"Love, Johnny"

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THE CAST:

DAVE BASS (Johnny Mercer, saxes, flute, clarinet, guitar, percussion)
Born in Astoria, Queens, New York, David comes from a lineage of creative people on both sides of his family; his father was a professional guitarist, singer and songwriter in New York City, his father, a fiddle player from Canada, and his great grandfather on his mother's side, a bandleader in Tunis, Tunisia. In addition to singing and playing multiple instruments, David composes, writes lyrics and poetry, and has been a full-time bandleader for 11 years leading two bands, 'The Dave Bass Ensemble' and 'Stretch.'

After a long absence from theater, David returned to the stage with Georgia Ensemble Theatre’s production of “The Andrew Sisters” in 2006. "Love, Johnny" is his first performance in a lead role. David would like to thank Mr. Johnny Mercer himself, for being a great artistic role model, Tom Jones for the vision of him in this role, a fantastic cast simply oozing with talent, Ms. Catherine Dunne, for her vocal coaching and support, his mother Lynn Sitbon, for her steadfast love, his father Robert Bass, for teaching him music and so much more, and The Creator himself, for the experience of life on this nutso planet.

David’s debut CD, a mixture of original material and covers aptly entitled 'Don’t Fence me In,' will soon be released. A short EP of Mercer tunes and original songs will available at the show. You can find David on the web at www.davebass.com.

 

SCOTT SHELTON EBERT (George A. Mercer, Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, ensemble)
Scott’s first stage appearance was as young Patrick in “Mame”. Scott was last seen as Toddy in “Victor/Victoria”, Scott’s credits include Senator Fipp in “Urinetown”, Schroeder in “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown”, Simon in “Corpus Christi”, Henry Ford in the concert of “Ragtime”, the Proprietor and Gerald Ford in “Assassins”, Ozzy and Prince of Whales in the concert of “The Scarlet Pimpernel”, Clifford in “Death Trap”, the Duke in “Man of La Mancha”, and Sergeant Lumbardi in “Passion”. Scott has twice been a featured performer with the Dunwoody Stage Door Players “Cabaret Canteen”. Scott also performed with the Atlanta Lyric Theater in “Man of La Mancha”, “Mame” and “My Fair Lady”, with Galaxy Productions in “The World Goes Round” and with the Discovery Arena in “Kiss of the Spider Woman”. Scott has also been featured in four short films; his last was the short “El Conquistador”. Scott thanks Tom for this incredible opportunity, Michael and the ladies of QC for their love and support.

 
CLINTON "HU" HARRIS (Nat King Cole, ensemble)
Clinton in honored to be working with The Players of GSU, this outstanding cast and director Tom Jones. As an alumnus of Tri-Cities High School, the Freddie Hendricks Youth Ensemble of Atlanta, and the Umoja Theatre Ensemble, (Albany State University), under the direction of Dr. A.C. Myles, exciting and phenomenal opportunities have come to pass. Show credits include: Susan Lori Parks 365 Days, 365 Plays, Crowns, A Day in the Life, Heart & Soul, Soweto, Soweto, A Township is Calling, TIMES, B.L.A.C.K., Fences, Psalm 13, Eubie, Dreamgirls, I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change.
HU also has toured nationally and internationally as a backround vocalist for Donnie, Bridgette Campbell, Amel Larue, Lacresia Campbell, and Van Hunt. Clinton is a proud member of Destiny World Church, serving on the praise team. "BE FABULOUS" Janice Whatley.

 
THERESA HIGHTOWER (Ella Fitzgerald, ensemble)
Theresa Hightower is regarded as one of the great jazz and blues vocalists of her generation. A veteran of concert halls, recordings, cabaret and musical theater, both critics and audiences have marveled at her range, vocal phrasing and exciting live performances. She is one of only a handful of jazz artists, Cleo Laine among them, whom have won critical success in the fields of both jazz and musical theater.

Rapping with her audiences doing her own performances, Theresa Hightower, has gained a reputation as a warm and personable performer. Club owners all over the world are especially thrilled with her ability to pack a room. In her star-making turn as legendary singer Dinah Washington in the musical Queen of the Blues, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution called her performance dazzling, riveting, a knock out. Critics and audiences throughout the U.S. gave similar praise to the stars performances during the shows celebrated American tour.

Of her twice held-over, standing room-only performances at THE CENTENNIAL OLYMPIC GAMES, members of the international press heralded her exciting stage presence and universal audience appeal. Within days of her Olympic triumph, she was invited to enjoy a two-week engagement in Paris at the famed Quai De blues. French audiences and critics welcomed her with similar accolades. As a cultural ambassador, she has represented the United States in State and Department of Defense-sponsored tours of Europe, Turkey, Greece, Spain , Italy, Saudi Arabia and the Middle East.

She was also the star performer for the Prime Minister of St. Kitts in the Caribbean at his annual gala, 2005. She has served as opening act for such entertainment luminaries as Michael Franks, Oleta Adams, Grammy award winners, "The Main Ingredient" with lead singer Cuba Gooding, Sr., The Manhattans, Archie Bell and the Drells, Lou Rawls, The Drifters, Bobby Blue Bland, The Stylistics, Sonny Turner former lead singer of the Platters and Tony Award Winner Ruth Brown, among others.

Critically acclaimed performances include starring roles in such musicals as Blues In The Night, Still Life, World Goes Round, and The Good Times Are Killing Me, among others. She has released recordings: Thought of You a Little Too Much, Trust My Love, Come & Get My Love and a remake of the classic Soldier Boy.

She has also been a featured vocalist on Peach State Radio Networks Ben Tucker & Friends with Theresa Hightower Live Jazz. A native of Atlanta, Georgia, the generous singer has also donated her time and talent to a host of local causes. They include WSB-TVs Family to Family Program, UNCF, American Cancer Society, Atlanta Community Food Bank, Georgia Women Prevent AIDS, and Northside High School of the Performing Arts, among others.

In 1980 Theresa Hightower was named Atlantas top Female Vocalist by Top Star Awards. She was honored again in 1992 as Top Jazz Musician in Atlanta by Creative Loafing Entertainment Magazine. Ms. Hightower has appeared in a number of film and television roles, including the TV movie Made in Heaven and the series In the Heat of the Night. She has toured with national productions of W.C. Handy Blues, Blues to Broadway, and Queen of the Blues An Evening with Dinah Washington, in which she portrayed the legendary singer.

Currently enjoying a long-term engagement at Atlantas Ritz-Carlton Hotel Buckhead, she served four years as executive secretary on the Board of Governors of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences and the Grammy Awards. Also, receiving the Angel of Music Award 2001 from the New Thought Theological Seminary and The Women In Entertainment Award 2003, from AKA Sorority.

She currently appears on the newly released CD The Full Moon of Sonia, by the world renowned Sonia Sanchez. Theresa's CD titled Multifaceted is available at www.cdbaby.com/thightower.

 
JACQUELINE KAPPES (Ginger Mercer, ensemble)
Jackie is just getting started. She learned how to sing in church and just appeared in her first musical last spring. It was amazing, but there were no really famous people involved, and she cannot claim to have worked with any celebrities. Regardless, she apparently has a love for music and the stage. This show will not be the last of her adventures.

 
BERT TANNER (Daddy Grace, Louis Armstrong, ensemble)
Bert Tanner has been resident artist with Carpetbag Theatre for the past 25 years touring with original productions: "Dark Cowgirls and Prarie Queens", "Nothin' Nice","Swopera", " Red Summer","Sankofa", and "Ce Nitran Sacul". Some of Bert's regional credits include Caleb in "Miss Ever's Boys" (Birmingham Rep), Winin' Boy in "Piano Lesson" (New Stage), Sam in "Master Harold and the Boys" (Seven Stages), Peacock in "When the Nightingale Sings" and Chief Preist of the Sun in "Royal Hunt of the Sun" both with the University of Tennessee Theatre. In March 2008 he will premiere in the Appalachian Stringband production of "Between A Ballad and A Blues" as Howard Armstrong a.k.a. "Louie Bluie".
Bert and actress Veronica Byrd always have props packed and keep the oral tradition alive as duo-storytellers in the company "Have We Got Something To Tell You"!!!!
Thank you Johnny Mercer for all of these delightful tunes.
Sincerely, Bert

 
SHEILA WHEAT (Judy Garland, ensemble)
Sheila D. Wheat, a vivacious performing artist with a repertoire that includes jazz, contemporary, theatre, soul and gospel, is equally at home on the concert stage as the theatrical stage.

The Atlanta based singer/actress is honored to have spent the recent years of her career, touring the world as a backup and featured vocalist with the late legendary James Brown-Godfather of Soul. While touring with JB, she has performed with greats from Pavarotti to the Black Eyed Peas. She has lent her musical talents to numerous other celebrated artists and has been featured vocalist in theater, film, and concert halls around the world.

She has graced the stages of major venues including Montreux Jazz Festival, the North Sea Jazz Festival, Hollywood Bowl, The Apollo Theatre, Night of the Proms-Belgium, Bonaroo Music Festival, House of Blues, Live 8 World Concert, London Olympic Torch Festival, Radio City Music Hall, The Kremlin-Moscow, Umbria Jazz Festival, and Carnegie Hall.

In betwixt and between her road life with JB, she has performed in theatrical works presented by The Alliance Theatre, Seven Stages Theater, Jomandi Productions, The Lake George Opera Festival, and Liberty Theater. Ms. Wheat was featured as solo artist in the National Black Arts Festival, and The National Association of Jazz Educators.

Sheila is proud of her vocal contributions to projects such as “Full Moon of Sonia” by Sister Sonia Sanchez; TC Carson’s phenomenal recording project “TRUTH”; Black Eyed Peas international multi-platinum album “Monkey Business”, jazz pianist Geri Allen’s “Timeless Portraits and Dreams”, the PBS documentary “Homecoming: The Plight of Black Farmers in Georgia”, the motion pictures “Tuxedo” and “Miss Evers Boys”.

 

THE DANCERS:
SHANTE MCDOUGAL (Dancer)
Shante’ Nicole McDougald is originally from Richmond, Virginia and is a graduate of Coker College in Hartsville, S.C. with a B.A in dance. She began her training under Dawn Axam, Terrie Ajile Axam, Oginga Love, Roscoe Sales, Diane Sales and Veronica Raymond. She is a member of the Total Dance Dancical Productions, Inc. Company located here in Atlanta. She wants to someday own and operate her own dance studio. She thanks everyone that has helped her to become the person that she is today.

 
LYNDSAY RAMBERG (Dancer)
Lyndsay is a freshman at Georgia State University majoring in theatre design and production. She has always been involved with the theatre and worked on many plays at Dacula High School. Dancing has been her passion since the age of three, and she has spent the last seven years as a senior company member of the Kaleidoscope Dance Company. She plans to pursue a dancing career after school, and then move on to theatrical design. Love, Johnny is her first show with GSU and she is very excited to be working on and off the stage.

 
VERNIKA ROWE (Dancer)
Vernika Rowe is a native of Atlanta. She earned a B.F.A. in Dance
Performance from Brenau University Womens College and was a memeber of
BrenauDance Ensemble. She has also performed with one of Maine's major
theatre companies, Veronica's Womens Theatre. Vernika has made
severa dance appearances with local roups in the National Black Arts
Festival. She currently dances and performs in the metro area.

 

THE BAND:
S. RENEE CLARK (Pianist)
S. Renee is known around the world for her musical versatility. Jazz Pianist and Vocalist, Piano-bar entertainer, composer, arranger, Choir director, Organist. She’s been a featured artist on National TV and radio in Poland, Denmark, and Norway. She toured as a solo artist for 14 years across Northern and Eastern Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. Her contributions as a Musical Director include Theatrical Outfit’s Mahalia, Ain’t Misbehavin, Horizon’s Café Puttanesca, YEA’s The Color’s of Love, Jomandi’s Ain’t Misbehavin, Queen of the Blues, Josephine Live, El Hajj Malik, Voices in the Rain, Dunbar’s Fantasy, CAU’s Simply Heavenly, The Wiz, and Once on this Island, VIA Theatrical’s Bricktop and Heart ‘n’ Soul. Ms. Clark is currently the Chief Musician at the Jackson Memorial Baptist Church.

 
LORENZO SANFORD (Drums)

 

 

VIA THEATRICAL TEAM:

CALVIN A. RAMSEY (Concept)
Calvin is a playwright, photographer and folk art painter who grew up in Baltimore, Maryland and Roxboro, North Carolina. His passion has been a year-round resident of Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, Calvin has a passion for travel and has lived in New York City, NY, Santa Monica, CA, and the U.S. Virgin Islands of St. Croix and St. Johns. His plays include: The Green Book, produced by DeKalb History Center and selected for the 12th Annual Last Frontier Theatre Conference in Valdez Alaska in 2004; Shermantown, Baseball, Apple Pie and the Klan, with a staged reading at The Cathedral of the Holy Spirit and gained national attention because it became a censorship and First Amendment issue; Canada Lee, read at the 2005 National Black Theatre Festival. He served for five years on the advisory board of Emory University Special Collections.

 
THOMAS W. JONES II (Adaptation / Director)
Tom has directed, written, and performed in more than 200 plays worldwide. In 1978, Tom founded Jomandi Productions, where, as Co-Artistic Director and Producing Director, Tom led Jomandi to become the third largest African-American theatre company in the United States. His work as writer, director, and actor has been acclaimed nationally and internationally. His work has received 42 Washington DC Helen Hayes Award nominations winning 12 awards, including Best Director for Samm Art Williams’ Home and his own Bessie's Blues. He has also received 3 New York Audelco Award nominations, the Dramalogue Award, the San Diego Critics Award, NAACP Phoenix Award, among others. In 2000, Tom and his co-founders left Jomandi to create the entertainment company VIA International Artists, Inc. and subsequently a musical theatre company VIA Theatrical. His most recent works include Three Sistahs, Point of Revue, Two Queens One Castle, Cool Papa’s Party, Bricktop, Heart ‘n’ Soul and he is currently working on an after hours cabaret series based on Delores Bundy’s Brown Sugar Diaries.

 
S. RENEE CLARK (Composer – original music, Musical Director)
S. Renee is known around the world for her musical versatility. Jazz Pianist and Vocalist, Piano-bar entertainer, composer, arranger, Choir director, Organist. She’s been a featured artist on National TV and radio in Poland, Denmark, and Norway. She toured as a solo artist for 14 years across Northern and Eastern Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. Her contributions as a Musical Director include Theatrical Outfit’s Mahalia, Ain’t Misbehavin, Horizon’s Café Puttanesca, YEA’s The Color’s of Love, Jomandi’s Ain’t Misbehavin, Queen of the Blues, Josephine Live, El Hajj Malik, Voices in the Rain, Dunbar’s Fantasy, CAU’s Simply Heavenly, The Wiz, and Once on this Island, VIA Theatrical’s Bricktop and Heart ‘n’ Soul. Ms. Clark is currently the Chief Musician at the Jackson Memorial Baptist Church.

 
DAWN AXAM (Choreographer)
Dawn is a consummate dance professional and has been performing and choreographing for over 25 years. Dawn received her B.F.A. in dance and theatre from the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University and her and a MA from Lesley University in arts and education. She has choreographed for a variety of dance productions from the concert stage to musical theatre. Her credits include: Fusion National Tour, Women Hold Up Half the Sky, Chicago, Godspell, Dream Girls, Little Shop of Horrors, Don't Bother Me I Can't Cope, Jesus Christ Superstar, Pippin, Treemonisha,, Shakin' the Mess Out of Misery , Once On This Island, Langston Hughes’ Black Nativity, Ain’t Misbehavin , to list a few. A strong advocate for dance education, for the past 15 years Dawn served as Director of Dance and assistant director of Musical Theatre for Tri-Cities Visual and Performing Arts High School. She has also choreographed and taught for colleges and universities all across the country. It has been a pleasure working with Tom on Bricktop, Heart ‘n’ Soul, and Bessie’s Blues.

 
LISA WATSON (Stage Manager)

 
DIANE POWELL-LARCHE’
Diane Larche' is no stranger to the entertainement world. She is proud to be the Georgia State University and Via Theatrical public relations consultant for Love Johnny. Diane and her company Larche' Communications was pr and media relations consultant for Home Box Office Southeast Region for two years and handled film premier screenings for oscar winning films like Lackawanna Blues starring S. Epatha Merkerson, HBO Sports with Bryant Gumble and documentaries Lost Letters Home and Yesterday across the southern states.

When Menopause The Musical, Respect The Musical and Defending The Caveman by G Four Productions made debuts at the 14th St. Playhouse, Larche' Communications handled the public relations, marketing and advertising for the shows. The firm also handled P.R. for Fathers and Daughters at the Playhouse and Three Sistahs at the Horizon Theater, another show directed by Thomas Jones.

She is publicist for the NBA Dallas Maverick guard Jason Terry, fitness guru Lee Haney, Independent Black Film Festival and NFL Super Bowl Gospel Celebration and event manager for Real Men Cook for Charity.

Her clientele has included Nielsen Media Research, Rolls Royce, Raleigh based National Organization for Diversity in Sales and Marketing, LA based actress Krysten Leigh Jones of Remember The Titans and Akilah and The Bee and R & B recording artists Jahiem and Cherish.

She received a BA from the University of Pittsburgh and a certificate in publishing from Howard University and serves on the board of directors of the Junior League of Atlanta as its Vice President of Community Outreach; Atlanta Business League as Secretary; League of Women Voters of Atlanta- Fulton, Association of Black Cardiologists Center For Women’s Health, Atlanta Commission on Women as Treasurer and the Lupus Foundation of America, Georgia Chapter. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Atlanta Alumnae Chapter

Diane is a native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She is married to Joseph Larche', owner of the Foot Solutions franchise on Cascade Rd. in Southwest Atlanta. Visit her website at www.larchecommunications.com or contact Diane at diane@larchecommunications.com

 

 

G.S.U. PRODUCTION TEAM:

TODD STUDEBAKER (Production Manager)

 
STEPHANIE BUSING (Assistant Stage Manager)

 
LYNDSAY RAMBERG (Assistant Stage Manager)
Lyndsay is a freshman at Georgia State University majoring in theatre design and production. She has always been involved with the theatre and worked on many plays at Dacula High School. Dancing has been her passion since the age of three, and she has spent the last seven years as a senior company member of the Kaleidoscope Dance Company. She plans to pursue a dancing career after school, and then move on to theatrical design. Love, Johnny is her first show with GSU and she is very excited to be working on and off the stage.

 
ROCHELLE BARKER (Set Designer)
Rochelle Barker is the Resident Design Associate at Theatrical Outfit, an Artistic Associate at Georgia Shakespeare and Part-time Instructor at GSU.

Recent designs include: Ceremonies in Dark Old Men, Stick Fly, The Wiz (True Colors Theatre Company); What the Butler Saw, Romeo & Juliet (Georgia Shakespeare); Crooked, Bus Stop, The Piano Lesson (Theatre in the Square); Lost Highway, Keeping Watch, Cotton Patch Gospel (Theatrical Outfit).

Recognitions include: 2003 Prague Quadrennial Exhibition, Set Design, A Midsummer Night's Dream (Georgia Shakespeare); 2002 ABBY Award Atlanta Artist of the Year; 1989 ACTF National Scenic Design Award, Othello (Penn State). Education: MFA Set Design Penn State; Josef Svoboda Master Class; BA English Western Michigan University.

 
JONIDA BEQO (Costume Designer)
Jonida Beqo is a native of Albania that has resided in the South for the last ten years. She is a graduate of the University of Alabama at Birmingham with a B.A. in Theatre, and is currently working as a designer and costume coordinator for the Dance and Theatre departments at Emory University. She has worked with both indie and professional companies nationally and internationally, including the Alabama Ballet, Albania National Theatre, 13th Street Ensemble, and Lighthouse Productions. Love, Johnny is her design debut in Atlanta. When she is not busy behind a sewing machine, she tours internationally as a spoken word artist and storyteller, or performs one of her original one woman shows wherever she is asked. For a list of projects, please visit her website: www.jonidabeqo.com.

 
HARLEY GOULD (Lighting Designer)
Harley designs lights, hangs lights, directs lighting for video, runs lighting equipment, designs sets, builds sets, paints sets, loads the damn things in, load them out, works out all kinds of theatrical special effects. He also creates art (of various disciplines), designs online graphics and web pages, and sometimes acts (if you can call it that). Oh yes, and sometimes he writes short stories.

* * * IF YOU LOVE GREAT AMERICAN POPULAR SONG, THIS SHOW IS YOUR TICKET TO FUN! * * *
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