Chuck Flowers A member of the ensemble for the original Tell Me Somethin’ Good, Flowers recently appeared in the Black Rep’s Father’s Day concert, Songs Form The Core, as well as in the company’s productions of Damn Yankees, The Gospel At Colonus, Black Nativity, and Dressin’ Up, Steppin’ Out And Getting’ Down. He has toured both nationally and internationally with the Golden Gospel Singers. He also toured with the Gospel Play, Looking For Mr. Do-Right, where he shared the stage with Peabo Bryson, Deniece Williams, Morris Day, Dave Hollister and Cherelle. Flowers has performed with Barry Manilow, Earth Wind and Fire, Michael Bolton and Oleta Adams and has recorded with the Gospel Symphonic Choir, The O’Neal Twins, the Interfaith Choir and the Golden Gospel Singers.
J. Samuel Davis is a native of St Louis and a longtime performer with The Black Rep. He recently appeared in last season’s production of Raisin, (Bobo Jones) and starred in The Black Rep’s world premiere of Home The Musical (Cephus Miles). Additional credits include; The Gospel at Colonus, It Ain’t Nothing But The Blues, Seven Guitars — for which he won a Woodie Award for Best Actor in a Drama — The Wiz, Godspell, Bubbling Brown Sugar, Jitney, Dance on Widows Row, and Two Trains Running. Davis also appeared in the Indianapolis Repertory Theatre’s production of Blues for an Alabama Sky, where he portrayed the flamboyant character Guy Jacobs. Davis has performed with other local theatre companies including: Unity Ensemble in St. Louis, Studio Theatre in DC, Springer Opera House in Columbus, Georgia, Jomandi in Atlanta, Penumbra in Minnesota, and many more. He can be seen on screen in various commercials, films, and videos.
Drummond “Drum” Crenshaw is a veteran of the Black Rep and appeared in last season’s productions of Raisin (pastor) and the world premiere of Home The Musical (chorus). His local, regional and international credits include: Damn Yankees, Gospel at Colonus, and the Broadway International Tour of Ain’t Misbehavin’. He is a three-time Woodie Award winner for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of George Walker in Williams and Walker, and for Best Performance by a Male in a Musical for his role as the Lion in The Wiz and as Checkers in Bubbling Brown Sugar.
Greg Tayborn was a member of the ensemble for the original Tell Me Somethin’ Good. Other previous credits with The Black Rep include Bubbling Brown Sugar, Black Nativity, Gospel at Colonus, Eubie and Tambourines to Glory.
Renee Lunceford appeared in last season’s productions of Raisin (chorus) and Gospel at Colonus (choir). She also appeared in the company’s production of Godspell, for which she won a Woodie Award for Outstanding Female Performance in a Musical. Lunceford also appeared in Martin, an off-Broadway Musical. She studied music at the H.S. Creative and Performing Arts in Philadelphia and Carnegie Mellon University.
Norissa Pearson A native of St. Louis, Pearson appeared in last season’s production of The Gospel at Colonus. Other theatre credits include, The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin (Apple Theatre), Being Beautiful, Train is Comin’ (Chicago Theatre Company), Big River (Marriott Lincoln Shire), Showboat (The MUNY), The All Night Strut (Madison Rep), and national tours of Blues in the Night (Arkansas Rep) and Porgy and Bess. She has also appeared in several television commercials, voice overs and independent /short films.
Tamika Jackson Jackson’s vocal abilities have lead her from recording with national gospel artists such as Prosperity to singing lead and background vocals for a variety of recording artists, hit gospel plays and commercial jingles. She has opened for several national jazz recording acts, including Pieces of a Dream, Bob Baldwin, Marian Meadows, Tim Cunningham and Chiele Minucci of Special EFX. Jackson is a registered nurse and by day is a supervisor for a St. Louis based health care organization.
Rochelle “Coco Soul” Walker is a native of St. Louis and the granddaughter of a jazz musician who played for the likes of Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald. She has opened for DJ/ rap star, Biz Markie, Def Soul recording artist Musiq (Soulchild) at The Pageant, and Virgin recording artist Dwele at Jazz At The Bistro. She appeared at the third annual U.S. Bank St. Louis Jazz Festival at Shaw Park in Clayton with jazz legends Al Jarreau, Dianne Reeves, Arturo Sandoval and Marlena Shaw, among others. She also performed as the lead female singer for the St. Louis band The Movement. Walker previously lived in Atlanta, where she worked with well-know R&B performers and producers Alton “Wookie” Stewart, Derek Allen, Gary Jenkins, Herby Luv Bug and Damian Dame. While honing her craft in Atlanta, she became an in-house writer and vocalist for area record labels and producers.
Nicole “Pinky” Thomas returns to The Black Rep for the first time since The Wiz in 2000. A native of St. Louis, Thomas has been dancing since she was able to walk and has worked with companies across the country, including the world renowned Katherine Dunham Company – SIUE, CounterGroove Dance Company, The Nikki Bradford Dance Ensemble, Spirit of Angela West African Company and Miniyanka West African Dance Ensemble. She is a graduate of Central Visual and Performing Arts High School and the University of Illinois College of Fine & Applied Arts. Thomas currently serves as an instructor of dance at Shaw Visual & Performing Arts/CEC School.
Andrea N. Hayes previously appeared with The Black Rep in Damn Yankees, Bubbling Brown Sugar, BOO! A Musical Fantasy, The Wiz and The Tap Dance Kid, and also has performed in Diversity Works with That Uppity Theatre Company. Hayes took dance classes at The Alvin Aiely School in New York NY.
Musicians: Charles Creath piano; Stan Coleman, reeds; William Ranier, bass; and Keith Robinson, drums.
Production staff: Director Ron Himes, Musical Director Charles Creath, Choreographer Lazette Rayford O’Brien, Vocal Arranger Drummond Crenshaw, Scenic Designer Jim Burwinkel, Lighting Designer John Wylie, Costume Designer Daryl Harris, Sound Designer Karlton Thornton, Technical Director Brian Perlie, Master Carpenter Douglas Schroeder, Master Electrician Sarah Hughey, Costume Supervisor Sara Kahn-Shapiro, Stage Manager Tracy Holliway-Wiggins, Properties Manager Kate Strembicki and Wardrobe Mistress Launa Reed.