sTrapped Program

Welcome to The Shrine of the Black Madonna, one of the treasures of Houston/ 3rd Ward, Texas. We are excited to be in this space to bring you the workshop production of sTrapped, the play. We started this journey in January 2022, and getting two of my mentors together to create this production was one of our best-curated ideas. sTrapped is a play that is provocative and will pull on your heartstrings. At the Normal Anomaly, we believe in centering black, queer plus persons on overcoming barriers, stigma, and problematic narratives to actualize a new normal; this play is the epitome of our core fundamentals. I've always been a theatre kid and am excited to bring one of my many passions into my community work. I want to thank my staff for their continued hard work and dedication, as well as the entire creative team that has made tonight come to fruition. We want you to sit back and sTrap up for the ride you are about to take Love always,

synopsis

In sTrapped, seven strangers come to the theatre expecting to see Award Winning playwright Bryan Keyth Wilson’s new play about gun violence, but they are told by the stage manager the performance is canceled. Tempers flare, and a mysterious, omnipresent voice begins to calm the audience down and interrogate the seven strangers who are upset. Trauma is uncovered as we learn about the seven strangers and deeper conversations on sexuality, religion, and colonization come to the surface.

(Playwright) Arelia Johnson is a native Houstonian, a product of Worthing High School, and a two time graduate of Texas Southern University She earned an undergraduate degree in psychology with a minor in political science, and from 2004 2008, she was an active and award winning member on the TSU debate team, was highly involved in the student government association becoming the first Executive Vice President and became a member of the Nu Alpha chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated Spring 2007. She published her first book, Thick: The Ideal of Beauty, the Social Construction of Perfection, and Their Impacts on Women in 2013 and went on to complete her graduate work in the department of sociology. Arelia defended her master’s thesis: “Bound by Desire; Suppressed by Thought: An Exploration of African American Female Sexuality Through Spoken Word Poetry”. Her master’s thesis focused on how African American female poets performed DR. ARELIA JOHNSON DR. ARELIA JOHNSON

and maneuvered gender and it catapulted her career in gender and sexuality. In 2013, she formed The Owned Project a community conscious organization focused on the professional and personal develop of women and girls. Her organization has grown and is now a diversity, equity, and inclusion training and development firm. In 2020, Arelia graduated from Howard University with a doctorate in sociology and criminology. Her dissertation, “The Influence of Police Policies and Practices on the Reporting of Transgender Murder Victims from 2015 2018: A Critical Content Analysis”, focused on how law enforcement agents identified transgender victims of murder. This body of research landed her a research assistant position on Mayor Turner’s Task Force on Policing Reform. Dr Johnson worked as a public school teacher from 2008 2019 and taught in post secondary institutions from 2017 2020. She is a certified juvenile probation officer, is a certified basic law enforcement instructor, was a senior consultant, is a member of the Board of Directors for Tristar National Alliance for Sexual Health, and a member on Mayor Turner’s LGBTQ Advisory Board She is currently writing her newest book, Sex Talk, set to release 2023

THE PLAYWRIGHT/ DIRECTOR

(He, Him) Wilson is an award winning playwright and dubbed the Literary Prince. He is a noted multi-hyphenate 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 BKW is a published author of three novels, ten plays, a choreopoem, and 32 monologues. Wilson received a playwright residency with the Paterson Performing Arts Development Council in Paterson, NJ.

He is the inaugural winner of the Stories of Diversity Playwright Festival at The Fulton Theatre Wilson won three literary awards for his choreopoem FOR COLORED BOYZ on the verge of a nervous breakdown/ when freedom aint enuff, and produced a sold out showcase Off Broadway at Theatre Row. FOR COLORED BOYZ opened the Fulton Theatre's 170th Theatre season and received a World Premiere. 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 and creator of the LIFT EV’RY VOICE International Playwright & Spoken World Virtual Festival. Wilson is a proud member of The Dramatist Guild www.bryankeythwilson.com IG: @literaryprince

TheCreativeTeam

LATREVA HERNDON-WASHINGTON - ASSISTANT DIRECTOR (She/Her)

Latreva is elated about her return to the production side of the table in the role of Assistant Director role with sTrapped. Latreva's previous production experience includes her roles as part of the marketing team of the Creative Co Lab in their work with the Off Broadway Showcase of For Colored Boyz on the verge of a breakdown when freedom ain't enuff as and also as Assistant Director of Confessions of a Preacher's Wife.

Latreva's on-stage experience includes her role in the productions Crowns, The Vagina Monologues, Black on Broadway, Praise the Lord and Raise the Roof, The Music and Magic of Christmas and Bryan Keyth Wilson's Hood Boy. When she is not working in theatre, Latreva enjoys trying new restaurants around Houston, traveling and is an active member of the worship team for St. Peter United Church of Christ. She also co hosts Mrs. and Mrs: The Podcast with her wife, Rochelle. Follow Latreva @latrevaherndonwashington

DANIELLE

Danielle is happy to be returning to theatre with the production of Strapped! Her previous productions as an actor include Macbeth, Godspell, Ragtime, Gloria ,

Single Black Female and The Colored Museum , etc. She is a graduate of Xavier University of Louisiana (B.S) and University of New Orleans (M.F.A.). She hopes you enjoy the show and wants to leave you with her favorite Shakespearean quote “All the world’s a stage, And all the men and woman merely players”

BRUTASDEWAYNE CostumeLiaison/Project Manager

JAMES - STAGE MANAGER (She/Her)

KIMBERLYTHOMAS CostumeLiaison

TheCast

CAMERON KING (She/Her) VEE Cameron is a true performer and storyteller She is a film and stage actor as well as a dancer She is well versed in hip hop, bachata, modern, jazz, contemporary, pole, and aerial. Born and raised in Houston, Tx, she recently moved back to Puerto Rico. Some of her most popular on screen work is her appearance as Karma Jinx in the award winning web series The Szn and as Officer Roberts in the feature film Unfinished Business. She is currently the leading lady in the JalaWorld Productions' feature Plain Sight

CARDERO BERRYMAN (He/Him) P.J. Past roles included Othello in Othello, Spider in James in the Giant Peach, Troy Maxson in Fences, Little Charles in August Osage County, Benjamin Bassanio in District Merchants, and Various Characters in the Houston Scriptwriter 10x10 Play Festival. I want to thank my family and friends for their love and support. Lastly, Thank you to the cast and crew for this amazing experience. I dedicate this performance to All the Black Men who live their unapologetic lives freely.

DEMETRUS SINGLETON (He/Him) DWAYNE Is very excited about being a part of the production sTtrapped. His recent credits include: The Colored Folks Good Time Hour (film), Super Freak: Because of Rick James, Meet the Mamas, and Color Struck. He started drama in high school where he received the Burns Award which was one of the highest drama awards at that time.

DIAMANTINA BROWDY (She/Her) STAGE MANAGER/ THE VOICE

Diamantina Browdy was born in Chattanooga, TN, but raised in Houston, Texas. Diamantina’s 1st performance was “1940’s Radio Hour,” Other credits include: Smokey Joe’s Café; For Colored Girls, Speakeasy, Father Can You Hear Me, Fox Tales, I Don’t Mean To Gossip, Confession’s of A Preacher’s Wife at the Wortham Theatre, and many others. She also worked with Tyler Perry as an extra in Why Did I Get Married Too. Diamantina continues her passion for the arts and welcomes the opportunities from GOD above to continue doing what she loves to do.

TheCast

EDEN ROSE TORRES (She/Her) ASHLYNN is a former resident company member of a professional musical theater company that performed at The Hobby Center. This production marks her return to the stage after twelve years away. Credits include RENT, Ave Q, and Stephen Sondheim's Assassins. She Founded PridePortraits.org. As Executive Director, she's photographed and interviewed 7K LGBTQIA+ community members across the country. Her activism focuses on trans liberation, equity, and equality.

JOHNNY MYERS (He/Him) DYLAN is a classically trained musician that has performed for artists and bands across the country. Johnny looks forward to honing his craft with his newfound love for acting. Johnny is passionate about theatre that socially impacts today's complicated world. Outside of acting, Johnny enjoys concerts, swimming, and spending time with family and friends.

TADRIAN WHITE (He/Him) BELL In 2019, he was voted in the Broadway World Houston Awards as Best Actor in a Musical for his performance as Bill Bojangles Robinson in Midtown Arts Center's production of Hattie's Big Night and Best Supporting Actor in a Musical for his performance as The Scarecrow in Pearl Theater's production of The Wiz. He recently appeared in Gloria's 4th Wall Theater production and played the title character in Sankofa Collective's new play Bashful & The Noize…

TRO’SHA MONIQUE PICKROM (She/Her) SHARON Tro'Sha works as an actress on stage, on film, and behind the microphone. She recently appeared as Delilah in the stage play A Beautiful Death on 34th and Fifth at the Ensemble Theater, directed by Tony award winning Director Roshunda Jones-Koumba. A Houston native, Tro'Sha graduated from the U of H. She launched her acting career in 2019 as Sweet Bella in Pecong, with JPete Productions.