Who's Who...

The cast of our 2007 Production of DREAMGIRLS

Franklene Marie Baker (Deena) is making her GRCT debut with Dreamgirls. She attended GVSU and Aquinas College and has a attained a Masters of Management and Organizational Development. At GVSU she performed in Pippin. Other stage credits include Beehive! with Circle Theatre which won the Grand Award for Special Ensemble, A Raisin in the Sun (Beneatha) with Master Arts Theatre, Carefully Taught (Freda) with Wealthy Street Diversity Theatre, and The Wiz at Ottawa Hills High School. “Thank you Frederick, Fiana, Frederick & Fariah for your loving support!”

Rodney M. Bean (Marty) is no stranger to GRCT having been seen in Cinderella, Romeo & Juliet, and The Wizard of Oz (’00) to name a few. Rodney received a Grand Award Nomination for his portrayal in Circle Theatre’s The Full Monty. He has performed with numerous theatres and dance companies throughout west Michigan, and has appeared in several industrial films and commercials. Rodney is a 2nd degree black belt and teaches Tae Kwon Do for the Grand Rapids Parks and Recreation. He teaches Ballroom Dancing for GRCT’s School of the Arts and the C.A.R.E. Conservatory Ballet.

Natalie J. Berkeley (Michelle) is happy to be performing for the first time with GRCT! During High School, Michelle appeared in Fiddler on the Roof, Oklahoma!, and Once Upon a Mattress. She attended Olivet Nazarene University where she choreographed productions of Oklahoma! and a Broadway Revue. She also instructed dance at the Paula Aubry School of Dance during college. Natalie is a certified yoga instructor and a Cardiac Procedural RN.

Howie Brown, Jr. (Little Albert, The Tuxedos, Ensemble) is performing for the first time with GRCT! In high school, he performed in Oklahoma! (Dream Curly), Hello Dolly, The Wizard of Oz, and Iolanthe. Howie worked on a cable TV show called Good Company. “I am proud to be a part of the Dreamgirls cast, and I hope to be a part of more productions in the future!”
 

Christopher Carter (Jimmy Early) played Ritchie in last season’s A Chorus Line. He was an understudy for The Lion King on Broadway and has been seen in other events such as Dancing in the Wings, a Target commercial, and That’s So Raven. Other Credits include The Wiz, Black Elk Speaks Out, The Pirates of Penzance, and pThe Secret Garden. Christopher has studied with the Alvin Ailey School of Dance and is a Dance Major at Grand Valley State University.

Avalon Dominique Cutts-Jones (Stepp Sisters, Les Styles, Ensemble) is the grandaughter of well-known local Pastor Charlie Jones. She attended Western Michigan University and has been a vocalist with Debra Perry & Majestic Praise for the past five years. She has shared the stage with Kirk Franklin, John P. Kee, Pastor Marvin Winans, Fred Hammond, Mary Mary, Pastor Marvin Sapp, and many others.
 

Chris Flowers (CC) is making his GRCT debut with Dreamgirls. He is currently a senior at Aquinas College where he is majoring in English and Communic-ations. At Aquinas, Chris has performed in Spinning Into Butter, and Our Town. He was most recently seen as Jake/Cannibal King in Side Show at Actors’ Theatre.

Brandon K. Harris (Wayne, Ensemble) is performing with GRCT for the first time. He currently is a Vocal Music Education Major at Western Michigan University. His past credits include The Wiz, Working, and West Side Story during High School. Also, Brandon performed in Once on This Island at Circle Theatre. He has performed at Carnegie Hall, Avery Fischer Hall, Alice Tully Hall at the Lincoln Center in New York City, and toured Europe and South Africa.

April Danielle Marguerite Smith Harvey (The Stepp Sisters, Les Styles, Ensemble) is making her GRCT debut with Dreamgirls. At Ottawa Hills High School, April performed in the musical Working. She also danced in The Haunt (2002, 2003), and the Messiah Missionary Baptist Church Pastor’s Jam 2003. At the University of Michigan, she sang in the Gospel Chorale (1999-2001). April has instructed tap, hip-hop and jazz for T-3’s dance elite and the City of Grand Rapids’ Parks and Recreation.
 

Julianne C. Howe (Lorell) is making her GRCT debut with Dreamgirls. Professional credits include The Wiz, Anton in Show Business, The Little Prince, Hamlet: First Person Singular, and Thicket of the Lame at the Hangar Theatre in Ithaca, NY. Touring credits include The Shakespeare Show, Gift of the Magi, and Laura Ingles Wilder with ArtReach in Cincinnati, OH. She is most proud of her self-directed, one-woman show, Black Mona Lisa. This Cedarville University alumnus has her B.A. in Communication Arts and Spanish. “Hello family, friends, my main man, and Grand Rapids! I heart you all and God bless.”

Danielle Howell (Stepp Sisters, Ensemble) is making her Civic debut! She attends the East Kentwood High School. Her past credits include Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at Mansfield Sr. High and was a member of Higher Hopes (a church drama team.) Danielle is on the board for Black History Month program and secretary of NHS at East Kentwood High School.
 

Ruth Ann Molenaar (Joann, Les Styles, Ms. Morgan, Ensemble) first appeared onstage at Civic in A Chorus Line (’87). She has also performed in the Grand Rapids community in Godspell at Circle Theatre, Runaways for Heritage Theatre Group at Wealthy Street Theatre and For Coloured Girls Who’ve Considered Suicide for Robeson Players. Ruth Ann is the proud mother of a beautiful son, Leandro. “My love to Papa Cedric.”

Kristen Michelle Moss (Effie) last appeared at GRCT as Mrs. Fezziwig in Scrooge (’04), and Ragtime. At Circle Theatre she performed in Once on This Island, and Baby. She has been a member of the Grand Rapids Opera for three years. Kristen is currently a senior at Cornerstone University where she is majoring in Ministry Leadership.
 

Ms. Shaunté Paul (Charlene, Les Styles, Ensemble) is making her GRCT debut with Dreamgirls. She performed with Wealthy Theatre in At An Hour You Think Not. She also performed with Rogue River Players’ in The Love Letter and A Victorian Melodrama. She is a proud mother of two.

Lewis Richards (The Tru Tones, Stage Mgr. TV, Jerry, The Tuxedos) last appeared at GRCT in last Season’s One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest as Aide Williams. His other Civic credits include Fences as Cory Maxson (2006), Of Mice and Men as Crooks (2004), The Music Man (2006) and Annie (2002). Lewis has done children’s theatre and improvisation in Malaysia and Indonesia as well as dance with the Spring Intensive at Broadway Dance Center in New York. Other area credits include I’m Not Rappaport (Jewish Theater), Last of Licoln, and Little House on the Prairie. Lewis also appeared in the short film, Hill of White Elephants.

John Robinson (Frank—the Emcee) has been seen in Peter Pan (’06), Death of a Salesman, Sweeney Todd and Ragtime at GRCT. He has also appeared in Side Show, Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train and Intimate Apparel at Actors’ Theatre, I’m Not Rappaport with Jewish Theatre, Boys Next Door at both Circle Theatre and Master Arts Theatre, Carefully Taught with KMR Diversity Theatre and The Meeting, which was self produced. John earned a 2006 Grand Award nomination for Lead Actor in a Play for his portrayal of Lucius Jenkins in Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train. “I dedicate my performance to my parents who have always been there.” www.j-rob.com.

Rufus Taylor II (Dwight, Vogue Photographer, Ensemble) is performing for the first time with GRCT! Past credits include A Raisin in the Sun at Spectrum Theatre, and Once on this Island and Working at Ottawa Hills High School. In Houston, TX he danced with Planet Funk Dance Company and Lenna Spercino & Company. “After a 10-year hiatus, I am honored to make my West Michigan Return in this legendary show!”

Michael P. Travis (Curtis) last appeared at GRCT in Fences. Past credits at GRCT include Ragtime in his Grand Award nominated portrayal of Coalhouse Walker, Jr. and the Voice of Audrey II in Little Shop of Horrors for Civic Theatre. He has appeared on virtually every stage in Grand Rapids, among his favorites are plays by August Wilson: Gabriel in Fences (Robeson Players), Lyons in Fences (Centre Stage), Boy Willie in The Piano Lesson (Circle Theatre), Whining Boy in The Piano Lesson (Calvin College). While implementing theatre troupes at Aquinas College and Calvin College for multi-cultural students, Michael directed Long Time Since Yesterday (Aquinas), The Colored Museum (Aquinas), Colored Peoples Time (Aquinas and Calvin), Tambourines to Glory (Aquinas), Fires in the Mirror (Calvin).

Jeshua Whitley (The Tru Tones, The Tuxedos, Ensemble) is making his GRCT debut with Dreamgirls. He performed in the Motown Revue at Wealthy Theatre. Jeshua is an entertainer and break dancer for the Grand Rapids Rampage. He is currently a performance major at GRCC.