ALAN SHARPE
Alan Sharpe HIV+ Writer/Director co-founded African-American Collective Theater (ACT) after his move to Washington, DC. Since 1992, he has written and directed over 100 plays and short films, all showcasing contemporary Black gay and lesbian life and culture. Sharpe is proud to be a charter member of Brave Soul Collective (BSC) for which he has also written an ongoing series of plays, as well as the African-American Playwrights’ Exchange (APEX), Urban Playwrights’ United (UPU) and the Dramatists’ Guild.
ANTHONY GREEN
Anthony Green recently moved to DC from Memphis, TN where he coordinated a program that provided HIV testing, sexual
health education and community building for black gay men. He also taught English at the University of Memphis. His writing
has been featured in numerous literary journals and stage productions. His collection of short stories, #BlackGayStoriesMatter is now available on Amazon. Anthony is thrilled to be working with this collective of amazingly
talented brothers & sisters!
DAMIÓN PERKINS
Damión Perkins is currently an Arts Based Health Educator for Kaiser Permanente. Damión has her Masters Degree in Theatre
Education from The Catholic University of America. She currently leverages external partnerships in the DC and Suburban
Maryland area to increase equity in health and education for under resourced schools and communities. She develops
curriculum and facilitates programming and workshops using arts based learning to support trauma informed care, social and
emotional wellness and resiliency. Damión has always found a way to combine her commitment to youth development and
the community with her love for the performing arts! In addition to her work in the theatre community, she currently trains
teaching artists in resiliency strategies for school staff & students. Damión is also a member of the Vanguard Women’s Ensemble
of FRESHH Inc. Theatre Company in Washington, DC.
DARRELL EVANS
Darrell Evans is a born and raised native Washingtonian who got a taste for the performing arts in elementary school.
Since then, he has studied the arts at various locations, while balancing a position with the local Transit company, Metro,
where he met some solid friends along the way, who were kind enough to give him the opportunity which you see unfolding before your eyes today.
DARRELL JOHNSON
BARBARA
ASARE-BEDIAKO
As filmmaker, producer, writer, SAG-AFTRA Actor, Anthropologist, I am driven by my interest in women’s stories, especially the ways in which women empower themselves. My background in cross cultural studies merges with my artistry, creating a wonderful lens through which to create documentary film. Many of my creations are heavily influenced by my work with homeless women. I am a graduate of Kansas State University, Northwestern University, and a recent graduate John Hopkins University Film & Media Masters Program. As a Saul Zaentz Innovation Fund Fellow, I received Development, Documentary Lab and Production funding for the making of “Ballet After Dark”. I enjoyed working with an all-woman team to film and produce “Ballet After Dark” and look forward to creating more stories about the lives of courageous, unique and dynamic women.
DONALD BURCH III
Donald Burch III, loves the theater and any opportunity to work with Brave Soul Collective and African-American Collective
Theater. He's been working with these companies for several years, both in front of, and behind the scenes.
JAMMINE NANCE
Jammine Nance is an alumni of Duke Ellington School of the Arts and Co-Founder of Droom Theatre. He is a young writer,
actor,& singer and is very outspoken & eager to discuss social & economic issues that effect different communities. He finds it easier to communicate through his writing & art.
JASON EVAN BARRETT
Jason Evan Barrett is excited to take the stage and share his talents with the BSC family. A poet, a singer, an actor, Washington, DC area native and graduate of Morehouse college, Jason has performed throughout the area, as well as up and down the east coast. In 2008, he performed in the original successful BSC production of "A Communion With Kings, written by NYC playwright Dyron Holmes. Other performances include: A Raisin in the Sun (Chevy Chase Players), Interrogation Room (Source Theatre), Tamer of Horses (Kuumba Players), The One Act Theater Festival (Silver Spring Stage), Purple Hearts
(DCBTF) and the Brave Souls Unplugged show (Warehouse Theater/Baltimore Theater Project).
JARED SHAMBERGER
Jared Shamberger is a proud DMV resident who studied acting and directing at Bowie State University. Last summer, he directed
Farah Lawal Harris’ play, America’s Wives for the Capital Fringe Festival’s Writing Refreshed Series. He is a playwright himself
penning the short plays Donuts & Dilemmas, Virginia is for Lovers, Brass Tacks, and Water Break among others. He has also written and performed two one-man shows, 12 and Unsaid. Recently, Jared was selected to join the next generation of The Welders, DC's premier collective of producing playwrights. Jared was also a member of the 2018 Helen Hayes Award-winning production, Still Life with Rocket. When not in a theater, Jared can most likely be found
working as Program Director for Young Playwrights’ Theater. Before joining YPT, Jared spent five years working for Kaiser
Permanente as an Educational Theatre Specialist specializing in their sexual health and anti-bullying programs. Jared is incredibly proud of his work as a founding member of Brave Soul Collective, a DC-based Black LGBTQ+ arts organization.
To learn more about Jared and what he’s working on next, just ask him.
JIVON LEE JACKSON
Jivon Lee Jackson is an award wining writer , producer and performer has appeared in the Piano Lesson , Take me Out, & Jesus Hopped the A Train. He also has spent the last decade with Brave Soul Collective .
JOSETTE
MARINA MURRRAY
Josette Marina Murray is the Founding Artistic Director of Shakespeare's Sistah Theatre Co. (SSTC) whose mission is to tell stories, teach history and preserve culture through the oral tradition and the written word. SSTC is a sanctuary for performance/ training/ outreach education, illuminating the artistic work of the African Diaspora. September 2020 will mark a 30
year career as a Theatre Artist. A Classical training scholarship recipient and former company member with Shakespeare & Company - where she received extensive training in performance and outreach education. Josette has taught theatre and specifically Shakespeare to young people from Kindergarten through High School since September 1990. She is currently an Instructor/ Group Leader at IS204 BEACON in Long Island City, NY. Josette is a long standing artistic collaborator with Brave Soul Collective and African-American Collective Theater in Washington, DC. Josette is also a member of The PlayGround Experiment, a home for theatre artists to explore, test, and showcase new work while finding inspiration and support from the community that it creates. Josette is a caregiver to her elder parents and Mother to her 18 year old college attending son. A longtime proud resident of Queens and an empath who is always on a mission to heal, to forgive and to love… starting with herself...
KEANNA FAIRCLOTH
Keanna Faircloth has been an on-air host at Washington DC's station for Jazz and Justice, WPFW 89.3 FM for over 15 years
and currently hosts "The Continuum Experience" every Friday night from 10 pm to midnight. She is a graduate of Howard University in Music History, Connecticut School of Broadcasting, as well as the Studio Theatre Acting Conservatory.
She has worked as a freelance writer for NPR Music, and for Radio One as an on-air personality, producer and voice-over
talent. She loves all things music and manages a private piano studio in her spare time. She is the host of a Jazz lifestyle
magazine television series called, "Jazz Encounters" on Montgomery Community Media. She debuted her podcast, “Artimacy” in June 2018 on DC Radio 96.3 HD4. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram at @JazzyGirlRockin and @artimacy.
KEVIN CARSWELL
KETA NEWBORN
Keta Newborn has worked in the world of theatre for over 10 years. She has held several titles including SM, ASM, Venue
Manager, Production Assistant, Light & Sound Board Ops and Production Manager. Her past credits include: THE NEW PLAY
FESTIVAL (YPT), LITTLE THING, BIG THING (Solas Nua), YELLOWMAN (Anacostia Playhouse), BLACK NATIVITY and DONTRELL, WHO KISSED THE SEA (Theater Alliance), LETO LEGEND and FAILURE: A LOVE STORY (The Hub), SECRET
GARDEN and GIDION’S KNOT (Next Stop), THE LAST DAYS OF JUDAS ISCARIOT, HOW WE GOT ON and GIDION’S KNOT
(Forum), THE FLICK and HOW WE GOT ON (Company One) , WTF HAPPENED TO BABY SISTER ? (Brave Soul Collective) to name a few.
LEMAR JOHNSON
Kevin Carswell is a Maryland based poet, writer, & musician, and activist. A new creative to the Arts, he uses his Jamaican influence & the relation with the LGBT community in various poems, spoken word pieces, & music, always providing a relatable yet different experience. He previously attended George Mason University, where he studied psychology as well as creative writing.
MARIO GRAY
PATRICIA
WILLIAMS DUGUEYE
Patricia Williams Dugueye is an actor, commercial print model and voice artist. She’s appeared in numerous films and theatre productions. Stage credits include the Vagina Monologues, Rose in Fences, a Redskin band member and security guard in Active Cultures’ Sportaculture, Daisy in the Past is the Present Imperfect; Mama Jug in Nutshell, Serena in Porgy, and various characters in “Spoon River Anthology. She was a minister’s wife in the BET film, Multitude of Mercies that addressed prejudices against people with HIV. Other film roles include a government official in Trigger Effect, a woman with a younger lover in Sara, and a former police officer turned assassin in “Lethal Force” where she was
nominated for best supporting actress at the New York Indies Film. She is currently working on a poetry book as well as developing concept for plays about historical women. When she is not performing, Patricia is an environmental activist and advocate. Patricia believes that art is an important avenue to foster positive change in the world.
RED SUMMER
MICHAEL
SAINTE-ANDRESS
Michael Sainte-Andress champions arts education in public schools, adult literacy, voter registration & civil/human rights. He
is an educator, a professional multi-talented entertainer (actor/producer/director), an award-winning poet and writer, but
more importantly he is fully committed to making the world a better place in which to live. He honorably served in the U.S. Navy and since 1974 has made DC his home. He is a two-time Mayoral appointee to the Ryan White HIV Planning Council & a Mayoral appointee to the Citizens Complaint Review Board. He does all these things with a determination and sense of purpose
that is remarkable.
POETRAEMONET
PoetRaeMonet, a DC native, uses erotic poetry to combat the serious lack of sexual education in America. She began writing in childhood and has gone on to publish 5 books and 2 journals; including 'The Bedroom Companion' which she'll be reading from tonight. She is a hard-worker, who has developed hand-made candles, accessories, and paintings to complement her books, creating a full-sensory experience for those looking to immerse themselves in sensuality.
RODDERICK SHEPPARD
Rodderick Sheppard is a native Southeast Washingtonian, where he currently resides. Being left-handed and a creative being, he
expresses himself through several artistic mediums such as film, writing, poetry, acting, & painting. Working as a community
advocate for the LGBTQIA+, he is intentional about healing and impacting his community through the arts.
REGINALD RICHARD
Reginald Richard's stage credits include Blue Camp (Rainbow Theatre Project), Separate Rooms (4615 Theatre Company) JEFFREY (Rainbow Theatre Project), East Of Eden (NEXTSTOP Theatre), The Tempest (Washington Shakespeare Company), and The Great Society (Arena Stage). Last year Reginald placed as the runner-up in the actor competition Monologue Madness. Aside from performing Reginald serves as a faculty instructor at his alma mater, National Conservatory Of Dramatic Arts, an
accredited D.C. based acting conservatory.
TAMISHA OTTLEY
Tamisha Ottley has over 15 years of experience in Theater. She has served as Box Office Associate, House Manager, Patron Services Manager and the role that she enjoys the most Stage Manager. She has served as the Stage Manager for Brave Soul Collective and City at Peace, DC, a youth development program for teens and young adults ages 14-24, which provides a safe, collaborative and nurturing space where they can examine issues and conditions that divide them. City at Peace is rooted in social justice and uses performing arts to tell the stories of the young people.
THEMBI DUNCAN
Thembi Duncan is an arts administrator, director, playwright, actor, and teaching artist with 20 years of experience synthesizing theatre, American history, and social justice. Leadership highlights include serving as Creative Programs Director of Young Playwrights’ Theater, Producing Artistic Director of African Continuum Theatre Company, and Lead Teaching Artist at historic Ford’s Theatre. She directed and performed in numerous productions during her career, most memorably of plays by Pulitzer Award-winning playwrights Lynn Nottage, Dael Orlandersmith, August Wilson, and Ayad Akhtar. Ms. Duncan holds a B.A. in Theatre, Summa Cum Laude, from the University of Maryland and currently serves as the Director of Arts Engagement and Education at Shea's Performing Arts Center.
TYLEAH HAWKINS
WILMA LYNN HORTON
Wilma Lynn Horton is a Chocolate City
representer! She graduated from Howard University & majored in Theatre Arts with a concentration in Acting. While at Howard, she was part of the Roxie Roker Touring Company. Ms. Horton has been a Brave Soul Collective company member since 2006, with which she has enjoyed Stage Managing and Acting. She is also currently a member of PinPoints Touring Company, African Collective Theatre Company (ACT), and Restoration Stage Theatre Company.
YARDE NOIR
Yarde Noir is a 1997 graduate of Duke Ellington School of the Arts. He has worked as a professional makeup artist for The
Washington Redskins Cheerleaders, SMASHBOX COSMETICS, PRETTY by PR the artistic team for JOYA COSMETICS. Mr. Noir is the 2008 Elite Beauty Make-Up Competition Winner. Currently he is the Editor At Large / Creative Director for SWERV MAGAZINE and the creator & blogger of GETUSOMEonline.com an online inspirational, current events & lifestyle blog. Working to elevate his brand to the next level, he is a student at the University of the District of Columbia majoring in
Graphic Design.
ZUKEH FREEMAN
Zukeh Freeman is a DMV native and has been working with BSC since 2013 .