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Hattiloo Theatre always has something going on, both on stage and off. Sign up today using this button and be among the first to know what’s happening at Hattiloo.
Faith Morris, CEO, cultureLift Inc. Freedom
Award Managing Director/Producer; Hattiloo Chair
Cynthia Collins, Managing Director of Litigation, FedEx; Hattiloo Secretary
Vernon Stafford, Senior Executive Vice President, & Chief Audit Executive, First Horizons; Hattiloo Treasurer
MEMBERS
CarolynBishop,Director,On-Campus Living,LeMoyne-OwenCollege
MichaelCampanaro,VicePresident, InformationTechnology,AutoZone
TabrinaDavis,VicePresident-Marketing, CommunicationsandWebStrategy, MethodistLeBonheur
JocelynHenderson,AnAttorney
CardellOrrin,ExecutiveDirector, StandforChildren
AmySimpson,ChiefCommunications Leader,InternationalPaper
LindaSmith,CommunityVolunteer
Ekundayo Bandele, Founder & CEO
Patricia Smith, Production Manager
Jarrod Walker, Theatre Manager
Rosanna Smith, Office Manager
Najwa Watson, Engagement Coordinator
Hatshepsut Bandele, Customer Service Coordinator
P.A. Bomani, House Manager
Zaria Crawford, Customer Service
Representative
Nate Herrington, Marketing Coordinator
Felicia Wheeler, Patron Engagement Coordinator
ABOUTHATTILOO
Hattiloo is a 501(c)3 mission non-profit organization. Its mission is "to develop a Black theatre that is accessible to, relevant to, and reflective of a multicultural community." It produces shows that depict Black life and that transcend their entertainment value by giving audiences an authentic, cultural experience. Its program The Self-Identity Theatre Camp helps Black youth acquire tools to care for their emotional selves in inequitable and discriminatorysituations
As the largest Black theatre in the Mid-South andoneofafewfree-standingBlacktheatresin the country, Hattiloo is a hub for national Black theatre training and convening, and our youth programssharethisfocus.
EKUNDAYO
BANDELE Founder/CEO
WorldpremiereproducedbytheManhattanTheatreClub (LynnMeadow,ArtisticDirector;ChrisJennings,ExecutiveDirector) andMadisonWellswithLaChanze&TarajiP.Henson attheSamuelJ.FriedmanTheatreonSeptember12,2023
CommissionedbyWilliamstownTheatreFestival (MandyGreenfield,ArtisticDirector),Williamstown,MA.
EKUNDAYO BANDELE
Set Designer
LAUREN THOMAS
Lighting Designer
Directed by MAYA ROBINSON
CAHLEESI BEDELL
Costume Designer
CYD TRICE
Stage Manager
Sound Designer
ADRIAN KENNARD
Assistant Stage Manager
GARRY YATES
Dialect Coach
Ifyouexitthetheatreduringtheshow,youmaynotbeabletoreturntoyourseat.
Camerasandrecordingequipmentarestrictlyforbiddeninthetheatre.Patrons withcellphonesoranyelectronicdevicethatmakesnoisearerequestedtoeither turnoffthedeviceorcheckitwiththehousemanagerpriortothecurtain.
Talkbackperformances
Sundays,September12,September28,andOctober12 ,2025(5minutes aftercurtain).
My first time living in Atlanta was in the mid-1990s. I wore a massive afro, split clean down the middle in Frederick Douglass fashion. To grow and shape that crown, I’d go to a friend’s mother who braided my hair with the kind of care and precision that felt like sculpture. Her work had geometry. You could trace the start of a braid and follow it like a river until it disappeared into a sea of coil and pride.
When I moved back to Memphis, I started going to an African hair braiding shop on Madison. The women there braided tight, tight enough that I had to keep Excedrin Migraine close at hand. They spoke Wolof, were from Senegal, and though I didn’t understand their words, I loved being part of that room. The laughter. The layered conversations. The smell of hair grease and incense. It was always packed. Women getting long braids, sometimes two sets of hands working at once. Elders sitting nearby. Kids on phones. It was more than a salon. It was a cultural salon. It felt like home.
So when I saw Jaja’s African Hair Braiding on Broadway, it took me right back to those chairs, those voices, that intimacy. But it also opened a window I hadn’t looked through before. The play gently pulled back the curtain on the inner lives, rivalries, and resilience of the West African immigrant community in New York, specifically Ghanaian women. Their joys and sorrows were layered beneath the sound of combs clicking and fingers flying.
When I met the playwright, Jocelyn Bioh, and the director, I felt that same fire I felt when I first saw the play. Jocelyn’s work is brilliant, familiar, and necessary. Hattiloo audiences may remember her from our production of School Girls; Or, the African Mean Girls Play, a show that had our audiences laughing, crying, and recognizing themselves. Jaja’s does the same, but this time, through the lens of hair.
Hair, for us, is never just hair. It is language. It is identity. It is protest and celebration, style and survival. Whether we twist it, press it, loc it, fade it, or let it grow wild, our hair tells a story before we ever open our mouths. It is a crown we wear with pride and a canvas we shape with creativity. The textures of our hair hold the diversity of our expression, and Jaja’s captures that beautifully.
At Hattiloo, our mission is to tell stories that reflect and amplify the Black experience in all its complexity and brilliance. Jaja’s African Hair Braiding does exactly that. I am honored to share this joyful, poignant, and powerful work with you.
Come sit in the chair. Let the story braid itself into you.
Ekundayo Bandele Founder & CEO, Hattiloo Theatre
Chasity Alliston
N’Didi
LYRIC DAVIS
Marie
CHASITY ALLISTON is a dynamic performer who most recently starred as Charlayne in Ain’t Misbehavin’ at Theatre Memphis. She is no stranger to the Hattiloo Theatre stage Jaja’s marks her sixth production with the company. Chasity is best known for her standout roles as Myrt in Carmen Jones and Sandra in Confederates, where she captivated audiences with her powerful presence and emotional range. With a deep love for music-driven storytelling, Chasity continues to bring passion, precision, and soul to every performance.
LYRIC DAVIS is an 11th grader and is excited to be part of this production. This marks her fourth year in theatre, with past performances including Tituba in The Crucible, Ensemble in Oklahoma & Tuck Everlasting, and multiple roles in James and the Giant Peach (James’ Mom, Reporter 1, Cruise Crowd, etc.). In addition to theatre, Lyric has been involved in volleyball, basketball, and has been cheering for Memphis Pride for two years. She would like to give a heartfelt thank you to her parents, grandparents, and teachers for their constant support and encouragement. Most importantly, she thanks God for His blessings and guidance.
SEQUOIA GRAY
Miriam
RUTH HERRERA
Vanessa/Sheila/Radia
SEQUOIA GRAY is a multi-hyphenate creative with a deep passion for The Performing Arts. She is thrilled to return to the Hattiloo stage since her debut performance in season 5’s Marie & Rosetta. Working with Mya Robinson and oining the cast of “JaJa’s African Hair Braiding” is a dream ome true!
UTH HERRERA (Zoë) is eager to give back to her roots by expressing her love for the city through art. She’s thrilled to be collaborating with Hattiloo Theatre and is ready to embark on this creative journey, sharing each step with the community that raised her
Ariel Leira
Michelle/Chrissy/ LaNiece
Trey Oliver
James and other male characters
ARIEL LEIRA would like to give all the glory, honor, and praise to her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, for this opportunity to be back on the Hattiloo stage! As a child, Ariel had always dreamt of being on the theatre stage. So far, God has blessed her to be in several productions including: 24/7 Café, Til Death, Carmen Jones, Black Odyssey, and now Jaja's African Hair Braiding! She's beyond grateful to be cast as Michelle/Chrissy/LaNiece in this magnificent production! Ariel would like to thank God, her parents, Ms. Maya/Ms. Cyd, Hattiloo Theatre, and the beautiful person reading this for their support!
ANGELA LOVELACE (Aminata) is thrilled to return to the Hattiloo! Recently, Angela could be seen training at Yale University's Summer Conservatory for Actors and directing shows like Frozen at V.P.A. Magnet, where she has the privilege of being the school's drama teacher! Lovelace was last onstage in Hattiloo's (OstranderNominated) production of "School Girls". She sends love to her family and everyone who's helped bring this beautiful Harlem braid shop to life.
TREY OLIVER is thrilled to be making his Hattiloo debut! He’s a Memphis native who developed a love for acting at an early age after participating in summer programs like Arts Camp, Blues Camp, and Echoes of Truth. Other credits include Waitress (Cal), Hot Wing King (Big Charles), and Fat Ham (Juicy) at Playhouse on the Square. As well as Ain’t Misbehavin’ (Ensemble), A Raisin in the Sun (Walter Lee), and Sister Act (Eddie) at Theatre Memphis. Trey would like to thank all of the teachers and mentors he has had over the years, and most importantly, his family and friends for their unwavering support. Daddy loves you, Harper!
NAJWA WATSON is a Memphis native whose artistic journey began at age of five. At 15, she first joined Hattiloo Theatre as a dancer in "The Wiz". She later returned as a volunteer, choreographer, and consistent collaborator. Her work most recently earned her an honorary mention in Hattiloo’s 10-Minute Play Festival. She has worked as a stage hand, ensemble member, singer, dancer, choreographer, director, playwright, and more. She has also performed in shows produced in Memphis, TN, Murfreesboro, TN, and Atlanta, GA. This performance is dedicated to her father a Jamaican athlete who came to the U.S. in search of something more -- whose journey continues to inspire her own.
EKUNDAYO BANDELE (Hattiloo Founder & CEO) is a playwright and theater director whose work has significantly impacted the American theater landscape. He has directed three plays by August Wilson and served as an assistant to Tony Award-winning director/actor Ruben Santiago Hudson. His plays, including "Judas Hands" (Karamu Playhouse), "If Scrooge Was a Brother" (ETA Creative Arts Foundation), "Take the Soul Train to Christmas" (Jubilee Theatre), and "I, Too Am America" (Ensemble Theatre), have been produced nationally. In 2006, he founded Hattiloo Theatre in Memphis, TN, where he serves as CEO. Between 2012 and 2016, Bandele successfully led a $10 million capital campaign to build and expand Hattiloo, resulting in a state-of-the-art facility that opened with no debt and a substantial endowment. His impact extends beyond Memphis, with international initiatives such as a theater management course at Omdurman Islamic University in Sudan and acclaimed productions in Milan, Italy, including his own "Mahalia: Queen of Gospel " He has studied Indigenous storytelling in Rwanda and Irish theater at the University of Limerick in Limerick, Ireland. He is a Phi Beta Kappa and summa cum laude graduate of Morehouse College, where he founded the Morehouse College Theatre Ensemble, and a DeVos Arts Management Fellow at the University of Maryland. In 2022, he established the accredited Hattiloo Black Theatre Studies program at LeMoyne-Owen College He has served on numerous boards and committees, including a founding board member of the African American Performing Arts Museum, chairman of the Memphis Office of Youth Services, and a current advisory committee member at the University of Tennessee’s Ozmo Institute for Neuroaesthetics.
HATSHEPSUT BANDELE (Customer Service Coordinator) is passionate about celebrating and promoting Black art and culture. Working at Hattiloo brings her joy as she wholeheartedly believes in the power of the arts. In her role, she is committed to ensuring that each visitor feels genuinely welcomed and well-informed about the upcoming plays and events at Hattiloo. Handling ticket sales and subscriptions, she strives to deliver customer service that reflects my appreciation and pride in everything Hattiloo represents.
NATE HERRINGTON (Marketing Coordinator) is a Memphis native from Westwood, Memphis, TN. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Christian Brothers University in 2024 and specializes in social media marketing. Outside of his marketing work, Nate is passionate about photography, videography, and all things music. He owns the photography brand Nate Herrington Photography and creates visuals for local artists in the Memphis scene under the brand name Limbø Visuals, collaborating with his collective of visual creators known as 4x Collective. He is proud to be part of the Hattiloo team and looks forward to sharing its mission with audiences both inside and outside the theatre walls
PATRICIA SMITH (Theatre Production Manager) has an extensive resume which includes her most recent performance as Judge Dunbar on NBC's Bluff City Law. She performed in Ain't Misbehavin and Asst. Directed Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill, both in Milan, Italy. She directed Hattiloo's Black Nativity with the Memphis Symphony Orchestra. She has many credits performing, directing, and costuming shows here at Hattiloo Theatre, however, most recently she directed and costumed "Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill" and "Marie and Rosetta" She was last seen performing in "Raisin" the musical as Lena Younger.
ROSANNA SMITH (Office Manager) a Tennessee native from southwest Memphis, is the eldest of nine children born to Rev J W Smith, Sr , and Lillie B Smith She graduated from Mitchell High School in 1967 and attended the University of Tennessee at Martin. Her career began in 1970 as a Reservationist at American Express, followed by a role as an Office Manager at Murphy Oil Company.
Rosanna earned an Associate Degree in Accounting and Data Processing from Memphis School of Commerce in 1973 and worked as an assistant bookkeeper at Goodwill Industries before joining Kroger in 1974. She served as an accounting clerk and office manager at Kroger until her retirement in 2002. After retirement, she worked at Katz Worldwide Logistics and the Shelby County Health Department until late 2013.
In her religious community, Rosanna was an Administrative Assistant and Church Clerk at Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church for 33 years and held various educational roles at Kimbrough Chapel Missionary Baptist Church in Lamar, Mississippi She has received numerous awards and certificates for her contributions to Christian education and community service.
JARROD WALKER (Theatre Manager) an imaginative trailblazer, is fueled by an inherent passion for creativity. Jarrod has immersed himself in event coordination, theater direction, and product launches for over two decades. Whether orchestrating weddings, plays, or other significant life events, his ability to infuse creativity into every project is the driving force behind his success.
As an accomplished event professional, administrative assistant, and theater director, he is dedicated to crafting unparalleled experiences for his clients and audiences. From providing essential administrative support to executing productions, he has played a pivotal role in turning clients’ dreams into tangible realities For Jarrod Walker, the possibilities are boundless when creativity takes center stage, and his journey continues to be a testament to the transformative power of artistic innovation.
NAJWA WATSON (Engagement Coordinator) a Memphis native of Jamaican descent, brings over 14 years of administrative expertise to her role at Hattiloo Theatre. Her commitment spans nearly 15 years, reflecting a profound dedication to community and service. Najwa excels in organizing, project support, delivering exceptional customer service, and coordinating special events Hattiloo is not just her workplace but her second home, where she contributes proudly as a professional, performer, and creative force. With gratitude and honor, she will consistently embody Hattiloo's values through her endeavors.
FELICIA WHEELER (Patron Engagement Coordinator), an advocate for the power of creative expression, is a multidisciplinary artist and experienced nonprofit arts professional specializing in development and fundraising strategies. With a foundation in arts administration and education, Felicia brings a deep understanding and passion to both the artistic and operational sides of the creative + cultural sector.
In her current work, Felicia focuses on donor cultivation, relationship building and strategic resource development in order to sustain and grow arts initiatives. Ardent about advancing the arts as a tool for community empowerment, Felicia Wheeler brings both creativity and rigor to every aspect of the work that she engages in and represents.
Please email najwa.watson@hattilootheatre.org if your donor info needs to be updated or revised
Leadership Circle ($50,000+)
Community Foundation of Greater Memphis
Hyde Family Foundation
Memphis Tennessee Arts Commission
TN Arts Commission
Founder’s Circle ($25,000+)
ArtsZone
ArtsMemphis
Fedx Founder's Fund: In Honor of FedEx
Volunteer Karen Boozer
Kite Foundation
Shubert Foundation
Thomas R. & Ellen M. Prewitt
Chairman's Circle
AIM High ArtsFirst
ARTSmemphis
Edith Kelly-Green
Jeniam Foundation
Miller Dental Health, Inc.
NIKE, Inc.
Overton Square, LLC
Shelby County Government
Turley Foundation, Inc.
Producer
Dr. Irene Jones
Dr. Marcia Bowden
Rebecca Wilson
The Hohenberg Foundation
Thrive Grant
Director
Clinton Woods
Commodore & Emma Primous Sr.
Deep Water Media, LLC.
Gilbert Noble
Michael Campanaro
Percy & Regina Baker
Vernon H. Stafford, Jr.
William & Ann Schultz
Designer
Afrikan Village Universal Institute
Amy Simpson
Andre and Monica Wharton
Bathsheba Sams
Black Seed Fund
Clarence & Harriett Halmon
Cynthia & Keith Collins
Deborah Hester
Eclectic Eye
Elgie L Barfield
Evelyn McKinney
Gene & Carol Katz
Jan Young
Jennifer Brown
Karen Love
Katrina B Fayne
Laretha Randolph-Sargent Charitable Fund
Mrs. Eugene Katz
Nataki Palmer
Roselle Gause
Sandra Reed
Sharon Devine Harris
Stephanie Sweet
Sylvia Brown
Tabrina Davis
Terri Smith Anderson
Celebrity
Beverly Ware
Cardell & Nefertiti Orrin
Carroll & Christine M. Todd
Cheryl Browne
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc , Memphis
Alumnae Chapter
Dr. Felicia Fowler
Erik Jambor & Robin Salant
Jessica & Sandy Webb
John & Jacquelyn Dodd
Mary Magin
May Lavender
Myra & Kim Newsom
Rosanna Smith
Sekeeta Thomas
Sharon Taylor
Todd and Patricia Walker
Tori Mason
Vanelder Nichols
Verna Alexander
Star
Amber Hamilton
Andrea P Carter
Merlean Jackson-Hill
Ann M. Frogge
Ava E Hayes
Barry & Kathy Yoakum
Brenda J. Peters
Carla Smith
Carolyn Bishop
Carrie Harris
Courtney Davis
Dr. Jodice & Rev. Russell Belisle
Elise A. Hayes
Erica Griggs
Faith Morris
GH & Deborah Pigram
Gustenia Scott
Ivy McGee Blanks
Jane & Charles Lewis
Jarrod Walker
Jason Noel & Dimika Cavalier
Jerrie Y. Watkins
Jerry & Deborah Wigginson
Jessica Reese
Jewish Foundation of Memphis
Kerri Wilburn
Kimberly Cunningham
LaTeshia Ellerson
Meka Egwuekwe
Melundee Scott
Mike Jackson
Mitchell Ghant
Nobuko Igarashi
Phyllis Carter
Raumesh Akbari
Regina Echols
Rev Lou Etta Burkins
Roosevelt & Jo Ann Allen
Roy Shirkey
Sandra Quinn Bailey
Sandra Taylor
Sonia Walker
Stacy Brown
Terrena Moore
Valerie Adair
Wayne Ferguson
Willie & Sandra Brooks
Willie McNeal
Small & Mighty
Adrienne Dobbins
Alaunda Floyd
Calandra White
Alisa Wilson
Allie Gray
Allison Dulaney
Almella Starks-Umoja
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Phi Lambda
Omega Chapter
Alteena Edwards
Althea McDuffie
Alvin Harris
Andrea Sain
Angela (L.A.) Webb
Angela Eckford
Angela L. Staples
Anjel Echols
Anniace Parker
Anthony Carl Horne
Antoinette Lewis
Audrey Arrindell
Audrey Davis
Augustene Weston
Barbara Edmond
Barbara George
Bayley Simmons
Betty Ford
Beverly S. Davis
Blanchie McGaughy
Brenda Tutwiler
Bridgit Harper
Candace Obadina
Candace Tate
Carolyn Head
Carolyn Michael-Banks
Carolyn Turman
Casandra Clark
Charles Grove
Claire Kolheim
Claudette Mason
Claudia Shields
Constance Davis
Crystal Quarles
Cynthia D. Johnson
Cynthia Williams
Dawn Williams
DeAndra Kelly
DeAngella Dennis
Deb Johnson
Deborah Currie
Dee Lisa Cothran
Denise Parker
Derrick Muhammad
Detris Crane
Devonda Nelson
Dewana Edwards
Diane Austin
Donna Olds White
Dorothy Westbrook
Dr Charlotte Freeman
Dr. Cynthia Bond-Hopson
Dr. Dorsha N. James
Dr ZeVida A Jones
Elaine D. Taylor
Everett Carpenter
Everett Dishmon
Evette Vinnett
Gail Murray
Geana Ferrell
Geraldine Sykes
Grenda Poole
Gueilar Wilson
Holly Coleman
Jackie Johnson
Jackie Pride
Jackie Wilson
Jacqueline Muskin
Jacqueline Oselen
Jan Holmes Boyd
Jana Kinkle
Janet Sutton
Janice Frazier-Scott
Janice Ivory
Janiece Williamson
Janis Cowley
Javelle Spann
Jeannie Clay
Jennifer Walker
Jessie & Area Mays
Jetona Branch
Jimi Monix-Mitchell & Derrick Mitchell
Joe Calhoun
Joeann Ballard
Joseph Craig
Joy Watson
Joy Yancy
Joyce Johnson
Joyce M Turner
Juan Fuentes & Robert Thompson
Judge Rachel L. Bell
Judy Card
Judy Echols
Kaitlynn Tharpe
Kameelah Spence
Kandace Stewart
Karen Christian
Karen Cook-Pryor
Karen Reed
Karolyn Bryant
Katrina VanBuren
Kizzy Rogers
Kourtney Carpenter
Ladean J Stewart
Lance Logan Sims
LaTrice Browning
Latrice Robinson Toombs
Lavelle Mays
Lethelea Grayer
Lexsee J Waterford, Ph D
Linda Davis
Linda K. Williams
Lisa Igoni
Lisa M. Frieson
Lisa Young
Lois Williams
Loren Smith
Louise Levin
Lynnette Hall-Lewis
Mae Yancy
Mamie Turner
Margie Smith
Marilyn Powell-Jones
Marilyn Whitney
Mary J. Cooper
Mary Kyles
Michael and LeChelle Davenport
Michael Cole Sr.
Michi-Marcole Martin
Mildred Clark
Najwa Watson
Nettie Crawford
Nicole Clark
Pam Watson
Pamela Dalton
Pamela Johnson
Paris Ducker
Patricia A Braswell
Phyllis Dixon
Priscilla Davis
Priscilla Johnson
Priscilla Reed
Raymond White
Rebecca Bishop
Renita Standberry
Rhoda Jones
Robert Reeves
Rorie Trammel
Rubbie Patrick-Herring
Sam Patillo
Sandra Smith
Sandy Bolton
Selestine Pugh
Sharon Renee Williams
Sharon Shaw
Shelly Shorter
Sheorldine White
Sheronda Smith
Shunta Chevis
Smori Cooper
Sondra Brooks-Whitfield
Stephanie Pugh
Stephanie Smith
Takeitha Chambers
Tamara Rogers
Tanya Butler
Tarsha Jones, Crye-Leike Realtors
Tasha Chesser
Telesa Taylor
Teresa Peterson
Thedrick Griffin
Therese Mangold
Tonya Young
Tosha Downey
Tradinah Johnson
Tymikia & Nicholas Glenn
Tyrol & Teresa Brazzell
Valerie Fitzgerald
Vanecia Belser Kimbrow, Esq
Vanessa Conner
Velma Nelson
Veronica & Brett Batterson
Vontyna Winfrey
Will Hopkins
Wyndie Oliver
Yvon Foster
Zoe Simpson
Ensemble
Angela Ford
Cheryl Forbes
Chikeeta Numa
Dana Stith-Gray
Dorothy Mayse
Erlie Pruitt
Harold Williams
Jacqueline Sneed
Jerry B. Hemingway Sr.
Karen Brady
Karren Porter
Kelvin & Collette Vaughn
Kimberly Ferguson
Laura Lemon
Lillian & Bernice Family Foundation Fund
Linda Phillips
Lynette Miller
Mary Layton
Melissa Barton
Melodye Ruby
Melvin & Margaret Lee
Methodist EAP Team, in memory of Gwen Goodwin
Michael Detroit
Missionary Society of St. James AME Church
Morris Lipson
Rita J Cowans
Robert & Wanda Randolph
Sallie A. Boyd
Timika Sholar Mattox
Tina Milstead
Valencia Washington
For the full cast & crew bios, donors, advertisements & more, point the camera on your phone at this QR code, and click on the link that pops up!