EKUNDAYO BANDELE [HATTILOO THEATRE] is the author of six plays that include Judas Hands, If Scrooge was a Brother and a novel – Tales Go Round. In 2006, he founded and opened Hattiloo Theatre (named for his two daughters). As the executive/artistic director he has directed several plays including Fences, The Bluest Eye, and Hurt Village. From 2012 – 2014 he spearheaded a $4.4m capital campaign that resulted in the construction of a newly constructed theatre that opened in June 2014, a $500k endowment, and $500k in operation support. www.hattiloo.org

 

VALERIE CURTIS-NEWTON [THE HANSBERRY PROJECT] is currently the Head of Performance at the University of Washington School of Drama, Valerie also serves as the Artistic Director for The Hansberry Project, a professional African American theatre lab in Seattle WA. Her credits include work with Actors’ Theatre of Louisville, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Intiman Theatre, Seattle Children’s Theatre, The Mark Taper Forum, New York Theatre Workshop, Tacoma Actors’ Guild, Southern Repertory Theatre, Capitol Repertory Theatre, and Northwest Asian American Theatre among others.  Valerie was a participant in the TCG/NEA Career Development Program for Directors in 1997-1999 and in 2001 she received the SDCF Gielgud Directing Fellowship. www.hansberryproject.org

 

NANCY CHERYLL DAVIS [TOWNE STREET THEATRE] Alumna: American Conservatory Theatre & Lincoln Center Directors Lab West. Founding Artistic/Producing Director: Towne Street Theatre, L.A. Director/Producer/Conception:Langston & Nicolas, Millennium in Black. D/P: Nevis Mountain Dew, Five on the Blackhand Side. Shorts: Family, Summer Dreams-2005 Pan African Film Festival. Director: L.A. Hair Story/Cornerstone Theatre, Madwoman of Chaillot/Culver City Theater, Story in Harlem Slang/Company of Angels. Winner NAACP Best Actress Passing (Conception/Producer). PassingSOLO in solo/black/woman series Northwestern University Press. Best Actress Nominee, Flyin West /St. Louis Black Rep, NAACP Best Ensemble Nominee Bow Wow Club/Stella Adler. Film & TV: Hollywood Shuffle, Menace to Society, I’m Gonna Git You Sucka, Dexter,1600 PENN, Court Martial of Jackie Robinson. www.townestreet.org

 

SANDRA DALEY [LIBERATION THEATRE COMPANY] is an Obie Award winning producer and a NYFA Finalist in Playwriting. She has earned her merits over twenty years in the theatre as a professional actress, director, playwright, and producer. She is the Founder and Producing Artistic Director of Liberation Theatre Company, home to emerging Black playwrights. In addition, she prides herself as a dramaturg, a facilitator for the well sought after, Black Playwrights' Group, and founder/member of Harlem9, a group of black producers coming together to produce the successful, award-winning "48 Hours in Harlem", a sold-out weekend theatre event. www.thesilverthreadplay.com/#!liberation-theatre-company/ctzx

 

KELLEY GIROD [THE FIRE THIS TIME FESTIVAL] is founder and Executive Producer for The Fire This Time Festival for which she was awarded "nytheatre.com Person of the Year," and has been featured in American Theatre Magazine, NY times, and The Boston Globe. Her plays have been shown at TFTT, Culture Project, Classical Theatre of Harlem's Future Classics, Boston's Hibernian Hall and include Straight on 'til Morning, Poetics of the Creative Process, and Ambrosia. Other shows she has produced include Thais Francis' Outcry, Pia Wilson's The Flower Thief, and "Made at Horse Trade" featuring Yusef Miller's Breakfast. firethistimefestival.com

 

BENNET GUILLORY [THE ROBEY THEATRE COMPANY] Currently, Mr. Guillory is co-founder and Producing Artistic Director of the award winning Robey Theatre Company, coordinating Robey's Playwrights Lab, directing the Play Reading Series, and serving as instructor for its Advanced Scene Workshop. He spent five seasons at the American Theatre Company in San Francisco acting with the company & as Director of ACT's Black Actors Workshop. The past 35 years he has worked extensively in theatre, film, and in the interest of diversity in the Television and Motion Picture industry Mr. Guillory was invited to forge an on-going partnership with CBS and ABC resulting in development of a nationwide Industry Diverse Showcases for actors of Color. robeytheatrecompany.com

 

DEADRIA HARRINGTON [THE MOVEMENT THEATRE COMPANY] a multifaceted theater artist based in New York City and member of the Producing Artistic Leadership Team of The Movement Theatre Company [TMTC].  Deadria develops and produces new work by emerging artists of color.  Select credits include: Off Broadway – Architecture of Becoming (Women’s Project Theatre).  Off-Off Broadway: Harrison David River’s Look Upon Our Lowliness (The Movement Theatre Company), 4 Sustenance (Bleecker Street Theater), Wilson Revised (Studio Museum in Harlem), At Buffalo (NYMF Developmental Reading Series).  Harrington was a Time Warner Foundation Fellow of the 2012-2014 Producers Lab at Women’s Project Theater and is a member of ART/NY’s Theater Board. www.themovementtheatrecompany.org

 

WOODIE KING [NEW FEDERAL THEATER] is a producer and director. His New Federal Theatre is 44 years old; it has produced over 300 plays; more than any other African American theatre in history.  King has received NAACP Image Award, TCG Practitioners Award, 15 Audelco Awards, 5 Honorary Doctorates, 3 Obie Awards, The Edwin Booth Award; he is in American Theatre Hall of Fame, NTC Award. He is the founder of the 37 years old National Black Touring Circuit. www.newfederaltheatre.com

 

STEPHANIE MCKEE [JUNEBUG PRODUCTIONS] a performer, choreographer, director, educator and facilitator.  Ms. McKee has traveled, performed and taught in various cities in the U.S. and abroad. Ms. McKee is currently Artistic Director of Junebug Productions. She served as Associate Artistic Director of the “Homecoming Project” for Junebug Productions in 2011. She is also the Co-Director of the Urban Bush Women Summer Leadership Institute in New Orleans. Ms. Mckee is a member of Alternate Roots and a former member of the steering committee for HOME, New Orleans? a community-based, arts-focused network of organizations merging art-making, education and community work.  In 2007, she was awarded The Academy of Educational Development/ New Voices Fellowship an award for emerging leaders and is founding Director of the 7th Ward Neighborhood Center.  Ms. McKee continues to tour throughout the U.S and abroad creating community partnerships through art and social activism, using movement as a form of movement building. junebugproductions.org

 

DAVID MITCHELL [ARENA PLAYERS] has been a facilitator and major "catalyst" in bringing together diverse segments of the performing arts community in Baltimore, MD. He’s initiated working relationships among university and college students from a variety of higher education institutes who generally have not worked together previously. He has also created performance opportunities for emerging artists and arts organizations from diverse segments of the Baltimore performing arts community, while successfully avoiding gender and racial stereotyping. David has worked with Arena Players Incorporated as a Board Member and Associate Artistic Director since August of 2011. He is also the Program Manager for the Urban Arts Leadership Program at The Greater Baltimore Cultural Alliance, and serves as the Community Engagement Coordinator for the Baltimore Arts Realty Company (BARCO). arenaplayersinc.com

 

MARJORIE MOON [BILLIE HOLIDAY THEATRE] has been the Executive Director and Producer of the Billie Holiday Theatre for 40 years.  During this time, she has produced more than 150 productions, directed some 25 plays, and toured First-Class Theatres in the North East with productions originating at the Theatre.   On Broadway, Ms. Moon co-produced a BHT original, Inacent Black; which, for the first time, was financed 50% by the Black Community.  Early in her career, Ms. Moon devised a group sales marketing strategy that grew the Theatre's Season audience from 7,000 to 38,000 in three years; a most successful strategy that sustained itself for nearly 3 decades.  Ms. Moon's passion is putting artists together to develop work that drives the human spirit to positive transformation. www.thebillieholiday.org

 

LINDA PARRIS-BAILEY [THE CARPETBAG THEATRE INC] is the Executive/Artistic Director and primary Playwright-in-Residence for The Carpetbag Theatre Inc. (CBT) in Knoxville Tennessee. Her works are primarily story-based plays with music focusing on themes of transformation and empowerment. The October premier of her most recent work, Speed Killed My Cousin, was featured as the opening event of the Network of Ensemble Theaters’ Micro-Fest in Appalachia. Speed has received a 2014 New England Foundation For The Arts (NEFA), National Theater Project Award. Her play, Dark Cowgirls and Prairie Queens is considered the company’s signature work and continues to tour and be produced nationally. www.carpetbagtheatre.org

 

KEMATI J. PORTER [ETA CREATIVE ARTS FOUNDATION] Interim Executive Director and Producing Director, eta Creative Arts Foundation, Chicago, IL, an associate since 1976.  She earned a B.A in Creative Writing and Advertising from Columbia College of Chicago, attended Tisch School of the Arts Summer Intensive Directing Workshop, MFA in Directing from The Theatre School of DePaul University. She served as artistic associate at McCarter Theatre in Princeton, New Jersey, and recipient of the TCG New Generations Fellowship. Served as Artistic Director of The MLK, Jr. Cultural and Performing Arts Complex, Columbus, Ohio. She is at Chicago State University. www.etacreativearts.org

 

SAMUEL G. ROBERSON, JR. [CONGO SQUARE THEATRE COMPANY] is the Artistic Director of Congo Square Theatre Company in Chicago, IL.  Sam’s Chicago Stage credits include: Acting - Samuel J and K (Steppenwolfe Theatre), Civil War Christmas (Northlight Theatre), The Colored Museum and Sanctified (Congo Square Theatre Company), Living Green  and The Lost Boys of Sudan (Victory Gardens Theatre) and The Ballad of Emmett Till  (Goodman Theatre).  Roberson has also been seen on the stage at Penumbra Theatre, The Children’s Theatre Company, The Pillsbury House Theatre, Illusion Theater, Imagination Stage, Source Theatre and The Studio Theatre. Directing – The Last Cadillac (American Demi-Gods Theatre), The Last Hand (Athenaeum Theatre), Bulrusher (Congo Square Theatre Company, Assisted), 12 Angry Men, (Raven Theatre Company, Assisted). www.congosquaretheatre.org

 

TERRENCE SPIVEY [KARAMU HOUSE] is a native Texan with a B.A. in Theatre at Prairie View A&M University.  Since 2003, he has programmed over sixty productions. He was Director in Residence for Kent State PAS during the 2013-2014 season. He appeared in Black Mask, Back Stage, Ebony, Artist and Influences and American Theatre. He serves on the board for AUDELCO, a member of National Theatre Conference and BTN. In 2011, was given a proclamation by the City of Cleveland for his arts contributions and under his leadership, Karamu was honored the 2013 AUDELCO Award for Repertory Company of the Year. www.karamuhouse.org

 

SYLVIA SPRINKLE-HAMLIN [NORTH CAROLINA BLACK REPERTORY COMPANY INC.] serves as President of the Board of Directors of the North Carolina Black Repertory Company, Inc. and has served as Executive Producer of the biennial National Black Theatre Festival since 2007, which was founded in 1989 by her late husband Larry Leon Hamlin. She also serves as adviser to the NCBRC Theatre Guild and the Marvtastic Society whose patronage supports the NCBRC year round.  She has been an integral part of the Company since its inception serving in various roles and supporting the efforts of the founder, board and staff .  www.ncblackrep.org

 

HAROLD STEWARD [SOUTH DALLAS CULTURAL CENTER] is an arts educator, administrator and theater practitioner in Dallas, TX. He currently serves as the Performing Arts Coordinator for the South Dallas Cultural Center  and the Artistic Director for Fahari Arts Institute, a multidisciplinary, black queer, arts organization in Dallas. Mr. Steward most recently directed the award winning multimedia adaptation ofThe Bull Jean Stories by Sharon Bridgeforth and Freckle in My Eye written and performed by Ashley Wilkerson. Select Educator Credits: Big Thought, Dallas’ Soul Rep Theatre, Open Stage of Harrisburg, Harrisburg Independent School District. Awards: Apostle Alex D. Byrd Empowerment Award (Legacy of Success Foundation), Best Theatrical Director (Dallas Voice Reader’s Choice.), ‘Upstarter in The Arts’ by D magazine.  Newman University and Marymount Manhattan College graduate. www.dallasculture.org

 

CARLA STILLWELL [MPAACT THEATRE] Carla Stillwell is a Chicago native and has been working as an actor/director/playwright/arts educator/arts administrator for more than 20 yrs.  She is currently the Managing Producer for MPAACT Theatre and a resident artist with The DuSable Museum of African American History.  Some of Ms. Stillwell’s credits include the adapted and directed work of poet Orron Kenyatta, Tad in 5th City – Joseph Jefferson Nominated (2010), Bodies (2012) won a Black Theatre Alliance Award for Best Play and was nominated for Best New Work by the Joseph Jefferson Nominated (2012) and was selected for a reading at the New Black Play Festival in October 2012.  Ms. Stillwell is also a regular contributor to HowlRound online theatre magazine. www.mpaact.org

 

CARLTON TERRENCE TAYLOR [NEW HERITAGE THEATRE GROUP] is a Harlem increased Performer and Director who was recently recognized as one of Broadway’s Rising Stars at town Hall. Proud Alumni of Impact Repertory Theatre he is proud to make his debut this season as an Assistant Artistic Director with New Heritage. Most recent work includes a staged reading of The Engagement by Carolyn M. Brown and Taste of Chocolate by Timothy Ware. New Heritage directing credits: 50th Anniversary production of Short Eyes by Miguel Pinero and Peace & Portrait of an Earl. Other credits include Everything That Rises Must Converge(Compani De Columbari), Film: August Rush, The 80th Annual Academy Awards. www.newheritagetheater.org

 

SHAY WAFER [651 ARTS] has demonstrated a stalwart dedication to the arts and community development through many years of service to the field. Her passionate vision is balanced with pragmatic experience, as she has held senior level positions at a number of non-profit arts organizations with a focus on African Diasporic programming, and community engagement. She has served as the Vice President of Programs for the August Wilson Center for African American Culture, as the managing director of Cornerstone Theater Company, LA Theatreworks and the St. Louis Black Repertory Company. She was a founding partner of Marla Gibb’s Crossroads Arts Academy and Theatre, and the co-founder of Colored Girl Productions. She has served on the Board of Directors of Theatre Communications Group, as a NEFA National Theatre Project Advisor and on grant panels for NEA, MAP Fund, Mellon Foundation and Kresge Foundation. She is a graduate of Howard University and Yale School of Drama. www.651arts.org