Actors
Claire- Tamika Reed Newman
Harmony- Donovan Lockett
Israel- Dana Orange
James- Philip Anthony Wilson
Kerry- Quanece Thompson
Peter- Malik Muhammad
Terrel- Eyakeno Ekpo
Slim- Gabby Huggins
Destiny- Jenece Upton
Harmony- Donovan Lockett
Israel- Dana Orange
James- Philip Anthony Wilson
Kerry- Quanece Thompson
Peter- Malik Muhammad
Terrel- Eyakeno Ekpo
Slim- Gabby Huggins
Destiny- Jenece Upton
Tamika Reed-Newman is so excited to be featured in Discovering Blackness: A Short Film with Coffee and a Play’s DigiREP for the 2020 Philadelphia Fringe Festival. Tamika has recently appeared in Jack and The Beanstalk with Virginia Rep on Tour, Sacred City Alive! with 5th Wall Theatre, and The Little Mermaid at The Theatre Company at Fort Lee. She also performed as a musical performer with Jingle Jazz at Kings Dominion 2019 Winterfest. Other credits include television and commercial work. When not on stage or in rehearsals, Tamika works as a part-time Adjunct Professor of Biology and fitness instructor. She is extremely grateful for her husband’s love and support in her performance endeavors.
DONOVAN LOCKETT proudly hails from New Orleans but has made Philly her artistic home! Selected credits: Significant Other (Mauckingbird Theatre Co); All’s Well That Ends Well (PAC); Troilus & Cressida (Revolution Shakespeare); Measure for Measure (Scranton Shakespeare); White (Theatre Horizon); A Christmas Carol (Walnut Street Theatre); Oedipus (Hangar Theatre); Trigger Warning (Prime Theatre Syndicate). Since quarantine began, Donovan has performed virtually with Revolution Shakespeare, Paper Doll Ensemble, Green Light Productions, Artists in Place, and Jouska Playworks @ Simpatico. Her virtual Fringe season is devoted to uplifting Blackness, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. BFA: Ithaca College. donovanlockett.com
Dana Orange is very excited to be involved in this very important piece! Recent Credits include Tarzan (Theatre Non-Conforming), Shrek the Musical, Sister Act (Walnut Street Theatre), Actually (Helf Key Theatre Company/ FringeArts Festival), In The Heights (Park Playhouse), To Kill a Mockingbird (Millbrook Playhouse), and Stairs to the Roof (EgoPo Classic Theatre) to name a few. Thank you to this incredible team for bringing me on to work with this brilliant group on such a magnetic and enlightening production! Also, big thanks to my incredible support system for always encouraging me to be my best at all times! Mad love! #BLM
Philip Anthony Wilson (They/Them) is a Philadelphia based actor. He is excited to be working with this talented group of people on this work. Most recently seen performing with City Theater Company and Limelight, Philip is exited to be working on a new digital project.
Quanece reigns from Bronx, NY and is excited to make her debut with Coffee and A Play/ DigiREP Productions as Kerry in Discovering Blackness; a short film. Past productions include Act a Lady, She Didn't Want to be Found, 'Night, Mother, The Last Days of Judas Iscariot, The Caucasian Chalk Circle, and others. Quanece is extremely thankful for the opportunity to learn, watch, and be surrounded by talented Black artists, who excel at their art. 100% BLACK MAGIC! Shoutout to Briana Gause for writing the play, Devon Sinclair for being an amazing director, and Amanda for all her hard work putting all this together. Thank you to castmates, family, and friends for the continued support. POP POP!
MALIK MUHAMMAD is excited to join the cast of Discovering Blackness: A Short Film for his debut perfromance in Philly Fringe! A rising theater professional in the local Philadelphia area, Malik's recent projects include playing the Tinman in the Ritz Theatre Co.'s production of The Wiz, being a featured dancer/ensemble in Candlelight Theatre’s production of Catch Me If You Can, playing Amos Calloway in Upper Darby Mainstage's production of Big Fish, and playing Rooster Hannigan in Limelight Theater Co.'s production of Annie the Musical. Malik would like to thank the entire production team of Discovering Blackness, especially writer Briana Gause and director Devon Fields, for allowing him the opportunity to continue crafting his artistry through such harsh times!
Eyakeno Ekpo was born and raised in Nigeria. He studied and graduated from the American Musical and Dramatic Academy. A few of his theatre credits include James “Thunder” Early in Dreamgirls, Seaweed in Hairspray and he has performed the high seas with Norwegian Cruise Lines and Carnival Cruise Lines.
I am ecstatic to be putting out another work of art in the Fringe Festival again.
I am ecstatic to be putting out another work of art in the Fringe Festival again.
Gabrielle Huggins plays Slim in Discovering Blackness. She is an actor currently living in NYC. She enjoys acting in whatever medium is possible in order to help extend the arts in our society to many different people. Zoom is 2020’s newest medium and Gabrielle is looking forward to this new adventure.
www.gabriellejhuggins.com
www.gabriellejhuggins.com
Jenece Upton is excited to be participating in the 2020 Philadelphia Fringe Festival! She is an experienced vocalist and musician and has been performing for over 20 years. When she's not performing, Jenece works in Communications and enjoys spending time with family, reading, taking long walks (seriously!), and listening to 90s R&B music. Since relocating to Chicago more than three years ago, Jenece has developed a passion for stage acting, appearing in a number of productions throughout the area, including Pippin (Devonshire Playhouse), American Idiot (Harper Ensemble Theatre Company), and The Rimers of Eldritch (Devonshire). With Discovering Blackness, she has appreciated the opportunity to work through a new, digital medium with so many talented people. She would like to thank the cast and creative team for this brave, thoughtful production, and as always, her family and friends for their love and support.
