CORASHA DENT joined The NSU Theatre Company under the direction of Professor Anthony Stockard, where she performed in various shows like A Tribute to Whitney Houston as Cissy Houston, Dreamgirls as Effie White, and The Wiz as Soprano 1/Ensemble (VSC collaboration). Corasha has performed in productions with regional theatre companies in Hampton Roads such as The Virginia Stage Company, NIVLACO productions, and J. L. Dean productions. Corasha earned her Master’s degree in Nursing Education from Regent University in 2022. She currently works as a nursing professor for NSU’s Department of Nursing. Corasha has directed music for productions such as Queen’s Tribute, The Color Purple and In the Red & Brown Water (NSU) “I give all glory to God and would like to thank my family and honor my parents Bishop Andre and First Lady Cynthia Dent for their continued love and support”
SHAANI DENT (Armelia McQueen) is thrilled to return to Virginia Stage Company, where she most recently appeared as Crystal in Little Shop of Horrors. Her VSC credits also include Dreamgirls (Lorrell Robinson) and The Color Purple (Celie, preview). Other regional credits include Annie (Annette, Ronnie Boylin), A Christmas Carol, and Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (Shirelle/Lucille) with Virginia Musical Theater. Additional credits: The Magic and Music of Motown (Martha Reeves/Gladys Knight) and The Queens Tribute: Tina, Aretha, Whitney (Tina Turner). ShaaNi is a graduate of Norfolk State University (BFA in Music) and is an elementary music and musical theater teacher. She is dedicated to inspiring young artists and expresses her love and gratitude to her family, mentors, and the VSC team for their support.
DARIUS NELSON is elated to return in his 9th Virginia Stage Company Production. He has been a professional theater performer for nearly 20 years. He is an alumni of the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York. Also has shared many stages and classroom settings with many current Broadway performers. In his spare time he writes, produces music, direct shows, voiceover, and teaches children. His previous VSC Credits include the Lion (The Wiz), Benny Southstreet (Guys & Dolls), and Officer O'Hara (Arsenic & Old Lace).
GARY KENNARD SMITH A Chesapeake, Virginia native, Gary Kennard Smith brings both heart and talent to the stage. A 2014 graduate of Norfolk State University with a degree in Kinesiology, Gary has balanced a love for the arts with his greatest role—being a proud husband and father to three beautiful daughters. His acting journey has taken him to the stages of the Norfolk State Theatre Company and the Virginia Opera, where he’s captivated audiences with his energy, passion, and commitment to every performance.
STARLET WINDHAM Starlet is an actress, recording artist, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist from Chicago, Illinois, whose dynamic artistry bridges theater and music. A graduate of Norfolk State University, she holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education. On the music stage, she has performed for EGOT recipient Jennifer Hudson, captivated audiences at acclaimed venues, and brought her artistry to prestigious events across Chicago and beyond. Her debut album, Take a Chance on Love, and latest single and visual, Never, are available on all streaming platforms. Known for her versatility, Starlet’s repertoire spans R&B, Soul, Pop, Jazz, and Gospel, blending these influences into heartfelt storytelling and timeless lyrics.
CREATIVE TEAM
RICHARD MALTBY JR. (Creator) BROADWAY: Conceived and directed two Tony Award winning musicals: AIN'T MISBEHAVIN' (1978: Tony, N.Y. Drama Critics, Outer Critics, Drama Desk Awards -- also Tony Award for Best Director); FOSSE (1999: Tony, Outer Critics, Drama Desk Awards); as well as RING OF FIRE, (2006). With composer David Shire: director/lyricist: BABY (1983, seven Tony nominations); lyricist: BIG (1996, Tony nomination: Best Score; also Dominium Theatre London 2019). With Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schonberg, co-lyricist: MISS SAIGON (Evening Standard Award, London 1990; Tony nomination: Best Score, 1991); co-lyricist: THE PIRATE QUEEN (2007). Director: THE STORY OF MY LIFE (2009). Director/co-lyricist: Andrew Lloyd Webber’s SONG & DANCE (1986 Tony Award for star, Bernadette Peters.) OFF-BROADWAY: with David Shire: director/lyricist STARTING HERE, STARTING NOW (1977, Grammy nomination) and CLOSER THAN EVER, (1989, two Outer Critics Circle Awards: Best Musical, Best Score; also Off-Broadway Alliance Award, Best Musical Revival 2013; and London Jermyn Street Theatre 2014,). Director: JUST JIM DALE, (Roundabout Theatre 2014, Vaudeville Theatre, London 2015). REGIONAL: Lyricist/conceiver, TAKE FLIGHT (Menier Chocolate Factory, London 2010; McCarter Theatre 2012); book and lyrics, WATERFALL (2015, Pasadena Playhouse and Seattle’s Fifth Avenue Theatre); Lyricist, new musical SOUSATZKA (2017, Toronto). FILM: Screenplay, MISS POTTER, (2007: Christopher Award, best screenplay.). Contributes cryptic crossword puzzles to Harpers Magazine. Son of well-known orchestra leader; Five children: Nicholas, David, Jordan, Emily and Charlotte.
MURRAY HORWITZ (Creator) Writer, Lyricist, Director
Productions:
AIN'T MISBEHAVIN
Associate Director, Based his original idea & featuring songs with additional lyrics [Revival, Musical, Revue] (Aug 15, 1988 - Jan 15, 1989)
ANDRÉ De SHEILD'S HAARLEM NOCTURNE
Book & Direction [Original, Musical, Revue] (Nov 18, 1984 - Dec 30, 1984)
AIN'T MISBEHAVIN
Associate Director, Based on his original idea & featuring songs with additional lyrics [Original, Musical, Revue] (May 9, 1978 - Feb 21, 1982)
ANTHONY MARK STOCKARD (Director, Scenic & Costume Designer)
RACHAEL N. BLACKWELL (Lighting Designer) is a Hampton Roads native but now calls Atlanta home. She just finished three seasons at the Alliance Theatre as their Lighting & Projections Director but has since moved fully back into her freelance design work. Rachael was the 2020 recipient of both the Gilbert Hemsley Lighting Internship and the Judy Dearing Design Competition for Lighting, presented by the Black Theatre Network (BTN) and in 2021, Rachael received an Off Broadway nomination for her NY lighting design of new musical "Rathskeller: A Musical Elixir." Other select credits include: Four Women & An Artist (Zeiders American Dream Theatre), A Soldier's Play (Virginia Stage & NSU Theatre Company), The Color Purple (Aurora Theatre), Wait Until Dark (Georgia Ensemble Theatre- Suzie Bass Winner - Best Lighting Design of a Play), Romeo & Juliet (Florentine Opera.) Rachael would like to thank her partner Nikki and her family and friends for their continued support.
BRIAN PETERSON (Sound Designer)
DARRIUS FROWNER (Music Director) is an award-winning musical director and pianist based in New York. He is thrilled to make his debut with Virginia Stage and Norfolk State University.
He has music-directed many productions of Ain’t Misbehavin’ across the country and internationally. Some of his other credits include Mayo Performing Arts Center, Harlem School of the Arts, Denver Center for the Performing Arts, a Quincy Jones tribute sponsored by McDonald’s Corporation, and collaborations with the Chanticleer String Quartet.
He has also worked at Broadway at the White House under the supervision of Michelle Obama and has accompanied Broadway star Norm Lewis in concert many times. Darius hopes you thoroughly enjoy this nostalgic trip back to the great jazz age of Harlem!
CHANDALAE NYSWONGER * (Stage Manager)
Music Theatre International (MTI) is one of the world's leading theatrical licensing agencies, granting theatres from around the world the rights to perform the greatest selection of musicals from Broadway and beyond. Founded in 1952 by composer Frank Loesser and orchestrator Don Walker, MTI is a driving force in advancing musical theatre as a vibrant and engaging art form.
MTI works directly with the composers, lyricists and book writers of these musicals to provide official scripts, musical materials and dynamic theatrical resources to over 100,000 professional, community and school theatres in the US and in over 150 countries worldwide.
MTI is particularly dedicated to educational theatre, and has created special collections to meet the needs of various types of performers and audiences. MTI’s Broadway Junior® shows are 30- and 60-minute musicals for performance by elementary and middle school-aged performers, while MTI’s School Editions are musicals annotated for performance by high school students.
TOM QUAINTANCE (Producing Artistic Director) is in his seventh season with Virginia Stage Company. At the Wells, Tom has directed Every Brilliant Thing, A Merry Little Christmas Carol, Pride and Prejudice, The Santaland Diaries, and Matilda The Musical. Regionally Tom directed Twelfth Night at the Guthrie Theater, and as an Associate Artist at PlayMakers Repertory Company he directed An Enemy of the People, Shipwrecked! An Entertainment, The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, and The Little Prince. As Artistic Director of Cape Fear Regional Theatre (CFRT), Tom produced over 35 plays and directed many others, including the World Premiere of Downrange: Voices from the Homefront, a play based on interviews with military spouses from Fort Bragg. As the founder of FreightTrain Shakespeare in Los Angeles, he earned a Drama-Logue Award for his direction of Pericles. Other Los Angeles credits range from King Lear to The Devil With Boobs. A member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, Tom is a graduate of Wesleyan University (Middletown, CT) with a B.A. in Theatre and Economics, and the University of California, San Diego MFA directing program, where he was the assistant director on the original production of The Who’s Tommy. Tom and his wife Wallis are the proud parents of Mireille Julia and Annika Christine.
JEFF RYDER (Managing Director) has been Managing Director of Virginia Stage Company since March 2022. In addition to his work at VSC, Jeff is proud to serve as the president of the board for Hampton Roads Pride. He is also a member of the Rotary Club of Norfolk, for which he serves as the Director of Fundraising and is a member of the Civic Leadership Institute’s Executive Class of 2025 (best class ever!). Prior to coming to VSC, Jeff served in several roles at Cleveland Play House from 2013 to 2022. Jeff holds a Master of Public Administration Degree from the Levin College at Cleveland State University and a Bachelor’s Degree from Tufts University. At Levin, Jeff was inducted into Nu Lambda Mu, the international honor society for the study of nonprofit management and philanthropy. Jeff also holds a certificate in Diversity and Inclusion for HR Professionals from Cornell University. He has served on the boards of the Cleveland Kids’ Book Bank, Theatre Forward, the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network of Cleveland, and the Cleveland Professional 20/30 Club. In Cleveland, Jeff was honored to be a part of the Cleveland Leadership Center’s Advanced Leadership Institute and the Cleveland Foundation’s Foundations for Philanthropy Program. Jeff has also been a stage manager at several theatres including Talespinner Children’s Theatre, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, and Berkshire Theatre Festival.
Assistant Stage Manager TAJLEED HARDY
Choreographer KAIYA PRINCE
Assistant Choreographer KASHI SMITH-JONES
ASL Interpreters DEBRA VANCE, MOIRA TRAVIS, NYCOLE TALIAFERRO