Dwayne P. Mitchell, is a Boston based actor and artist. His stage credits include: Choir Boy (SpeakEasy Stage), Fences (The Umbrella Stage Company), Ragtime (Wheelock Family Theatre), La Cage Aux Folles (Reagle Music Theatre), The Frogs, Metamorphoses, and Good Kids (Boston Conservatory at Berklee). Screen credits include: Reed Between the Lines (BET), Reconstruction: America After The Civil War (PBS), and My Parents, My Sister, and Me (NBC). He received a Bachelor of Arts in Music, from the historically black institution, Fisk University; and is a graduate of the Boston Conservatory at Berklee, where he earned a Master of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre. Dwayne continues to use his platform to advocate for diversity, inclusion, and bridging opportunity gaps for black artists and artists of color in the performing arts. 

Jackson Jirard* (Company) (he/him)is a New Orleans born and Pennsylvania raised, now Bostonian artist and educator. He received his B.A. in Psychology from Stanford University, his M.Ed. in Human Development & Psychology from Harvard Graduate School of Education, and has been researching power, responsibility, and emotional well-being in artistic spaces for many years. He’s danced professionally with Ballet Austin in Texas, Sacramento Ballet in California, and Jose Mateo Ballet Theatre. He’s also choreographed for New Repertory Theatre and Columbia Pictures, and performed for several other local companies. Having grown up in Massachusetts, Jackson continues to excitedly re-familiarize himself with the New England scene as Associate Director of Rehearsal for Life’s Urban Improv. He’s also super grateful to Front Porch & Central Square Theater for keeping the dream of Ain’t Misbehavin’ alive!

*Member of Actor’s Equity Association

Lovely Hoffman* (Company & Dramaturg) (she/her) is an Award-winning singer, songwriter, and theater artist. In 2015, Lovely received an IRNE Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her role as Celie in the New England premiere of the The Color Purple at Speakeasy Stage Co. In 2017, she released her single, “My Black Is Beautiful,” a song about self-love, which went viral and reached #45 on the Adult Contemporary radio charts. Lovely has been featured on CNN and BET, and in Teen Vogue and Essence magazines.  In 2019, Lovely Hoffman performed background vocals for Mariah Carey’s, “All I Want for Christmas” concert in Boston at the Wang Theatre. Theatre credits include: The Huntington Theatre, Boston Lyric Opera, Reagle Music Theatre, New Repertory Theatre, Lyric Stage Co. of Boston, Greater Boston Stage Co., Moonbox Productions, and The Umbrella Stage Co.   TV Commercials: Lysol “What It Takes to Protect,” NFL “We Ready.”  Lovely is a graduate of Boston College and a proud member of the Actors’ Equity Association. LovelyHoffman.com.

*Member of Actor’s Equity Association

Christina Jones (Company) (she/her) is so excited to be a part of this production. She started out singing and has participated in various vocal competitions such as American Idol and Amateur Night at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, NY. She recently made her Speakeasy Stage Co. debut as Erzulie in Once On This Island. Other credits include: Cabaret (Ensemble), Shrek the Musical (Dragon), Big Fish (The Witch and Josephine respectively), and For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/ When the Rainbow is Enuf (Lady in Yellow). She is currently studying musical theater at Boston Conservatory at Berklee, and has an album out entitled You Were My Compass, with songs written by Kimiko Ishizaka. When she’s not studying or doing theater, you can find her writing songs and poetry.

Veteran Texas stage, film and television actress Libby Villari, best known for her recurring role as Mayor Rodell in NBC’s “Friday Night Lights”, and her turn as the Grandmother in “Boyhood”, for which she and the rest of the cast won the SAG Award, says the real genesis of her film career came with the notion Texas Governor (1991-1995) Ann Richards had to persuade California film and television producers to come shoot their projects in Texas, ya’ll!  Texas became “the third coast” for filmmakers and Villari’s screen career took off.  She did 13 screen projects during Ann’s 4 year tenure, and she hasn’t stopped since. Villari has a knack for being hired by legendary directors like Robert Altman, Clint Eastwood, Alan Parker, Lasse Halstrom, Robert Rodriguez, Richard Linklater, Peter Berg and David Nutter.  In 2002, after a 30 minute improv session with Ethan Hawke, Linklater cast Libby as Patricia Arquette’s mother Katherine in his epic film “Boyhood”, which shot over a period of 12 years and won Best Picture at The Golden Globes, People’s Choice and Spirit Awards.  In 2005, Peter Berg tapped Villari to play Mayor Lucy Rodell on “Friday Night Lights” because she reminded him of Ann Richards, and he fashioned her character accordingly – a hell on wheels politician.  Villari has guest-starred on numerous television series, including Grey’s Anatomy.  (See her full resume on imdb.com) Libby’s made over 40 films in her 30 years in the business, starred in numerous plays, toured with theater companies like the Southern Theatre Festival, and performed with the legendary Hip Pocket Theatre at the Edinburgh Theater Festival. She has two new films about to premiere: “Yellow Rose”, starring Broadway star Eva Noblezada, has won Grand Jury prizes at film festivals around the country, soon to be released by Sony Pictures, and “The Vast of Night” coming to Amazon.  Libby holds a B.A. in Theater from North Texas State Univ. She is now focused on performing Holland Taylor’s ANN in regional theaters around the country, with Taylor’s blessing and support.  Her ANN has already played several houses including  the Zach Theatre in Austin and the Dallas Theater Center,  and will be seen this year at Laguna Beach Playhouse, the Nora Theatre in Cambridge, and Theatre Squared in Arkansas. She splits her time between L.A. and Eagle Mountain Lake in Texas where she shares home and hearth with her husband of thirty years and her critters. Special thanks to Holland Taylor, Matt Barnes, & Kevin Bailey. Represented by Progressive Artist’s Agency & Rothman/Andres Entertainment Management.