My History

I consider myself blessed to have been working in the theatre industry for over 46 years. There is nothing greater than waking up every day and doing what you love. I live to put on a play!

I began my theatrical foundation in 1974, when I founded the LaVerne Players, Inc. in Raleigh, North Carolina during my college years. During that time, I produced, directed, and performed in over 200 performances as the company’s director. I later graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) with a Master of Fine Arts in Acting. Then I moved to New York City (NYC) and began working with Broadway Producer Dr. Woodie King, Jr., successfully touring 30+ productions nationally and internationally for the National Black Touring Circuit (NYC). In 1989, I helped create the National Black Theatre Festival, the world’s largest black theatre festival that brings over 60,000 visitors to the City of Winston-Salem, North Carolina. I’ve had the honor of teaching at several prestigious universities such as the University of North Carolina, the Ohio State University, Yale University, the University of Massachusetts, the University of Rochester, Life University, Morris Brown College, Georgia State University, and Shaw University. My decades of work in the theatre industry have afforded me the opportunity to work with many influential figures such as Oprah Winfrey, Denzel Washington, Dr. Maya Angelou, Sidney Poiter, and Samuel L Jackson!