CAST & CREATIVE
André de Shields
Old Deuteronomy
KEN ARD
DJ Griddlebone
KYA AZEEN
Etcetera
BRYSON BATTLE
JELLYLORUM
SHERROD T. BROWN
SWING
Jonathan Burke
Mungojerrie
Baby Byrne
Victoria
Tara Lashan Clinkscales
Ensemble
BRYCE FARRIS
SWING, DANCE CAPTAIN
Sydney James Harcourt
Rum Tum Tugger
Dava Huesca
Rumpleteazer
Dudney Joseph Jr.
Munkustrap
Junior LaBeija
Gus The Theatre Cat
LEIOMY
MACAVITY
Robert "Silk" Mason
Magical Mister Mistoffelees
"Tempress" Chasity Moore
Grizabella
Primo Thee Ballerino
Tumblebrutus
Xavier Reyes
Jennyanydots
Nora Schell
Bustopher Jones
Bebe Nicole Simpson
Demeter
Emma Sofia
Cassandra, Skimbleshanks
PHUMZILE SOJOLA
ENSEMBLE
KENDALL GRAYSON STROUD
SWING
B NOEL THOMAS
SWING
KALYN WEST
ENSEMBLE
DONTÉ NADIR WILDER
SWING
Garnet Williams
Bombalurina
Teddy Wilson Jr.
Sillabub
Andrew Lloyd Webber
MUSIC
Michael Harrison
Producer
Mike Bosner
Producer
Zhailon Levingston
Co-Director
Bill Rauch
Co-Director
OMARI WILES
CO-CHOREOGRAPHER
ARTURO LYONS
CO-CHOREOGRAPHER
RACHEL HAUCK
SCENIC DESIGNER
QWEEN JEAN
COSTUME DESIGNER
ADAM HONORÉ
LIGHTING DESIGNER
KAI HARADA
SOUND DESIGNER
BRITTANY BLAND
PROJECTION DESIGNER
NIKIYA MATHIS
HAIR & WIG DESIGNER
Rania Zohny
Make-Up Design
Paul Kieve
Magic
Josephine KEARNS
Dramaturg &
Gender Consultant
WILLIAM WALDROP
MUSIC SUPERVISOR &
MUSIC DIRECTOR
David Lai
Music Coordinator
Doug Schadt
Music Producer
Trevor Holder
Beats Arranger/Producer
COOPER HOWELL
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR
N'yomi ALLURE STEWART
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR
Chelsey Arce
Associate Choreographer
X CASTING:
VICTOR VAZQUEZ, CSA &
SUJOTTA R. PACE, CSA
CASTING DIRECTOR
Cody Renard Richard
Production Stage Manager
Juniper Street Productions, Inc.
Production Management
Tyler Siems
Company Manager
BASELINE THEATRICAL
GENERAL MANAGEMENT
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André de Shields
Old Deuteronomy
André De Shields (Old Deuteronomy). In a career spanning 55 five years, De Shields, at age 79, has distinguished himself as an unparalleled actor/activist, educator, iconic philanthropist and Broadway Deity. As an actor, De Shields’ mission is to fill intimate spaces with enormous beauty. He defines intimate spaces as the hearts of humanity. As an activist, he endeavors to restore majesty, elegance and literacy to the Black thespian’s toolbox, to advocate for long term survivors of HIV and AIDS, and to champion the legacy of the Wellderly (elderly individuals who continue to kick butt). His idiosyncratic career has resulted in a treasure trove of accolades, among them an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts from his alma mater, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he has founded The André De Shields Fund. His other marks of esteem include being declared the triple crown winner of the 2019 awards season, having garnered Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, and Grammy Awards for his universally acclaimed role in Hadestown as ‘Hermes,’ messenger to the gods. Perennially renowned for his show-stopping performances in four legendary Broadway productions –The Wiz (title role), Ain’t Misbehavin’ (Emmy Award), Play On! (Tony nomination), and The Full Monty (Tony nomination). His portrayal of ‘Old Deuteronomy’ in the radically re-imagined CATS: The Jellicle Ball was rewarded with the 2025 Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Featured Performer in an Off-Broadway Musical, 2025 Dorian Theater Award for Outstanding Featured Performance in an Off-Broadway Production, the 2025 LGBTQ Theater Trailblazer Award, and the 2024 AUDELCO Award, in addition to special citations from New York Drama Critics Circle and the Obie Awards. He also received nominations for Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical from the Drama Desk and for Distinguished Performance Award by the Drama League. De Shields reigned as the Grand Marshal of the 51st Greenwich Village Halloween Parade, achieving the sui generis reputation as one of the ten wonders of New York City. UBUNTU! www.andredeshields.
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Jonathan Burke
Mungojerrie
Jonathan Burke he/him (Mungojerrie). Broadway: The Inheritance, Choir Boy; Tuck Everlasting. Off-Broadway: Obie Award Winner for playing ‘Mungojerrie’ in CATS: The Jellicle Ball (Perelman Performing Arts Center); Love + Science (NY City Center Stage II); Patience (Second Stage Theater); Toni Stone (Roundabout Theater Company); Joan of Arc: Into the Fire (The Public Theater). Tours: Mary Poppins; A Christmas Story: The Musical; Joseph…; and ‘Mungojerrie’ in Cats. TV: ‘Eric’ on “Harlem” (Prime Video); “New Amsterdam” (NBC); “Only Murders in the Building” (Hulu); “Bridge and Tunnel” (MGM+). Film: Is This Thing On? (directed by Bradley Cooper); Noah’s Arc: The ‘Rona Chronicles; The Distinguished. Co-creator of @notlookingtheseries. Unit Production Manager for @menlikeustv. BFA, Ithaca College. Facebook: Jonathan Burke. X: @itsjonburke. Instagram: @itsjonathanburke. #NowAndForever
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Baby Byrne
Victoria
Baby Byrne she/her (Victoria) is a multi-hyphenate artist born and raised in Queens, NY. She is over the Jellicle moon to be making her freaking BROADWAY DEBUT—WHAT?! When she was first submitted for a Broadway show, she went to the theatre where that show was playing, stood outside, and prayed to God that one day she could perform on that stage.
Years later, she will walk through those very doors she once prayed in front of—and perform a role she helped build, alongside her chosen family and some of her best friends.
“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”
She is forever grateful to the communities that raised her and helped her get to this moment: the ballroom scene (House of Donyale Luna, House of Juicy Couture, House of Oricci), The Rockaway Theatre Company, her parents, her friends, LaGuardia High School, and EXPG.
Credits: CATS: The Jellicle Ball (Off-Broadway) – Dance Captain, ‘Victoria,’ u/s ‘Skimbleshanks’; Masquerade NYC – ‘Carlotta’/’Giry’ cover, Assistant Dance Captain; Saturday Church movement workshop (New York Theatre Workshop); “The Crowded Room” (Apple TV); “The Sherri Shepherd Show” – Featured Dancer. Instagram: @burnbabygocrazy.
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Tara Lashan Clinkscales
Ensemble
Tara Lashan Clinkscales she/her (Ensemble) is incredibly blessed to be making her Broadway debut. She is a lover of all things artistic and aspires to one day teach how the arts can heal the soul. Credits: Off-Broadway: CATS: The Jellicle Ball (Ensemble), Regional: Once on This Island (‘Asaka’; Theater Raleigh), Waitress (‘Nurse Norma’; Theater Raleigh & Arts Center of Coastal Carolina), Nell Gywnn (‘Nell Gywnn’; Texas Shakespeare Festival) The Great Comet of 1812, (‘Sonya’; Carnegie Mellon University). Thank you, God, Mom, Dad, Alex, Mrs. Lisa, 11:11 Entertainment & family/friends for all your love and support. “Love yourself and may the world be your runway!” BFA: Carnegie Mellon University. @taraclinkscales
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Sydney James Harcourt
Rum Tum Tugger
Sydney James Harcourt he/him (Rum Tum Tugger) is an acclaimed American actor and singer known for his versatile talent and dynamic stage presence. Born in Detroit, Harcourt’s passion for music and the performing arts led him to New York City, where he is a member of the House of Nina Oricci.
Harcourt’s career took off in the groundbreaking Broadway musical Hamilton. As an original cast member, he played multiple roles, including ‘James Reynolds’ and ‘Philip Schuyler,’ and served as an understudy for ‘Aaron Burr,’ for which he was the first replacement. Additionally, Harcourt has also appeared in the musicals Girl from the North Country, American Idiot, The Lion King, and most recently the Off-Broadway sensation CATS: The Jellicle Ball.
Beyond his theater work, Harcourt has made significant strides in film and television. He has appeared in such popular TV shows as “DOC,” “Blue Bloods,” “NCIS: New Orleans,” “FBI,” “Tell Me a Story,” “Elementary,” and “Law & Order: SVU.” Harcourt also voices the role of the countertenor ‘Edouard’ in the hit Netflix anime series “Castlevania: Nocturne.”
A Grammy winner, Harcourt is a sought after vocalist on stages across the country. He is also recognized by the Drama League, Drama Desk Awards, and the Lucille Lortel Awards for his outstanding performances.
Beyond his professional achievements, Harcourt is dedicated to using his platform to amplify social causes, philanthropy, and community service. He is a fierce advocate for the LGBTQ+ community, as well as for diversity and inclusion in the arts. “Protect The Dolls.”
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Dava Huesca
Rumpleteazer
Dava Huesca she/her (Rumpleteazer). An OBIE Award winner (CATS: The Jellicle Ball) and Dance Magazine’s 2025 “25 to Watch”, Huesca is overjoyed to be making her Broadway debut with CATS: The Jellicle Ball.
Other credits include: Off-Broadway: Saturday Church (New York Theater Workshop, Dance Captain), CATS: The Jellicle Ball (PAC, Assistant Dance Captain). Concert Dance: Christoph Winkler Company, the McKittrick Hotel, Yin Yue Dance Company, and VIM VIGOR Dance Company. Choreography: Whim W’Him Dance Company, Dance Lab New York, Yale Summer Drama Cabaret, developmental choreography lab of Bob Marley’s Hope Road at Mandalay Bay (Associate Choreographer), The Corner, Art Cake, Gibney Pro, and more. Proud graduate of SUNY Purchase Conservatory of Dance and Fiorello LaGuardia High School.
She is eternally grateful to her Mommy, Grandma, Papa, Auntie, and Nene for their continuous support of her artistic path. “Thank you for never doubting me and for helping me reach my goals.” @DavaHuesca
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Dudney Joseph Jr.
Munkustrap
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Junior LaBeija
Gus The Theatre Cat
Junior LaBeija (Gus The Theatre Cat) has been a member of the Iconic House of LaBeija for more than 50 years. He is internationally known within both gay culture and Ballroom for being the trailblazer, pioneer, and iconic master of ceremony for the annual “Paris Is Burning Ball” hosted by the late trailblazer, pioneer, and icon Paris Dupree. LaBeija is the M.C. in the 1990 documentary Paris Is Burning by filmmaker Jennie Livingston. Known for the theatricality in his voice, Junior LaBeija often commanded the room with his spirit, wit, and power and several of his catchphrases have become iconic. To this day, he is a steadfast Ballroom and LGBTQIA historian, determined to keep the struggles, victories, and literature accurate and alive in this world.
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Robert “Silk” Mason
Magical Mister Mistoffelees
Robert “Silk” Mason (Magical Mister Mistoffelees) is a multidisciplinary artist born in the Bronx, and raised in Columbia, SC. They graduated from The South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities for dance and The Juilliard School for Dance. They are international award-winning commercial & film actor. They are a published model, choreographer, LGBTQIA+ youth leader, and the founding mother of The International Royal Haus of Silk.
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“Tempress” Chasity Moore
Grizabella
“Tempress” Chasity Moore she/her (Grizabella) is an actress, singer, and Ballroom Icon/Hall of famer from Mount Vernon, N.Y. She began singing in church at age five, which led her to “Star Search,” The Apollo, and traveling with a high school drama troupe. Chasity attended Clark Atlanta University (Atlanta, GA) and pursued an acting and singing career. She was discovered by Tyler Perry, being cast as a principal role in I Know I’ve Been Changed. The name “Tempress” was born in Ballroom. She has made appearances on Ryan Murphy’s “Pose,” as well as in campaigns for Sephora, TV One, and more. She hosts a YouTube series and a podcast “FQCrazySexyCool.” Tempress’s latest accomplishment is playing ’Grizabella’ in CATS: The Jellicle Ball, the hottest ticket of the summer, which received many awards including an OBIE Award, 2025 Outer Circle Award, as well as New York Drama Critic Circle Award to name a few. Several write ups including Vogue, New York Times, The New Yorker, and more.
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Primo
Tumblebrutus
Primo he/him (Tumblebrutus) was born in Cincinnati, OH. He started training at the School for Creative and Performing Arts in Cincinnati, Ohio. He has performed in many ballets such as Giselle, Dracula, Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker and more.
Primo attended The Young Americans College of Performing Arts in Corona, CA and has traveled and toured to over 17 countries teaching dance, vocal music and confidence building through the arts. He has worked with some of the industry’s best choreographers, directors and producers. He was featured twice in NY Times and had a 2-page spread in Dance Magazine. He most recently was a breakout star in the new Off-Broadway musical CATS: The Jellicle Ball at Perelman Arts Center, which has since received many accolades including The Obie Award Special installment. Known as Thee Ballerino, Thee Human Tornado and Mr. $5k, Primo has now become a major statement in the Ballroom scene and many other artistic spaces.
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Xavier Reyes
Jennyanydots
Xavier Reyes he/him (Jennyanydots) is a proud born and raised Puerto Rican, as in everything in his life revolves around the eye of his hurricane: Puerto Rico. “This one is for my ‘Jennyanydots,’ my mami: Belia Morales.” Off-Broadway: CATS: The Jellicle Ball at PAC (‘Jennyanydots’), This is Not a Drill at The York (male swing). Broadway Tour: First National Tour of Kinky Boots (‘Angel’).
Having worked all over the US, Puerto Rico, Japan, and Canada, favorite regional credits include: Lynn Nottage’s Clyde’s (multiple venues); the Pulitzer Prize-winning plays Sweat and Anna in the Tropics; ‘Che’ in Evita; Moliere’s Scapin; Trading Places directed by Kenny Leon (Alliance Theater); Next to Normal, In the Heights, Hair, Fun Home, Rent, West Side Story, La Cage Aux Folles, and many others. “Thank you, Bill & Zhailon, for seeing me and rewarding me with the opportunity to be on Broadway living and sharing this iconic adventure. Gracias Mami, Papi y Steven por siempre apoyarme y anclarme. Thank you to my lovely cast who is a gift to work with, my diligent amazing agents at BLOC, my Queer Latinx ancestors, Victoria Espinosa for instilling a theatrical love at first sight, Joseph Aguayo for believing in me when no one else did, the village that holds me together, and you for showing up and supporting this ball henny!” Follow @XaviReyesActor.
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Nora Schell
Bustopher Jones
Nora Schell they/them (Bustopher Jones) is honored to be back at the Broadhurst! Schell originated the role of Bustopher Jones in CATS: The Jellicle Ball Off-Broadway (Obie Award). Schell received Drama Desk, Drama League and Clive Barnes Award nominations for their Off-Broadway debut in Spamilton. They made their Broadway debut in Jagged Little Pill. Schell serves as a co-writer and composer for the new musical Sweet Canaan (Berkeley Rep Groundfloor). Schell graduated from the University of Michigan with a BFA in Musical Theatre & a minor in Gender, Race and Nation. Love to Gregg Baker, Bub and their family! @sirnoraschell.
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Bebe Nicole Simpson
Demeter
Bebe Nicole Simpson she/her (Demeter). Born and raised in California, Bebe is an expanding artist rooted in her profound love for music and storytelling. A few credits include: Broadway: Camelot. Off-Broadway: CATS: The Jellicle Ball; The Refuge Plays; Ink’d Well; Penelope or How the Odyssey Was Really Written. Regional: The Wiz, world premiere of Head Over Heels (Oregon Shakespeare Festival); Into the Woods (Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival); Television: “Sheriff Country,” “The Savant,” “Law & Order: SVU.” She’s eternally grateful for Scott, DGRW, her incredible friends and family, and the best husband in the world Julian. All the glory to God.
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Emma Sofia
Cassandra, Skimbleshanks
Emma Sofia (Cassandra, Skimbleshanks) is a proud Latina who graduated from SUNY Purchase Dance Conservatory and immediately joined the International Tour of West Side Story. She started as a concert dancer in companies Ballet Hispanico and Morphoses and soon made her Broadway debut as ‘Wendy’ in the original cast of Finding Neverland. She originated the role of ‘Veruca Salt’ in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory before starring in multiple television roles, most notably in FX’s “Fosse/Verdon,” NBC’s “Law & Order: SVU” and as ‘Celia’ opposite Kyra Sedgwick in ABC’s “Call Your Mother.” She has and continues to produce and star in multiple original cabaret shows throughout New York City nightlife. “The truth is no one of us can be free until everybody is free” – Maya Angelou.
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Garnet Williams
Bombalurina
Garnet Williams she/they (Bombalurina) is a writer, actor, and singer originally from Atlanta, Ga. This is her Broadway debut. Recently seen as ‘Nina Simone’ in Nina Simone: Four Women (Geva Theater), an OBIE Award-winning turn in CATS: The Jellicle Ball (PAC NYC) Off Broadway, ‘Trix’ in The Drowsy Chaperone (Concert at Carnegie Hall), and her sold-out show Garnet with a G at Joe’s Pub. For Lucile. Repped by Brian Herrick with the Hell’s Kitchen Agency. Instagram: @Ms.Ujubetta.
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Teddy Wilson Jr.
Sillabub
Teddy Wilson Jr. (Sillabub). Ft. Lauderdale-born with a B.F.A. in Musical Theater from Penn State University, Wilson, is extremely grateful for the opportunities that have led up to this moment. Coming off PAC’s production in 2024 and the latest production of Drag: The Musical at New World Stages, she’s excited to be stepping back into the role of ‘Sillabub’ with this production of CATS: The Jellicle Ball for her Broadway debut. “With special thanks to CTG, her parents, and the friends and family who have supported them along the way. The show is filled with a rich culture and history that is so necessary to the Black and Brown queer community. We hope to do it justice!”
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Ken Ard
DJ Griddlebone
Ken Ard (DJ Griddlebone), After a 25-year absence from the Broadway stage, Ard returns with a legacy shaped by some of musical theater’s most iconic productions. He originated the role of Macavity on Broadway in CATS (1982), as well as the roles of Plato and the Rumpus Cat, and was the original Electra in Starlight Express and the original Ken in Smokey Joe’s Café. Other notable Broadway credits include Song and Dance, Dangerous Games, and Jelly’s Last Jam. This production marks Ken’s fourth venture with Andrew Lloyd Webber. Beyond Broadway, Ken covered André De Shields in Half Time (Paper Mill Playhouse), led Sophisticated Ladies directed by De Shields at NJPAC, played the Arbiter in Chess (national tour), triumphed in Taylor Mac’s Off-Broadway opera The Hang, and appeared as Wilbur in the Oscar-winning film Chicago. A visual artist, award-winning chef, and accomplished jazz singer, Ken is happily married to puppeteer Basil Twist.
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Kya Azeen
Etcetera
Kya Azeen (Etcetera), born and raised in The Bronx, New York, began her dance training at Harlem School of the Arts at the age of seven. With a strong focus, Kya continued her studies as a student at the Dance Theatre of Harlem and Joffrey Ballet School. Furthering her training, she then attended Complexions Summer Intensive, followed by years of study at Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre Fellowship Program. During the latter period, she trained extensively in Jazz, Graham, and Horton technique. An alum of the Professional Performing Arts High School, Kya joined the New York underground Ballroom scene, where she became well-versed in Vogue theory technique, competing for and achieving grand prizes and recognition at mainstream events such as the Annual Heritage Ball (2017). Her participation within the underground Ballroom scene provided an outlet for many opportunities. She’s been featured talent in campaigns for Adidas Women’s History Month, Coach “Fifty Years Proud,” in addition to being cast on Ryan Murphy’s FX series Pose as Ms. Cherry. Aside from dance, Kya enjoys other performance arts like acting and began training at the Barrow Group in 2020. Words she lives by: “Nothing in life is worthwhile unless you take risks. Fall forward. Every failed experiment is one step closer to success.” — Denzel Washington
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Bryson Battle
Jellylorum
Bryson Battle (Jellylorum), is thrilled to be making his Broadway debut in CATS: The Jellicle Ball. A recent graduate of the Boston Conservatory at Berklee, Bryson is a dynamic performer who strives to break molds while pursuing his dream of becoming the next great entertainer. Recent credits include Ulysses in NYTW’s world premiere production of Saturday Church, and Season 26 of NBC’s The Voice (Top 8 Finalist). They are incredibly grateful to join this fabulous company and bring this production to life. Bryson would like to thank his supportive family, friends, and his incredible team at the Daniel Hoff Agency. IG: @thebrysonbattle
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Phumzile Sojola
Ensemble
Phumzile Sojola (Ensemble), hails from Gqebetha, South Africa and recently performed the roles of Piangi and The Phantom in the original cast of Masquerade. He made his Broadway debut in Porgy & Bess and originated the role of Lord Pinkleton in Cinderella. He has appeared with Encores! in Wonderful Town and Dear World, and PAC’s CATS: The Jellicle Ball. Regionally, he has performed with the Boston Pops in Ragtime as Coalhouse, as Willie in Master Harold… and the Boys at Syracuse Stage, Baba in Dreaming Zenzile at St. Louis Rep, as Piangi in the North American Tour of The Phantom of the Opera, and in the Three Mo’ Tenors tour. His opera credits include Herrison in Les Étoiles with New York City Opera, Remendado in Carmen with Dayton Opera, and Rodolfo in La Bohème with Missouri Orchestra. He can be heard on the Cinderella Original Broadway Cast Recording, Treemonisha with the Paragon Ragtime Orchestra, and with the American Spiritual Ensemble. IG: @phumzile_sojola
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Sherrod T. Brown
Swing
Sherrod T. Brown (Swing), is a professional singer, actor, dancer, and choreographer whose career spans Broadway, national tours, concert stages, television, and international venues. He made history as an Orlando Magic dancer/cheerleader, marking one of his first major professional milestones. Sherrod has danced for Mariah Carey and Miley Cyrus, and has appeared on ABC, NBC, BET, and the Disney Channel. He performed in the National Tour of Jesus Christ Superstar, portraying Judas and Simon. Sherrod was later selected by Hugh Jackman personally as a featured soloist for Hugh Jackman: From New York, With Love, performing at Radio City Music Hall. His work has taken him on international tours across Africa, Europe, and the Americas. Sherrod gives thanks to God, to his mom and dad for their unwavering support, to his children Brian and Brynn for their constant inspiration, and to his agents Danny “The Shark” and Meghan at the Hudson Artists Agency for their guidance and advocacy. IG: @princeroddy
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Bryce Farris
Swing, Dance Captain
Bryce Farris (Swing, Dance Captain) is elated to be making his Broadway debut. Known for his vibrant energy and versatility on stage, Bryce has taken on the role of dance captain and swing for this iconic production. Off-Broadway, Bryce has similarly made a lasting impression through his work in productions including Saturday Church (2025) and CATS: The Jellicle Ball (2024) at acclaimed venues like New York Theatre Workshop and the Perelman Performing Arts Center. Aside from theater, his talents extend into the commercial dance sector where he has made a notable impact as a dancer for Janet Jackson’s Together Again tour and the film Coming to America 2. Additionally, Bryce’s dynamic performance talents have been showcased on television platforms like The First Lady (HBO) and The Sherri Shepherd Show (FOX). An esteemed graduate of Pace University, Bryce brings not only exceptional performance skills in various dance styles but also a passion for bringing stories to life on stage in new and engaging ways. Bryce is immensely grateful for his parents, home village, and the Artistic House of Telfar for always supporting and believing in his dream. IG: @thebrycefarris
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Kendall Grayson Stroud
SWING
Kendall Grayson Stroud (Swing), Broadway debut! A 2022 graduate of NYU Tisch School of the Arts, Kendall is honored to have been a part of this “Jellicle” family since the beginning. This project has taught them more about family, self-love, and artistry than their entire career to date. They are immensely grateful to the Ballroom community for welcoming them and providing a space to find themselves. Thank you to the Cats team for their trust, and to X Casting for everything they’ve done for this budding queer artist of color. Welcome all to The Jellicle Ball! IG: @kendallstroud
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Leiomy
Macavity
Leiomy (Macavity), known as “The Wonder Woman of Vogue,” is a sensational Latina born and raised in New York City. In 2003, she was introduced to voguing and the Ballroom community through a trans mentor at a Kips Bay Center in the Bronx. Introduced to the world on Season 4 of America’s Best Dance Crew in 2009 as the first trans woman of color on a dance competition television show. She appeared in music videos including Willow Smith’s “Whip My Hair” and Icona Pop’s “All Night,” and has worked alongside artists such as Rihanna, FKA Twigs, and Zhu. Maldonado’s passion has led her to travel across the world teaching vogue workshops and judging balls. Her moves have inspired choreographers and celebrities including Beyoncé, Britney Spears, and Janet Jackson. In 2017, she was the first trans woman of color to be featured in Nike’s BETRUE campaign. Leiomy has worked as a choreographer and actress in FX’s Pose. In 2019, she became a judge on HBO Max’s Legendary, the first Ballroom competition series worldwide. She also appeared in Rihanna’s Savage X Fenty Show Vol. 3 in 2021 and became the first model of trans experience featured in a campaign for Black Opal. Now in 2026, Leiomy is beyond excited to make her Broadway debut as part of the CATS family.
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B Noel Thomas
SWING
B Noel Thomas (Swing), is a versatile performing artist and educator originally from Oakland, currently based in New York. She recently appeared in the Off-Broadway production of Saturday Church and is thrilled to be joining CATS: The Jellicle Ball, marking her Broadway debut. She began her journey as a standout member and award-winning choreographer of the nationally recognized a cappella group Vocal Rush. Her distinct baritone-to-soprano vocal range allows her to take on a wide variety of roles across gender and musical style. She is passionate about storytelling and representation, and lives by her personal motto, “Aspire to inspire.” Her career spans stage and screen, blending powerful vocals, movement, and heart. She was featured on ABC’s American Idol, and her theatrical credits include The Toxic Avenger, earning a Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Award, and Sister Act as Deloris, receiving a Theatre Bay Area Award. With gratitude, she thanks her grandma, her mom Leslie, and CGF Talent for their unwavering support. IG: @BNoelThomas
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Kalyn West
Ensemble
Kalyn West (Ensemble), is thrilled to be joining the kittens. Broadway and Off-Broadway credits include The Prom (Shelby, understudy Emma and Alyssa) and The Gardens of Anuncia at Lincoln Center (Young Anuncia). Additional credits include Gigantic (Marlie), The Prom First National Tour (Alyssa Greene), and Mean Girls First National Tour (Ensemble). New York credits include Diamond Alice with Fiasco Theater (Alice), Nikola Tesla Drops the Beat at ATF (Kat Johnson), The Demise at NYMF (Natalie), and Popstar with Alchemy Theater Productions (Katie). Regional credits include In the Heights (Vanessa), The Gardens of Anuncia at The Old Globe (Young Anuncia), Moby Dick at A.R.T. (Stubb), Hunchback of Notre Dame (Esmeralda), Prince of Egypt (Ensemble), RENT (Mimi), Back Home Again (Aggie), The Music Man (Zaneeta), and ASS (Ana). Television and film credits include Blue Bloods (CBS) and Imitation Girl (Ilium Pictures). Much love and gratitude to their husband and their teams at The Talent House and IKIGAI.
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Donté Nadir Wilder
Swing
Donté Nadir Wilder (Swing), Broadway debut! Credits include Rent at Paper Mill Playhouse (Swing, understudy Tom Collins), Joseph… at Alabama Shakespeare (Judah), A Grand Night for Singing at Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre (Man 1), and Something Rotten! at Cape Rep Theatre (Minstrel). Special thanks to X Casting NYC and to the spectacular cast and creatives. Shout out to his amazing parents for always loving and supporting him. IG: @dontewild www.dontewilder.com
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Michael Harrison
Michael Harrison is the producer of Starlight Express, Evita starring Rachel Zegler and the Tony Award winning Sunset Blvd. starring Nicole Scherzinger. His productions include Titaníque, Hello, Dolly!, Crazy For You, The Drifters Girl and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. His productions have appeared on the West End, Broadway and on tour across the UK. Harrison also leads Crossroads Pantomimes. 1 million people have seen his London Palladium Pantomimes.
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Mike Bosner
Mike Bosner is the Tony Award winning producer of Shucked, currently touring North America and rolling out internationally. He rose to prominence producing the global smash Beautiful – The Carole King Musical and the 2017 Broadway revival of Sunset Boulevard starring Glenn Close. He is currently adapting the hit film Ten Things I Hate About You for Broadway in partnership with Disney Theatricals. It will feature a score by Carly Rae Jepsen & Ethan Gruska, a book by Lena Dunham & Jessica Huang, and direction and choreography by Christopher Wheeldon. Bosner currently serves on The Broadway League’s Board Of Governors.
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Zhailon Levingston
Zhailon Levingston he/him (Director) is a Louisiana-raised storyteller, director, and activist who co-directed CATS: The Jellicle Ball, an immersive reimagining of the classic musical that premiered in 2024 at New York City’s Perelman Arts Center. The production earned him an OBIE Award (co-directing) as well as a Drama Desk, Drama League and Outer Critics Circle Award nominations for Outstanding Direction of a Musical.
Zhailon’s first “Broadway” job was selling tickets to Broadway shows in Times Square. In 2017 he sold concessions for multiple Broadway theaters. At 27 years old, he became the youngest Black director in Broadway history, directing the Broadway production of Chicken and Biscuits. His other directing credits include Wonderful Town at New York City Center Encores!; Reconstructing at Brooklyn Academy of Music (co-directed with Rachel Chavkin); Little Miss Perfect (Olney Theater Center); Patience at Second Stage Theater; and Table 17 at MCC Theater (Lortel Award nominee for Outstanding Direction) and currently at Los Angeles’ Geffen Playhouse.
Levingston is a board member of the Broadway Advocacy Coalition, Artistic Director of Inheritance Theater Project, and co-created a ‘Theater of Change’ course at Columbia University School of Law that is still being taught today. Once a year he returns to his hometown of Shreveport, Louisiana to direct community theater as a way to stay connected to his roots.
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Bill Rauch
Bill Rauch (Director) is the inaugural Artistic Director of Perelman Performing Arts Center (PAC NYC), where he co-directed CATS: The Jellicle Ball. His work as a theater director has been seen across the nation, from community centers to Broadway in the Tony Award-winning production of All The Way (starring Bryan Cranston) and its sequel The Great Society (starring Brian Cox), as well as many of the largest regional theaters in the country. His other New York credits include the world premiere of Naomi Wallace’s Night Is A Room at Signature Theater, the New York premiere of Sarah Ruhl’s The Clean House at Lincoln Center Theater, and a site-specific Occasional Grace in multiple Manhattan churches for En Garde Arts.
From 2007 to 2019, Rauch was Artistic Director of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival (OSF), the country’s oldest and largest rotating repertory theater, where he directed seven world premieres and 20 other plays including several by Shakespeare as well as innovative productions of classic musicals including a queer re-envisioning of Oklahoma! Among his initiatives at OSF, Rauch commissioned 37 new plays to dramatize moments of change in U.S. history.
Rauch co-founded Cornerstone Theater Company where he served as artistic director from 1986 to 2006, directing more than 40 productions, most of them collaborations with diverse rural and urban communities nationwide.
CATS: The Jellicle Ball received multiple awards and nominations from the OBIEs, the New York Drama Critics Circle, the Outer Critics Circle, the Drama League, and the Drama Desk, including for the show’s direction. Rauch twice won the Independent Reviewers of New England Award. He is also the recipient of the 2018 Ivy Bethune Award from Actors’ Equity Association for his commitment to diversity in casting and producing, a 2015 Ford Fellowship, among many other awards.
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Omari Wiles
Omari Wiles (Choreographer). Ousmane “Omari” Wiles is an African American West African and Vogue dancer. Wiles is best known as, legendary Omari NiNa Oricci, founder of The House of NiNa Oricci [est. Oct. 2019] and Creative Director of LES BALLET AFRIK dance company.
Wiles was born in West Africa Senegal. He began his training in West African dance at the age of 6 years old, under the tutelage of his mother and father, who owned a dance company. Wiles joined his mother (Marie Basse Wiles) and father (BaBa Olukose Anthony Wiles) and became the assistant director of the family company, The Maimouna Keita School of African Dance. Working with master African dancers, Ousmane evolved the skills needed to teach the art of traditional African dance. Venturing further into the world of dance, Wiles found himself learning, training and falling in love with other styles such as Hip-Hop, House, Modern, Jazz, and Vogue.
Through his involvement with the ballroom scene, his love and passion for Vogue (dance) grew. As his notoriety in the ballroom scene grew, it began to grow outside of the ballroom scene as well. Wiles has had the opportunity to work with many artists, featuring his range of dance. His choreography has been featured with Janet Jackson, Beyoncé, John Legend, Jidenna, and Rashaad Newsome and he has worked as a featured dancer, showcasing Afrobeats (with Goldlink, Jidenna, Maleek Berry, and Wunmi), West African dance (with Janet Jackson, Beyoncé, and Forces), and Vogue (with Rashaad Newsome, Lady Gaga, Madonna, and Jennifer Hudson). Wiles has been published in Dance Magazine “Top 25 to Watch”, Korean Vogue, in a spread featuring Naomi Campbell, The Observer, Dance Mogul Magazine, and The New York Times. Wiles also appeared with his house (the house of NiNa Oricci) as a contestant on “Legendary” season 2 on HBO Max.
Wiles is now evolving his own style of dance with his company LES BALLET AFRIK, blending African, Vogue, Modern, and House as one. He and his company have performed at the Joyce Theater, the Guggenheim, and the New York Metropolitan Museum.
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Arturo Lyons
Arturo Lyons he/him (Choreographer) is a dynamic choreographer based in New York, with a passion for dance that began in his school years. His versatile training in Hip Hop, Vogue, Reggae, and Street Jazz has shaped his unique choreographic style, which is complemented by his skills as a DJ and music producer. Lyons has choreographed for prestigious New York showcases such as The Carnival Choreographers Ball and Dance Harlem, as well as produced his own Off-Broadway show Vogue 4 Your Life in 2019, aiming to elevate vogue dance on a global scale.
Recently, Lyons made a significant impact in the entertainment world by joining HBO Max’s hit show “Legendary” as a choreographer, achieving success with the House of Miyake Mugler in Season 2. He has also lent his talents to music videos, including projects with Madonna, Konshens, Daisha, Ken Dahl, and Dnay B. Lyons’s global reach extends to teaching at esteemed studios in cities like London, Paris, and Berlin. He has also performed and choreographed in countries such as Russia, Korea, Japan, and China.
Lyons’s work has been recognized and featured in various media outlets, including Dance Magazine, NY1, and Playbill. He has showcased his talents at high-profile events like the WNBA’s NY Liberty Pride Night half-time show and a special Pride event with Madonna in New York City. With upcoming projects on the horizon, Arturo continues to inspire and captivate audiences with his innovative choreography and creative vision.
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Rachel Hauck
Rachel Hauck’s (Scenic Design) work includes the Broadway productions of Hadestown (Tony Award), Swept Away and Good Night Oscar (Tony Nominations), How I Learned To Drive, What the Constitution Means to Me, and Latin History for Morons. Recent work also includes Ceilidh at Baltimore’s M&T Bank, CATS: The Jellicle Ball, for the Perelman Arts Center, Galileo: A Rock Musical for Berkeley Rep, Is It Thursday Yet? for La Jolla Playhouse and PAC, and Lisa Peterson and Denis O’Hare’s The Song of Rome for the Spoleto Festival. Rachel is the recipient of Princess Grace and Lily Awards, Drama Desk, Lortel, and Helen Hayes nominations, UCLAs Distinguished Alumni Award, an OBIE Award for Sustained Excellence and a Jeff Award for Good Night Oscar.
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ADAM HONORÉ
ADAM HONORÉ (Lighting Design) is a Harlem-based designer for the stage. Broadway: Ragtime, Jeff Ross: Take a Banana for the Ride, Purlie Victorious, Ain’t No Mo’, Chicken & Biscuits. Off-Broadway: Saturday Church (NYTW), Jelly’s Last Jam (Encores!), Carmen Jones (Classic Stage). Regional: Gun & Powder (Paper Mill), Empire Records (McCarter), Trading Places (Alliance). Honoré is a Drama Desk Nominee and recent recipient of the Obie Award for Sustained Achievement in Design. @itsadamhonore
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Kai Harada
Kai Harada he/him (Sound Design). Broadway: Ragtime; Dead Outlaw; A Wonderful World; Once Upon a Mattress; The Days of Wine and Roses; Merrily We Roll Along (Tony Nomination); Spamalot (co-design with Haley Parcher); New York, New York (Tony Nomination); Kimberly Akimbo; The Old Man and the Pool; Mister Saturday Night; Head Over Heels; The Band’s Visit (Tony Award, Drama Desk Award); Amélie; Sunday in the Park With George; Allegiance; Gigi; Fun Home; On the Town; First Date; Follies (Tony, Drama Desk Nominations); and Million Dollar Quartet. West End: Crazy For You; Million Dollar Quartet. Other: The Sound of Music (Tour); Peter Pan (Tour); The Karate Kid (Stages St. Louis); Soft Power (Public Theatre, CTG); The Light in the Piazza, Candide (L.A. Opera); The Black Clown (ART); Zorro (Moscow; Atlanta); Hinterm Horizont (Berlin); many musicals at City Center Encores! and the Kennedy Center. Education: Yale University.
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Brittany Bland
Brittany Bland (Projection Design) is a projection designer working from both New York City and Philadelphia. She has designed across theater, dance, opera, and live events. Through her work, she continues to expand the language of projection design, viewing it as a conduit for empathy and reflection.
Bland has collaborated with national and international institutions, including the Alliance Theatre, Arena Stage, American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.), Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Perelman Performing Arts Center, Public Theater, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, and Yale Repertory Theatre. Her notable credits include Milo Imagines the World (Alliance Theater), Death on the Nile (Arena Stage), Scat! The Complex Lives of Al & Dot, Dot & Al Zollar (Urban Bush Women), Twelfth Night (Classical Theater of Harlem, NYT Critics Pick), and A Dozen Dreams (En Garde Arts, NYT Critics Pick).
Bland is honored to have her work celebrated with several nominations, including a Suzy Bass nomination (Milo Imagines the World), a Henry Hewes Design Award nomination (Amani & Twelfth Night), a Drama League nomination, and a NY Emmy nomination (Wild: These Walls Can Talk). She is a recipient of the 1/52 Project Grant and the New York Stage and Film NEXUS Award. Bland holds an M.F.A. from the Yale School of Drama.
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Nikiya Mathis
Nikiya Mathis (hair and wig design) made Broadway history as the first wig designer to receive a special Tony Award for Jaja’s African Hair Braiding by Jocelyn Bioh.
She is also a classically trained actress, with an MFA from NYU Tisch School of the Arts.
TV/film roles include recurring as N’kiyah Franklin in “Power Book 3: Raising Kanan” on STARZ; Candy in “Snowfall” on FX; “The Blacklist;” “Chicago Med;” “BrainDead;” “New Amsterdam;” “Blue Bloods;” “The Night Of” and others.
She has originated roles in world-premiere Off-Broadway plays, including Tarell McCraney’s The Brother/Sister Plays, Dominique Morrisseau’s Skeleton Crew, and Kirsten Greenidge’s Milk Like Sugar, among others.
Mathis’s Broadway design credits include: Liberation; Purpose; Home; The Heart of Rock & Roll; Once Upon A One More Time; Death of a Salesman; Topdog/Underdog & Chicken & Biscuits. Upcoming: CATS: The Jellicle Ball.
Her Off-Broadway credits include Goddess: The Musical; Lights Out; Liberation & Primary Trust; CATS: The Jellicle Ball; This Land Was Made; A Raisin In The Sun; Nollywood Dreams; The Cotillion; Stew and more. She has also designed wigs for TV and film actresses including Phylicia Rashad & Danai Gurira. Her recent work can be seen on this season of “The Gilded Age.”
Her awards include the Obie Award, Kathleen Perkins Behind the Curtain Award from Black Women on Broadway, Henry Hewes and Drama Desk awards.
Finally, she teaches hair/wig design masterclasses for universities & organizations, including NYU Tisch Graduate Costume Design, Yale, and Princeton universities, and the Denver Center, among others.
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Josephine Kearns
Josephine Kearns (she/her) is a dramaturg, theatre creative, and gender consultant who tells stories of queer and trans affirmation and joy. She is proud to have been with Cats: The Jellicle Ball since the very beginning. Other recent work includes Interstate (MCC & East West Players), Orlando (Royal Manitoba Theatre), Other World (Delaware Theatre Company), Miss Step (Village Theatre), Boy (TimeLine Theatre), and many other projects still in development. She was also co-curator of the inaugural Breaking the Binary Theatre Festival and has consulted on gender inclusivity for the American Theatre Wing, the Broadway League, Actors’ Equity Association, and Concord Theatricals, among many others. She imagines a world where stories of marginalized people go beyond just the pain of being marginalized. More at josephinekearns.com.
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William Waldrop
William Waldrop (music supervisor and music director) is a Broadway Music Director, Conductor, and Pianist who currently serves as Music Supervisor/Music Director for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s new immersive Masquerade. Last summer he received high praise from the New York Times for his work on CATS: The Jellicle Ball (Music Supervisor/Music Director) at New York City’s Perelman Performing Arts Center. Prior to this acclaimed production, Waldrop served as Associate Conductor for Broadway’s longest-running musical, The Phantom of the Opera. Other Broadway credits include Cats (2016 Revival), and Evita (2012 Revival) with Ricky Martin. He was Music Supervisor or Associate Music Supervisor for the international companies of The Phantom of the Opera in Copenhagen, Oberhausen and Seoul. He served as Music Director/Conductor for the national tours of Evita, The Phantom of the Opera, and Cats. Off-Broadway/regional credits include Grey Gardens (with Betty Buckley), South Pacific, and A Tree Grows In Brooklyn. Waldrop is also a frequent guest conductor with many US orchestras, including the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, The Florida Orchestra, the North Carolina Symphony, the Sarasota Orchestra, the Rochester Philharmonic, the Tucson Symphony Orchestra, the Long Beach Symphony, the Boise Philharmonic, the Lexington Philharmonic, the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, the Greenville Symphony Orchestra, the Springfield Symphony Orchestra and the Wichita Symphony Orchestra. He is a graduate of The Peabody Conservatory (MM) and The University of Mississippi (BM).
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Trevor Holder
Trevor Holder (beats arranger/producer) is a native New Yorker, an accomplished drummer, composer, and beats arranger known for his melodic, groove-driven style. He has contributed to ensembles supporting renowned artists including Grammy Award winner Caron Wheeler (Soul II Soul), MacArthur Fellow Vijay Iyer, Tony Award recipient Lillias White, and jazz icon Roy Ayers. His musical journey began with classical piano studies at the Manhattan School of Music Prep Division before transitioning to drums. He graduated with honors as a music major from Wesleyan University.
After returning to New York, Holder immersed himself in the city’s vibrant arts scene, collaborating with musicians, dancers, choreographers, DJs, and spoken-word artists. His roles have included drummer, music director, and beat creator for both live performances and studio projects.
In 2009, he entered the Broadway arena with the Dreamgirls tour and later held the drum/percussion chair in productions such as The Wiz, The Book of Mormon, Motown, The Color Purple, and Memphis. He served as Beats Arranger for the 2024 production of CATS: The Jellicle Ball and is set to join the 2026 Creative Team as Beats Arranger/ Producer.
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Doug Schadt
Doug Schadt (music producer) is a record producer and songwriter based in Brooklyn, NY, primarily known for his work with such artists as Maggie Rogers (including co-writing and producing her breakout single “Alaska”) and Ashe, among others. His musical theater work includes cast recordings for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Bad Cinderella and Zack Zadek’s Deathless.
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Cooper Howell
Cooper Howell they/them (Associate Director) is a director, playwright, producer, and theater anarchist based in New York City, originally from Salt Lake City, Utah. Broadway: CATS: The Jellicle Ball (Associate Director). Off-Broadway: Little Kingdom (The Workshop Theater), Baldwin et Lucien (City Center), Courting Mayhem (Theatre4thePeople). Writer of THE LOOP the world’s first silent disco play, which they also adapted from Arthur Schnitzler’s La Ronde. Regional Directing Credits: A Streetcar Named Desire (Radical Hospitality Theater), The Color Purple regional premiere (Wasatch Theater Company), RENT (Utah Rep Theater Company, also choreographer). Cooper is Co-Artistic Director of WILDEHAUS, a radical incubator for queer American work, a member of the Artistic Collective of National Queer Theater.
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N’yomi Allure Stewart
N’yomi Allure Stewart she/her (Associate Director). Associate Director: CATS: The Jellicle Ball (Perelman Performing Arts Center). Dramaturg/Cultural Consultant: Saturday Church (New York Theater Workshop). Off-Broadway (Acting): Prince Faggot (Studio Seaview), Prince Faggot (Playwrights Horizons/Soho Rep), A Raisin in the Sun (The Public Theater), Richard III (Shakespeare in the Park). Residencies: GALLIM Moving Artist Resident; New York Theatre Workshop Artist in Residence; BTFA (Black Trans Femmes in the Arts) Artist in Residence. Mother of the House of Unbothered Cartier. Instagram: @nyomistewart
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Cody Renard Richard
Cody Renard Richard (Production Stage Manager) is a Tony Award winning producer, stage manager, advocate and educator. As a stage manager on Broadway, he has worked on 20 productions and is currently the Production Stage Manager for Ragtime at Lincoln Center. Some favorite SM credits include: Lempicka, Sweeney Todd (’23 Revival), Into the Woods (’22 Revival), Freestyle Love Supreme, Hamilton, “VMAs,” Tony Awards, Carnegie Hall, Metropolitan Opera, Cirque du Soleil, 4 “Live!” televised Musicals on NBC and 10 productions with NY City Center Encores!. As a producer, Cody has Co-Produced the Broadway revivals of Othello, Parade (Tony Award), A Strange Loop (Tony Award), Thoughts of a Colored Man, as well as the National Tour Moulin Rouge. He’s an adjunct professor at Columbia University and is the founder of The Cody Renard Richard Scholarship Program for aspiring theatre makers of color. Cody has appeared live on CNN and has been interviewed on “The Kelly Clarkson Show,” WNBC and NY1. He’s a 2020 OUT100 honoree, a Kennedy Center Next 50 honoree and was named to Variety Magazine’s Broadway Players to Watch list – the only stage manager to receive these honors! More info at www.codyrenard.com @codyrenard