DO NO HARM aims to give voice and honor to Anarcha, Betsey, Lucy and other unnamed ancestors who endured "the meanness of it all" that was enslavement here in America. I am tremendously grateful to Dr. Evelyn Parker and The Association of Practical Theology for commissioning me to tell this story. It is an important story and a very American story. One that many still attempt to ignore or sweep under a rug. Someone, some people, and in this case - some bodies - have always paid a price for the so called advancement of others, of technology, or the modern era.

The sad truth is that to this day, there are still people in the medical field who share Dr. J. Marion Sims' mentality. A mentality that says Black people's biology is different. That we feel less pain. That we are undeserving of dignified, compassionate, and equitable medical care.

DO NO HARM is also a tribute and exploration of the many acts of personal protest our ancestors practiced while the horrific physical, psychological, cultural, and spiritual terror of slavery was wielded. They did not passively endure enslavement. They felt the pain of every lash, every word, every unwanted surgery, and every other cruel act. But they also worked hard at self-preservation; choosing to love each other, choosing not to speak, choosing to build families, to edify themselves through their faith, to keep secrets, to organize, to create, to fight, and to run.

DO NO HARM is a celebration of sisterhood and the strength and spirit of my people.

— Anyika McMillan-Herod

Brittney Bluitt (Anarcha) is delighted to be making her debut with Soul Rep Theatre.  Brittney has made her staple in film and new media work, including the hit web series #Washed and other local film projects such as “With Love” and “Natural Hair, the Movie.” Although a newbie to the theatre industry, Brittney is no stranger to the stage. She performed extensively as a dancer during her high school career at Lancaster High School and later performed with the Loris Beckles Dance Company, in Dallas. Brittney started her acting career in 2016, studying scene work and character analysis under Theresa Bell at the Tbell Actors Studio.

Whitney LaTrice Coulter (Lucy) Actress. Costumer. Aspiring Director. She/Her. Whitney is thrilled to be part of DO NO HARM! After 8 years in the DFW, Whitney has numerous credits to her name, most recently T’wana Jepson in A LOVE OFFERING (Kitchen Dog). Jubilee Theatre: SUNSET BABY (Nina), SEVEN GUITARS (Ruby), THE COLOR PURPLE (Olivia/Ensemble), KNOCK ME A KISS (Yolande Du Bois) and COMPANY (Marta). Other local credits: Holly Burrell in FOXFIRE (Theatre 3), Adiel/Ruth in CARDBOARD PIANO (Proper Hijinx), Sophie in RUINED (Echo Theatre), Emilie in THE SUBMISSION (Proper Hijinx), Minnie in PARADE (Watertower), Myrlie Evers/Claudette in MISSISSIPPI G'DAMN (SDCC) and Pirate Queen in JONAH (Undermain).

Brandy McClendon Kae (Tabby) is a local theater artist having worked with Soul Rep, Kitchen Dog Theater, WaterTower Theater and many more throughout the years.  Regional theatre credits include: Northlight, Chicago Shakespeare, Rivendell Theatre, Indiana Rep, Madison Rep, and Utah Shakespeare to name a few. Thanks to Anyika and the strong women of Soul Rep.

Jaquai Wade Pearson (Betsey) is a fine arts educator, administrator and artist dedicated to reflecting the human condition and many facets. Jaquai is a wife and mother and values the awesome support of her family. Pearson's recent performances include PLAYWRIGHTS IN THE NEWS ROOM at the AT&T Performing Arts Center and ROMEO & JULIET with Fair Assembly at Arts Mission Oak Cliff, for which she was recognized by the DFW Theatre Critics' Forum as Best Actress in a play.  Jaquai is an alum of Southern Methodist University and earned her BFA from Meadows School of Arts in Theatre (Acting). She credits her strong creative foundation to her family, educators, and mentors in her hometown of Detroit, MI. DO NO HARM marks her fourth project with Soul Rep Theatre Company.

Paul Munger (Dr. J. Marion Sims) studied at TCU, The Goodman School and The Dallas Theater Center. He has worked as an actor, director, playwright. and fight choreographer. He taught at UTA, SMU and KD Studio. Paul has recorded numerous books on tape for Reading and Radio Resource and most recently performed in staged readings for Echo Theater and The Library Series for 1:30 Productions.

Eugene Chandler (Anarcha’s Owner) has been acting for 50+ years. "I have theatre friends and collaborators and mentors from all age groups and all kinds of backgrounds. Theatre keeps you thinking and growing. It keeps you young." He is very excited to have added the wonderful, talented folks at Soul Rep to his circle of theatre friends, collaborators, and mentors.

 Anyika McMillan-Herod (Playwright/Co-Director) is an actress, director, writer, and Co-Founder and Executive Director of Soul Rep Theatre Company. A Dallas native, Anyika is an alum of Arts Magnet High School (’89), holds a BFA in Theater from Prairie View A&M University (’93) and studied acting in California Institute of the Arts’ MFA program.  She was selected for the Dallas Theater Center’s Playwrights Workshop in 2017, founded by Will Power.

Herod’s play about her journey through breast cancer, THE MONARCH, made its world premiere in June 2018, in a co-production with Echo Theater Company.  She adapted two Latin American short stories by Juan Rulfo and Alfredo Cardona Peña for Teatro Dallas’ 2017 Day of the Dead production –AN EVENING WITH TWO GIANTS. Additionally, Anyika debuted three new short plays in 2017, two in Soul Rep’s SOUTHSIDE STORIES FESTIVAL and the other, MIGRATION, in House Party Theater’s DAMNSELS! Play Festival.  Her short play, THE BALLAD OF JANE ELKINS, detailing the first legal hanging in Dallas, that of an enslaved woman, has been well received and was featured in one of Soul Rep’s New Play Festivals and at Teatro Dallas.

Anyika is a 2019 Public Voices Fellow with the OpEd Project. For more information on Anyika’s work as an author, essayist, playwright, and poet, visit www.anyikaherod.com

vickie washington (Co-Director) is a theatre artist who directs, acts, produces, and teaches. She received the Dallas Observer 2015 Best Director recognition for the world premiere production of Jonathan Norton’s MISSISSIPPI GODDAM. Additional directing credits include SOLSTICE- A NEW HOLIDAY ADVENTURE, PASSING STRANGE, A MOTOWN CHRISTMAS, SUNSET BABY, FENCES, SPEECH AND DEBATE, MAGNOLIA, THE BALLAD OF JANE ELKINS, ANGELA’S MIXTAPE, THE LITTLE TOMMY PARKER CELEBRATED COLORED MINSTREL SHOW, FOUR LITTLE GIRLS: BIRMINGHAM 1963, and FABULATION.

Her performance credits include: PRIMER FOR A FAILED SUPERPOWER with The Team, a Brooklyn based devised theatre company, CROWNS, FOR COLORED GIRLS…, JOE TURNER’S COME AND GONE, …AND JESUS MOONWALKS THE MISSISSIPPI, CONTRIBUTION, THE TEMPEST, PIANO LESSON, A LESSON BEFORE DYING, HOME, MACBETH, and FROM THE MISSISSIPPI DELTA, for which she received Best Actress recognition from the Dallas Critics Forum.  Her acting credits extend to the screen with Random Acts of Flyness (HBO), Indie films, They Charge for the Sun, Swimming in Your Skin Again (official Sundance selection), and Steps of Faith. 

She is founder and producing director of r. t. w ~ reading  the writers, a readers theatre performance organization. Her work as a theatre artist extends to sharing her talent, passion, and knowledge with the students of Dallas’ Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts as an instructor and director in the theatre department.  A proud member of Actors Equity, vickie deeply values the gift of theatre and the powerful ways in which it can be utilized to tell the stories of the African Diaspora. #onandup

Thaddeus “Sonny” Jefferson (Cinematographer) is a Dallas-based creative and skilled Media and Graphic Design specialist with over fifteen years of experience. Sonny has worked on a number of films, company promos, music videos, and documentary projects. Additionally, he’s worked extensively in the design of mechanical and vector drawings for product marketing, packaging, logos, and national advertisements. DO NO HARM marks his first full length “film” collaboration with Soul Rep.

Tonya Holloway (Editor/Executive Producer) is Co-Founder and Co-Artistic Director of Soul Rep Theatre Company. A native of Fort Worth, Texas, she has worked extensively in the film, stage, and commercial industries as an actress, director, writer, and freelancer for over 20 years. Tonya holds a BFA in Theatre Arts from Prairie View A&M University.

In 2006, 2007, and 2010, Holloway served as Scriptwriter for the NAACP’s National ACT-SO Awards Ceremony. She has volunteered as an ACT-SO mentor since 1990.

In 2019, Tonya served as Writing Consultant on the Amazon Prime series #WASHED as well as Casting Director for season two, premiering fall of 2020. Her stage adaptation of Virginia Hamilton’s award-winning book, HERSTORIES, was produced in Dallas and in Germany.

She currently resides in Dallas with her husband and four children.

Ashley Oliver (Production Manager) is a member of Soul Rep Theatre Company where she began performing as a teenager. She holds a BA in Drama from Prairie View A&M University and since graduating, has worked as an actress, stage manager, designer, and director around the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. Her select credits include MY RED HAND MY BLACK HAND, HURT VILLAGE (SOUL REP), LITTLE WOMEN, FETCH CLAY MAKE MAN (Dallas Theater Center) BOOTYCANDY, DEER (Stage West), SHREK, DREAMGIRLS (GPAC), SHAKIN THE MESS OUTTA MISERY,FLIGHT (Jubilee Theater), and Erykah Badu's ONE (HU)MAN SHOW (The Black Academy of Arts and Letters).

"A word equals a thought, a thought an idea, an idea an action, an action can change the world."

-Claude McKay

Fredrick Sanders (Composer/Arranger) Dallas native Fredrick Sanders' is well versed in a variety of modern jazz styles from New Orleans Trad, New Orleans Brass Bands, Swing, Bop to Advant-garde. He is currently Director of Jazz Studies for Weatherford College where he earned his Associate of Arts degree over 25 years ago. He also holds a Bachelors of Music from Texas State University in San Marcos.

Sanders received his early jazz education at Arts Magnet High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Dallas where he was recognized as Downbeat Outstanding Instrumentalist for Cello and was named High School arranger of the year for his arrangement of Dan Haerle's “Crib Chimp”.

Sanders served as sideman for jazz greats such as Clark Terry, David "Fathead" Newman and Texas Tenor James Clay.  Mr. Sanders has strong ties to New Orleans; he studied with world renowned avant-garde clarinetist Alvin Batiste and can be heard on his CD entitled “Late”. He has performed and recorded with Wynton Marsalis, master jazz percussionist Herlin Riley, bassist Roland Guerin and was an adjunct professor of jazz studies at Delgado Community College and Tulane University.

For over two decades he has been nationally and internationally recognized for his accomplishments as a performer, composer, arranger and educator. Sanders performs at several jazz festivals held world wide and has appeared with such artist as Erykah Badu, Benny Golson, and the late, Roy Hargrove.

Soul Dynasty aka Zaneta Williams (Elmina Vocals) is a song stylist, lyricist, and educator who has worked with Soul Rep since its inception. She is SUPER excited to work with Soul Rep on this project and give a voice to the legacy and strength of African wombyn. She looks forward to continuing the journey with Soul Rep in the future.

Soul Dynasty performs in various venues around town and beyond whenever she finds time to break free from her hectic schedule as an English and French I teacher.

You can listen to more of the sounds she has created at www.soulcandysongs.net.