profiles and other guest appearances. She thanks her family and friends for their support. Brett Sturgis (Ensemble/ u/s Boston/Roosevelt) Raised in Bronx, N.Y., Brett began studying dance at Kips Bay Boys and Girls Club where he trained in West African, jazz, tap and mambo. Stage: Lincoln Center Outdoors with La Santa Luz Dance Company, Ritmo De La Tarde with Latin sensation La India, WNBA’s NY Liberty Torch Patrol and the U.S Tennis Open with Culture Shock. Theatre: Disney’s Aida (the Netherlands), Working (Amas Musical Theater), Gala of Flaherty and Ahrens (Julia Richman Stages), Sweet Charity (national tour with Molly Ringwald), Jesus Christ Superstar GOSPEL (Alliance Theatre). Commercial: Hershey’s Take 5, Yo Soy La Kalle. TV: “The Dave Chappelle Show” and “Nick News.” Brett is also a choreographer for stage, industrials, music video and artists including Brooke Valentine, M.V.P F/ Stagga Lee, Wyclef Jean’s boy group 3on3, Firedance, Frankie Negron, La India, DLG, American Express, Warner Brothers, Chase, Miller Light, Bud Light and Colgate. Dougie Styles (Ensemble/u/s Crazah Chesterfield) has been performing in various capacities since the age of four. His formal dance training began at eight years old at Norma’s Academy of Dance. He received his B.F.A. in dance performance and education from The University of the Arts in Philadelphia and was also a dance professor during his tenure. His credits include: Film/TV/Video: Bolden; Water Theory; In the Midst of Struggle; Mystified and With a Child’s Heart. Company Work/Live Performance: Sophisticated Ladies; Spice Girls Reunion World Tour; Living In East Podunk; This Is My Time and Undeniable World Tours; Atlanta Hawks Dance Team; Reflections Dance Company; Koresh Dance Company; Dap Performing Arts Studio of Switzerland. Mr. Styles is the creative mind behind Dachiology, the art of communicating through rhythmic movement. Co-founder and creative director of F.I.V.E. Productions, an arts entertainment production company. Melissa Lola Youngblood (Naomi/Ensemble/ u/s Miss Cotton) feels truly blessed to be working at the Alliance Theatre in the production Twist. You may have seen her in the amazing production of Jelly’s Last Jam at the Alliance Theatre in 2006. Melissa also has performed in such regional productions
as Ain’t Misbehavin’ (Armelia) at The Maltz Jupiter Theatre in West Palm Beach, Fla. and in another production of Ain’t Misbehavin’ (Nell) in Thousand Oaks, Calif., under the direction of the legendary Ken Page. Other theatrical credits include Nuncrakers (Sis Mary Hubert) in Littleton, Co., and Smokey Joe’s Cafe (B.J.) at the Welks Resort Theatre in Escondido, Calif. Melissa is an Amateur Night Winner of the famous Showtime at the Apollo. Miss Youngblood holds a B.A. in music from Florida State University and is also one of the founding members of the Kollage Dance Troupe at FSU. Melissa has been a member of Actors’ Equity since 2006. Melissa knows that she never would have made it without God, family and the friends that will always have her back! William F. Brown (Book) won a Tony® nomination and a Drama Desk Award for writing the book of The Wiz. Other Broadway credits: The Girl in the Freudian Slip (author), New Faces of 1968 (head writer), A Broadway Musical (book). Off-Broadway and in regional theatre he wrote the books for How To Steal an Election, Damon’s Song, Twist and The Nutley Papers. He started by writing sketches and lyrics for the prestigious Julius Monk revues. Over 100 network TV credits include Jackie Gleason’s “American Scene Magazine,” “As the World Turns,” “Love American Style,” Max Liebman’s CBS Specials and many others. He has written book and lyrics for over 100 industrial shows. He has been a syndicated cartoonist with the comic strip “Boomer,” and has written and illustrated eleven books. He has written plays, musicals, and TV with his wife, Tina Tippit, who is an uncredited contributor to Twist. Tena Clark (Composer/Lyricist) What musical touchstone does President Barack Obama share with Aretha Franklin? The answer is the music expertise of Tena Clark. The company she founded, DMI Music & Media Solutions, programs the President’s music for Air Force One, and Clark also recently produced the Queen of Soul’s most recent album. Patti LaBelle, Chaka Khan, Natalie Cole, Jennifer Holliday, Gladys Knight, CeCe Winans, Dionne Warwick, Patti Austin, Stephanie Mills, Yolanda Adams and Rev. Shirley Caesar are among the iconic recording artists for whom Clark has written and/ or produced. A musical compass guided Clark from rural Mississippi to Hollywood. Beginning
alliancetheatre.org
21