Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival Opens the Tony Award-Winning Musical The Color Purple, Playing on the Main Stage July 17 to August 4

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Center Valley, PA: July 16, 2024—Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival celebrates its 33rd Season with the musical The Color Purple, a powerful story about faith, hope, and love. Directed by award-winner Amina Robinson, the show runs July 17 to August 4 on the Main Stage at the Labuda Center for the Performing Arts at DeSales University.

The epic Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Alice Walker, adapted for the stage by Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winner Marsha Norman, with music and lyrics by Brenda Russell, Allee Willis, and Stephen Bray, The Color Purple comes to life in an emotional tour de force musical infused with a soul-stirring score of jazz, gospel, ragtime, and blues. Set against the backdrop of the American South in the early 20th century, the story follows the transformative journey of Celie as she courageously navigates a life marked by despair, anguish, and hope, discovering the strength to break free and find her own voice in the world. From the hauntingly beautiful “I’m Here” to the exuberant celebration of “The Color Purple,” this sensational musical is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the enduring power of love and faith.

Amina Robinson returns to the director’s chair following last season’s highly lauded Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grille. Robinson became the first Black female director of a musical to win a Barrymore Award—honoring professional theatre in and surrounding Philadelphia—for her acclaimed 2018 mounting of The Color Purple at Norristown’s Theatre Horizon. Robinson shared her personal reflection on the story, “It is a celebration of growing into self-ownership and self-love. The Color Purple calls us to live and walk in our truths. It presents Black women loving one another, growing with one another, and supporting one another—it is an exciting exploration for me with this production,” she said.

Joining Robinson on the creative team and bringing the story musically to life is Music Director Christie Chiles Twillie. “For me personally, the music of The Color Purple seeps out of our soul and winds us back through time,” Twillie said. “This music, and Celie’s life, hold lessons that we must absorb without bias and without the fear of how all of it will change us by the end. Most likely, you won’t leave this show without crying; but you also won’t leave without feeling a tremendous purpose to discover what you want your life’s journey to be.”

Playing the titular role of Celie, and making her PSF debut, is Jessica Johnson. Johnson reprises the role following their Barrymore Award-winning performance of the same show which Robinson directed at Theatre Horizon. Some of her recent credits include Papa Ge in Once on This Island, Opal in Fat Ham (The Wilma Theater), Odessa in Sandblasted (Theatre Horizon), and Gina in a hit dog will holler.

Joining Johnson in the cast are K. Bernice as Sofia (Regional: RagtimeThe Color Purple); George L. Brown as Mister (National Tours: Once on This Island, Regional: RentAin’t Misbehavin’); Jessica Money as Nettie (Regional: Spelling BeeThe Color PurpleRagtime); Joel Oliver as Harpo (National Tour: Annie, Regional: Dreamgirls); and Ta-Tynisa Wilson as Shug Avery (Broadway: Hamilton, Regional: Dreamgirls).

The cast also features Donnie Hammond, Jacquelin Lorraine Schofield and Sierra Wilson as the Church Ladies. Rounding out the cast, the ensemble features Ken Boyd, Maya Marino Cappello, Maya Cuevas, Mikey Corey Hassel, Taylor J. Mitchell, Lathan A. Roberts, Monique Streety, Denver Andre Taylor, and Christopher Tipps. Swings for the production are CaSandra Kay and Gabrielle Mosely.

The choreographer for The Color Purple is Devon Sinclair, who won a 2023 Barrymore Award for Outstanding Choreography for Mary Poppins at Quintessence Theatre Group. Joining Robinson, Twillie, and Sinclair on the creative team are Jasmine Bright (Assistant Choreographer), Alyssandra Docherty (Lighting Designer), Larry D. Fowler, Jr. (Sound Designer), Deb Kim Sivigny (Scenic Designer), Jerrilyn Lanier Duckworth (Costume Designer), Eli Lynn (Fight Director), and Renee Redding-Jones (Intimacy Director). Ashani Smith is the Stage Manager and Jalon Payton is the Assistant Stage Manager.

Audiences can also look forward to these show extras, including: a post-show champagne toast with the PSF actors, opening night, Friday, July 19; a talk-back with the cast after the show on Thursday, July 25 & August 1; a director’s dinner themed to the show offering behind-the-scenes insights on July 27, 5pm (advance reservations required); and an Audio Described and Open Captioned performance on July 27, 2:00pm.

Tickets can be purchased online at pashakespeare.org, or by calling the box office at 610.282.WILL [9455], ext. 1, or in person at the Labuda Center for the Performing Arts on the campus of DeSales University, in Center Valley.

Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, the official Shakespeare Festival of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, features acclaimed actors from Broadway, television, and film, and is the summer home to over 200 artists from around the country, including winners and nominees of the Tony, Obie, Emmy, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, Jefferson, and Barrymore Awards.

 

The 2024 Summer Season—May 29 to August 4, 2024  

 

Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival Artistic Leadership:

 

JASON KING JONES (Artistic Director) Prior to moving to the Lehigh Valley with his family, Jason spent ten years at Maryland’s Olney Theatre Center, where he served as Senior Associate Artistic Director and Artistic Director of National Players, America’s longest-running touring theatre company. In the past twenty-five years Jason directed over seventy-five productions, mentored hundreds of early-career theatre makers, and established various in school and summer educational programs. He is an Acting Company alumnus, a proud member of the PSF Board, and a member of the Shakespeare Theatre Association’s IDEAA Committee, and Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce’s Nonprofit & Business Partners Council. Jason holds a BFA in Theatre Performance from Missouri State and an MFA in Directing from Boston University.

 

CASEY WILLIAM GALLAGHER (Managing Director) has worked at PSF for 26 seasons. Over the years he was a box office intern, a stage management intern, the assistant house manager, box office manager, company manager, assistant producer, director of development and worked directly with PSF Founder Jerry Schubert in the early years of the organization. Since 2004, in his role as general manager and later managing director, he served as the administrative leader of the festival, working very closely with former Producing Artistic Director Patrick Mulcahy and the box office, business, development, marketing and production departments. Casey now serves as co-leader of the Festival with Artistic Director Jason King Jones. Beyond PSF, Casey was treasurer for the Shakespeare Theatre Association, director of audience services for The People’s Light & Theatre Company, a board member for Civic Theatre of Allentown, a peer panelist for the New Jersey Council on the Arts and a judge for the Greater Philadelphia Barrymore Awards for excellence in theatre.  Casey thanks the PSF year-round staff, the summer staff, the WillPower Tour staff, the Festival board of directors, the volunteer Guild and all the other stakeholders who contribute and play a part in bringing theatre to life onstage and in our community.

 

Actor Bios

 

  1. BERNICE(Sofia,Color Purple) A New Jersey native, K. Bernice is featured on the Original Cast Recordings of Heartbreak County (Jill) and Choose Love (TIGER). Regional Credits: Ragtime (Sarah), The Color Purple (Sofia), Escape to Margaritaville (Marley), Whispers of Jubilee (Aurway Rep. Theatre), Godspell (Lindsay).

 

KEN BOYD (Pa/Old Mister/Ensemble, Color Purple) Ken’s other theatrical credits include: Touring companies of A Chorus Line and Ain’t Misbehavin’. Ken also worked as part of the creative team for Queen Esther Marrow and The Harlem Gospel Singers. In addition, Ken toured the United States and Canada as a Swing dancer with Michael Buble’.

 

GEORGE L. BROWN (Mister, Color Purple) George hails from Buffalo, NY where he was born and raised. Founder and director of God’s Purchase gospel choir (national recording artist out of Buffalo, NY). National Tours: Once on this Island (Armand), Elf: The Musical (Mr. Greenway). Some of his favorite regional theatre roles: Rent (Tom Collins), Ain’t Misbehavin’ (u/s Ken & Andre), Sight and Sound Theatres, Gospel at Colonus (Preacher/Baladeer), Pageant: The Musical (Miss Deep South).

 

MAYA MARINO CAPPELLO (Olivia/Ensemble & u/s Church Lady, Color Purple) is a rising junior Musical Theatre major at DeSales. She is extremely grateful for the opportunity to return for a second summer with PSF as a part of Young Company. PSF: Shakespeare For Kids. DeSales: Intimate Apparel (Esther), The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Congregation), Side by Side by Sondheim (u/s), Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella (Ensemble/Featured Dancer/Ensemble Swing), The Drowsy Chaperone (Ensemble).

 

MAYA CUEVAS (Squeak/Ensemble, Color Purple) (she/her) is a New York City based actress, performer, and graduate of The Hartt School of Music. Maya’s favorite credits include: Law & Order (NBC), Lorelle Robinson in Dreamgirls (Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe), Aldonza in Man of La Mancha, Sarah in Ragtime (The Mac-Haydn Theatre), Yolanda in In the Heights (Playhouse On Park), and The Reader in Major Arcana (ToUch Performance Art).

 

MIKEY COREY HASSEL (Adam/Ensemble & u/s Harpo & u/s Bobby & u/s Guard, Color Purple) National Tour credits: Mean Girls (U.S.), Tina The Musical (Australian Premiere), and Hairspray (Australia and U.S.). Regional credits include Joseph (Joseph), Ronnette (Little Shop), Pepper (Mamma Mia!), Ralph Malph (Happy Days), and Beautiful (Drifter). He has also arranged a song that was performed by Tony winner Sutton Foster at the Lincoln Center.

 

DONNIE HAMMOND (Church Lady /Ensemble & u/s Sofia, Color Purple) is a Philadelphia native whose credits include Off-Broadway: Titanique. Regional: Fat Ham (The Wilma Theater), Personality: the Lloyd Price Musical (People’s Light), The Color Purple (Theatre Horizon), In the Heights (Walnut Street Theatre, Geva Theatre & Hangar Theatre), Little Women (Quintessence Theatre), King Lear (Quintessence Theatre Group), Rent (Bucks County Playhouse).

 

JESSICA JOHNSON (Celie, Color Purple) is an actor and theatre maker currently based in Philadelphia. She began her artistic career in Philadelphia as a Dorothy Haas Acting Apprentice at the Walnut Street Theatre. She has performed in readings, workshops, and full-length productions all over the region. Some of her recent credits include Papa Ge in Once on This Island, Opal in Fat Ham (The Wilma Theater), Odessa in Sandblasted (Theatre Horizon), and Gina in a hit dog will holler. She received a Barrymore Award for Outstanding Lead Performer in a Musical as Celie in The Color Purple (2019) and a Barrymore nomination for Outstanding Lead Performer in a Play for Gina in a hit dog will holler (2023).  During her time in Philadelphia, she was awarded an Independence Foundation Fellowship (2019), Jilline Ringle Residency (2019), and the HATCH (2021) residency to develop independent work.

 

CASANDRA KAY (Swing, Color Purple) (she/her) is a recent graduate of DeSales! PSF: Henry IV, Part 2 (Page), James and the Giant Peach (Ladybug), The Tempest (Islander & u/s Miranda), Sense and Sensibility (Miss Grey). DeSales: Intimate Apparel (Mayme, Mrs. Dickson u/s), Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella (Charlotte), The Drowsy Chaperone (Mrs.Tottendale), The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Congregation, u/s Esmeralda), Crumbs from the Table of Joy (Erminia, Dance Captain), The Trojan Women (Cassandra).

 

TAYLOR J. MITCHELL (Ensemble & u/s Nettie & u/s Church Lady & u/s Olivia, Color Purple) is a multi-talented artist in the city who focuses on telling uplifting stories of her community and the future she wants to see. She serves as an actress, director, choreographer, and teaching artist. Taylor’s recent credits include Once on This Island (Arden Theatre), Sisters (Severine Pictures), Finding Freedom (Museum of American Revolution), Plum Bun (EgoPo Classic Theater), Mary Poppins (Quintessence Theatre), Dreamgirls (Theatre in the X). Education: Walnut Street Acting Apprentice 2018-2019; B.F.A Theatre Performance (Alabama State University).

 

JESSICA MONEY (Nettie, Color Purple) is a graduate of Temple University’s musical theatre and acting programs. Favorite credits include Olive Ostrovsky (Spelling Bee, Arden Theatre), Nettie (The Color Purple, Theatre Horizon), Sarah (Ragtime, Duluth Playhouse), Sophie (The BFG, Arden Theatre), Miranda (The Tempest, Delaware Shakespeare Company), Urchin Swing (Little Shop of Horrors, The Arts Center of Coastal Carolina). IG: @money226156

 

GABRIELLE MOSELEY (Young Company; Swing, Color Purple) (she/her) is a recent DeSales graduate. DeSales: The Drowsy Chaperone (Janet Van De Graff), Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella (Ensemble), Intimate Apparel (Mrs. Dickson), The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Esmeralda).

 

JOEL OLIVER (Harpo, Color Purple) is an actor, singer, and dancer born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida. He is so thrilled to be part of the PSF season! Credits include National Tour: Annie (Ensemble/ u/s Rooster). Regional: Dreamgirls, Goodspeed Opera House (Swing), Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, New London Barn Playhouse (Assistant Director/swing). Norwegian Cruise Line: After MidnightChoir of ManFootloose, and Elements.

 

LATHAN A. ROBERTS (Grady/Guard/Ensemble & u/s Pa & u/s Adam & u/s Buster & u/s Preacher, Color Purple) Lathan is an Atlanta native who attended Brenau University for Dance Education with a concentration in Musical Theatre Jazz. Some of Lathan’s favorite credits include National Tours: Anastasia: A New Musical (Ensemble/Prince Siegfried) and Summer: The Donna Summer Musical (Ensemble/ u/s Andrew Gains). Regional: Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (Drifter), Kinky Boots (Angel/ u/s Lola), My Way: Frank Sinatra Review Show (Man 1). Follow along on Lathan’s journey @Lathanr__ on IG.

 

JACQUELIN LORRAINE SCHOFIELD (Church Lady /Ensemble & u/s Shug Avery, Color Purple) is a proud Afro-Latina & Air Force Veteran, who hails from Brooklyn, NY. She is also a very gifted home chef. Other Theatre Credits: Doubt (Westchester); The Crucible (Theatricum); The Color Purple (Greenway Arts); Sister Act, The Musical (CASA 0101); Bronco Billy (Skylight); Bad Habits (Ruskin Group); How We Got On (Sacred Fools); Rapunzel Alone (The Wallis/24th Street); Come Get Maggie (Rogue Machine); In the Heights (PSF); Marilyn, Mom & Me (ICT Long Beach). Honors: Ovation and NAACP Theater Award winner (The Color PurpleDisney’s Beauty & The Beast).

 

MONIQUE STREETY (Dance Captain/Ensemble & u/s Squeak, Color Purple). She recently worked with Montgomery Theater as Helene/featured Ponytail dancer in their production of Sweet Charity and The Walnut Street Theatre as an understudy for their productions of Beauty and the Beast and Elvis: A Music Revolution. Monique studied dance at The Ailey School where she performed with the Ailey Student Performance Group and graduated from the certificate program.

 

DENVER ANDRE TAYLOR (Preacher/Ensemble & u/s Mister & u/s Old Mister, Color Purple) Off-Broadway: Public Theater’s The Harder They Come. Regional: Lost HighwayBlood BrothersThe Threepenny Opera. Television: FBI Most Wanted, Lifetime’s Salt-N-Pepa.

 

CHRISTOPHER TIPPS (Buster/Bobby/Ensemble & u/s Grady, Color Purple) Previously seen as Richie in A Chorus Line (Flat Rock Playhouse). Other credits: Pepper – Mamma Mia!Jerome Robbins BroadwayMemphisThe Wiz! (TUTS), Legally BlondeFootloose! The Musical (MUNY).

 

SIERRA WILSON (Church Lady /Ensemble & u/s Celie, Color Purple) Regional credits: Dreamgirls (Goodspeed Musicals); Man of La ManchaOther World (Delaware Theatre Co.); BeautifulRocky the MusicalBeehive (Walnut Street Theatre); Sweet Charity (Bucks County CPA); A Christmas Carol (North Shore Music Theatre); Sister ActMamma Mia! (Media Theatre); BA in Musical Theatre (Temple University).

 

TA-TYNISA WILSON (Shug Avery, Color Purple) just finished her run at the McCarter Theatre playing Deena Jones in the hit musical Dreamgirls. Ta-Tynisa recently worked as the Schuyler Sister standby in Hamilton: an American Musical, making that her Broadway debut. Millions have caught a glimpse of her on American Idol, Season 10 as one of the top 24 finalists. She has traveled the world performing on cruise ships which has allowed her to share her talents across the globe.

 

Creative Bios

 

AMINA ROBINSON (Director, Color Purple) is happy to return to PA Shakespeare with this production of The Color Purple. Amina’s directing work includes shows with The Arden Theatre, The Wilma Theater, Passage Theatre in Trenton, Queens Theatre in New York, IAMA Theater in Los Angeles, Philadelphia Artists Collective, Azuka Theatre, Theatre Horizon, The Lantern, and Temple University, where she is a Professor of Acting and Musical Theater. Amina became the first Black woman to win a Barrymore Award for Outstanding Direction of a Musical in 2019 for her work on The Color Purple at Theatre Horizon, and is overjoyed to revisit this work. Amina is also a professional actor with credits on Broadway, television, and film.

 

DEVON SINCLAIR (Choreographer, Color Purple) is a proud Philly native with an artistic flair for impactful spectacles of the heart. The Penn State alum works across the Greater Philadelphia region as a Director/Choreographer, Actor, Teaching Artist, and Professor at Temple University. As a creative and artist, Devon seizes opportunities to create exuberant and engaging productions that remind us of the limitless possibilities of storytelling. Most recently, Devon won the 2023 Barrymore Award for Outstanding Choreography in a Musical. His projects have spanned the Walnut Street Theatre, Arden Theatre, Media Theatre, Quintessence Theatre Group, and more!

 

CHRISTIE CHILES TWILLIE (Music Director, Color Purple) has Music Directed over 40 musicals including: HAIR (Asolo), Five Guys Named MoeNewsiesThe Gospel at ColonusRaisinA Jolly Holliday (Skylight), Dreamgirls (Paramount, Goodspeed, McCarter), and the Chicago premiere of Minnie’s Boys (Porchlight). She also workshopped Definition Theatre’s version of The Color Purple with Gary Griffin who directed the original Broadway production. Christie won a Footlights Best Musical Direction Award – Professional Production, a Rachel Rockwell Fierce Women Behind The Table award for Music Direction, a BTAA nomination for Best Music Direction for her Original Score for Yellowman. She was a Chicago Broadway World Finalist for Best Music Direction (Big Fish). She is an Executive Board member for MAESTRA Music.

 

DEB KIM SIVIGNY (Scenic Designer, Color Purple) (she/her) recent credits include costume design for Postcards from Ihatov (1st Stage); A Year with Frog and Toad (Imagination Stage); The Chinese Lady (Everyman Theatre); Indecent (American Stage); A New Brain (Barrington Stage Company). Scenic design: Othello (Theatreworks Colorado Spring); Beautiful: the Carole King Musical (Olney Theatre). She has a BA from Middlebury College and an MFA from the University of Maryland in Costume Design. She is a member of USA 829 and is represented by Michael Moore Agency.

 

JERRILYN LANIER DUCKWORTH (Costume Designer, Color Purple). Duckworth is a multi-hyphenate creative (costume, hair, and makeup design) in the theatrical space. She is also the Founder of Bridging the Gap: A Look into African American Hair & Makeup for Theatre. Jerrilyn’s designs have been on the stage at People’s Light, Coastal Carolina University, Indiana Repertory Theatre, Ensemble Theatre in Cincinnati, Indiana University, and Millbrook Playhouse. Jerrilyn continues her Bridging the Gap work. She travels to various universities and theatres to provide seminars about hair & makeup issues that plague BIPOC students and performers in the theatre industry. Through her work, Jerrilyn has given over 300 workshops with attendance exceeding 3,500 people.

 

ALYSSANDRA DOCHERTY (Lighting Designer, Color Purple) is a Philadelphia-based lighting designer originally from Vernon, NJ, and a DeSales University Theatre alumna. PSF: The Adventures of Robin Hood & Maid Marian, An Iliad. Select Regional: Here You Come Again (Goodspeed Musicals); Once On This Island, What the Constitution Means to Me (Arden Theatre Company); Always Patsy Cline, Peter and the Starcatcher, Noises Off, Man of La Mancha [Barrymore Award Recipient] (Delaware Theatre Company); A Sherlock Carol (Wesport Country Playhouse); The 39 Steps (Virginia Stage Company); The Garbologists, Sweat (Philadelphia Theatre Company); The Woman in Black (Florida Repertory Theatre); The Flatlanders, The Play That Goes Wrong (1812 Productions). Her designs have been recognized with Barrymore and Ostrander Award nominations in Philadelphia and Memphis respectively. alyssandradocherty.com

 

LARRY D.  FOWLER JR. (Sound Designer, Color Purple) is a Philadelphia-based theatre sound designer, radio imaging producer, and music producer whose work spans 20+ years. Theater companies Larry has designed for include Azuka Theatre, InterAct Theatre, Theatre Horizon, People’s Light, Theatre Exile, The Lantern Theater, Denver Center, Trinity Rep, Playmakers Rep, Steppenwolf Theatre, A Contemporary Theatre (ACT), Round House Theatre Company, Camden Rep, Rennie Harris Puremovement (DJ for Rome And Jewels 2000-2005), ELeon Dance, Danse4Nia, Duane Holland Dance, and Khaleah London Dance. He is a 3-time Barrymore Award nominee (2018 and 2019) and 2023 winner for Azuka Theatre’s A Hit Dog Will Holler. In broadcast radio, Larry has been an in-studio producer and board operator for Radio One, Inc. in Philadelphia and is currently an imaging producer, voice over talent, and content editor for Healthcare Now Radio.com. He is also an Adjunct Associate Professor at The University of the Arts. Social: Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/whatsthatsound1 Instagram: @mrcisum

 

ASHANI SMITH* (Stage Manager, Color Purple) (she/her) Most recently worked on the National Tour of Company and world premiere of The Preacher’s Wife at Alliance Theatre. Other credits: 1st Nat’l Tours of Jagged Little Pill and Pretty Woman. PSF credits: Lady Day, Henry IV Part II, A Chorus Line, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

 

JALON PAYTON* (Assistant Stage Manager, The Color Purple. Regional: Tempestuous ElementsSwept AwayThe High Ground (Arena Stage); A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Ken Ludwig’s Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery (Everyman Theatre); The Brothers SizeA Raisin in the SunThe RoyaleAnton’s Shorts (American Players Theatre); 10 Seconds (Imagination Stage). Awards: Recipient of the Charlie Blackwell Symposium Scholarship for Stage Managers of Color. Education: B.A. Theatre Studies – University of Maryland Baltimore County.

 

ELI LYNN (Fight Director, Color Purple) (they/them) is an actor, Intimacy Director, and Barrymore-nominated fight director. PSF credits: Hal (Henry IV, Pt. 2), Jess (Complete Works … Abridged), Flute (Midsummer). Recent regional credits: Big Alison (Fun Home, New Light Theatre), Trevor (TPTGW, 1812 Productions), Orsino/Toby (Twelfth Night) and Jean 3/Prince (Thrive, American Shakespeare Center), Aramis (The Three Musketeers, Cleveland Playhouse), Dorcus/Dion (The Winter’s Tale, Folger Theatre). They have studied stage combat for 15 years, and are recognized as an Advanced Actor Combatant with five international organizations. Recent fight credits include: The Lightning Thief (Drexel), Noises Off (DTC), Sense and Sensibility (PSF), TPTGW (1812). They’re also an Artistic Associate with Philadelphia Artists’ Collective. Love always to Vanessa. SDG. Eli-Lynn.com

 

RENEE REDDING-JONES (Intimacy Director, Color Purple)  is a certified Intimacy Director, Intimacy Coordinator, Movement Specialist, Laban Movement Analyst, Choreographer and a New York Dance and Performance “Bessie” Award winning performer. With an MFA in Dance from Sarah Lawrence College and her BS in Physical Education/Dance from Morgan State University, Renee moved on to receive her certification as a Contemplative Psychotherapist through the Nalanda Institute of Contemplative Science. As a teacher and choreographer, Renee has enjoyed a long tenure in the undergraduate drama department with both The Classical Studio at NYU/Tisch School of the Arts and The Atlantic Acting School and is pleased to be a part of this production of The Color Purple.

 

JASMINE BRIGHT (Assistant Choreographer, Color Purple) Jasmine was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She has recently graduated from DeSales University and has received her Bachelor’s Degree in Dance. She learned, performed, and choreographed in multiple styles of dance, specifically African, Ballet, Modern, Hip-Hop, Praise, and Tap. Her most recent works are from the Emerging Choreographers Concert where she choreographed Omowale’s Legacy in 2023 as well as ESSENTIAL UNITY in 2022 at DeSales. She has also choreographed African dances for the 2022 theater production A Civil War Christmas and the 2021 theater production Crumbs from the Table of Joy at DeSales.

Information provided to TVL by:
Tina Louise Slak
Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival
The Professional Theatre at DeSales University
2755 Station Avenue
Center Valley, PA 18034
p: 610-282-WILL [9455] www.pashakespeare.org