Cast & Crew

Cheril N. Clarke - Playwright:

Cheril N. Clarke is the author of five novels, Foundations: A Novel of New Beginnings (2001), Different Trees From the Same Root (2003), Intimate Chaos (2005), Tainted Destiny (2006) and Losing Control (2009). She has been featured in Curve magazine, the nation's best selling lesbian magazine, Burlington County Times, Phillyburbs.com, Out IN Jersey magazine, About.com, The Princeton Packet, Philadelphia Gay News (PGN), Clik Magazine, EURweb, 247Gay.com, Femmenoir.net as well as Crain's New York Business newspaper. Her editorial work has been published in About magazine and her opinion columns have been featured on the National Black Justice Coalition's website.

Clarke has also published poems, short stories and reviews of hip-hop spoken word theater in various literary magazines. She was a keynote speaker at an African Asian Latina Lesbians United conference and has performed at events organized by African American Lesbians United for Societal Change. She is currently working on a new script, Asylum, in addition to doing research for her sixth novel, Until the Day Breaks.

Tony Slade - Director for Philadelphia 2009 production:

Tony Slade works as a full-time actor and director in the New York, Philadelphia and Baltimore tri-state areas. He is a veteran of both stage and screen as both an actor and a director. His acting and directorial credits include 8 films and over 20 stage shows, to include the lead role in his latest movie Tapped. He is excited to be a part of Intimate Chaos and excited to work with this great cast. For more information about Tony please visit his official website, www.tony-slade.com or his MySpace page, www.myspace.com/lookin2bcast.

Stephen M. Stahl - Original Director for the Stage:

Stephen Maxamillion Stahl, internationally renowned, award winning film and theatre director, producer, writer and teacher has been called "a superb artist" who fills his work with "sincerity and passion," according to critics worldwide. For more than 30 years this Philadelphia native has been delighting audiences with his powerful direction and writing as well as sharing his knowledge and experience with students of all ages. Mr. Stahl received his early training at The Hedgerow Theatre under Jasper Deeter and Rose Schulman, then moved to New York and studied with Lee Strasberg at the Actors Studio.

His production and directorial credits include over 150 stage shows. He has directed, written for, produced and worked with such well-known talents as Bill Cosby, Patti LaBelle, Sandy Duncan, Jason Bateman, Phyllis Hyman, Evander Holyfield, Billy Joel, Kitty Kallen, Hall & Oates, Grant Shaud, Julie Gold, Joyce Heyser, Hattie Winston, Clint Holmes, Bobbie Rydel, Peggy King, Divine, James Ingram, and Teddy Pendergrass.

Tiffany Barrett as Sadira:

Tiffany Barrett is a rising superstar. Born and raised in Bronx, NY, Ms. Barrett came to the Philadelphia area several years ago. A graduate of Temple University Theater program, Tiffany has cut her teeth in every facet of the media. Her Theater credits include Jitney (Rena) at the inaugural August Wilson Play Festival, and the Philadelphia premiere of A Lesson Before Dying (Vivian Baptiste). Ms. Barrett has also enjoyed performing in Euripides' The Bacchi (Maenad), Valley Song (Veronica), A Raisin in the Sun (Ruth) and Shakespeare's Macbeth (Lady Macbeth). New plays have included, Black Harlem, The Preyer, Pigtails and Babydolls and Sisters Speak.

Her television credits have included The Wire and The Tyra Banks Show as well as several commercial spots. Her film credits include the soon to be released Champawat Pictures film The Mercy Man as well as countless industrial films and videos. Ms. Barrett also serves as a teaching artist to both Interact Theater in Philadelphia, PA as well as the Philadelphia Young Playwrights. Love and thanks to Mommy, Daddy, Aunt Vi, Uncle Jerry, Lamont, Dom, Stasia, Nafeese, Mika and everyone else who has loved me through the storm, and pointed me towards the clearing.

Walter DeShields as Devonte':

Walter DeShields has been performing in the theater for the better part of his life. Hailing from Philadelphia Walter started out in traditional venues at church and school and moved into community and collegiate theater groups. As a vibrant theater actor his theater experience has always been anchored by a responsibility to address issues important to his history and community. While pursuing a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English and Theatre at Penn State University, Walter honed his acting skills in several productions including To Kill a Mockingbird as Tom Robinson; Master Harold and the Boys as Sam; The Lesson: A Hip Hopera as Jamal and Fires In the Mirror as Minister Conrad Mohammed.

In addition, Walter also performed as Robert E. Hayes in the Exonerated earlier this year. Walter has also completed a number of film projects including Common Bond, Knock Em' Dead, Mac the Charm, In Retrospect, Last Dream of America, The Stuff and his first major studio production Cover directed by Bill Duke. On an apparent road to Hollywood, Walter leaves it all on the stage and the audience looking for more.

Nichelle Patrice as Kenya:

Nichelle Patrice, a Philadelphia native, has had a passion for acting since God blessed her with life. A shy child, Nichelle only seemed to open up on stage; whether it was while acting, singing, or dancing. Having noticed her gifts early on, her family enrolled her in The Freedom Theatre, majoring in drama. It was here that she began to hone her talents and build confidence. Continuing on the path to following her dreams, she attended The Philadelphia High School for the Creative and Performing Arts as a dance major and was also a member of The Teddy Pendergrass All-Star Community Choir.

After graduation, Nichelle began to feel as if her dreams and love for performing were unattainable and focused on a "traditional" college education. Before long, she felt incomplete and made a bold decision to go full force in pursuing her first love, acting. Starring in such plays as "The Preyer," "Intimate Chaos," "The Ugly Princess" and "VI Degrees," and "Lil Red Ridin Thru Da Hood." She's also a member of the P.A.L.M.S. Project; an improv. theatre company focusing on the prevention of S.T.D.�s, and H.I.V./AIDS. She has also appeared in movies such as �The Happening,� �Surviving the Streets," "Fatal Love" and "Growing Up." Whoever said dreams don�t come true definitely has not had the pleasure of meeting someone who is living out every, single one of them; with more to come.

Maureene Meinert as Stacey:

Maureene, a native Philadelphian, has been acting since the age of two. Whether it was making up a story of how she 'didn't make that foot-sized hole in the speaker' or running around on stage in various plays throughout her schooling, she can't get enough of it. Even though she took the 'academic route' and obtained a degree from The College of New Jersey, she spent her free time in All College Theater and doing The Vagina Monologues for 4 consecutive years. After, she went to Nicaragua and created a drama program in an elementary school and helped write, direct, and produce her first play in Spanish. Since her bouts around the equator, Maureene has been involved with the Philly Pops Festival choir and Tony'n'Tina's wedding in Atlantic City and in Philadelphia. She is continuing to take more acting classes and take on her dreams of telling the stories of all of us through acting. Maureene is very excited to be in an original, awesome, and real production.

Tanya Randall as Jessie:

Tanya Randall has been the ultimate performer since the day she learned to speak. Born and raised in Philadelphia, she attended Philadanco for 10 years. While attending the University of Pittsburgh majoring in Biology, Tanya enrolled in an acting class under the tutelage of Dr. Vernill Lilly and was bitten by the acting bug. Tanya became a member of the Kuntu Repertory Theater in Pittsburgh as an apprentice and actress. While there, she participated in multiple productions, including Clean Drums, Winter Collage, Fall Collage, The Cultural Diversity Program, and a commercial for The Eye & Ear Institute.

Coming home to her Philly roots proved worthy. Tanya enrolled at Plaza-7 Main Line Models for commercial acting under the direction of Jimmy Carr. She modeled for Body & Soul magazine and performed in a commercial for Channel 6 Action News. Continuing to become the ultimate performer, Tanya attended The Freedom Theater, majoring in drama. She has since participated in the Philadelphia Art Alliance in the play Bed Thoughts. Living by the motto that there is no testimony without a test, Tanya continues to pursue her destiny, to act.

KellyAnn Hueston - Stage Manager:

A Philadelphia native, this is KellyAnn Hueston's first entry into theatre. She brings with her much experience in the arts as a painter, photographer and actor. Her artwork has been featured throughout Philadelphia as a part of The Arts Crawl in Fairmont and the open studio Tours in Northern liberties. She also works exclusively assisting reputable Photographer Joe Chielli of church street studios.

Andrew Thompson - Lighting Designer

Kevin MacLeod - Additional music composition