Erin Malone Turner is a New Orleans born, Dallas-based playwright & middle school English teacher. Her featured plays across DFW include: “the secret keepers” & “GRAY” (Bishop Arts Theatre Co), “how to catch a ghost” (Kitchen Dog Theater), “the way it was/the way it is” (Soul Repertory Theatre), and “i thought you hung the moon” (Luckenbooth Theatre) - the last of which was nominated for a BroadwayWorld Dallas award. In the fall of 2022, she returned to the stage as Olympe de Gouges in “The Revolutionists” (Resolute Theatre Project/Tree Trunk Theater) & has performed in various projects across Dallas since then. She was mentored by Broadway legend Audra McDonald from 2021-2023. You can follow her creative endeavors on New Play Exchange and on Instagram @erinmaloneturner. Black lives matter.

Shaundra Gabriel (Jac) is excited and blessed to have the grand opportunity to work with Soul Rep again! You may have seen her on many stages throughout the Metroplex, including Jubilee theatre, Theatre Arlington, Plaza Theatre, and Bishop Arts. Her experience is extensive; but that does not diminish her humility and gratitude. Shaundra is excited to work with this amazing cast & crew. To my husband Calvin and my family, I thank you for your support. Phil 4:1

Kat Lozano (IVY) is thrilled to be working with Soul Rep Theatre for the world premiere of What Fits Inside a Human Heart. She was previously in the 2022 and 2023 New Works Festival Mainstage productions of High Five and The Last Truck Stop at Kitchen Dog Theatre. Other theatrical credits include Queen of Basel and Wolf at the Door (Kitchen Dog), Libra Season (Second Thought Theatre), Twelfth Night and Henry V (Shakespeare Everywhere), Pride and Prejudice (Shakespeare Dallas) and Dracula (Theatre Three). Film credits include Artificial, Everything Except Hope, and Bitch’s Tit. Kat was recently in a print ad for Nutella and a commercial for Comerica Bank. She voiced Miyako in the English dub of Aoashi. Kat has a BFA in Acting from the University of Texas at Austin. katherinelozano.com

Malaisian Ann Parker (Charm/Ivy Understudy) is a native of Morgan City, Louisiana. She received her Associate of Applied Arts Degree from KD Conservatory College of Film and the Dramatic Arts here in Dallas. She is very excited for her stage debut with Soul Rep. She has worked on projects in the DFW area making her mark as an assistant director, stage manager, assistant stage manager, backstage crew, director's assistant, production assistant and actor. Favorite pieces she has done include: The Talented Tenth, Almost Blue, False Hopes, Good Kids, and Baby with the Bathwater. She also has a background in dance and singing. She believes that her passion will always lead her to purpose and that's why the arts will always be her first true love! Find her on social media platforms @MalaisianParker or Malaisian Ann Parker

Arianna Reed (Charm) is excited to be making her Soul Rep Theatre debut. She was previously seen in GSM’s production of The Music Man, The Firehouse Theatre’s production of Hello Dolly and in Lyric Stage Dallas’ production of AIDA. She would like to thank the creative team behind the show for giving her an opportunity to breathe life into such a beautiful show. She would also like to dedicate this performance to her found family and her best friend for their unwavering faith in her and for pushing her to continue to pursue her dreams.

Edmund Simpson II (Ellison) is a Dallas native and graduate of KD Actors Conservatory. This year, he spent some time in Theatre Coppell’s Young Frankenstein and as Speed in The Odd Couple. October of 2022 he was the Assistant Director for Trouble In Mind at Dallas Theater Center and will be the Assistant Director for The Black Nativity at Jubilee Theater after What Fits. His favorite role to date was him as The Lion in The Wiz at GPAC. He is happy to be returning to Soul Rep for his second production and excited to tell familiar stories through Ellison. “To be a gay Negro in this country and to be relatively conscious is to be in a rage almost all the time”.

Maxton Rhys Sims (Peanut) is thrilled to be making his Soul Rep debut! You may have seen him recently as Mereb in Lyric Stage’s production of Aida. Other recent credits include Disney’s Newsies at The Firehouse Theatre and Casa Mañana’s productions of A Christmas Carol and Disney’s High School Musical. Maxton would like to thank Erin, Dee & La-Hunter for trusting him with this role and his family and friends for all their love and support! IG: @maxton.rhys.sims 

Octavia Y. Thomas (JAC Understudy) – is pleased to help bring this sensitive story to life. Last seen in Soul Rep Theatre's productions of The Ted Shine Festival, Sexy Laundry and Travisville; If Pretty Hurts at Jubilee Theatre; and as Goneril in Auriga Production's King Lear, she has performed throughout DFW – including Echo Theatre, Dallas Children’s Theater, Lyric Stage, Pegasus Theatre, Stage West, and Theatre Arlington. Favorite productions include Obama-ology, Men on Boats, Let It Be Me, Company, Batboy, Women Playing Hamlet, Showboat, Once on This Island, Little Shop of Horrors, Junie B. Jones, and A Midnight Cry. Many thanks to The Soul Rep Theatre Company for providing such a wonderful opportunity and to her family and friends for their continued support. Miss Thomas received her BA from the University of Texas at Dallas.

Dee Smith (Co-Director / Scenic Design) is a member of Soul Rep and serves as Associate Artistic Director of Theater. She has worked on and off the stage for over 25 years. Dee holds a Bachelor of Arts from Prairie View A&M University and a Master of Fine Arts from The California Institute of the Arts, in Theater Management. She directed Soul Rep’s critically acclaimed productions of GOOD GRIEF, STEAL AWAY, THE COLORED MUSEUM, FOR COLORED GIRLS…, and Stud Terkel’s RACE. She’s worked with many other theater companies such as Jubilee Theater and African American Repertory Theater.

La'Hunter-Smith (Co-Director /Scenic Design), an actress, dancer, and choreographer, is a native of Washington D.C. and member of Soul Rep Theatre Company. She was a lead soloist with the Dallas Black Dance Theater, working with master choreographers like Alonzo King, Blondell Cummings, Talley Beatty, and Katherine Dunham. La-Hunter has a BA in Dance, with studies in Psychology and has taught the Lester Horton technique, Jazz, and Contemporary for over 20 years in educational and professional settings. This includes Master Classes at Texas Christian University, Texas Woman’s University, and as a former Faculty Member, teaching the professional division and Advance levels at Texas Ballet Theater.  Ms. Hunter has formed her own Contemporary Modern Dance Company, “La ‘Hunter In Flight Dance Theatre”, that has performed in the DFW and Houston areas. As a choreographer she has choreographed, co-directed, and directed several plays and musicals such as Ntozake Shange’s, “For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf”, Toni Morrison ‘s, “The Bluest Eye”, “Dreamgirls”, etc. La-Hunter was nominated for several Irma P Hall Black Theater Arts Awards for choreography, direction, and scenic design of Soul Rep’s “Naughty But Nice”. She would love to win Tony Awards one day in the same categories!

Nash Farmer (Sound Designer): Nash began sound designing for Soul Rep with Topdog/Underdog and would later win the Irma P. Hall Black Theater award for best sound design in a musical for Naughty but Nice. He then took some time to finish his Bachelor’s Degree in History and later returned as a sound designer last year for Soul Rep’s production of Travisville. He also works as an actor, producer, and editor for 'The Doom Train Players,' an actual play tabletop role playing game podcast.

Jasmine Woods (costume designer) is an interdisciplinary artist based in Dallas, TX. She holds a BFA in Fashion Design from Howard University. She is excited to be back with Soul Rep for another amazing show. Recent design credits with Soul Rep include Cadillac Crew (in collaboration with Echo Theater), and Travisville (winner of the Irma P. Hall Black Theater Award for best costume design). Other show credits Natural Shocks, I and U (Echo Theater), Is Edward Snowden Single (Second Thought Theater), Aida (Lyric Stage), Moon Man Walk (Jubilee Theater), Passover (Second Thought Theater), What to Send Up When It Goes Down (Stage West), Egress (Amphibian Stage) and Black Nativity (Bishop Arts Theater).

Aaron Butler (Stage Manager) is a Dallas native, musician, producer, filmmaker, and educator. He calls music his solace, escape, and salvation. Forgoing the conventional route of a college degree, Butler acquired certification in Audio-Visual Sciences, proving that traditional education isn't the only pathway to success. He is a thriving entrepreneur in the fields of film and television, and an educational consultant for Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts.

Butler’s most cherished role is as the founder of Luxor Society, a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering youth to follow their dreams in arts and sciences—the very fields that transformed his life. He is on a relentless quest to foster communities where dreams are not just nurtured but realized.

Imani McCants (Light Designer) is more than proud to be a part of this production. They are very excited as this is their first design since Stellaluna at age 22 also featuring long-time friend, Maxton Sims. They enjoyed being a part of a process again as opposed to just behind the scenes and this production has them looking forward to future endeavors with Soul Rep. They would like to thank their partner, Sasha, and close friend, Virginia, for sticking with them through this amazing journey and helping them create this beautiful visual.