Brittney Bluitt (Daughter) is delighted to be making her stage debut with Soul Rep Theatre. She portrayed “Anarcha” in Soul Rep’s first film, DO NO HARM earlier this year. 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.” 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.

Monique Ridge-Williams (Big Mama), a Soul Rep company member, is a native of Dallas and holds an MFA in Acting from the California Institute of the Arts and a BFA in Theater from Prairie View A&M University. Prior to returning to Dallas twenty years ago to start her family, she worked regularly as an actress in Hollywood, appearing in the critically acclaimed and very first black drama for television with James Earl Jones, UNDER ONE ROOF. Monique was also featured on TOUCHED BY AN ANGEL and NYPD BLUE. Her select stage acting credits include YELLOWMAN, ANGELA’S MIXTAPE, HURT VILLAGE, THE TRINITY RIVER PLAYS, and THE COLORED MUSUEM.

La'Hunter-Smith (Miss Lamama/Miss Tom/Choreographer), 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!

Renee Miche’al (Aunt Mae/Miss Shine), a Soul Rep company member, studied at the University of Texas at Austin. Miche’al has acquired several credits in commercials, television, independent and corporate films, radio/voice, local and regional theater. Her most memorable acting role was “Hester” in Soul Rep’s production of Pulitzer Prize winning playwright, Suzan Lori-Parks’, IN THE BLOOD.  Her recent acting credits include DAY OF ABSENCE (Metamorphosis Theater), THE FREEDMANS, (Soul Rep) and THE MINOTAUR (Theatre Three). Renee is the founder of Roots for Youth. She currently teaches Theater for Lancaster ISD’s Barack and Michelle Obama 9th Grade Center and West Main Fine Arts Elementary. She is a cultural artist with the City of Dallas and is currently working on her Masters in Child and Adolescent Developmental Psychology at North Central University, with expected graduation in May 2022.

Jasmine Shanise (Miss Mary/Dee Dee/Maggie) is a film and stage actress and native of Dothan, Alabama. This marks Jasmine's third production with Soul Rep. Jasmine’s select theater credits include: “Berta, Berta!” and “Young Gifted and Black” (Jubilee Theater), " Single Black Female" (Soul Rep), "Ruined" (Bishop Arts Center), and "A Life in Shambles" to name a few. Jasmine's film and tv experiences include a role opposite Catherine Keener (Get Out) in No Future, the lead role of Renee in Blocked; a project in which she starred in and served as executive producer.  When she’s not acting, Jasmine enjoys music, sports and entertaining her two children: Zarah and Zahavi.

Natasha Wells (Miss Corine/Miss Rosa) is excited to make her acting debut with Soul Rep! She is a Houston native and graduate of Booker T. Washington High School for the Visual and Performing Arts in Dallas. She completed her vocal studies with her Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance at Dallas Baptist University and her Master of Music in Voice and Master of Liberal Arts degree at Southern Methodist University. As a professional singer and actress, some of her theatre and stage credits include: Kitchen Dog Theater, “Get Up Stand Up”, Drive-in Concert Series; Abyssinia, Pleasures and Palaces, and Desert Song with Lyric Stage; Shouting Down a Quiet Life with Rover Dramawerks; Where Earth Meets the Sky with Cara Mia Theater; Black Nativity with Bishop Arts Theatre; Slave Letters and Confessions of the Slave Nat Turner with MBS Productions. 

She made her acting debut with Play Now Enterprises touring stage play Watch Night: A Freedom’s Eve Story where she was an understudy for the renowned actress, Irma P. Hall. She was a nominee for an Irma P. Hall Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical as well as a Column Award nominee for Best Featured Actress in a Musical and Best Actress in a Play. Natasha thanks her heavenly Father, mother, family, Antioch Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church family and friends for their love and support in pursuing her purpose and calling through the performing arts! Find Natasha at natmezzo.wixsite.com/mysite

Kayla Gilchrist (Fannie Mae/Young Woman) is an actress and storyteller with a BA in Communications and a minor in Theatre. She utilizes her training, wit, and background to resonate with all audiences. This production marks her debut with Soul Rep Theatre Company.

Anyika McMillan-Herod (Director) is co-founder and Executive Director of Soul Rep Theatre Company. She is a Dallas native and alum of Booker T. Washington High School (’89), holds a BFA in Theater from Prairie View A&M University, and studied acting in California Institute of the Arts’ MFA program. She is also an actor, author, and playwright. Her select directing credits include DO NO HARM, NAT, DOT, THE TRINITY RIVER PLAYS, FROM THE MISSISSIPPI DELTA, THE TROJAN WOMEN, PURLIE VICTORIOUS, HER STORIES, and TREES DON’T BLEED IN TUSKEGEE.

Her most recent play, commissioned by the Association of Practical Theology, DO NO HARM, will receive its world “stage” premiere with Soul Rep as part of ATTPAC’s 2021-22 Elevator Project season. Anyika is a 2019 Public Voices Fellow with the OpEd Project. For more information on Anyika’s work as writer, visit www.anyikaherod.com

She dedicates this production to her late grandmother and best friend, Eva Catherine Partee McMillan.

Malaisian Ann Parker (Stage Manager) 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 in Dallas. She is very excited to be continuing her professional development with Soul Rep once again. She has worked on projects in the DFW area making her mark as a stage manager, assistant stage manager, backstage crew, director's assistant, and actor. Favorite pieces she has been in include: Almost Blue; Lizz, The Talented Tenth; Pam, False Hopes; Claudia, Macbeth; First Witch, Good Kids; Deirdre, and Baby with the Bathwater; Miss Pringle. She also has a background in dance and singing. She is so grateful to Soul Rep and the ladies of Shakin' The Mess Outta Misery for always making her feel like family. 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.

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).

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