Fast Facts for First Timers

A Legacy 30 years in the making

The 2022–2023 Season is a special one for Mosaic. In addition to returning to full ensembles programs, including the return of our Backstage Tech ensemble, we’re celebrating 30 years of creating equity for Detroit-area youth through the arts. Thanks to amazing champions for youth and believers in the power of the arts to transform lives both locally and abroad, our work has been illuminated by moving and memorable experiences for three decades. It’s been an honor to be part of and grow with these exceptional creative changemakers, and we can’t wait to see what’s next. Pearls are the traditional gift for a 30-year celebration, so here are a few treasured pieces of Mosaic from us to you.

Making transformative arts experiences accessible is part of our mission. Mosaic strives to ensure that live music and theater can be enjoyed by all Detroit area youth. By offering a variety of programs including low to no cost arts and leadership training in multiple locations across southeast Michigan. Providing digital resources for youth and allies to engage further in what they’ve experienced beyond the theater or rehearsal space. We also seek to remove financial barriers through ticket discount programs for schools, youth and others to attend performances — just call Mosaic for details.

We’re committed to supporting youth to excel on stage and in life. Mosaic continues to foster youth agency, co-creating safe and brave spaces for youth to build the skills, tenacity and networks they need to thrive through adulthood. Across three decades, 95% of youth ensemble members have graduated high school on time and gone on to college. Alums are successful lawyers, social workers, entrepreneurs, Tony Awardwinners, engineers, playwrights, leaders and creative changemakers.

We’re focused on the future. Our 30-year milestone certainly has us reflecting on the past, while having our sights firmly set on what’s next. Together with a supportive community of creative minds, we’ve built a strong foundation. We’ll continue to walk alongside youth and lead with our mission, vision and core values while striving to reflect and celebrate the uniqueness of Detroit in the work we do on and off the stage. Whether you’ve joined us for years or this is your first visit, we’re so glad you’re here. Here’s to you, and the next 30 years!

Alice AND THE NEW WONDERFUL MOSAIC ACTORS COMPANY

Kelsea Adams

Peyton Adams

Carley Brooks

Shelby Dyer

Robert Franklin

Redic Grant

Briana Haynes

Niah Howard-Stevens

Celia Hughes

Lance Johnson

Nahla Knight

Priscilla Massy

Iyana Mitchell

Zariyah Muhammad

TraVon Palmer

Nicholas Rice

Marcelis Warner

Justin Washington

Lauren Washington

Nya Williams

Madison Young

Mosaic Singers Company

Joi Arrington

Mia Arrington

Jayla Bassett

Kennedi Flaniken

Sydnie Flaniken

M’Kaegen Hall

MaLeah Hall

Dexter James III

Derrick Jefferson-Mobley

Nadia Johnson

Jamesa Malone

Claudia Mitchell

Makayla Mott

Jadyn North

Zora Nunley

Makiah Quinn

DaShawn Shorter

Judah Smith

Jarai Strawder

Jermale Toland II

Ryan Townsend

Devin White

Allure Williams

TURN THE PAGE TO MEET THE MOSAIC CREATIVE TEAM

ZACHARY SCHNEIDER (Lighting Design)

Zach is a Detroit-based lighting designer. He currently works with Fantasee Lighting as a project manager, designing and working productions and live events. Recent past designs include the JP Morgan Chase Main Stage at the Detroit Jazz Festival, 99.5 Ten Man Jam, Detroit Opera House Gala, and Mosaic Youth Theatre Let the Good Times Roll. Zach is proud to be working for Mosaic Youth Theatre for 10 years.

VINCE KELLEY (Costume Design)

Vince Kelley is, as always, excited to have the opportunity to work with the Young Artists of Mosaic Youth Theater. Vince has the pleasure of working with many youth programs in the area, but Mosaic might be his favorite (shhh, don’t tell). Thanks everyone at Mosaic for always pushing new and exciting creative experiences. Only the best!

BRIAN KESSLER (Scenic Designer)

Brian is happy to be working with Moasic on this production. He is also Meadow Brook Theatre’s Production manager and Technical Director. Favorite design credits include: Murder On The Orient Express, Mary Stuart, Johnny Manhattan, Atomic, and Dracula: A Rock Opera. Brian also has designed for MBT, OCC, and The Ringwald. Brian would like to thank Jess and his family for all their love and support.

LUMUMBA LEON REYNOLDS II (Sound Design)

Lumumba Leon Reynolds II was educated in Detroit Public Schools. During the summers of his youth, he studied stagecraft and public speaking under renowned entertainer, Motown artist Kim Weston’s Festival For The Performing Arts.

After graduating from Cooley High School he went on to earn a degree from Specs Howard School of Broadcast Arts. Lumumba has a passion for sound design, has been a practitioner since the 80’s, and is honored to be an educator of theatrical arts in Metro Detroit especially at Mosaic Youth Theatre where he has been on the team for +20 years.

JEROMY HOPGOOD (Projection Designs)

Jeromy Hopgood is a Michigan-based designer, creating scenery, lighting, and projection designs for theatres across the country. Select design credits include People’s Light Theatre in Philadelphia (Skeleton Crew), Detroit Public Theatre (Girlfriend, Pipeline, Skeleton Crew), Flint Rep (The Who’s TOMMY), Williamston Theatre (Out of Orbit, Outside Mullingar, Taking Shakespeare), numerous designs at Michigan Shakespeare Festival, and the Williamstown Theatre Festival during its Tony-Award-Winning season. In addition to his freelance work, Jeromy serves as a Professor of Entertainment Design & Technology at Eastern Michigan University, and is the author of The Projection Designer’s Toolkit, QLab 4: Projects in Video, Audio, & Lighting Control, and Dance Production: Design & Technology. Jeromy’s designs can be seen at www.HopgoodDesign.com

MICHELLE LEROY (Props Design)

Michelle LeRoy has been working in Theatre Professionally for 23 years as a Stage Manager, Designer, Director, Performer, Puppeteer, Company Manager and Box Office Manager. She has worked at the Cherry County Playhouse, The Purple Rose Theatre, Performance Network, Gem Theatre, City Theatre, Williamston Theatre, Tipping Point Theater, The Planet Ant, Wild Swan Theatre and Go Comedy! Improv Theater. Michelle would like to thank Mosaic for this wonderful opportunity, Livia for all the wonderful ideas and creativity, her husband Tommy for all his building wisdom and my kiddo for being extra support.

EDMUND ALYN JONES (Director)

Edmund Alyn Jones aka Eddy with a Y is a proud alumnus of Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit, Detroit Public Schools, The University of Michigan, Wayne State University, and The Tech Academy. A writer, actor, and entrepreneur, Edmund is married with three beautiful children.

NICK YOCUM (Production Manager)

Nick Yocum has been working for Mosaic Since 2017 in tech theatre, having served as technical director and overseeing the technical theatre training programs. He is a graduate of Wayne State University and also studied at the Moscow Art Theatre School. Since working as a professional actor and technician, he has found that passing the passion and knowledge of theatre to future generations is his true passion.

JACK WILLIAMS (Assistant Music Director)

Hailing from Detroit, MI, Jack Williams III is a vocalist and teaching artist that specializes in many genres of music ranging from jazz to classical. While attending Renaissance High School, Jack received awards and recognition for his vocal ability including being a Michigan Youth Arts Distinguished Scholar as well as winning the Detroit Jazz Festival Youth Vocal Jazz Competition. Jack is also an alumnus of Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit which brought him many performance opportunities nationally and internationally. Some notable appearances include the Apollo Theatre, Carnegie Hall, and The Public Theater in New York, singing on a live album with rock band Foreigner, on tour with Josh Groban, competing in the 2012 World Choir Games in Cincinnati, OH and the 2014 World Choir Games in Riga, Latvia. Jack is a recent graduate of the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre, and Dance where he completed his degree in Choral Music Education. While attending the University of Michigan, Jack sung with the University of Michigan Men’s Glee Club and Chamber Choir both under the direction of Eugene Rogers as well as being the assistant director of BlueNote Vocal Jazz Ensemble. He was also active in Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., Epsilon Chapter. He currently resides in Detroit and is a music teacher at Detroit International Academy for Young Women and is a teaching artist at Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit.

DELASHEA STRAWDER (Music Director)

DeLashea Strawder is an accomplished musician and Arts administrator. She is known for her dedication to inspiring and nurturing the next generation of leaders and advocates for the arts. With over a decade of experience in artistic excellence and arts education, she is a highly sought-after conductor, clinician, and speaker. Her leadership has resulted in numerous achievements for the Mosaic Singers, including two gold and three silver medals at the World Choir Games, opening for the Sistine Chapel Choir, and performing for President Obama.

JASMINE ROSE (Stage Manager)

Jasmine Rose (they/them/theirs) is proud to be rounding out their first season with Mosaic Youth Theatre as Resident Stage Manager and Program Coordinator for the Jr. Ensemble. Jasmine has worked in many capacities in a variety of theatre spaces including The Purple Rose Theatre Company, The Ringwald, Matrix Theatre Company, Slipstream, Planet Ant, and Untheatre, where they were a founding member for 5 years, and a producer for 2. They hold a BFA in Theatre Performance from Western Michigan University. Go Broncos!

AMELIA HEFFERON (Assistant Director)

Amelia Hefferon is a theatre artist and educator committed to using theatre as a tool for education, social justice, and collective creativity. Amelia has worked with a wide range of arts and community organizations as an actor, teaching artist, and facilitator, including Lookingglass Theatre Company, Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Adventure Stage Chicago, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, CAT Youth Theatre, The Story Pirates, and more. Here in the Detroit area, Amelia works with Matrix Theatre Company and Dream Arts Company in addition to Mosaic. Amelia holds a BA in theatre from Northwestern University and a MA in Applied Theatre from the City University of New York. She works with people of all ages and loves creating original theatre with both professional and non-professional artists. Amelia is honored to be a part of the Mosaic team!

NIKOLAS HUEY (Assistant Music Director)

Nikolas Huey is an African-American singer, producer, arranger and composer from Detroit, MI. He started singing at a very young age in multiple choirs, and became passionate about creating music at age 11, making a cappella arrangements to cover songs. Nikolas was a member of Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit from 2011-2017, and studied at Berklee College of Music, majoring in Contemporary Writing and Production.

Nikolas has written, produced, and mixed songs for many music groups including: Mosaic Youth Theatre, Last Gasp Collective, Coventry City of Culture, and many more.

He’s performed alongside acts such as Jamila Woods, Josh Groban, Foreigner, and Bobby McFerrin. As a freelance musician, he strives to enhance his creativity while providing production and engineering services to local clients.

CAROLLETTE PHILLIPS (Choreographer)

Carollette is a choreographer, actress, writer, director and proud Detroit native. She has a BA in Mass Communications from Miami University and MFA from Wayne State University, including studies at Russia’s Moscow Art Theatre School. Her dance works have been presented at venues large and small including The Muny Theatre (St. Louis), Joe’s Pub at The Public Theatre (NYC) and The Wharton Center of Michigan State University. As a resident choreographer of Mosaic Youth Theatre and Artistic Director of the LSODance Company, Carollette has staged works for musicals, commercial and concert dance. She is certified in the Cecchetti Ballet Method and holds membership with Dance Masters of America and the International Association of Blacks in Dance.

AMARI HARRIS (Sound Board Engineer)

From Detroit and an alumnus of Mosaic and its backstage tech program, Amari graduated from Renaissance High School and currently freelances as an audio engineer for local shows and concerts.

ARIEL POMPEY (Acting Coach)

Ariel S. Pompey earned her Bachelors of Arts from The University of Michigan- Ann Arbor; where she studied Communication Studies and African American Theatre; and her MFA in Applied Drama/Theatre for the Young at Eastern Michigan University.

Ariel has worked with organizations such as Arizona Black Film Festival and PlayWorks Detroit.

Ariel served as the Program Director of CrossTown Theatre, an after school outreach program partnered with EMU Bright Futures. She has directed youth shows for Slauson Middle School and Ann Arbor Civic Theatre Junior Series. In 2022 , Ariel served as teaching-artist at Evoc Theatre in collaboration with Saginaw Valley State University’s We Hear You: Black Theatre Workshop. Currently, she is the program director of Prevention Theatre Collective, an initiative that focuses on a theatre-based peer to peer outreach in order to shift attitudes and behaviors concerning drugs and alcohol use.

ANDAIYE SPENCER (Programs Manager)

Andaiye started her professional life as a technician in Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit’s youth ensemble from 1995-2000. She worked for Mosaic at various points in her career as a Technical Director and an Acting Teaching Artist. She received her BFA in Elementary Education from the University of Michigan, her MA in Drama/Theatre for the Young from Eastern Michigan University, and an MA in Applied Drama from the University of Exeter in the UK. She has spent much of her career touring to young audiences, as a classroom teacher, and as an education consultant. She has most recently been a Site Coordinator for EMU’s Bright Futures After School Program at Estabrook Elementary. When she is not running youth programs, she is singing karaoke, reading about pirates, or snuggling with her cat, Hank. Andaiye is so excited to be returning to her Mosaic roots as the Programs Manager and is looking forward to the year ahead.

Mosaic Youth Technicians

Adrian Coleman

Charisma Holly

Livia Houston

Emerald Rashid

Sageius Williams

Production Team

Director: Edmund Alyn Jones

Assistant Director: Amelia Hefferon

Acting Coach: Ariel Pompey

Music Director: DeLashea Strawder

Assistant Music Director: Jack Williams lll & Nik Huey

Choreographer: Carollette Phillips

Production Manager: Nicholas Yocum

Stage Manager: Jasmine Rose

Scenic Design: BK Kessler

Costume Design: Vince Kelley

Assistant Costumer: Sanda Glover

Lighting Design: Zach Schneider

Sound Design: Lumumba Reynolds

Sound Board Engineer: Amari Harris

Props Design: Michelle LeRoy

Projection Design: Jeromy Hopgood

Special Thanks

Transformative arts experiences are more than just performances and programs. It takes the intentional collective commitment of the individuals that make up a community to create affirming, relevant and wholistic experiences that engage, transform and inspire.

THANK YOU to all the young and guest artists, creative team, administrators, staff, Board members, alumni and community partners for investing in youth and a thriving Detroit.