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WELCOME TO SOULFUL CHRISTMAS

There's something transcendent about Christmas that transforms our world each year. Time slows, hearts open wider, and we find ourselves drawn into deeper connection with those around us. The air itself seems charged with possibility and hope.

Soulful Christmas opens a door into the rich tradition of Black Christmas music – inviting everyone to experience these powerful songs that have shaped how families and communities celebrate the season. Through the voices of our remarkable cast and the wisdom shared by members of the African-American Research Library & Cultural Center, whose interviews you'll see woven throughout our performance, we explore the profound cultural legacy and personal meaning behind these beloved melodies.

As we bring these songs to life, I find myself experiencing all the firsts again – each moment carrying that special excitement that echoes the wonder of the season itself. This performance flows from a wellspring of love, strengthened by community, lifted by hope, and dedicated to sharing the profound joy these songs have brought to generations of families.

None of this would be possible without our phenomenal cast, our tireless production team, and our generous donors. Most importantly, thank you – our audience – for choosing to share this moment with us. For the next sixty minutes, let the music fill your spirit and carry you home.

With joy and soul,

Kunya C. Rowley , Executive Artistic Director

THE MINDS POWERING SOULFUL CHRISTMAS

Soulful Christmas Creative Team & Crew: King

African-American Research Library & Cultural Center Team: Kirt Pascal & Orlando Hall

Soulful Christmas Cast & Band: Ja’Nia Harden, Brittany Graham, Erron Cooper, Wilkie Ferguson, III, King Friday, Joshua Walton, Khan.

Hued Songs Staff: Kunya C. Rowley- Executive Artistic Director | Leisa Herrera- Development & Administrative Coordinator | Christian ReáteguiOperations Coordinator | Joelle Clayborne- Social Media Manager

Hued Songs Board of Directors: Sabina Zetrenne, Joseph Cloud, Meghan Wood, John Barrow, Wilkie Ferguson, III, Kunya C. Rowley.

THE PERFORMANCE

I. Tis the Season | Ja’Nia Harden & Cast

II. What Christmas Means to Me | Wilkie Ferguson, III & Cast

III. One Little Christmas Tree | Erron Cooper

IV. Do you hear what I hear | Brittany Graham & Cast

V. Video: Your Favorite Christmas Bop

VI. This Christmas | Erron Cooper & Wilkie Ferguson

VII. Oh, Holy Night | Brittany Graham & Cast

VIII. Gee Whiz It’s Christmas | Ja’Nia Harden & Cast

IX. A Christmas Snow Medley | Cast

X. Video: My Favorite Foods

XI. My Favorite Things | Brittany Graham

XII. A Christmas Carol Medley | Cast

XIII. Video: My Favorite Gifts

XIV. Gift Love on Christmas Day | Ja’Nia Harden & Cast

XV. Someday at Christman | Erron Cooper

XVI. Santa Claus is Coming to Town | Wilkie Ferguson, III & Cast

XVII. Video: My Favorite Words

XVIII. Mary Did You Know | Cast

XIX. Go Tell It On The Mountain | Erron Cooper & Cast

XX. Joyful, Joyful | Cast

SOULFUL CHRISTMAS 2024 CAST, CREATIVE & PRODUCTION TEAM

Erron Cooper Cast

Khan Band

King Friday Musical Director

Ja’Nia Harden Cast

Joshua Walton Band

Brittany Graham Cast

Wilkie Ferguson, III Cast & Vocal Captain

Kunya C. Rowley Writer & Director

Sandi Stock Production

Stage Manager

CAST BIOS

Erron

Cooper

Cooper is a Miami, Florida native. He is a husband a father, a son and a brother. He is a singer, writer, and artist. Erron has a desire to share the hat God gave him with the world, singing and tering about the True Gift, in the person of Jesus t. His motto is, "I'm just here to serve." He is a er by trade, and his desire is to leave an imprint ery life that he encounters.

A native of Miami, Florida and a graduate of New World School of the Arts, Wilkie majored in mathematics and music at Morehouse College, studied classical piano performance at Eastman School of Music, and served on the faculty of the Boys’ Choir of Harlem as assistant director, piano accompanist and music theory instructor. Wilkie’s compositions, arrangements and musical direction can be heard in film and theatre, including Parrotheads, the Netflix Jimmy Buffet documentary; and The First Colored Circus . As a singer, dancer and actor, Wilkie was a part of the original broadway casts of The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess, Motown the Musical, and Wonderland and has toured with In the Heights; and Hairspray.

Brittany Graham

soprano Brittany G her extraordinary ormed as the soprano soloist in Handel’s Messiah the South Florida Symphony Orchestra, vating audiences with her exceptional talent dedication to music. She has also shone as the red guest soloist in the Coral Ridge Concert s’ American Songbook: Big Band Concert and as ighlight of the Femmes Noires en Classique Fall ert tour.Ms. Graham’s versatility and artistry been showcased in works such as Dr. Andrea sey’s Suffrage Cantata and in prestigious performances with Opera Theatre of Saint Louis and Union Avenue Opera.

CAST BIOS

Born on the 1st Day of Spring, Ja’Nia Harden is a native of South Florida and a professional musician, performer, composer, arranger, artist. She is a music educator with Broward County Public Schools and with her band, The Harden Project, has opened for artists’ like Laylah Hathaway, Anthony Hamilton, The Marley Family, and Stephanie Mills and Patti LaBelle. Ja’Nia is now a children’s book author, publishing her first book (Fat Cat Caterpillar) of a three-part series which made its debut in June 2022. It is now a Storybook Musical and touring the production. She is recently a Part of the new group Grown People Shyt(G.P.S), which is a fusion of Jazz, Funk, Soul and HipHop.

Kendall "King" Friday is a self-taught musician, songwriter, and producer based in Miami, Florida. As a military brat whose family relocated frequently, King Friday was exposed to various musical styles from Afrobeat and K-Pop, to Trap, Country, and Miami Bass. His work investigates themes of black masculinity, love, loneliness, and despair. King Friday has performed, produced, written, and composed music for local artists all over the Southern United States. He has also contributed music to several art exhibitions and activities. Most recently he composed music for "The Benediction" the closing of the Good Times Exhibition Presented By OoliteArts(2023).

King Friday

K nya Rowley is a community, social impact, and istic leader, who lives between the palm trees and aches of Miami,FL and the plains and hills of Tulsa,

. A classically trained opera singer, his artistic work practice have propelled performances and laborations with regional and global companies luding Florida Grand Opera, Opera Naples, chestra Miami, Klezmer Orchestra, and The Centre the Less Good Idea in Johannesburg, South Africa. is the Executive Artistic Director of Hued Songs, an ist collective that uses performance to amplify ck joy, creativity, and Belonging. Since its eption, Hued Songs has gone on to produce rformances throughout South Florida and the gital stage, providing a platform on which Black & own artists can be seen, heard, and paid.Through his rk, Kunya seeks to build Belonging through music d to be a conduit for accessible arts across a multitural platform.

Khan

CAST BIOS

Khan is the CEO and Founder of aDrummersLove Production. He has been a profound musician for over 20 years, who is known for his unique sound and style of his own. He is the drummer for a local band called Juke. Juke is a high energy blues/funk fusion band that performs at different venues in Miami such as Lagniappe, Magic 13 Brewing, Grassroots Festival and other festivals throughout the city and surrounding areas. When not performing, KHAN is also the owner of Kapturs By Khan Photography and Videography. With a passion for photography to “Kapture The Moments & Kreate The Memories” KHAN is always looking to push creative boundaries and connect with others.

Joshua Walton is a South Florida freelance bassist, tuba player, stage hand, and Redland Elementary School Music Teacher. He enjoys spreading music and art to the youth of South Florida. He has done numerous different concerts and productions, both on and off stage, all over South Florida. One of his goals is to inspire and encourage the black and brown youths, not just with his work on the stage but in the classroom too. Joshua is a graduate of Florida International University, class of 2016, and was a Sousaphone player and Bass player for Miami FM.

Sandi Stock

Sandi Stock (they/she) is a multi-hyphenate artist and theatrical administrator who has been working professionally in the South Florida community for over a decade. They are best known for their acting work as Regina in the Drama League Award winning production of 7 Deadly Sins at Miami New Drama and multiple roles in the immersive Miami Motel Stories series. They also love their off stage work directing, developing new theatrical works, and making music under the moniker Not Stock. They are proud and grateful to be in community with Hued Songs and this fantastic cast and crew. www.hellosandi.com IG & TikTok @sandistock

Joshua Walton

GRATITUDE

Thank you to the hands, hearts, and minds that have helped steward this show: Gratitude to the African-American Research Library & Cultural Center, Dr. Tameka Hobbs, Kirt Pascal, Orlando Hall, and the entire AARLCC team, Funding Arts Broward, Community Foundation of Broward, Broward County Library, The Broward Cultural Division, Phillip Dunlap, Bob Young, Jerry Sturdefant, Matt Stabile, Theatre Lab, Margaret Ledford, City Theatre, Timothy Davis, Darius J. Manuel

Thank you to our video participants: “Trinidad” Joe Allen, Dr. Tameka Hobbs, Anetra King, Dee Rich,Georgios Argyratos, India Guerrero, Martha Fritz, Luwando Wright, Dahlia Barnett

If you are interested in finding ways to support more performances like this one, please email Leisa@huedsongs.org or Click here to donate.

Hued Songs produces experiences that amplify Black joy, Black creativity, and Black Belonging.

Through song, spoken word, dance, and heart, our work is rooted across three core principles:

1) To provide a platform through which BIPOC artists can be seen, heard, and paid;

2) The arts are a right and not a privilege, thus we work to remove cost, geography, and perception barriers to every performance and gathering;

3) Every performance is an opportunity to build belonging, empathy, and community for all.

For more, visit huedsongs.org.