Cast, Dancers, Executive Board

Goodness Adekanmi (Trish) is a sophomore from St. Paul, Minnesota studying Economics. This is her second year in Black Anthology and she is so excited for everyone to see the hard work that went into the show.

Ruth Alemu (Dancer) was born in Ethiopia but lives in Louisiana. She has loved dancing since she was a little girl and is super excited to be a dancer in Black Anthology for the first time this year!

Christian Alexander (Daniel) is a sophomore studying Mechanical Engineering who calls the greater Los Angeles area home. This is his first time joining Black Anthology and acting onstage. He is excited and honored to help bring an authentic, Black story to life and hopes you enjoy it!

Cecelia Anderson (Jill) is from Lansing, Michigan and this is her first time being involved in Black Anthology. She is very honored to be in the cast and hopes everyone enjoys the show!

Caro Diego (Dancer) is involved with Black Anthology for her first year and is so excited to have the opportunity to be a performer in this powerfully engaging and collaborative story.

Shaelee Commetant (Amy, Real Estate Agent) is from Framingham, Massachusetts and this is her first year being involved in Black Anthology. She is so excited to be a part of the show!

Jamila Dawkins (Playwright), first-time playwright, has learned so much from the creative undertaking that has been this year’s show. This is her second year on Executive Board, and she is proud to be a part of the production. To Nathan Dawkins: thank you.

Jewel Evans (Treasurer) is a Sophomore from Orchard Lake, Michigan. This is her second year with Black Anthology, and she is proud that Black Anthology is always committed to putting on an amazing show for the Black community.

Courtney Fenderson (Dancer) is from Cleveland, Ohio and this is her first year dancing in Black Anthology. She is very passionate about dancing and cannot wait to perform this year!

Raevyn Ferguson (Nia) is a sophomore from St. Louis. Although she has witnessed Black Anthology for a few years, this will be her first year participating. Since being in college, she has regained her love for acting and wanted to be a part of the show so she could tell Black stories. Raevyn is so excited to perform and hopes that you all will learn from the show as much as she learned from the process!

Sarah Forbes (Dancer) is involved with Black Anthology for the fourth time. She loves the emotion and passion that is put into the dances each year. She is grateful to be able to work with such amazing choreographers and dancers!

Kamryn Haynes (Makeup and Philanthropy Chair, Dancer) is a junior from St. Louis and has been involved with Black Anthology since her freshman year. She is excited for the virtual show this year and cannot wait for the St. Louis community to see it!

Ella Holman (Dancer) is from St. Louis and this is her second year doing Black Anthology. She loves participating in Black Anthology because of the creativity of her peers and is so excited for the show.

Sophia Kamanzi (Producer) is a senior from O’Fallon, Missouri studying PhilosophyNeuroscience-Psychology on the Cognitive Neuroscience track. This is her fourth and final memory-filled year with Black Anthology. She hopes you enjoy the show and are staying safe!

Seth Kleinberg (Lighting Designer) is from Los Angeles and became involved with Black Anthology early this year. He feels honored to help bring the stories told in the show to life, and is equally excited to continue his connection with Black Anthology.

Miles “Bread” Lee (Show Artist) is a Sam Fox senior from Dallas. Though this is their first year involved with the show, they have admired Black Anthology since their freshman year. They are honored by the chance to work alongside so many passionate people.

Kimberly Neal (Dancer) is a senior from Atlanta and this is her second year of being a dancer in Black Anthology. She joined after being inspired by the show her first year and loved the experience of her first performance with Black Anthology.

Idia Ogbomoh (Cynthia) is from the South Suburbs of Chicago and has been involved with Black Anthology since her sophomore year. She joined to find a creative outlet from her academics.

Maya Phelps (First-year Intern) is from a small town in Iowa and this is her first year with Black Anthology. She joined to continue her love for directing and to stay connected to theatre. She hopes you love the show as much as she does!

Marc Ridgell (Publicity Chair), a sophomore from Chicago, joined Black Anthology Executive Board last year, serving as the Firstyear Publicity Intern. This year, as the Publicity Chair, Marc has discerned new ways to engage with, publicize for, and integrate the WashU community into the production!

Courtney Robertson (Director) grew up in Houston, Texas and has always loved theatre. This is her second year in Black Anthology and her directorial debut. She is grateful for the opportunity to tell Black stories and would like to thank the executive board, actors, and dancers for bringing this story to life.

Sabrina Spence (Stage Manager) is from Memphis and has been the Stage Manager for Black Anthology for three years. She is so excited to continue her role, especially in this unprecedented time. She cannot wait for the WashU community to see the hard work that the cast, dancers, and exec have put in to make this show possible.

Hannah Stevens (Assistant Choreographer, Dancer) is an Arts and Sciences sophomore from Houston, Texas. This is her second year in Black Anthology and she cannot wait for everyone to see the show!

Julia Stewart (Choreographer, Dancer) is a senior from Washington, DC. This is her fourth year involved with Black Anthology and she cannot wait to see the executive board’s and dancers’ perseverance pay off for the incredible 2021 production.

Mary-Katherine Townsend (Micah) is a junior from St. Louis and this is her third year involved with Black Anthology as an actor. She has loved being a part of Black Anthology and is excited for everyone to see this year’s virtual show!

Desmond Young (Will) is from Jackson, Mississippi. He was encouraged to join Black Anthology by a friend. This is his first year being involved, and he is enjoying every moment of it.

Izzy Williams (Gloria) is from O’Fallon, Missouri. This is her first year being involved with Black Anthology and she has loved every second of it! She joined Black Anthology to connect more with her Blackness. She is so grateful to be part of this experience and admires all of the people she has met along the way.

Diamond Warren-Tucker (Dancer) is from Coral Springs, Florida and this is their first year involved with Black Anthology. They joined because they saw Black Anthology as an opportunity to expand their dance repertoire and connect with amazing people in the process.

Jebron Perkins (Dancer) is from Indianapolis, Indiana and this is his first year dancing as part of Black Anthology. He is excited to be able to use movement to animate the story of essential(s).

Sparkle Whitaker (Costume Designer), a creative multihyphenate, has served on the executive board for two years as the costume designer and prop manager. With her fashion business, The Onyx Label, she focuses on design and sociology, looking for ways in which design can improve social systems, such as sustainability.

Ryan Wilson (First-year Intern) was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. She wanted to be a part of Black Anthology to meet peers who have a similar interest in storytelling like herself!

Dean Wilmetta Toliver-Diallo (Advisor) has advised Black Anthology for 15 years. She salutes the executive board, actors and dancers for working in such a different environment but committing to bringing this show to “the stage.” She bows down to Sophia Kamanzi who went just above and beyond the call of duty to make this happen and to make us all look good. Theatre played such a role in her childhood and college experience because the ability to embody and tell a compelling story can sit with you forever. She hopes the audience can sit with this story for years to come.