Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit: Your Name Is A Song PLAYBILL by MosaicDetroit

Your Name is a Song

BASED ON THE BOOK BY JAMILAH

THOMPKINS BIGELOW’S

PRESENTED IN COLLABORATION WITH Seattle Children’s Theater, New Harmony Project & Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit

Thanks for putting art in the heart of the community

Bank of America recognizes Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit for its success in bringing the arts to performers and audiences throughout the community. We commend you on creating an opportunity for all to enjoy and share a cultural experience.

Visit us at bankofamerica.com/detroit

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Director' s Note

Names are powerful things. They are often the first thing we learn about a person we’re just meeting. We make meaning from our names. They signify creativity, identity, traditions, values, and legacy. Our given and chosen names offer us the opportunity to connect with our families, cultures, and truest selves. As such, every individual’s name deserves proper attention and reverence, a truth beautifully illustrated in Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow’s stunning picture book, Your Name is a Song.

Today you will see a theatrical adaptation of that book, exploring second grader Kora- Jalimuso’s challenges as she navigates a new school and the continuous mispronunciation of her name. Expect engaging characters, funny moments catchy songs, and plenty of opportunities to tap, clap or stomp along with the many rhythms in this energetic and musical piece. Most importantly, we hope that you leave feeling inspired to joyfully stand in your own power and proudly sing the song of your own name.

Thank you for joining Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit for this exciting production. Enjoy the show!

AMELIA HEFFERON

YourNameisaSongDirector

FAST FACTS FOR FIRST TIMERS

Thank you for celebrating 31 years of creating pathways to equity and opportunity for Detroit-area youth through the arts. Since our inception, Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit has been guided by amazing champions for youth and believers in the transformative power of the arts. Over three decades, our work has been illuminated by moving and memorable experiences that prepare and support youth to excel on stage and in life. It’s been an honor to grow alongside these exceptional nextgeneration leaders and lifelong learners, and we are thrilled for the journey ahead.

Cultivating accessible transformative arts experiences lies at the core of our mission. Mosaic strives to ensure

that all Detroit-area youth can enjoy live music and theater. Through a variety of programs, including low to no-cost arts and leadership training in multiple locations across southeast Michigan, we provide digital resources for youth and allies to engage further beyond the theater or rehearsal space. Additionally, we aim to remove financial barriers through ticket discount programs for schools, youth, and others to attend performances—simply reach out to Mosaic for details.

We remain committed to supporting youth to excel on stage and in life. Mosaic continues to foster youth agency, co-creating safe and brave spaces for young individuals to build the skills, tenacity, and networks they need to thrive through adulthood. Over three decades, 95% of our youth ensemble members have graduated high school on time and gone on to college, while since 2019, alumni have maintained a 74% college persistence rate. Our alums are successful lawyers, social workers, entrepreneurs, Tony and Grammy Award winners, engineers, playwrights, leaders, and creative changemakers.

Looking toward the future, together with a supportive community of creative minds, we’ve built a strong foundation. We will 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 been with us for years or this is your first visit, we are genuinely grateful for your presence. Here’s to you and the next 30 years of transformative storytelling and empowerment!

Your Name is a Song

BASED ON THE BOOK BY

JAMILAH THOMPKINS BIGELOW’S

Name is a Song

BASED ON THE BOOK BY JAMILAH THOMPKINS BIGELOW’S

PRESENTED IN COLLABORATION WITH Seattle Children’s Theater, New Harmony Project & Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit

THE BOOK BY THOMPKINS BIGELOW’S

COLLABORATION WITH Theater, New Harmony Project Theatre of Detroit

MEET THE YOUNG ARTISTS Your

The Company

ROBERT FRANKLIN

LANCE JOHNSON

DERRICK JEFFERSON-MOBLEY

CHARITY MCQUEEN

MAKIAH QUINN

AUBRIANA SCOTT

JUDAH SMITH

LYRIC THOMAS

JERMALE TOLAND

RYAN TOWNSEND

LAUREN WASHINGTON

Technical Crew

LIVIA HOUSTON

CULLEN WORTHEM

KAYLA CROSS

JARAI STRAWDER

JOHN KNIGHT

Jeffrey Seller Family Foundation

Special Thanks

Season 31 has been a beautiful journey, made even more joyful by Young artists, illuminating neighborhoods and stages, Mosaic staff, hearts ablaze, guiding with sage insight. Board members and parents, foundation strong, alums’ legacy sings, Partners and supporters, allies in our dreams. Wayne State University Theatre Department, Downriver Actors Guild, DeAnna Johnson, Cabaret313, Brandon Victor Dixon, Tiffany Carr, Diarra Kilpatrick, Echo Media, Dr. Brittany Davis, Dr. Alphonso, Yvonne Caver, Caziah Callahan, The Management Center, Senator Stephanie Chang, Council President Mary Sheffield, MiLEAP, Youth Development Resource Center — gratitude flows like the Detroit River.

Together, we build bridges through art, creating positive change, each person, a precious part.

Thank You!

TOGETHER WE...

create

confident, creative thinkers through comprehensive pre-professional arts training and leadership development.

connect youth to professional artists/mentors and development opportunities, equipping them with the skills and resources they need to thrive through adulthood.

prepare

young artists for college & career pathways within the creative industry and other industries requiring soft skills and a professional presence.

amplify the voices of young people to empower them as the next generation of leaders, artists, ambassadors, and advocates for a thriving Detroit and a greater world.

Visit MosaicDetroit.org to make a donation that will help increase access to the arts.

WAYS TO PARTNER

DONATE

You can create pathways to equity and opportunity for Detroit area youth by making a donation today.

Click to visit MosaicDetroit.org/Donate

TELL YOUR FRIENDS

Spread the word to friends, family and colleagues. Follow us and share on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok, and Twitter.

Join us for a Tour.

Click to visit MosaicDetroit.org/tour

Learn more about our programs.

Click to visit MosaicDetroit.org/our-programs

Learn about ways you can get involved.

Click to visit MosaicDetroit.org/volunteer

School Residency

We look forward to partnering with your school community to engage youth and young adults in arts experiences that supports and equips them to be leaders and lifelong learners. For more information click to visit or call 313-872-6910 ext. 4024

MosaicDetroit.org/school-residency-program

Book a Mosaic performance or workshop

For 30+ years, Mosaic has illuminated youth excellence on stage and in life. Want to elevate the impact of your events? Whether corporate, private, or virtual, engaging Mosaic for a performance or workshop provides a transformative experience that your guests will cherish. Mosaic is available to help you bring your vision to life through:

. Customized workshops and partnerships

. Mosaic Mobile micro-camps for private or public events

. Live performances

. Music Videos or Film Theatrical experiences

. Audio recordings for commercial use

* Opportunities are based on availability

To book a performance today click to visit

MosaicDetroit.org/bookmosaic/request-form

Meet #Teammosaic

DELASHEA STRAWDER * . Executive & Artistic Director

ABIGAYL VENMAN . Technical Theater Assistant

ALFREDA LILES . School & Community Partnerships Coordinator

ANNICK BUSCH . Fund Development Manager

AMELIA HEFFERON . Theater Programs Specialist

ANDAIYE SPENCER * . School & Community Programs Specialist

CAMERON PREVATTI . Teaching Artist

CHARLENE MCNARY . Finance & Operations

DYANI DOUZE . Teaching Artist

EDMUND JONES * . Artistic Associate

JOE BAILEY . Executive Assistant / HR Generalist

JULIA CALLIS . Accounting & Grants Associate

KEIR WARD . Teaching Artist

KRISTIANNA MARKS * . Teaching Artist

NICK YOCUM . Artistic Associate

NIKOLAS HUEY * . Music Programs Specialist

SASHA JOHNSON . Program Coordinator * Denotes Mosaic alum

Meet Mosaic’s Board of Directors

TERRY W. BONNETTE . Board Chair

MARK DENIS . Vice Chair

WISAM QASEM-FAKHOURY . Treasurer

DIANE BORGUS GREEN, M.A., N.C.C. . Secretary

SJONNE BADGEROW

CORNELL BATIE

ROXANNE BROWN

MARIETTA CLEVELAND

MELISSA MCCLARY DAVIS

YVETTE DRAYTON

RITA FIELDS

DENISE JACOB

BEVERLY MADDOX

LOIS MCENTYRE

ROY SEXTON

KELLI VAN BUREN

TERREL WHITE

BRITTANY WILLIAMS

Our Mission

Mosaic’s mission is to create pathways to equity and opportunity through arts experiences that engage, transform, and inspire youth and communities.

Our Values

Strive for Excellence

Only the best, nothing less. We are committed to pursuing excellence in our programs, business operations, and partnerships. We are dedicated to investing the time and resources necessary to achieve excellence in all that we do.

Dream Boldly

We hold ourselves accountable to courageously pursuing creativity, resourcefulness, and imagination. We embrace innovative, audacious ideas that work towards accomplishing our mission.

Build Community

The uniqueness of each individual contributes to the strength and beauty of the whole. We are committed to upholding safe spaces that prioritize honesty, trust, respect, and integrity. We honor diverse perspectives, lived experiences, and expertise to enhance the communities we serve and those we are a part of creating.

Embrace Joy

We choose to embrace joy as we pursue our mission and work to spread joy to others as we connect, collaborate, create, and incite positive change in our community.

Our Vision

We envision Detroit area youth having equity of opportunity in arts and post- secondary education including paid creative sector leadership roles.

We envision a thriving Detroit, enriched by the brilliance and creativity of its youth, culture keepers and community members.

We envision an arts and culture industry that benefits from a strong network of diverse and dynamic next generation creative leaders .

We envision young people transforming the world by activating the power of the arts to motivate, mobilize and make positive change.

Thank You TO OUR DONORS

We extend heartfelt gratitude to our incredible donors and philanthropic partners whose impactful support fuels Mosaic’s programs, delivering only the best, nothing less in consitent, comprehensive arts, leadership and mentorship for youth and community. To stand alongside this esteemed group in increasing access to Mosaic programs, please reach out to our Development Team at 313-872-6910 ext. 4004. Your support ensures that our mission thrives and youth flourish.

PARTNERS IN POSSIBILITY

($1,000+ with 5 year pledge)

Meagan Dunn

Weslia & Keith Echols

Carol Goss

Deborah Hansen

Russ and Susan Ives

Cheryl P. Johnson

Donald Middleton

Dr. Glenda Price

Delphia Simmons

DeLashea & Daniel Strawder

Frank Taylor

LEADERSHIP DONORS

($1,000+)

Anonymous

Terry Bonnette

Corey Bordine

Paul Butcher

Keith and Candace

Cooper Donor Fund

Rochelle Forester

Leeann Konrad

Kyla Grant-Phillips

Diane and Saul Green

Timothy Hefferon

Timothy Higgins

Diarra Kilpatrick

Japanese Business Society

Detroit Foundation

Leeann Konrad

Lois McEntyre

Rueben and Cheryl Munday

Marshall Mathers Foundation

Patricia Nemeth

Barbara and David Osher

A. Paul and Carol C. Schaap Fund

Linda and Norm Schuessler

Bobbie Tweddle

Shannon Wallis

Dorinda VanKempen

Jeremy Wolfe

PLAYBILL DONORS

($500 to $999)

Anonymous

Henry Bowers

Judith Caroselli

Marietta Cleveland

Tyrone Davenport

Melissa Davis

Mark Denis

Dr. Rita Fields

Janice Harbin

Kaili Hardamon

Steven Huprich

Gilda Jacobs

Charles Johnson

Cheryl Johnson

Katherine Klassa

Richard Leebove

Gwendolyn Pringle

Marlo Roebuck

Roshaunda Ross

Roy Sexton

Shirley Stancato

Tonja Stapleton

LaKeisha Thomas

Aeryn Williams

Randall Wilson

Brian Young

Leadership and Playbill Donors reflect contributions received Sep 1, 2023 – Jun 30, 2024

Thank You TO OUR PARTNERS

Vital support from our corporate, foundation and government partners enable community members of all ages to access affirming arts experiences that inspire them to dream boldly and create positive change. Grants from state and federal agencies and local and national foundations provide crucial operating support as well as key funding for new and ongoing programs. To learn more, contact the Development Team at 313-872-6910 ext. 4004. For information about sponsorship opportunities and corporate benefits, contact us at development@mosaicdetroit.org

Oliver Dewey Marcks Foundation

The Jeffrey Seller Foundation Zipser Foundation

These materials were developed under a grant awarded by the Michigan Department of Education in collaboration with the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential.

A Note From Terry W. Bonnette, Board Chair

Inspiring and empowering the next generation through the arts has always been central to the mission of Mosaic. Throughout our 30-year history, we’ve created many programs to ensure young people have access to life-changing arts experiences. There’s no better way to think about what this access means for youth and communities than within the context of this season’s concert and spring production.

From Let the Good Times Roll’s pointed message of self-discovery to the wonder and whimsy of Alice and the New Wonderful, these stories for all audiences offer wonderful opportunities to dream, reflect and come together. On behalf of the board, thank you for your `unwavering support of the young artists and his critical work as we strive to inspire young artists of both today and tomorrow.