generations

debbie tucker green (Playwright, Screenwriter and Director) Her plays include: a profoundly affectionate, passionate devotion to someone (-noun) (Royal Court Theatre, 2017); hang (Royal Court, 2015); nut (National Theatre, 2013); truth and reconciliation (Royal Court, 2011); random (Royal Court, 2008); generations (Young Vic, 2007); stoning mary (Royal Court, 2005); trade (RSC, 2005); born bad (Hampstead Theatre, 2003; Olivier Award for Most Promising Newcomer); and dirty butterfly (Soho Theatre, 2003).

She wrote and directed the feature film, Second Coming (BFI/Film 4, 2014; International Film Festival Rotterdam Big Screen Award) and adapted her play random into a TV film for Channel 4, which won the 2012 BAFTA for Best Single Drama and the Black International Film/MVSA Award for Best UK Film.

Her work for radio includes: lament (Radio Academy Arias Gold Award), gone, random, handprint and freefall .

She was awarded the 2015 Windham Campbell Prize for Drama.

Leah C. Gardiner is an Obie Award-winning director known for the “incisive clarity” (The New York Times) of her work with physicality and text. After expanding into directing for television and screenwriting over the past 18 months she looks forward to directing Romeo & Juliet for The Acting Company, while in development on several commercial musicals. Other work includes the critically acclaimed revival of Ntozake Shange’s For Colored Girls… (The Public Theater - Lortel Award; Outer Critics honoree; five Antonyo Award wins; Drama Desk and Lucille Lortel Award noms; Times Critics Pick), If Pretty Hurts… by Tori Sampson (Playwrights Horizons - NY Times Critics Pick), and the premiere of Kevin Artigue’s Steinberg nominated Sheepdog (South Coast Rep). She has directed two Pulitzer Prize finalists, and countless other new plays by writers including Tanya Barfield, debbie tucker green, Dan Deitz, Anna Deveare Smith, Penelope Skinner, Roy Williams and Eduardo Machado. Other credits include: the national tour of Wit with Judith Light; Oregon Shakespeare Festival; Houston Shakespeare Festival; Manhattan Theatre Club; Atlantic Theater Company; Soho Rep; NYSAF; Arena Stage; ACT; Berkeley Rep; Alliance; Baltimore Center Stage; Studio Theatre; CATF; Barrington Stage; Philadelphia Theatre Company. As writer/director: Cultures Collide, a play with music created exclusively for the U.S. Congress, produced by Sony Entertainment. As short film director: The Belle of New Orleans (Alliance Theatre) and WHY (Arena Stage/Flash Acts Festival). As a film producer: Mother of George starring Danai Gurira (Best Cinematography, Sundance). As an actor: playing herself in Ira Sachs’ Little Men opposite Greg Kinnear. Leah holds a B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania, and an M.F.A. in directing from the Geffen School of Drama at Yale.

Bongi Duma (Composition, Arrangement & Musical Direction) Broadway performance credits include: The Lion King (2001-Present). Musical Direction: Sheila’s Day (Lincoln Center Theater). Bongi was composer, music director, and choreographer for The Mighty Zulu Nation and Africa Africa (Storey Productions – UCA Productions). Film credits include: songwriter and vocal arranger for the soundtrack to the Jamaican Rasta documentary Bad Friday (2013). Bongi musically directed an African music performance for the Queen at Westminster Abbey for the Commonwealth Conference in 2000, and a South African performance at the Bambi Awards in Hamburg, Germany in 2002. Bongi is a composer and performing artist at Carnegie Hall’s annual kids concert series Music Explorers. He is the founder of African Heroes, a South African a cappella group, which was a semi-finalist in the 1998 Shell Road to Fame national competition. He is also a tenor/baritone soloist and choir conductor for the Music Paragons adult choir. Born in Umlazi township in South Africa, Bongi has worked as a mentor and vocal coach of South African singing technique to students from South Africa and the UK.

Shyko Amos (Actor) has a Politics Degree from Queen Marys University of London, an MA in Musical Theatre from Guilford School Of Acting and is an Alumni of the Acting Program of  William Esper Studios. She is a Lifetime Ensemble Artist Member of The Ensemble Studio Theatre, US credits include: An Octoroon at Soho Rep; Gin Baby at IRT, The Founders Project at New York Theatre Workshop and Cell- One Act Marathon for the Ensemble Studio Theatre. UK credits include: Mamma Mia - International Tour, In Time at the Almeida Theatre.  Workshops for The National Theatre include; Charlton Heston and His Prodigal Daughter and Songs of Freedom directed and written by Kwame Kwei Armah. Granny and Grandad; unforgettable that's what you are.

Mamoudou Athie (Actor) NYC/ Regional credits include Hamlet (Yale Rep); The Zoo Story; Tripolitania; and Becoming Sylvia (Williamstown Theatre Festival);The Wedding Reception (Columbia Stages); and The Merchant of Venice (Shakespeare Theatre Company). Yale School of Drama: Twelfth Night; Hedda Gabler; and The Visit. Film: Experimenter. Co-founder of DIY Shakespeare (As You Like It) and co-curator of August Wilson's Century Cycle at Yale School of Drama. Mamoudou studied at the William Esper Studio, and is a recent graduate of the Yale School of Drama, where he received the Lloyd Richards Scholarship in Acting.

Thuli Dumakude (Actor) is a South African born singer-songwriter and Broadway actress. She’s known for having originated the title role of Poppie Nongena, for which she received the Lawrence Olivier Award for best actress the year in a new play in 1984. Played Rafiki in the Lion King on Broadway, Thuli took part of the cast of Julie Taymor’s Juan Darien: She took part in the creation of one women show Buya Africa for which she was the winner of three Audelco Awards in New York for writing, Directing and Performing. She played Kamadonsela (Lady Macbeth) in a Zulu adaptation of Macbeth. Thuli has traveled to London, Toronto, Australia and Chicago. She played the role of grandmother in Debbie Carter’s Generations.

Jonathan Earl Peck (Actor) Broadway: The Lion in Winter (Roundabout Theatre). Off-Broadway: Three Sisters (Classical Theatre of Harlem); Richard III (Pearl Theatre); Julius Caesar (Public Theatre); Abduction from the Seraglio (New York City Opera); The Minstrel Show (Queens Theatre in the Park); The Color of Justice (Theatre Works); Black (Women’s Project); A Christmas Carol (Virginia Stage Company). Regional credits include: Piano Lesson (Olney Theatre); The Whipping Man (Syracuse Stage); Sty of the Blind Pig (Theatre Works Hartford); Every Tongue Confess, Blood Knot, The Glass Menagerie (Arena Stage); Cyrano de Bergerac (Utah Shakespeare Theatre Fest); Tamburlane, Edward II (The Shakespeare Theatre); Othello, A Midsummer Nights Dream (Old Globe Theatre); Buffalo Gal (Studio Arena); Walker (Boston Playwrights Theatre); Crumbs from the Table of Joy (Yale Rep); Les Blancs (Centre Stage); Big White Fog (The Guthrie Theatre); Puddin’ N’ Pete (San Diego Repertory Theatre); The Merchant of Venice (Milwalkee Repertory Theatre); The Taming of the Shrew (Westport Country Playhouse); A Midsummer Nights Dream (The Acting Company); Hamlet (North Shore Music Theatre); Our Country’s Good (Hartlord Stage); Two Trains Running (Huntington Theatre); Fences (Cleveland Playhouse). TV/Film: Rubicon, Cadillac Records, Law and Order (C.I.), The West Wing, American Dreams, The Devil’s Own, Someone Else’s America, My Special Angel, One Life to Live, Here & Now, King.

Ntombikhona Dlamini (Actor) Broadway: The Lion King, Sarafina, Riverdance, Godspell. Off-Broadway: Sheila’s Day (Lincoln Center Theater). Ntombikhona has provided vocals for the Power of One soundtrack, the Lion King and a Half soundtrack, the Between the Lions theme song for PBS, the Double Platinum soundtrack with Diana Ross, and she recorded the World Cup 2010 theme song for ESPN. She also appeared on Oprah with Diana Ross. Artists she has recorded with include Groover Washington Jr, Hugh Masikela, Mirriam Makeba, Ziggy Marley, and Jimmy Cliff. Ntombikhona appeared on the Essence Awards with Bebe Winans and Chante Moore.

Michael Rogers (Actor) For Soho Rep.: born bad. Other credits include: Sucker Punch (Studio Theatre); Breakfast with Mugabe (Centenary Theatre); Uncivil Wars (Pick Up Performance Co.); The Day of the Picnic (Peoples Light and Theatre Co.); Dido and Aeneas (Glimmerglass Opera); Joe Turner’s Come and Gone (Lincoln Center at the Belasco); Antony & Cleopatra, Coriolanus, Julius Caesar, Troilus & Cressida, King John, Othello (TFANA); The Dumb Waiter, Sizwe Bansi is Dead (Providence Black Rep); Medieval Mystery Plays (La Compagnia De’ Colombari); Everything that Rises Must Converge (New York Theatre Workshop); Dracula (Barter Theatre); Dream on Monkey Mountain (Denver Center); Master Harold and the Boys (American Stage Festival); Richard III (NJ Shakespeare Festival); A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Shakespeare Santa Cruz); Joe Turner’s Come and Gone (Trinity Rep); A Play of Giants, Playboy of the West Indies (Yale Rep); Uncle Tom’s Cabin (Everyman Company); Believing (Young Playwrights Festival). TV/Film: Side Streets; The Mosquito Coast; Weekend at Bernie’s II; Inscape; Dance of the Quantum Cats; Moonfire; Law & Order: SVU; Six Degrees; The Jury; Law & Order Criminal Intent; Law & Order; One Life to Live; Tattingers; and Kav O’Brien. Michael is a founding member of The Owen Dodson Lyric Theatre and Italy’s La Compagnia De’ Colombari. He has also been part of the acting company at the Eugene O’Neill National Playwrights Conference. Michael trained at the Yale School of Drama.

Elijah Caldwell (Actor) an Obie Award Winner. Original Standby in "A Strange Loop" at Playwright's Horizon. Just finished the Chicago Pre-Broadway engagement of "The Devil Wears Prada" as the Associate Music Director, with music by Elton John. A graduate of The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in Classical Piano and a Masters in Musical Theatre from New York University. Love to the entire Fam. #ThisIsCaldwell IG: @thisiscaldwellofficial www.thisiscaldwell.com

Jasmine Holloway (Actor) is honored to be joining Soho Rep in generations, her first off Broadway performance. New York credits include: Finian's Rainbow, Flahooley, For Colored Girls.. and Tambourines To Glory (Harlem Repertory Theatre), Little Shop of Horrors, Into The Woods, and Stepping Out (LaGuardia Community College). Jasmine would like to thank Bongi Duma and Ms. Rema Webb for giving her this amazing opportunity. She'd also like to thank her entire On Broadway: PATP, Harlem Rep and the generations family for their constant love and support!

Michael Howard-Dossett (Actor) This native of San Diego, CA is overjoyed to be blessed with an opportunity to join Soho Rep. and the amazingly talented cast of generations. New York credits: Othello, Trail of Tears, and Little Rock 9 (Rebel Theatre Company); Knights Before Christmas (Jamaica Performing Arts Theatre); Rwanda Genocide and The Darfur Project (Redshirt Theatre Company); Antony & Cleopatra (American Actors Theatre). Film/TV: Joyful Noise; Crazy Love (Oxygen Network lead role).Michael is on a mission to success, while putting God first, loving the life he lives, and believing in the amazing man God has created him to be.

Darrel J. Hunt (Actor) Regional credits include: Little Shop of Horrors; Once On This Island (Temple Theatre of NC), The America Play (Triad Stage); A Christmas Carol (NC Shakespeare Festival); Don't Bother Me I Can't Cope; Black Nativity (NC Black Repertory Theatre). He received his BFA from NC A&T State University. Proud member of Alpha Psi Omega. Aggie Pride.

Jonathan D. Kirkland (Actor) is an operatic and musical theater lyric baritone. His major works include: Cinderella - Prince Charming (Houston's Ensemble Theater); Showboat - Young Man (Houston Grand Opera); Tartuffe - Tartuffe (Moores Opera Center); Falstaff - Pistola (Moores Opera Center); Albert Herring - Sid (Moores Opera Center). Concert credits, Oratorio and major works include: Abyssinian, A Gospel Celebration - Wynton Marsalis (Soloist); Messiah - George Fredrick Handel (Soloist); Elijah - Felix Mendelssohn (Elijah); Don Quichotte a Dulcinee - Maurice Ravel; Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen (Songs of a Wayfarer) - Gustav Mahler. He received his Bachelors degree in Vocal Music Performance from Michigan State University, and his Masters degree in Vocal Music Pedagogy and Performance from the University of Houston. Jonathan is extremely proud and grateful to be joining Soho Rep. for generations. He also gives endless thanks to God for blessing him to be apart of this amazing production with such an amazing cast, in what he says will be the "most powerful story told" this season.

Matt Frey (Lighting Designer) With Soho Rep Matt has collaborated on Orange, Hat, and Grace, [sic], Suitcase, and Peninsula. Recent work includes Close Up Space (Manhattan Theatre Club); 7 Homeless Mammoths Wander New England (Two River Theatre); This (Center Theatre Group & Playwright's Horizons); Middletown (Steppenwolf); Go Back To Where You Are (Playwright's Horizons); Futura (Portland Center Stage); Woodysez (London's West End); Freefall (Corn Exchange, Dublin). Other companies he has collaborated with include Brooklyn Academy of Music, Lincoln Center, Ridge Theater, Rattlestick, Naked Angels, The New Group, Manhattan Class Company, New York Theatre Workshop, and Paper Mill Playhouse, as well as many other theaters, regional and abroad.

Matt Tierney (Sound Designer) Recent: Kin, This (Playwrights Horizons); That Face (MTC); Blasted (Soho Rep Hewes Award, 2009). With Elevator Repair Service: The Select (The Sun Also Rises). The Sound and the Fury (April Seventh, 1928) (NYTW- Lortel Nom., 2009). Other credits: NYTW, A.R.T., Alley Theater, Woolly Mammoth, BAM, Center Theatre Group, Soho Rep, Ridge Theater (including Decasia; Jennie Richee - OBIE, 2001). Former associate artist of The Wooster Group: Hamlet (The Public Theater - Lortel Nom., 2008), There is Still Time Brother, Who's Your Dada?! (MOMA), The Emperor Jones. With Young Jean Lee's Theater Company: LEAR, THE SHIPMENT, CHURCH.

Greg Kozatek (Props Designer) is an art director and designer living in New York.

Arnulfo Maldonado (Set Designer) Tony Nominee for Best Scenic Design of a Musical - A Strange Loop. Broadway: A Strange Loop; Topdog/Underdog; Trouble In Mind. Off-Broadway: Atlantic, The New Group, MCC, MTC), Playwrights Horizons, Second Stage, Signature. Regional: Alley Theatre, Berkeley Rep, CTG, Guthrie, Steppenwolf, Woolly Mammoth, among others. International Tour: The Magnetic Fields: 50 Song Memoir. 2020 Obie Sustained Excellence in Set Design, Lucille Lortel Award, Princess Grace Fabergé Theater Award, Henry Hewes Design Award nominee. IG: arnulfo.maldonado.design