THEE RICKY HARRIS
as Uncle Mike
*Thee Ricky Harris [Uncle Mike] most recently performed in Taste of Soul (Black Ensemble Theater), 5 Guys Named Moe (Beverly Arts Center), Pump Boys and Dinettes (Porchlight Music Theatre), The Little Mermaid; Madhatter's Gin & Tea Party (Fever Up Productions), The Total Bent (Haven Theatre), Crowns (Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre), The View Upstairs (Circle Theatre), Company (Mercury Theater Chicago), Merrily We Roll Along (Porchlight Music Theatre), A Dickens Carol (Oak Park Festival Theatre), Little Shop of Horrors (William Street Repertory Theatre), and Ragtime (Griffin Theatre). Thee Ricky Harris starred in The Wiz (Kokandy Productions) and received the Black Theatre Alliance Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for his part in Direct from Death Row, The Scottsboro Boy (Raven Theatre); the Jeff Award for Best Ensemble.
Thee Ricky Harris is thankful to God and the Spirit of his Ancestors for continuing to give love and light to his life. T.E.
*Miciah Lathan (no preferred pronouns) [Queen Latifah, Chaka Khan, momma, Ensemble] is glad to be a part of the Black Ensemble team once again. Her credits include Dreamgirls (TPTC), Cinderella, Blue Heaven (Black Ensemble Theater), and Hair (Mercury Theater Chicago). She has been professionally performing since 2016 and has been a professional musical theater choreographer since 2013. She is thankful to her support system and her loving husband. To God Be the Glory. Enjoy!
MICIAH LATHAN
as Momma, Queen Latifa
Ensemble
BRANDON LEWIS
as Derrick
*Brandon Lewis (he/his) [Derrick] Being featured in films and television has been a part of Brandon’s career journey. However, theater will always be home, especially here at the Black Ensemble Theater. Brandon says performing in the daytime for audiences of young children are the highlight of his career. The Time Machine marks Brandon’s 4th mainstage performance at Black Ensemble Theater.
Ama Kuwonu (she/her) [Sade, Ensemble] is a Senior BFA Theater student at Chicago College of Performing Arts. Performance credits there include Our Town (Ms.Gibbs), SPUNK (Delia/Sweetback), Mother Courage and Her Children (Farmer's Wife), and Bob: A Life In Five Acts (Bob #5). Originally born in Lomé, Togo, Ama feels incredibly blessed to be making her Chicago debut at Black Ensemble Theater and has very high hopes for the year ahead.
AMA KUWONU
as Sade, Ensemble
*Thee Ricky Harris [Uncle Mike] most recently performed in Taste of Soul (Black Ensemble Theater), 5 Guys Named Moe (Beverly Arts Center), Pump Boys and Dinettes (Porchlight Music Theatre), The Little Mermaid; Madhatter's Gin & Tea Party (Fever Up Productions), The Total Bent (Haven Theatre), Crowns (Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre), The View Upstairs (Circle Theatre), Company (Mercury Theater Chicago), Merrily We Roll Along (Porchlight Music Theatre), A Dickens Carol (Oak Park Festival Theatre), Little Shop of Horrors (William Street Repertory Theatre), and Ragtime (Griffin Theatre). Thee Ricky Harris starred in The Wiz (Kokandy Productions) and received the Black Theatre Alliance Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for his part in Direct from Death Row, The Scottsboro Boy (Raven Theatre); the Jeff Award for Best Ensemble.
Thee Ricky Harris is thankful to God and the Spirit of his Ancestors for continuing to give love and light to his life. T.E.
*Thee Ricky Harris [Uncle Mike] most recently performed in Taste of Soul (Black Ensemble Theater), 5 Guys Named Moe (Beverly Arts Center), Pump Boys and Dinettes (Porchlight Music Theatre), The Little Mermaid; Madhatter's Gin & Tea Party (Fever Up Productions), The Total Bent (Haven Theatre), Crowns (Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre), The View Upstairs (Circle Theatre), Company (Mercury Theater Chicago), Merrily We Roll Along (Porchlight Music Theatre), A Dickens Carol (Oak Park Festival Theatre), Little Shop of Horrors (William Street Repertory Theatre), and Ragtime (Griffin Theatre). Thee Ricky Harris starred in The Wiz (Kokandy Productions) and received the Black Theatre Alliance Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for his part in Direct from Death Row, The Scottsboro Boy (Raven Theatre); the Jeff Award for Best Ensemble.
Thee Ricky Harris is thankful to God and the Spirit of his Ancestors for continuing to give love and light to his life. T.E.
*Thee Ricky Harris [Uncle Mike] most recently performed in Taste of Soul (Black Ensemble Theater), 5 Guys Named Moe (Beverly Arts Center), Pump Boys and Dinettes (Porchlight Music Theatre), The Little Mermaid; Madhatter's Gin & Tea Party (Fever Up Productions), The Total Bent (Haven Theatre), Crowns (Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre), The View Upstairs (Circle Theatre), Company (Mercury Theater Chicago), Merrily We Roll Along (Porchlight Music Theatre), A Dickens Carol (Oak Park Festival Theatre), Little Shop of Horrors (William Street Repertory Theatre), and Ragtime (Griffin Theatre). Thee Ricky Harris starred in The Wiz (Kokandy Productions) and received the Black Theatre Alliance Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for his part in Direct from Death Row, The Scottsboro Boy (Raven Theatre); the Jeff Award for Best Ensemble.
Thee Ricky Harris is thankful to God and the Spirit of his Ancestors for continuing to give love and light to his life. T.E.
*Thee Ricky Harris [Uncle Mike] most recently performed in Taste of Soul (Black Ensemble Theater), 5 Guys Named Moe (Beverly Arts Center), Pump Boys and Dinettes (Porchlight Music Theatre), The Little Mermaid; Madhatter's Gin & Tea Party (Fever Up Productions), The Total Bent (Haven Theatre), Crowns (Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre), The View Upstairs (Circle Theatre), Company (Mercury Theater Chicago), Merrily We Roll Along (Porchlight Music Theatre), A Dickens Carol (Oak Park Festival Theatre), Little Shop of Horrors (William Street Repertory Theatre), and Ragtime (Griffin Theatre). Thee Ricky Harris starred in The Wiz (Kokandy Productions) and received the Black Theatre Alliance Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for his part in Direct from Death Row, The Scottsboro Boy (Raven Theatre); the Jeff Award for Best Ensemble.
Thee Ricky Harris is thankful to God and the Spirit of his Ancestors for continuing to give love and light to his life. T.E.
JAITEE
as Bobby Brown, Run
Keith Sweat, Chuck D. Ensemble
Jaitee (/jay-tee) (he/him) [Bobby Brown, Keith Sweat, Run, Chuck D, Ensemble] is an American singer, professional dancer, and actor. Born and raised in Chicago, he is proud alum Master Choreographer of Illinois State University’s’ Noir Dance Troupe. He is also currently the lead singer of Chicago's Top 40 cover band duo BluPrint and has been performing for several years on a number of famous stages throughout the States. As a member of Theater 47, Jaitee has taken part in a number of productions such as Dreamgirls, The Color Purple, and The Wiz and played Cab Calloway in Theater 47's production of The Imitation of Life, which has taken his career to new heights.
VU
as Madonna, Pepa
Ensemble
Vu (she/her) [Madonna, Pepa, Ensemble] is a Milwaukee native, and takes pride in making her debut with Black Ensemble Theater. She is excited to collaborate with Chicago's incredible talent and looks forward to bringing a fresh perspective to the stage.
BEN IZLAR JR
as Ensemble
Ben Izlar Jr (he/him) [Johnny Gill, Ensemble] is super excited to be welcomed into the Black Ensemble Theater. Prior to this, he was doing theatre and film in New York. He moved to Chicago in 2021, where he was part of the Drunk Shakespeare crew at The Lion Theatre. He is proud to be in his first performance with the Black Ensemble Theater. Thank you to the whole team for believing in him enough to give him this opportunity! Enjoy the show!
ISAAC RAY
as Ralph Tresvant
Kurtis Blow, Ensemble
*Isaac Ray (he/him) [Ralph Tresvant, Kurtis Blow, Michael Jackson, Ensemble] is currently a full-time professional artist, dancer, actor, and recording session singer. His theatre credits include: The Gospel at Colonus (Getty Villa) The Gospel at Colonus (Court Theatre), and A New Attitude: In Tribute To Patti Labelle and Urban Love Story (Black Ensemble Theater) He wants to thank his family, friends, and God for favoring his life.
ISAIAH ENGRAM
as Rob Base, E.U.
Ronnie DeVoe, Ensemble
Isaiah Engram (he/they) [Rob Base, E.U, Ronnie Devoe, Ensemble] is a recent graduate of Columbia College Chicago’s BFA Musical Theatre program. He is from San Diego. His previous work at Columbia includes Hamlet, Detroit 67, Phaedra's Love, Opposing Ophelia, Black Sun Devising Project, and assistant choreography for Bat Boy.
VINCENT JORDAN
as LL Cool J, Morris Day, Al B. Sure
*Vincent Jordan (he/his) [LL Cool J, Morris Day, Al B. Sure] Vincent hails from Chicago, where his spark for acting started at a young age. While honing his acting skills in the Asante Childrens theater in Indianapolis, In he would later come back to chicago to work with the Black Ensemble Theater. It was there a star was born as he would make an appearance in numerous of shows including his lead role as (Chuck Berry) in Hail Hail Chuck Berry, and as John Nevins in Trouble In Mind (Timeline Theater). Vincent is also a Jeff award winner for his role of Maurice White in Earth, Wind, and Fire, and in You Cant Fake the FUNK. He also toured with Milwaukee Repertory Theater and Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park on August Wilson’s Seven Guitars directed by Ron “O.J” Parsons.
MICAH ALYCE
as Lisa Lisa
Irene Cara, Ensemble
Micah Alyce [Lisa Lisa, Irene Cara, Ensemble] is a Chicago singer, dancer, actress, model, and literary fine arts educator, with a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Columbia College Chicago. She is currently represented by two major talent agencies - BMG Talent and Chicago/Milwaukee Talent Agency. Micah has performed and toured with several notable theater companies in the Chicago area, and has received awards for her artistic and philanthropic achievements. She recently was awarded at the Harold Washington Cultural Center for her contributions to the organization and for her starring role in the Broadway in Bronzeville play Queens of the Policy, directed and written by Jimalita Tillman. In addition, she was also selected to attend the Tony Awards in NYC this past summer.
TREQUON TATE
as Kool Moe Dee, Michael Vibens, Flava Flav Ensemble
Trequon Tate (he/his) [Kool Moe Dee, Michael Bivins, Flava Flav, Ensemble] Trequon is excited to be returning to Black Ensemble. He was last seen in A Taste of Soul at Black Ensemble Theater. His regional and Chicago Theater credits include: Porchlight Music Theatre, Victory Gardens Theater, Court Theatre, Theatre at the Center, the Broadway Playhouse, Chicago Opera Theater, Phoenix Theatre, Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre, Clarence Brown Theatre, Children’s Theater of Madison, Hope Summer Repertory Theatre, Fireside Theatre, and Milwaukee Repertory Theater. He would like to thank his family and friends for their support.
BRITT EDWARDS
as Whitney Houston,
Sheila E, Denise Williams, Salt, Ensemble
Britt Edwards (she/her) [Sheila E, Denise Williams, Salt, Whitney Houston, Ensemble] is a Chicago native with a background in singing, songwriting, acting, dancing, drum playing, and fitness. She started her theater career at Northeastern Illinois University. Britt is blessed to grace the Black Ensemble stage yet again in her fourth main-stage performance! Special thanks to God for the gifts he’s given. Everything she does is with her handsome teenage son in mind, and she thanks him for understanding the long days and nights! Performing is where she’s able to come alive and embody a character with grace. Her character is big and bright, on and off stage.
JARED BROWN
as Prince, Ricky Bell,
El Debarge, Ensemble
Jared Brown (he/him) [Prince, Ricky Bell, El Debarge, Ensemble] is absolutely excited and grateful to be making his Chicago debut with the Black Ensemble Theater! He’s been singing and performing for as long as he can remember back in Texas before moving to Chicago to pursue his passion. Recent credits include Hit The Wall (New Wave Theatre Company), Spunk! (Chicago College of Performing Arts), and American Songbook (Chicago College of Performing Arts). He would like to thank his family (blood and chosen) for endless love and support, God for the gift of storytelling, and Black Ensemble for the opportunity to create beautiful art.
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