Ain't Misbehavin' Bios
Alicia Christian (Nell) is very excited to be a part of this production of Ain’t Misbehavin’. Most recent credits: Vodu—The Musical (Ma’am Netta) and The Wiz (Aunt Em). Other credits: Bohemia (Regina), The Wiz (Addapearle), Once On This Island (Asaka). Thank you to my mom, family and friends who keep me encouraged every minute of the day. My biggest thank you to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Thank you so much for the gifts you have given me, and allow me to touch people in a way that is pleasing to you.
Dwayne Clark (Andre) most recently toured Europe in Germany and Italy as “Sportin’ Life” in Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess, also performing the role at New York City Opera, New Orleans Opera. Dwayne has been seen on Broadway in Urinetown: The Musical as “Robbie Stockfish” and “Bobby Strong” u/s. He made his Broadway debut in Smokey Joe’s Café as “Adrian,” a role he also performed on National and International tours. Rent 1st and 2nd National tours as “Benny” and “Tom Collins.” Dwayne has performed with Nathan Lane (My Favorite Broadway), Jay-Z at the “MTV Video Music Awards,” Faith Evans and Carl Thomas at “BET 106 & Park,” opened for Four Tops, Martha Reeves, and Diana Ross at Motown Café NY, and has sung with the Broadway Inspirational Voices with many great Broadway actors and singers. Dwayne’s voice can be heard in many national and regional voice-overs for McDonalds, Sierra Mist, Miller, Domino’s Pizza, National Safety Counsel, and Healthier America. Also, he has been seen in commercials for Nikebasketball.com and Motown Singer Search. Upcoming events: touring Europe in One Night of RAY CHARLES as “Ray Charles.” All my love to my soon-to-be-wife Janeece. Thank you to all who support peace, and love to all.
Janeece Freeman (Charlene) can be seen this fall in PBS’s new children’s program entitled Dittydoodle Works. She plays the role of “Miss Molly,” a young aspiring artist, who always has the moral answer to everyone’s problems in the Dittydoodle Works factory. (A factory that manufactures fun!) Broadway: Urinetown, the Musical. NY Workshops: Vampire Lestat (Elton John), Constant Star, Warm, and A Band of Angels. Janeece has performed in productions at various regional theaters including: Arena Stage (Washington DC); Center stage (Baltimore, MD); Dallas Theater Center (Dallas, TX); Hartford State (Hartford, CT); Chicago Theater Bldg. (Chicago, IL); and Ogunquit Playhouse (Ogunquit, ME). In concert, Janeece has opened for artists such as Yolanda Adams and Sounds of Blackness. She hails from Michigan, having studies Musical Theater and Voice Performance at the University of Michigan (GO BLUE!) She reluctantly admits to having been first runner up in a Miss Michigan Pageant. Janeece wants to thank the three men in her life: Jesus, Daddy, and Chocolate!
Trent Armand Kendall (Ken) is thrilled to be performing in Ain’t Misbehavin’. It is an absolute favorite in the world of musicals. Originally from St. Louis, Trent makes his home in New York City, where he juggles a varied career. Broadway: Into the Woods (revival cast), The Wizard of Oz. Broadway in concert: Purlie (Encores), Hair, Chess, Finian’s Rainbow. London: Five Guys Named Moe, Hey Mr. Producer!, Handful of Keys. Off Broadways: Bat Boy (original cast), Nunsense A-men!, How to Save the World... 1st National Tour: Smokey Joe’s Café, Joseph...(revival/Canadian Premiere), Children of Eden (American premiere). TV/Film: Five Guys Named Moe, Hey Mr. Producer! (PBS), Law and Order (NBC), Strangers with Candy, Chapelle’s Show (Comedy Central), B.L. Stryker (ABC), The Pink Panther (2005/MGM), and commercials too numerous to mention. Debut CD: Introducing Trent Kendall (Dress Circle, London/97) www.trentkendall.com
Elizabeth Mikel (Armelia) is ecstatic to be making her Cape Cod debut. She is a native Texan but has been fortunate to perform in Regional Theaters across the country and in Theater Festivals overseas. Selected theater credits include: Blind Lemon Blues, SummerStage 2004—Central Park, New York, Ain’t Misbehavin’, A Christmas Carol (1991-2004), Antigone, Cotton Patch Gospel, Our Town, Avenue X, A Streetcar Named Desire, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream all at the Dallas Theater Center; Cinderella, Once On This Island, Godspell, Ain’t Misbehavin’ – Casa Manana; Avenue X-A Contemporary Theater (Seattle); Blues In the Night and Once On This Island -- Arkansas Repertory Theater; Nunsense – Live Oak Theater (Austin); and others too numerous to list here! Tours (National): Blues in the Night, Ain’t I A Woman; (European) Blind Lemon Blues – Geneva and Paris. Liz has also appeared on TV and in film, and has extensive credits in voiceovers, on camera and radio. As a featured vocalist, she has opened for Erykah Badu, Branford Marsalis, and most recently, Isaac Hayes. She has been recognized for her hard work and dedication to the Arts and has received Best Actress nods from D Magazine, The Dallas Theater Critics Forum, and the Leon Rabin Awards. Ms. Mikel is currently working on a CD to be released this fall. She is the proud mother of three beautiful daughters, Lindsay, Corienne, and Vershea. Her performance wouldn’t be possible without them and the love and support of her mother, Dr. Versia Lindsay Lacy, “the glue that holds us together!”
Greg Ganakis (Director/Choreographer) has a repertoire of work that includes Broadway, Off-Broadway, regional and international credits. He has directed and choreographed two world premieres: The Times at Long Wharf Theatre and White Lies at the American Stage Company and the Triad in New York. His most recent credits include A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to the Forum at the American Musical Theatre of San Jose (Dean Goodman Award); Oklahoma! at the Ordway Music Theatre; the national tour of Damn Yankees; Babes in Arms, George M! and The Pajama Game at Goodspeed Opera House; Double Trouble at Stage One; Carousel for Virginia Opera; Brigadoon for Paper Mill Playhouse and Goodspeed (Connecticut Critics Circle Award, Best Director); Joseph..., Crazy for You, Oklahoma!, The Music Man, Annie, On the Town and A Christmas Carol at North Shore Music Theatre; Jesus Christ Superstar, The Sound of Music, Crazy for You, Oklahoma!! and Camelot at Sacramento Civic Light Opera and The Robber Bridegroom at The Sharon Stage. He has had the privilege of working with such renowned artists as Agnes de Mille, Chita Rivera, Carol Channing, Betty Buckley, Jim Dale, Alexis Smith, Mary Martin and Sammy Davis, Jr., among others. It has also been his pleasure to work in the opera world staging productions of The Mikado for Michigan Opera Theatre, The Pirates of Penzance for Chautaqua Opera Company, and The Merry Widow and The Hollywood Tycoon for Minnesota Opera. His Evening with Gilbert and Sullivan with the Boston Pops and Beverly Sills, staged at Boston’s Symphony Hall, can be seen on PBS’s “Great Performances”. He has created musical numbers for the ABC network and provided corporate entertainment packages for Oldsmobile, IBM, Proctor and Gamble, Disney Productions, Lever Brothers and American Express as well as musical benefits for the American Cancer Society and Juvenile Diabetes Foundation. He is currently on the faculty at New York University, where he is the Director of Musical Theatre for the School of Education’s Department of Music and Performing Arts Professions.
Darius Frowner (Musical Director) is a musical director and pianist from New York City. He is very glad to be working once again on Ain’t Misbehavin’! He has played other productions of Ain't Misbehavin', including Dallas Theater Center, NJPAC and a European tour of Jazz Festivals. Other shows include A Chorus Line, Cabaret, and Into the Woods. Darius frequently collaborates with Broadway performers for concerts and cabaret in New York. He is the recipient of the 2004 Bistro award for Excellence in Piano Bar for more than 10 years of work at the Duplex in Greenwich Village. Enjoy the show!
Dex Edwards (Set Designer) With North Shore Music Theatre: Cinderella, Beauty & the Beast, Dracula: A Chamber Musical, Ragtime, Miss Saigon, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Fiddler On the Roof, A Little Night Music, My Fair Lady, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, and Little Me. Elsewhere: Dex’s design work has been seen in theatres internationally, including the Long Wharf Theatre, Milwaukee Rep, The Majestic Theatre (Brooklyn Academy of Music), Indiana Rep, Sacramento Rep., Alliance Theatre Co., Virginia Stage Co., Georgia Shakespeare Festival, Merrimack Rep. Theatre, Drury Lane, Oak Brook Theatre (Chicago), Queens Mill & Winter Garden Theatres (Ontario) and the Berlin Opera House. Dex designed the world premiere Jimmy Buffett/Herman Wouk musical Don’t Stop the Carnival (Coconut Grove Playhouse) and was the recipient of Chicago’s Joseph Jefferson Award in Scenic Design for his work on Comedy of Errors and the 2001 IRNE award for his work on Miss Saigon. Dex was part of the concept design team for the Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta. Dex designed Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus in Las Vegas.
Matthew Pachtman (Costume Designer) recently designed costumes for the New York premiere of "Kawaisoo", at the LaTea Theatre. He assisted the costume designer on Hugh Jackman's new revue In Time, at the Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas. For the past year he was assistant to the costume designer on the Broadway productions of All Shook Up, Sweet Charity, A Streetcar Named Desire, and La Cage Aux Folles. He has worked on productions for the New York Shakespeare Festival, Manhattan Theatre Club, Ballet Hispanico, and Glimmerglass Opera. Matthew is a graduate of Pennsylvania State University.