Director
Elizabeth Van Dyke

Nefertiti Alves
 

Christina Maria Acosta

Gabriel Ash

Kevin Brown

Catlin Lee-Covert
 

Sandy Dowe

Cynthia Jackson
 

Benjamin Mapp

Elizabeth Van Dyke is a New York based director and actress. Earlier this year, Ms. Van Dyke directed Things of the Heart: Marian Anderson Story by Shaunielle Perry for the Bermuda Arts Festival 2004, Pretty Fire at the St. Louis Black Repertory Theatre, and Great Men of Gospel at New Federal Theatre and at the Paul Robeson Performing Arts Center in Syracuse. Great Men of Gospel is scheduled for the Bermuda Arts Festival 2005 and has been nominated for six Audelco Awards, including Best Production and Best Director. Other directorial credits include: the world premiere of Amiri Baraka’s Remembering We Selves: Black Renaissance in Harlem, The Old Settler; Ti Jean & his Brothers; Zora starring Phylicia Rashad (Audelco Nomination: Best Director); The Sirens, For Colored Girls….,and A Raisin in The Sun starring the late Esther Rolle at Kuntu Repertory Theatre. Elizabeth serves on the Boards of New Federal Theatre in New York
City and the Passage Theatre, in Trenton, NJ. She is the Artistic Director of the Ensemble Studio Theatre’s Going to the River, a program that develops and celebrates under served African-American women playwrights which is known for its RiverWriter’s Unit and its annual festival. She has received the Roy Acuff Chair of Excellence in Theatre at Austin Peay State University, Audelco’s Board of Directors Award, and the President’s Award from Black Theatre Network.

James Anthony Alston finished his Bachelor of Arts in Music Education at Carnegie-Mellon University, and continued his Masters at Ball State University in Muncie, IN. He completed his PHD at the University of Pittsburgh, concentrated on African-American Studies and specialized in “Caribbean Music”. His dissertation topic was on “The Role of Music in Rastafarian Society of Jamaica (1930-1995)” Mr. Alston opened The James Alston (jazz) Quartet, and JAQ Productions – performances include The Mellon Jazz Festival(1999), The Ocho Rios Jazz Festival, Negril, Jamaica (1998 & 1999), The Second Internationl Rastafarian Gathering, Toronto, Canada (1995); The Three Rivers Arts Festival, Pittsburgh, PA (1993 & 1994); National Baseball League’s All-Star Fan Fest, Pittsburgh, PA (1994) and Upcoming: Carnegie Mellon’s Annual Alumni Celebration 2001. Also Mr. James’ recordings – The James Alston Quartet – Be On Fire,” and Alston
• Freeman • Price – The Gospel Pearls.” Mr. Alston works as a Musical Direction
Consultant for several non-profit adult and youth-oriented Gospel and Jazz bands,
Community Orchestras and the Pittsburgh Board of Education All-City Jazz Band.

Greer A. Reed is a native of Pittsburgh, PA, Greer began her training with the Pittsburgh Black Theater Dance Ensemble. Upon graduation from high school, her intensive dance education continued at the University of the Arts, Philadelphia, PA, and the Dance Theater of Harlem in New York. Having successfully completed the Certificate and Merit scholarship programs of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, she became a member of the outstanding Alvin Ailey Repertory Ensemble, advancing her career opportunities; she became a principle dancer with the internationally acclaimed Dayton Contemporary Dance Company (DCDC) in Dayton, OH. Since returning home, Greer has created choreography for several projects including the Pittsburgh Steelers’ “Steeler Style 2003” fashion show fundraiser, along with various projects with community and education based institutions. She is a dance instructor at Capa High School, La Roche College and the the artistic director for Pittsburgh Dance Ensemble. Last year Ms. Reed was named one of the “FAB 40” young rising professionals in Pittsburgh.

Nefertiti Alves is a freshman at University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, began dancing at the age of 3. In 1992 she began training at Newark School of the Arts in Newark, NJ. During her time there she participated in ballet classes, under the instruction of Lisa Attles, and tap classes, under the instruction of Ms. Deborah
Mitchell. Proceeding her time in Newark, Nefertiti began training in Montclair, NJ at Sharron Miller’s Academy for the Performing Arts. In 1999 she became a member of Sharron Miller’s Workshop Ensemble. During this time she performed numerous modern and jazz dance pieces. In 2000 she auditioned for the New Jersey Tap Ensemble (NJTE). Shortly after her audition she became a member
of the teen division of NJTE under the training of Ms. Deborah Mitchell. In 2003 she began training with Mr. Alfred Galman at Galman’s Newark Dance Theatre in Newark, NJ.

Christina Maria Acosta is a recent (May 2004) graduate of Carnegie Mellon University, where she majored in Creative Writing and won the Martin Luther King Writing Award for poetry in 2003 and 2004, as well as the 2003 Women & Press Club of Pittsburgh Scholarship for Journalism. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has called Christina, . . . (a whirlwind of poise, stage sense, vocal range and world-class beauty). While at CMU she performed in roles such as Dionne in Hair and Cinderella’s Stepmother in Into the Woods. In April of 2004, Christina began touring internationally in Belgium and South Korea as the lead vocalist in the show Bigsmorgasbordwunderwerk with Squonk Opera, an experimental theater, musical performance ensemble that combines multimedia, avant-garde design with a live music concert that the The New York Times called, Ingenious! Hallucinatory! Hypnotic! when the troupe took their award-winning version of Bigsmorgasbordwunderwerk to Broadway in 2000. She has written the lyrics for and performs in the company’s new show, Squonk Opera’s Rodeo Smackdown. Christina performed the roles of Edmonia Lewis and Julia Boulette in Kuntu & ’s production of Dark Cowgirls and Prairie Queens. This will be her second time performing with Kuntu Rep Theatre.

Gabriel Ash is a senior at Capa High School that started dancing when he was 12 years old. He trained at Roger Capa Middle School, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, CLO Academy, Dance Alley, Naka Entertainment and also Pittsburgh Dance Ensemble. Gabriel plans to attend college at University of the Arts in Philadelphia, and eventually joining a company. “I am very excited to be a part of this production of Sophisticated Ladies.”
 

Kevin Brown has appeared in several Kuntu Repertory Theatre productions including Cryin’ Shame, Sun Rising in the Hill District, Ashes to Africa, Mahalia Jackson: Standing On Holy Ground, and the Crawford Grill Presents Billie Holiday in Pittsburgh as well as South Africa. Other credits include Fences for the Pittsburgh Playwright Theatre, Blue for New Horizon Theater and Christmas Is Comin' Uptown for Renaissance News. Many, many thanks to this cast and a very special “Thank you” to Gary Vincent and Elizabeth Van Dyke ...for their unwavering support. May the creator continue to smile down on both of you.

Catlin Lee-Covert is a sophomore at the University of Pittsburgh and has been performing for many years with local companies such as Pittsburgh Musical Theater, the Rauh Conservatory Theater Company, Prime Stage, the Kids Theater Project and the Center for Theatre Arts. She has trained with Point Park University's Musical Theater Department and International Summer Dance program. Devoting her days to academic study, Catlin is grateful to have found an outlet for performing with Kuntu and with such a fun and talented group of people. "She wishes to thank Lex, Liz, and Jean for keeping her sane and dedicates this performance to her Mom for her never-ending support and encouragement. Remember it don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing!"

Sandy Dowe expresses that although singing with local groups and big bands is her first love, Ms. Dowe has also enjoyed featured roles in such theater productions as Ain't Misbehavin', One Mo' Time, Blues in the Night, Beehive and The Crawford Grill Presents Billie Holiday; In addition to performing at Pittsburgh festivals, jazz clubs and social events, Sandra also enjoys teaching vocal music, dance and acting to youth K-8th in several Pittsburgh schools. She is a member of Covenant Church of Pittsburgh and has been a part of the choir and worship team with whom she traveled to Boston, Atlanta, Korea, S. Africa and Zimbabwe. Her special love is singing contemporary Christian music and her greatest joy is knowing God. Sandy would like to thank her family for their love and support.

Tyler LaRue Grinage Tyler LaRue Grinage is a senior at Creative and Performing Art High School (CAPA) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Discovering her love to dance at an early age, she began dancing with several local dance companies throughout the Pittsburgh area. In 1999, Tyler auditioned to become a dancer with
Xpressions Contemporary Dance Company (XCDC) where she began formal training under the direction of Ms. Norman Jean Barnes, Mr. Terrance Green and Artistic Director Staycee Walters. In 2003 Tyler performed with the Pittsburgh Black Dance Ensemble under the direction of Ms. Greer Reed. Her additional training has been with the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Philadanco Dance Company, Jeraldyne’s School of the Dance School of Dayton, Point Park University, and attending the Washington, D.C, International Blacks in Dance and Denver, Colorado Conferences. Tyler participates in her family gospel singing group, and has also performed her own work in many liturgical dance performances for
church events throughout the Pittsburgh area. She was excited to receive a scholarship to attend Bates College this summer of 2004 in Lewiston, Maine for Youth Dance Festival, and even more excited now to be a part of this production of Sophisticated Ladies.

David Harrison was born and raised in Western Pennsylvania, where he currently resides and works. He has been privileged to receive instruction from a number of exceptional pianists, including Mr. Val Stanley, Dr. Ralph Hill, Mr. Ralph Zitterbart, and Pittsburgh legend Mr. Earl Wild. Mr. Harrison has performed as a soloist and
collaborative pianist in the United States and Asia. Recent projects include World Premiere performances of works by Dana Howell and award-winning composer Devin Arrington, performances with the acclaimed Carnegie Mellon Contemporary Ensemble, and performances with the Pittsburgh Opera Company. Mr. Harrison is
the music director at the Pittsburgh Chinese Church, in the North Hills, and currently teaches at the Carnegie Mellon University School of Music Piano Preparatory Division, under the leadership of distinguished pedagogue Mrs. Hanna Wu Li.

Cynthia Jackson is a Pittsburgh native where she began her training at the YWCA of Greater Pittsburgh under the direction of tap extraordinaire Betty Love Gibbs. Being a second-generation dancer inspires her love of dance. Throughout her dance career, she has participated in local and regional companies. An award winning dancer and choreographer, Cynthia is excited to be a part of this Kuntu Repertory Theatre production.

Benjamin Mapp is a Louisville, KY native and delighted to be making his Kuntu Repertory Theatre debut. He was recently seen in Broadway 2004, as an apprentice at Ann Reinking’s Broadway Theatre Project. He is currently a Musical Theatre major at Point Park University. Mr. Mapp spent last summer as a featured
performer at Six Flags. Some of his other credits include Andy Lee in 42nd Street, Bill Calhoun in Kiss Me Kate and The Cardinal in Nine. He would like to thank his friends and family for their love and support.

Gary E Vincent is a native of Washington, DC, and graduate of Howard University’s School of Fine Arts with a degree in musical theatre. He most recently received an AUDELCO nomination for “Outstanding Ensemble Performance” in Great Men of Gospel at the New Federal Theatre. Some notable stage credits include The World Goes Round (Roundhouse Theatre), Things of the Heart: Marian Anderson Story at the Bermuda Arts Festival, The Gospel at Colonus, Godspell, It Aint Nothing But the Blues ( St. Louis Black Rep), Pippin (Round House Theatre), Once on This Island (Hilton Head Playhouse), Guys and Dolls, Dreamgirls (National Tour), Smoky Joe’s Café (TheatreWorks), Play On (Arena Stage), Bubbling Brown Sugar (Ira Aldridge Theatre) and Bessie’s Blues, Hip 2 Birth of the Boom (Studio Theatre). A recipient of the prestigious Woodie Award for “Best Male in a Musical” for his portrayal of Jesus in Godspell, this Broadway bound performer is also a vocal arranger. Gary has toured with renowned artists such as Walter Hawkins, The O’Jays, and George Michael. His television appearances include “Soul Train,” “The Arsenio Hall Show,” “Bobby Jones Gospel” and “60 Minutes.” “Thank You God, family, e’, and Bangor tribe for your love and support.”*

Dana Woodruff is currently a senior at Point Park University majoring in Musical Theatre. She has been involved in the performance arts (singing, acting and dancing) since the age of five. Now that she is 21 years old, she has been in five musicals, two shows and is a member of the Pittsburgh Dance Ensemble under the artistic directorship of Ms. Greer Reed. “This musical Sophisticated Ladies is the beginning and stepping stone of Dana’s professional career and extraordinary talents.”