SHAWN WOODWARD – WINNER – Best Black Actress – International
AARON BRAXTON – Best Black Actor
BENTLEY LEWIS – WINNER – Best Child Actor
GARRET DAVIS – Best Supporting Black Actor
GARRET DAVIS – Best Supporting Actor International
A graduate of the Master’s Program in Radio/TV/Film Production at Kent State University, Meredith McKenzie (White Woman on Porch) spent much of her early Hollywood career behind the scenes as a Producer and Program Executive on such projects as ‘Guilini in Japan: The LA Philharmonic Series’ for PBS (National Emmy Nominee for Classical Program) and CinemAttractions (various cable outlets) as well as a TV commercials producer for Comcast and KADY-TV.
After a hiatus of several years while working as a successful real estate broker in Los Angeles (where she and her client were featured during the very first season of HouseHunters), Meredith returned to her true love of acting, inspired by her early years in working with the well-respected John Kenley Players Summer Stock Program.
An experienced and avid Western equestrian, Meredith most recently appeared with her former rodeo roping horse, Lobo, in a ‘Sons of Thunder’ episode for Pure Flix.
In 1968, Edward Jones, Jr. began his career of more than 50 years in radio, television broadcast and cable management and production in Cincinnati, Ohio at public television station, WCET. His participation in a special outreach program to introduce black youth to television production enabled him to demonstrate to staff an intuitive skill for directing live television and visual storytelling. Despite his teenage years, Ed also displayed a gift for motivating production staff and an advanced interest in video and broadcast technology.
His distinguished 53-year career includes tenures as a producer/director, executive producer, program manager for television stations: WCET-TV; KDKA-TV, Pittsburgh, PA; WTOP-TV and WDVM-TV (now WUSA-TV) in Washington, DC; and WFSB-TV, Hartford, CT. Ed’s brought his commercial experience to the education sector as General Manager of Howard University’s public broadcast station, WHUT-TV/Channel 32 (now WHUT-TV) and WDCU-FM (Now C-SPAN Radio 90.1 WCSP-FM in Washington, DC). Presently, he serves as the General Manager and Executive Producer of UDC Cable Television, a 24-hour adult educational channel operated by the University of the District of Columbia. Early in his career Ed concluded content creators determine the images that shape viewers’ perceptions of other people and society. His life-long commitment to diversity in the content creation process motivated him to make tv career opportunities available for numerous people of color.
Ed has accumulated numerous television and radio production credits and awards. Recently, his producing and post-production work on “I Knew George” earned him a record 6 Telly Awards. The organization’s executive director Sabrina Dridje said, “This is an incredible achievement with the number of high-caliber entries submitted… As a Telly Winner, you are a standard bearer of excellence in our industry.”
During his broadcasting career, Ed attended seminary to become an ordained Baptist Minister and pastored Fellowship Baptist Church in Silver Spring, Maryland for 22 years. He has also served on the board of advisors for the Freedom Forum First Amendment Center at Vanderbilt University, Board of Directors for the National Association of Television Program Executives, Foundation of Minority Interests in Media, and the Children’s Express Foundation. In addition, he been an advisory board member for the National Black Media Coalition, Howard University School of Divinity and the Bowen Center for the Study of the Family at Georgetown University.
In 2021 The Board of Governors of the National Capital Chesapeake Bay Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences inducted Ed into the Gold Circle Award at the Gold & Silver Ceremony held at the Samuel Riggs IV Alumni Center at the University of Maryland in College Park, Maryland. The Gold Circle honors those who have contributed significantly to the broadcast or cable industry over 50 years in the National Capital and Chesapeake Bay region.
Leiloni Arrie Pharms (Leiloni) was born in Sacramento CA, and moved to Atlanta, GA in the Summer of 2012. There she began a career in TV/Film and Commercial at the age of four. Now at 13 years old, she’s played in popular series such as NET FLIX’S STRANGER THINGS, ABC’s MIXED-ISH, Freeform’s GOOD TROUBLE, Tales on BET, and younger versions of both Cynthia Erivo in HBO’s THE OUTSIDER and Gabrielle Union in BEING MARY JANE. Leiloni loves singing and songwriting, dancing, hanging out with her friends and family, and roller skating. She loves taking classes at the Amazing Grace Conservatory, in Los Angeles, CA.
Michelle Masters is an entrepreneur, home and business owner, horse enthusiast and sometimes fabulous actress. She grew up in New Zealand. She now galavants between Oregon and California where she manages her homes, horses and creative endeavors.
Full of color and life she brings light to the screen and hearts of every person and project she touches.
Max Coley Fletcher is a 10 years old highly skilled chess player and gamer from Compton, CA. He is a trained actor, dancer and singer who began training at Amazing Grace Conservatory under the direction of Wendy Raquel Robinson at the young age of 5. Max has graced the stage in several productions such as Hercules Jr as Panic, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate as Mike TV, and The Lion King as a Wildebeest and Ensemble to name a few. He has also been selected to be a part of three amazing short films. One of the short films was a parody named “Holiday Gifts for Ain’t Shit People” where Max played the young boy Ray Jr. Most recently he was in the short film Dragonfly directed by Lorey Hayes.
Max aspires to touch the world through his various roles acting, singing and dancing on stage, in tv, commercials and film productions for years to come!
April Mae Davis was last seen as Maya Angelou’s mother “Vivian Baxter” at NC Black Repertory company’s world premiere of “Phenomenal Woman” by Angelica Chéri.
REGIONAL: Succession, In the Red and Brown Water, Twelfth Night (The National Black Theatre Festival) The Right Reverend Dupree in Exile, Black Nativity (NC Black Rep) Native Son, Jump, Everybody, Julius Caesar, Tartuffe, Sense and Sensibility (Playmakers) and more.
TELEVISION: The Booze, Bets and Sex That Built America, For All Mankind
EDUCATION: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (MFA), North Carolina A&T State University (BFA), British American Drama Academy’s Midsummer in Oxford Program
aprilmaeacts.com @aprilmaeacts
This charismatic young guy found himself interested in acting at the age of 6.When he joined a rehearsal for The Jungle Book in the City of Inglewood, CA performing arts Program that was already two weeks into practicing, he looked right up to the director, shook his hand and said “What’s my part?” Clearly not shy! When he hits the stage he feels at home though he dreams to be on television.
Landon began training at Amazing Grace Conservatory with Wendy Raquel Robinson at age 8. He Loves it there and feel like his true self shines through. He has been chosen to participate in each production since he began training there.
Most recently he was in the short film Dragonfly directed by Lorey Hayes, where he acutally got to experience being in front of a camera.
Landon enjoys dancing, video games, riding his bike and making people laugh. His hope is to be an A List actor on day.
Originally from Alexandria, Virginia. Mildred Marie Langford is a LA- based actor, writer, producer, content creator and the Founder and CEO of Little Black Pearl
Production, a new faith-based and social justice focused independent production company founded with the aim to spotlight strong female-driven and transformative narratives.
Her television and film credits include Grey’s Anatomy, Amazon original series BOSCH, Delilah, Chicago MED, Masters of Sex, BOSS, Upload, The Good Side of Bad, Grow Up, Dimensional Shift, Analysis Paralysis, Magic Funhouse, Market Value, Your Beautiful Baby, Concrete Rose and Egg Day.
Other noted works include The Three Phases of Isa, which centers on the story of a young women, who trapped in an abusive marriage, confronts her younger selves to try and gain the freedom she so desperately seeks, and Justice for Ezra, inspired by the senseless shooting of Ahmaud Arbery.
Mildred is also the co-creator, co-writer, and co-executive producer of the six-episode dramedy series Commune (YouTube – Commune: The Series) and co-producer and co-writer of the new dark anthology series Ticker.
She is a Co-Founder and current President of The Black Creators Collective, a non-profit
arts organization whose mission is to bring artistic resources and knowledge to low-resourced communities in the South Los Angeles area, while also creating and developing opportunities for artists of color. She is also a member of the new grassroots coalition Support Black Theatre.
Mildred earned her B.A. in Theatre from George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, and is an alumni of the renowned Ensemble Training Program, The School at Steppenwolf in Chicago, founded by actors Jeff Perry and Gary Sinise.
The Dragonfly Tale is Lorey Hayes’ film directing Debut. Co-written with Bobby Crear and based on his life growing up in Texas, The Dragonfly Tale is derived from Lorey and Bobby’s multi-award-winning full-length play of the same name.
Ms. Hayes is an Award-winning writer/Actress, theater director, former talk show host/news reporter.
www.loreyhayesjoyfuljourney.com
The Dragonfly Tale is Lorey Hayes’ film directing Debut. Co-written with Bobby Crear and based on his life growing up in Texas, The Dragonfly Tale is derived from Lorey and Bobby’s multi-award-winning full-length play of the same name.
Ms. Hayes is an Award-winning writer/Actress, theater director, former talk show host/news reporter.
www.loreyhayesjoyfuljourney.com
A veteran of stage and television, world-renowned Hollywood actor Garret Davis is one of the more visually-effective performing artists in mainstream entertainment. His note-worthy versatility as a film dramatist, commercial model, voice-over talent and episodic guest star on an admirable number of American TV shows has earned him top-drawer status within an elite league of distinction. Garret is an active member of SAG/AFTRA One Union and AEA.
Garret often says, “My career is my PASSION!”
Dalani Olivia Johnson is thirteen years old born and raised in Los Angeles, Ca. She’s currently an eighth grade Honors student at Palms Communications Media Magnet Middle School.
Dalani has been a part of the Amazing Grace Conservatory since she was five years old. Since that time, she has participated in multiple productions at the Nate Holden theater as well as The Little theater at LA Southwest college. Dalani has performed at the Disneyland Celebration of Gospel for the past 4 years, as well as sang with the Amazing Grace Conservatory choir for the NAACP 2020 after party award ceremony, 100 Black Women and the Cancer Society. Dalani’s most recent body of work is her role as Wanda in the The Dragonfly tale.
In Dalani’s free time she loves to read, write, travel, sing, dance and spend time with family and friends.
Sarai Hicks is currently the reigning Little Miss African American Queen 2022-2023. She is an avid dancer and actor. She has been acting since the age of 6 and has studied with The Amazing Grace Conservatory under the direction of Ms. Wendy Raquel Robinson since the age of 8. She has recently done commercials for Nike’s Zion 2 shoe line, Culligan water, and Genentech which promotes diversity in healthcare. She is currently a middle school student at the prestigious Debbie Allen Middle School where she continues to study dance and maintains a B+ average. She is a triple threat and rising star.
Shawn Woodward is a professionally Meisner trained actor, studying at Play House West under the tutelage of Jeff Goldblum and Robert Carnegie. She carried on to study at Thor-Carter Studios.
Prior to taking a twenty-year hiatus to raise her family, Shawn’s versatility as an actor can be found in various television and film projects, ranging from sitcoms, such as Fresh Prince of Belair, to dramas, such as, When a Man Loves a Woman. She believes her real-life experiences adds a richness and credibility to her on screen roles. She is known for her portrayal of strong women and is currently appearing in Daniel J. Egberts award winning short Chorus.
Realizing her love of filmmaking, her interest, and skills, expanded well beyond the performing arena, Shawn has worked behind the scenes as well. She has worked in commercial production, film editing, and crewed several independent projects. She has also just completed a 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training program. Namaste!
Bentley Lewis, 11 years old, is an aspiring actor from Inglewood, CA. He attends the Amazing Grace Conservatory (AGC) in Los Angeles, under the direction of Ms. Wendy Raquel Robinson. Bentley has appeared on-stage in two AGC productions, A Soulful Christmas (Dec 2021) and The Lion King (May 2022). In A Soulful Christmas, he played the role of a young Ebenezer Scrooge, who stole from kids at church, yet held a special place in his heart for young love. He serenaded this young love with the 1970s Stylistics classic, I’m Stone In Love With You, and performed a groovy duet with the older Scrooge in Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone by The Temptations. In AGC’s 25th anniversary production of The Lion King, Bentley played young Simba, singing I Just Can’t Wait to Be King and Hakuna Matata, and conveying the range of emotions from youthful pride and ambition, to deep despair of losing his father in the gorge. The Dragonfly Tale is Bentley’s first film and his first leading role.
Bentley loves to act, sing, dance, play sports (basketball and soccer), and play video games. He enjoys traveling, and trying new things like surfing, kayaking, and different cuisines. He even enjoyed escargots, until he found out what it was!
Aaron Braxton is a true renaissance man. As a playwright, his acclaimed solo play, Did You Do Your Homework? ran a record breaking 9 months at the Beverly Hills Playhouse and garnered a “NAACP Image Award,” and an “International Gala Star,” from Romania. Other notable plays include BROKEN, which won a “Max K. Lerner,” and “Inroads Fellowship,” and has been a finalist in several playwriting competitions, as well as Belafonte Unauthorized, a solo play about the legendary Harry Belafonte.
Also a multi-award winning screenwriter, his screenplays, The Passage of Sun, To Lie Beneath, A Long Way From Sunday and The Longest Goodbye as well as his TV pilot, The Sub are among the most awarded scripts in the competition and film festival circuits. In addition, his short film, The Skin I’m In, has won several national and international film awards.
Aaron has also authored several books; markedly the 2019 Emma Children’s Book Award nominee, Jesse and the Caterpillar Who Got Its Wings.
Also an accomplished actor, he has starred, guest starred and co-starred in many films, television and stage plays including the upcoming theatrical releases of the 2023 films 20 Minutes, The Laundress and Dragon Fly Tales.
Hailing from Roxbury, MA, now living in Los Angeles, he holds a B.A. from SDSU and a M.A. from USC.