Our Team

An M.F.A. graduate from the American Conservatory Theatre; and former Commissioner for the San Francisco Art Commission proudly serving former Mayor Gavin Newsom, Sherri Young founded The African-American Shakespeare in 1994 and has been its Executive Director since the beginning. She has directed twenty productions, produced and executed four programs, and speaks at various colleges, universities, and conferences across the nation. Young manages the approximately 60 company members and volunteers for the organization’s programs, performances, and productions. Some career highlights includes the creation of the company’s signature holiday performance Cinderella, effectively building and stabilizing the organization over the past few years, and an increase audience attendance and new funding support by foundations and individual donors. With her team, Young is spearheading new collaborations with local and national artists and art institutions.

Since treading the boards in a production of The Matchmaker in Washington State, “Alx” has participated in stage productions from Ft. Lewis, Washington; to Ft. Benjamin Harrison, Indiana. Even during his 6-year stint as a Navy Journalist, Mr. Alexander found time for theater by co-writing, producing and appearing in a production commemorating the anniversary of the aircraft carrier USS Ranger (CV-61), performed on the ship’s Hangar Deck while the vessel was at sea in the Indian Ocean. Locally, Mr. Alexander has appeared in A Few Good Men, The Normal Heart, and Julius Caesar among others. Appearing again in Cinderella, Mr. Alexander was happy to “Duke” it out once more.

Maurice Brewster brings more than 39 years of successful sales, sales management & entrepreneur experience to his position as Founder & Chief Executive Officer of Mosaic Global Transportation. Mosaic Global Transportation is an international, Certified Minority owned limousine & ground transportation business, with over 500 vehicles in their network worldwide. Maurice has served as a Board Member of the Western Regional Minority Supplier Development Council in Oakland, California and Chairman of the Minority Business Enterprise Input Committee. In 2011, Maurice formed a new Non-Profit Industry Group called the Minority Limousine Operators of America. Their main function is to provide education & opportunities for minority limousine owners worldwide. Prior to establishing Mosaic Global Transportation, Maurice held several senior & management positions with DuPont, GTE, SPRINT & MCI. He has a strong background in directing, building and managing successful sales teams in a variety of markets. Maurice holds a BS Degree in Business, with a Minor in Communications from the prestigious Lincoln University in Pennsylvania, where he graduated with honors. He continued his studies at UCLA’s Anderson School of Management and graduated in 2009.

Walter grew up in Hartford/Windsor, CT and he has lived in Austin & Houston, TX and now San Jose, CA as a result of his high-tech career. He is a graduate of Boston University and has a Masters in Management from Cambridge College which are both located in Boston, MA. Walter and his wife “V” and their 4 adult children enjoy family time, good food of all types, movies, theatre, arts, sports & traveling. Walter’s son Taylor is part of the Apple SDM organization in Austin, TX. Walter’s passion for supporting the Black in America & Business efforts started with his parents who were involved in the Civil Rights efforts in the 60’s & 70’s in the Hartford/Windsor, CT area. He currently works at Apple as the Corporate Procurement Director. Over the years he has been responsible for the Procurement teams in AppleCare, Chanel Sales Programs and Third-Party Products (3PP).

Lolita Morrow is a passionate leader and innovator in the media industry with decades of experience in marketing, sales, and digital media. In her past roles at Pepsi, Molson-Coors, Showtime Networks, and Vox Media, she leveraged her expertise and network to create and execute strategic partnerships, campaigns, and initiatives that drive growth and value for the organization and its partners. Lolita is currently the Vice President of Brand Partnerships for My Code, a leading marketing and media company.

Lolita is also a creative and entrepreneurial spirit who has co-produced award-winning short films, authored a best-selling book, and hosted its popular podcast. She is passionate about storytelling, diversity, and social impact and serves on the board of directors for two non-profit organizations that promote inclusion and representation in the arts and culture sector. Lolita holds a Master’s in Communication from Seton Hall, an MBA in Marketing from Texas Southern University, and completed executive education programs at Harvard, Yale, and Cornell University.

Stephen Kate C. Banzon is a passionate and driven individual, who have always been captivated by the world of arts. She is committed to delivering impactful marketing strategies that resonate with audiences. While her professional journey is still in its early stages, she have already had the privilege of contributing to successful campaigns, leveraging social media platforms, and crafting compelling content. Stephen’s insatiable curiosity and willingness to learn allow her to adapt quickly and collaborate effectively with diverse teams. Eager to continue honing her skills, Stephen is dedicated to making a meaningful impact in the marketing landscape and bringing fresh perspectives to the table.

Ely McIntire is a stage manager, set designer, and theater technician from Tracy, California, and is proud to be a full-time member of the team at the African-American Shakespeare Company. As Production Manager, Ely has had the privilege of stage managing productions including Pipeline, AASC Cinderella (2023–2025), Chicken and Biscuits, From One to Another, Shakespeare Over My Shoulder, Xanadu, and Footloose. They are passionate about creating collaborative theatrical experiences and bringing stories to life through production management, scenic design, and technical leadership. Outside of AASC, Ely serves as the Technical Director for Foothill and Amador High School musical productions The Addams Family and The Prom, where they mentor students while overseeing scenic construction, technical production, and stagecraft. They are especially excited to be part of Schoolhouse Rock Live! and hope audiences of all ages leave the theater humming a tune, learning something new, and remembering the joy of live performance.

James Mercer II is a Black American multi-hyphenate artist originally from Philly-adjacent with a passion for expressing the wide-range of the Black American experience with the goal to liberate and expand through the medium of theatre. Bay Area and regional theatre credits include: American Conservatory Theater, Berkeley Rep, African-American Shakespeare Company, Irish Rep, and Arden Theatre Company. James has also worked as a national touring physical actor with Theater Unspeakable (based in Chicago), and has workshopped plays with A.C.T., Penumbra, National Black Theatre, Playwrights Foundation, and Berkeley Rep’s Ground Floor. As a resident artist with African-American Shakespeare Company, James works as a casting director, teaching artist, dramaturg, occasional actor, and production assistant. James graduated from School at Steppenwolf (Group 21) and American Conservatory Theater (MFA).

Nazeerah is a strategic and excited artist with over 18 years of theatrical experience. For AASC, she serves as the Arts Education Program Coordinator, and enjoys connecting with community partners to bring art to the youth in an accessible way. Nazeerah is most passionate about storytelling through music. Previously, she has been a musical theater instructor and director, the Chair on the Board of Directors of Cultural Arts and Diversity Resource Center, and a Live Studio Assistant at HWY17 Studios.

Dallas Thomas, the Director of Arts Education and Engagement at the African American Shakespeare Company, brings a wealth of dance training in hip-hop, jazz, contemporary, and musical theater. Since arriving in the Bay Area in 2016, Dallas has thrived in both the performing arts and education fields, excelling as a teaching artist and program director.

Beyond his professional role, Dallas co-owns and directs a youth dance non-profit alongside his husband, united by their mission to extend high-quality performing arts opportunities to underprivileged communities and support aspiring artists of color in their journey to become performing art educators. Dallas’s ultimate aspiration is to create an inclusive platform that empowers diverse talents to flourish in the realm of performing arts.

Benjamin’s passion for serving youth started early in his career, where he took on different roles at his local school district. His desire to work with children grew through his work at Big Lift Inspiring Summers for multiple programs, in which he taught STEAM-based curriculum and worked to help improve the reading and writing proficiency of students at elementary schools in his community. He graduated from St. Mary’s College of California in 2022 with a Bachelor of Science in Economics and a double minor in math and computer science, and upon graduating served as the program and business coordinator for Handful Players where he impacted students through his support of teaching artists, both inside and outside the classroom. Benjamin continues to utilize his quantitative and education-focused background today, while also pairing it with his appreciation for the arts.

Ashley Raggs is a San Francisco native, actor, playwright, and community engagement professional with deep roots in the Bay Area arts community. A graduate at the top of her Theatre Arts class at San Francisco’s Ruth Asawa School of the Arts, Ashley has continued her career as a working stage actor with companies including the San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Company (SFBATCO) and the African-American Shakespeare Company. She expanded her work as a storyteller through SFBATCO’s Creators Lab, where she wrote and developed an original play.
Beyond the stage, Ashley has worked directly in community outreach at San Francisco’s Taimon Booton Navigation Center, strengthening her commitment to connecting people with resources, opportunities, and experiences that uplift their communities.
Now serving as Group Sales & Community Engagement Coordinator for the African-American Shakespeare Company, Ashley brings together her experience as an artist, storyteller, and community advocate to build meaningful partnerships, expand access to live theatre, and ensure that the communities represented onstage know that the theatre belongs to them, too.