first production with the African-American Shakespeare Company! Originally from Vallejo, CA, she graduated from AMDA College and Conservatory for the Performing Arts in Los Angeles with a Bachelors Degree in Musical Theatre. Since graduating her favorite credits include: Lorrell Robinson in Dreamgirls with Berkeley Playhouse, Esmeralda u/s in Hunchback of Notre Dame with Bay Area Musicals, JoAnn/Ensemble in Dreamgirls International Tour with McCoy Rigby Entertainment, Ensemble in The Wedding Singer with Bay Area Musicals, Ensemble in Rock of Ages with Pacific Coast Repertory Theatre, and originating the title role of Frances “RED” Reed in the original workshop of RED A New Musical. You can catch her next in the premier of the new musical She Persisted with Bay Area Children’s Theatre. Loreigna gives thanks to her family and friends for all their love and support. And Loreigna says, “to my amazing fiancé Jordan, thank you for helping me make all my dreams come true. I love you.”

Evil Stepmother — Clara 'Clarae' McDaniel

Clara “Clarae” McDaniel is a native San Franciscan singer and actress, and is very grateful to be returning to the African-American Shakespeare Company in this year’s Cinderella production. Clara has shared her vocal skills with gospel choirs, rhythm & blues groups, bands and as a background singer for well known artists. Some of most recent works include: ACT/Infinity Production’s Crack Rumble & Fly, African-American Shakespeare Company’s productions of The Colored Museum and Cinderella and has done several other works such as: Black Nativity, Your Arms Too Short to Box With God, Ain’t Mis Behavin, Black & Blue, Waiting to be Invited, Eubie Blake Review, and Hit It all with the Lorraine Hansberry Theatre. Clara has also completed extensive classes: Movement of Actors, Scene Studies, Voice Coaching, Choir, Piano all with City College of San Francisco. Clara currently works as a Paraeducator with the Paraeducator Leadership Network in the San Francisco Unified School District. She is the mother of three and the grandmother of five. She is a member of Destiny Christian Fellowship Church, Fremont, CA.

Zonita — Devin A. Cunningham

Rickey G. Soto III is an actor, singer, and dancer recently transplanted to the Bay Area from the central valley of California. He is currently studying at San Francisco State University. Most of his experience and training comes from his time spent at Modesto Junior College near his hometown. He is excited to be working with the African-American Shakespeare Company for the second time after playing the role of Prince Charming in last year’s production of Cinderella. He hopes this will be a stepping stone to a bright future in show business.

Page — Jaren Erville

Jaren Erville is pleased to be making his debut with the African-American Shakespeare Company. Jaren is a member of the Bac-a-Dos theatre club at his school and last year traveled to Dallas, Texas to participate in the International Theatre Festival. He would like to thank his family and friends for all their love and support.

Fairy Godfather — ShawnJ West

ShawnJ West’s recent African-American Shakespeare Company credits include: A Streetcar Named Desire as Steve, A Midsummer Night’s Dream as Bottom, and August Wilson’s Jitney as busy body Turnbo. Favorite roles include Sterling North in Permanent Collection with Piedmont Center for the Arts; Lady Percy in The Free Theatre’s Henry IV, Part I; George in Of Mice and Men with Role Players Ensemble Theatre; Buckingham in Richard III and Pandarus in Troilus and Cressida with Impact Theatre; and Dogberry in Much Ado About Nothing and Gooper in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof with African-American Shakespeare Company. As well as challenging roles as Belize in Angels in America; Perestroika, Gidger in The Violet Hour; Raul in Extremities; and Robert in The Exonerated. He’s also enjoyed roles on the musical side of theatre in Grease, Guys and Dolls, West Side Story and A Chorus Line. ShawnJ says, “here’s to magic! Believe!!!”

Shayla — Jazz Amira Hardrict

Jazz Amira Hardrict is a nine year old 4th grade student at Ile Omode African Centered School. She is thrilled to once again be in the cast of Cinderella. At age six, she played the character of Young Cinderella and last year played the character of Sherena. She loves the experience of being on stage dreams of being a successful performing artist and a pediatrician who discovers the cure for Sickle Cell. At age seven, she was cast as Lil Simba in 3Crosses’s production of The Lion King. In addition, she played the monkey and a street Urchin in Aladdin, Lil Magic in Dreamgirls, a NYC street kid in Rent, and a Parisian child in Funny Face. Jazz studies ballet, martial arts, gymnastics, and African Dance. Jazz is in eager anticipation of visiting Paris this year for the first time with her Uncle Jaredt. She is extremely grateful to the African-American Shakespeare Company for providing an outlet for young artists to shine on stage and for treating her so warmly.

Sherena — Raina Bhargava

Raina Bhargava is thrilled to be performing with the African-American Shakespeare Company for the first time. Aside from performing at San Mateo High School, she has trained at Interlochen Center for the Arts and with the Joffrey Ballet School. Most recently, she performed in Begets: Fall of a High School Ronin (Mary) with the A.C.T. Youth Conservatory. Off the stage, she loves to teach dance, create clothing, and is currently writing her first short film. She would like to thank her family and friends for their support, and hopes you have a magical time at today’s show.

Young Cinderella — Nakayla Lyn Herrring

Nakayla Lyn Herring is extremely excited and honored to be working with the African-American Shakespeare Company. She’s a 1st grader at Alice Fong Yu Chinese Immersion School, where she is learning to speak and write in Cantonese. While dancing with Nitty Dupree Dance Studio, she has performed in the San Francisco 2016 Juneteenth Festival. She won the 2017 Sacramento Convention Center Aloha Cheer Championship and also won awards in the 2017 Jamz Cheer And Dance at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom. Nakayla enjoys making people laugh and smile. In Nakayla’s spare time she enjoys swimming and playing tennis.

Mother & Dance Ensemble — Tyler Vernae Alsobrook

Tyler Vernae Alsobrook is an actor, singer, and performer from the Bay Area. This is her first production with the African-American Shakespeare Company and she is very grateful to have been given an opportunity to be part of this venture. Her experience in theater and stage production over the years officially began in 2006 at the Berkeley Repertory Theater. In the Summer of 2007, she trained and performed at the Alvin Ailey Dance Camp at UC Berkeley. After receiving a degree in Performing Arts at Chabot Community College in 2016, she began working locally as an extra/background in films and television. Tyler has always had a passion for acting and entertainment. She believes in changing the way people see life through visual representation.

Dance Ensemble — Jarrett Holley

Jarrett Holley is proud to continuing his work with the African-American Shakespeare Company after previously being in A Midsummer’s Night Dream, Cinderella 2017, A Streetcar Named Desire, and Richard III. He is originally from Memphis, TN, but has lived and worked in the Bay Area for over 10 years after graduating from the Academy of Art University with an AA in Motion Pictures and Television here in the city. He has a passion for languages, swords, and stage combat and is known as the resident Star Wars encyclopedia among his friends.

Dance Ensemble — Tiffany Rabb

Tiffany Rene Rabb is dancer and actress from the Bay Area. She is extremely delighted to be working with the African-American Shakespeare Company on this project Cinderella 2018/2019 as the assistant choreographer, and one of the dancer’s. She is a senior at San Francisco State University (SFSU) while studying Africana Studies and Dance. She has studied West African Dance for over 20 years, South African dance for 6 years. She also performed in the Ethnic Dance Festival in 2015/2016, was the centerfold picture in the program, a founding member of Jikelele Dance Theater Company where she has done musicals depicting apartheid struggle, and performed as Nelson Mandela in a memorial contribute to his organizing against the struggle. She is a naturalist hair stylist, clothing designer, choreographer, and natural born teacher. Her passion is teaching dance that’s is connected to the African diaspora. She looks forward after graduating teaching in the dance theater department at Presidio Middle School along with Hip-Hop Workshop at San Francisco State University.

Prince Charming — Tré Zijuan Tyler

Tré Zijuan Tyler is a fourth-year student at San Francisco State University where he is studying to earn a Bachelors Degree in Drama with an emphasis in Performance as well as a minor in Education. A recipient of the Clarence Miller Musical Theatre Scholarship, he has taught musical theatre at several theatre education institutions in California including Christian Youth Theatre in San Diego and Pied Piper Players in San Mateo. Cinderella is Tré’s first production with the African-American Shakespeare Company. Other favorite credits of his include Songs for a New World with Breakthrough Workshop Theatre as well as Hud in Hair and Officer Lockstock in Urinetown: The Musical at San Francisco State University.

Shaniqua — Rickey G. Soto III

Duke & Father — Todd Risby

Todd Risby has an extensive career as an actor. At the age of nine years old, Todd played Percy the Slave-boy in Helen Keller’s the Miracle Worker. He also played Ira Aldridge in Zero Hour Nine AM at Richland Community College Theatre and the Mayor in Hubba City at Black Repertory Group. Other credits include: television series Midnight Caller; the film Sneakers and Nine Months; independent film Drowning Hypothetically; and as a college professor in Joe Runs Dry, an independent student project produced by Expression College for Digital Arts in Emeryville, CA. This past summer, Todd played the role of Clabe Sutton in the Western, The Rogues of Flat Oak. The film premiers this December. He also stared as Sam, the art instructor in the short film, The Blind Artist. Todd just finished a short film called Film Never Lies where he played photographer Todd Simmons. Early next year, Todd will start filming and co-starring in the action drama Talk to the Gun, scheduled for release in the Spring of 2019. His last appearance on the African-American Shakespeare Company stage was in the roles of The Man, Solider, and Walter Lee Younger in The Colored Museum.

Page — Sumayyah Nuriddin-Green

Sumayyah Nuriddin-Green is delighted to return to the African-American Shakespeare Company’s production of Cinderella for the third time in a row! At Marin Theater Company she’s played the role of Mrs. Griswald in 13 Reasons Not to be in a Play; Lucy in You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, and Mary Lennox in The Secret Garden. In last year’s production of Cinderella she was cast as Shayla. In SFBATCO’s co-production of Cinderella she appeared as Young Cinderella and one of the Mice. Sumayyah is a Student Ambassador for Black Girls Code, she has held conversations with leaders at Dropbox and Lyft, spoke at Watermark Innovation Conference 2018 and BoxWorks 18 discussing the importance of STEAM education. A few of Sumayyah’s favorite things to do is bake cookies, create D.I.Y.’s, and write poems. Instagram: @allaboutsumayyah

Grandmother — Jan Hunter

Jan Hunter is excited to return to the African-American Shakespeare Company (AASC) stage, having recently appeared as the Lady in Brown in Ntozake Shange’s For Colored Girls… and Ms. Ruth, the neighbor and the nurse in A Streetcar Named Desire. She previously performed in AASC’s productions as Jocasta in Oedipus, Lady Teazle in School for Scandal, and Ms. Higgins in Pygmalion. She has also performed with the Lorraine Hansberry Theatre in their heyday and now sits on their Board of Directors. Jan was born and raised in Los Angeles and was one of the Original Soul Train Dancers. She received her B.A. in Drama, M.A. in Education and M.A. in Teacher of the Arts. A newly retired Theatre Educator, she was the Director of the Performing Arts Academy at Skyline High School for 24 years, directing and producing 4 shows a year, escorting students to NYC every year for a theatre intensive. Jan does dramatic storytelling at a private school in the Bay Area for youths. Jan thanks God for this blessing and she is especially grateful to be performing with her granddaughter for the first time. She appreciates her family and community for their loving support. Jan says, “The Drama Lives!!!”

Shayla — Patricia-Blue Pharr

Patricia-Blue Pharr, a second grader, is excited to make her acting debut with the African-American Shakespeare Company. Blue, as she goes by, loves gymnastics, swimming, and playing make believe with her dolls. Blue takes violin lessons and has taken piano as well. Her favorite subjects in school are religion and music. Blue has participated in theater camp with Musically Minded Academy since she was three years old and participated in workshops with Kids ‘N Film and Children’s Fairy Land. Blue was also a 2018 Miss California Princess. Blue sells lemonade and hot chocolate to raise money to buy blankets for the homeless.

Sherena — Zaire Herd

Zaire Herd is an 11 year old student, dancer, and actress from San Francisco, California and she is very excited to be working with African-American Shakespeare Company. She is a 6th grader at Gateway Middle School in San Francisco, and enjoys her student leadership positions in the student council and being the Captain of the JV Girls Volleyball Team. Zaire has a passion for dancing and has danced professionally with Bay Area dance groups and has traveled as far as Los Angeles, training with Anthony Burrell for a week learning technical dance pieces. Zaire worked with the African-American Shakespeare Company as Page in their 2017 production of Cinderella. Zaire also enjoys playing sports such as flag football, basketball, and baseball.

Young Cinderella — Samaiya Jae Morthel

Samaiya Jae Morthel is a kindergartner at The San Francisco School. She turned six this September. Samaiya loves attending musicals and stage plays. At the age of five, she set a goal of attending 25 productions per year and keeps a scrapbook to capture the experiences. Samaiya loves art, reading, baking cupcakes, and playing pretend with her friends. A self-proclaimed fashionista, she loves to shop and dress herself and others. Samaiya wants to be a fashion model, designer, chef, veterinarian, and a leader when she grows up.

Dance Ensemble — Darlene Aniebonam

Darlene Aniebonam is a professional actress, dancer, and model based in the Bay Area. She has studied dance for 15 years specializing in ballet, jazz, contemporary, hip hop, and West African. Darlene received her Bachelors in Kinesiology with a minor in Dance from George Mason University (GMU). She has performed with Division 1 dance teams that received the UDA Award for top 3 in the nation for three years consecutively. Darlene has also been a soloist for the GMU African American Showcase, as well as danced professionally for Oracle World and Dreamforce. She has choreographed and trained young dancers for three years, and loves to teach individuals how to develop a love for performing and dancing.

Dance Ensemble — Tiffani Amber Williams

Tiffani Amber Williams, a Barbadian native, is a Bachelors of Fine Art Acting major at the Academy of Art University (AAU) in San Francisco. She earned her Associate Degree in Theatre Arts at the Barbados Community College and has experience in teaching, directing, and performing in many acclaimed theatrical productions and films in Barbados; where she won the award for Best Actress in the short film One More Time at the 2016 Barbados Visual Media Awards. Tiffani recently performed in AAU School of Acting’s Fall mid-semester play THIS and spring musical production The Drowsy Chaperone; which were both directed by Clark Houston-Lewis. Tiffani recently played the role of Kaneesha Sharpton in the world premiere of the play JIVE produced by Windy City Productions; directed by playwright Susan Rabin. She is extremely excited to be a part of African-American Shakespeare Company’s 2018 cast of Cinderella.

Dance Ensemble — Bryan Rodriguez

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