Brooklynn Miller (Celie)

Brook, a dedicated educator, loves singing, dancing, and storytelling. Grateful for her family and friends’ support, she gives all glory to God.

Aria Hope (Shug Avery)

Since moving to Houston, Texas in 2016 Aria has worked under the direction of John Cash Carpenter in Ghost the Musical at Lone Star Community College North Harris, and Harold Jay Trotter in productions including When Temptation Comes & The Messiah of Oz with 1989 Dream Productions. Aria also performed in the 2019 Fade to Black Festival and portrayed artist such as Betty Wright, and Aretha Franklin in Houston’s well know Dancing in the Streets Motown and More Revue in May of 2019. Since then, Aria has landed a lead role in the Broadway Play “Pecong” as Mediyah, an all-powerful Obeah Queen, written by Steve Carter and directed by Julio J. Pete Peterson III, with JPETE Theater company. This show will open later this year, October 25-27, 2019.

@empress_ariahope

Cassidy Joseph (Nettie)

Cassidy is elated to return to Brévo's stage to tell this story. She sends endless thanks to family and friends for their continuous love and support.

@iam_cassiee_

Ashley Nicole Portis (Sofia)

Ashley Nicole Portis—actor, writer, comedian, Founder/CEO HMA Studios™️. Award-winning, viral, and unstoppable in every performance.

@og.portis

Michael L. Wallace (Mister)

Michael L. Wallace is a Haitian American, from SoFLo. He’s trained at Stetson University & AMDA LA. His love for theatre is undeniably worth seeing.

@Mdub_theartist

Jamaine Jae Benjamin Jr. (Harpo)

From early beginnings on stage to more seasoned roles, journey has been shaped by dedication, creativity, and a love for connecting with audiences.

@Negusjupiter

LaShondra Hood (Church Lady (Jarene))

LaShondra Hood debuts at Brévo Theatre. Louisville-based actress, director, artist, and UofL professor with 10+ years acting experience.

@Cherell_elle

Krystin Blaire (Church Lady (Doris))

Krystin Blaire is a force for arts and culture on and off stage. A poet and oral historian, she centers African diasporic connections internationally.

@krystin_blaire_

Samara Baptist (Church Lady (Darlene))

Samara is making her debut with Brévo Theatre. Some credits include RENT (Joanne) Beautiful(Lucille) Aida(Aida). God is inside me and everyone else.

@Brdwydeev

John Rolle (Ol Mister)

John Rolle has been acting for 20 plus years. He graduated from FAMU with his BA degree in the Arts. He developed the love of acting in elementary.

@Rollebill

Elijah Isaiah Thomas (Grady / Ensemble)

Elijah Isaiah is a FIU BFA grad. His show credits include Cinderella/Lord Pinkleton, Clybourne Park/Kevin/Albert. He’s happy to make his Brévo debut.

@kvngg_elijah

Bobby Cheatham (Pa / Ensemble)

Bobby Cheatham is a performer and educator who has a passion for theater and education.

@freshbigboyswag08

Sarah Romeo (Squeak / Ensemble)

Sarah Romeo is an FAU graduate with a BFA in Performance. She's absolutely thrilled to be joining this cast. This will be her second Brévo Theatre Production and she cant wait to share this show with you. Past roles include Upside-down (Robin) Rocky Horror Picture Show (Phantom), Avenue Q (Gary Coleman), Heros in My House (Jada) Whats Best for the Children (Gitmo,Acorn), Little Shop of Horrors (Crystal), The Many Wondrous Realities of Jasmine Star-Kidd (Jasmine), A Chorus Line (Connie Wong). She'd like to thank everyone who's supported her over the years!

@Iago.the.bird

Melvin Dawson, III (Pastor / Buster / Ensemble)

Melvin is a singer, song writer, and actor. He began his career as a performer at the age of 4 and has no plans on stopping!

@melvindawson3rd

Cam Davis (Ensemble)

Cam Davis is a SF actor that is so excited for TCP! They’d like to thank their friends and family for the support!

@camithon_

Aundre Eliacin (Ensemble)

Aundre began dancing at Dillard High School in 2021 and now studies dance at the New World School, growing his artistry across South Florida.

@dreinflux

Leah Williams (Ensemble/(u/s) Church Lady (Jarene))

Leah Williams, Miami-based singer and actress, is a Coral Reef VPA Chorus student who performs in theater, school shows, and church.

@leahk_.ay

A'Shanti Miller (Ensemble)

Ashanti Miller, dancer of 14 years and 3rd-grade teacher, trained in Graham, Horton, and heels. Proud NWSA alum with a love for performance.

@Thvtgirltrise

Jeffrey Slater (Ensemble)

Jeffrey Slater a Houston native is very proud to do the color purple and would like to give special thanks to the production team for the opportunity.

@Jeff28876

Daryan Lyew-Ayee (Ensemble)

Daryan Lyew-Ayee is excited to be working with Brevo theatre. He recently graduated with a BA in theatre from FAU last may and has since worked professionally with Art Prevails Project in their shows “The Bard in Bars” and “The Happening.” He believes the stories being told in this show are very important and powerful and hopes everyone enjoys them as well as has a good time.

@daryan15_

Terrence Pride (Producing Artistic Director/Choreographer/Costume Designer/Props Master)

Terrence “TM” Pride is a native of Quincy, Florida, and a graduate of Florida A&M University in theater performance and dance. He received his Master of Education in Urban Education from Florida International University in 2022. He has choreographed over 60 pieces of work, including musicals and dance recitals. A man of many talents; director, choreographer, dancer, costume designer, and teacher. Terrence can be seen on the stage or behind the camera; Rialto Theatre’s American Black Princess, HBO’s Love Craft Country are two of his most recent productions. He completed his third year as a principal dancer with Peter London Global Dance Company in 2022. His career as a professional teaching artist began in 2012, as the director of the arts program for 21st Century Fun2Learn Camp for four years in Gadsden County. He continued his work in arts administration at the Joan Kroc Atlanta Theater Camp, Florida Studio Theatre in Sarasota, FL, Apalachee Tapestry School of the Arts in Tallahassee, FL, Ailey Camp Miami at the Adrienne Arsht Center, and lastly Dillard Center for the Arts in Fort Lauderdale. Terrence curated Definitive Arts: Arts Integrated Education, lessons for the classroom teacher infuse common core with fun and energetic elements of drama and dance! As a scholar and advocate for cultural and arts education, he aspires to create safe and nurturing spaces for arts and cultural exploration and representation through theater and dance. Through his involvement with local and state grant committees, The E.A.T.N. Project, which connects communities and schools, and the South Florida Afro Pride organization which promotes health and wellness amongst the black LGBTQAI+ community, Terrence is actively engaged in community and collaboration. Recently, T.M. Pride received the Sara Spencer Child Drama Award from the Southeastern Theatre Conference for his dynamic and engaging work for young people.

tmprideofficial

Zaylin Yates (Founding Managing Director)
Zaylin Yates is the Founding Managing Director of Brévo Theatre, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to advancing equity in the arts by elevating the voices of young Black artists and spotlighting emerging talent across disciplines. Under his visionary leadership, Brévo has produced critically acclaimed, socially relevant programming that engages diverse audiences and fosters community dialogue through the performing arts. The organization is widely recognized for its bold storytelling, inclusive casting practices, and commitment to cultivating the next generation of theatre professionals. In addition to leading Brévo Theatre, Zaylin serves as Manager of Community Engagement at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County, where he designs and implements initiatives that connect South Florida communities to transformative cultural experiences. His work bridges arts access and education, deepening civic engagement through live performance and strategic partnerships. Read More about Zaylin A graduate of Florida A&M University, Zaylin holds an M.B.A., a B.S. in Business Administration, and a B.A. in Theatre Performance. His cross-sector expertise in nonprofit management, creative production, and community-building informs his strategic approach to arts leadership. Over the past decade, he has produced, directed, and performed in a range of theatrical works, always with a focus on authentic storytelling and cultural relevance. Zaylin’s impact extends beyond the stage. He has sat on grant review panels for the Florida Department of State’s Division of Arts & Culture, Broward Cultural Division, and the South Arts Advisory Council, helping to shape arts funding policy and support for regional organizations. He is the recipient of the Joel A. Crane Golden Spirit Award, Lead With Your Art, Community Trailblazer Award, a South Florida Legacy 40 Under 40 Honoree, and an ICABA Salute to Men Who Lead Honoree. Zaylin’s work is driven by a core belief: that the arts are a powerful tool for social change. Through strong governance, visionary programming, and community-rooted engagement, he continues to build spaces where underrepresented voices are heard, valued, and celebrated.

zaylinyates

Bryan Keyth-Wilson (Director)

Bryan-Keyth Wilson (He/Him) Dubbed the Literary Prince, is a noted multi-hyphenate/ award-winning playwright in the theatre and publishing industry. As a theatre artist/ producer, diversity, equity and inclusion are at the forefront of every project he takes on. BKW started producing theatre Off-Off-Broadway at The Variety Cafe at Rockefeller Center with shows such as PAMLET and THE SUBWAY SERIES. BKW studied Musical Theatre with a Dance emphasis at Sam Houston State University. He is the founding artistic director of The Creative Co-Lab TX|NYC. Wilson is the inaugural winner of the Paterson Performing Arts & Development Council Playwright Residency Award; he received a playwright residency and a virtual showcase of his choreopoem FOR COLORED BOYZ on the verge of a nervous breakdown/ when freedom aint enuff (New Jersey Theatre Alliance). Wilson was the inaugural winner of the Stories of Diversity Playwright Festival at The Fulton Theatre. After winning he directed, and choreographed the World Premiere of FOR COLORED BOYZ at The Fulton Theatre. Other plays written includes a 2nd installment to the FOR COLORED BOYZ series titled LUV NO LIMIT/ a lovers ballad, sTrapped (Downtown Urban Arts Festival Finalist), The Caregiver, HOOD BOY, No Ways Tired, Annexed, Confessions of a Preacher’s Wife, the musical two ten-minute plays Worlds Apart, and dis-placed. Currently, Wilson is developing a musical on the life and legacy of Congressman John Lewis titled THE BOY FROM TROY. Wilson won four literary awards for his choreopoem FOR COLORED BOYZ and produced a sold-out showcase Off-Broadway at Theatre Row for the Downtown Urban Arts Festival, where his show won Best Audience. Wilson is developing his first comic book series, THE TALENTED TENTH, on Wilson Comics/B’s Ink Publishing. He is a five-year faculty member of The Black Writers Reunion & Conference, founder of The Gulf-Coast Writers Retreat, and creator of the LIFT EV’RY VOICE International Playwright & Spoken World Virtual Festival. Wilson is a proud member of The Dramatist Guild.

Nia Deonna Benn (Assistant Director)

Nia Deonna Benn is a New Orleans–born stage manager, director, and theatre artist with over eight years of professional experience in regional theatre, touring productions, and live events. Her recent credits include Production Stage Manager for 1776, The Wiz, West Side Story, and Million Dollar Quartet, along with national touring work on Rent. She previously collaborated with Bryan-Keyth Wilson on For Colored Boys and is excited to reunite with him as Assistant Director for The Color Purple in her first production with Brévo Theatre. Nia remains committed to impactful storytelling, artistic excellence, and creating meaningful theatrical experiences through both stage management and creative leadership.

Ayana Vail (Stage Manager)

Ayana Vail holds a BFA in Dance and began her career with a strong foundation in performance and production. She trained as a technical theater apprentice and went on to work as both a stagehand and stage manager, gaining extensive experience in backstage operations and live event coordination. Now an event manager, Ayana brings a creative, detail-oriented approach to producing seamless and engaging experiences.

Anne LaMont (Assistant Stage Manager)

Anne LaMont (Assistant Stage Manager) is a theatre tech, actress, and aspiring writer living and working in Broward & Miami-Dade County. Past technical work includes Me & My Miami (Assistant Stage Manager, Brévo Theatre), Last Songs of My Mother and TonTon (Production Assistant, LanderosArts), The Exonerated (Co-Stage Manager, Shepherd & Ruth K. Broad Performing Arts Center), Stop Kiss (Set Designer, Pelican Theatre), Die Flaudermaus (Set Construction, Shepherd & Ruth K. Broad Performing Arts Center), Animal Farm (Costume Assistant, Shepherd & Ruth K. Broad Performing Arts Center), and writing and directing her own one person show, The Sisters of Saint Joseph Benefit Bingo. She'd like to thank Brévo, her family, and all her saints and angels.

Lauren Kennedi Ozie Dixon (Lighting Designer)

Lauren Kennedi Ozie Dixon is an investigator of light and color. As a designer, innovator, and visual artist, she explores lighting as a tool to infuse productions with layered meaning and emotional depth.

Born in Atlanta, Georgia, and raised in Southern Mississippi, Lauren is deeply committed to addressing the industry’s gap in lighting people of color with intention and excellence. Her work centers art as a tool for freedom, self-care, and transformation—where imagination has the power to shape lived reality.

Lauren is a freelance lighting designer working across theater, live events, concerts, and television throughout California, Georgia, and Florida—three regions that have shaped her artistic perspective. She has contributed to major televised events, including the Emmy Awards, the Academy Awards, and the BET Awards, and was selected for a curated internship in Shanghai focused on lighting for immersive corporate events and nightlife.

She earned her B.A. from Spelman College, where she created her own major, Innovative Design for Production and Live Events, with a concentration in Lighting Design and a minor in Education. While at Spelman, she also founded her freelance design and consulting company, KaLeiDoscope Designs. Lauren holds an M.F.A. in Theatrical Design, with a focus on Lighting Design, from the California Institute of the Arts.

Brianna Pierre (Associate Lighting Designer / Technician )

Brianna Pierre is an emerging theatre technician specializing in lighting design, based in Miami, Florida. Her multidisciplinary background includes experience as an actress, dancer, stagehand, and teaching artist, reflecting a comprehensive understanding of the performing arts. She holds a degree in Theatre, with additional studies in Dance, and brings a collaborative, detail-oriented approach to every production. Brianna’s recent lighting design credits include Luv No Limit (Brévo Theatre), Desnudos en el Bosque: Studio Macbeth (El Ingenio Teatro), and multiple productions overseen by Fantasy Theatre Factory. She is committed to creating dynamic visual environments that enhance storytelling and support artistic vision. Follow Brianna Pierre on Instagram (@BriannaAlierre) to stay updated on her latest work!

Ann Payne-Nimmons (Costume Crew Member)

Ms. Payne-Nimmons has been involved in theatre production for over thirty years. During that time she has held various positions including Wardrobe Supervisor with the Alvin Ailey Repertory Ensemble; Asst. Stage Manager with The Bronx Opera; and Production Manager, Director, and Administrator with Youth Theatre Interactions, Inc. in New York. Here in South Florida, Ms. Payne-Nimmons has worked with The M Ensemble, Miami-Dade College, and the African Heritage Cultural Arts Center, to name a few. For the past sixteen years, she has been the assistant to the Director of the Lou Rawls Center for the Performing Arts at Florida Memorial University. She has also been part of Brévo Theatre’s production team since 2024.

Janee’ Y. Ferguson (Costume Crew Member)

Janee’ Yvonne Ferguson is proud to serve as a Costume Assistant for The Color Purple: The Musical. She holds a BFA in Theatre Arts Administration from Howard University and has written and produced her own original work. As one of the inaugural recipients of the Chadwick A. Boseman scholarship, she is passionate about storytelling that uplifts and reflects the richness of Black experiences. She has coordinated community events for youth, including initiatives centered on civic engagement and empowerment. She believes The Color Purple remains a timeless and necessary story, highlighting resilience, healing, and self-discovery. She is honored to help bring this reimagined classic to life for a new generation.