Black Artists: Changemakers Creating History
The Harlem Chamber Players: Photo by Steven Pisano.
Today is the first day of Black History Month. While we honor the Changemakers of the past, I would also like to present the present class!
It’s been my honor to collaborate with these Black Artists. You should know and follow them.
Jelani Aladdin
Most known for his roles in Disney’s Frozen, Hercules, and AMC’s The Walking Dead, Jelani is also a producer, the founder of Dumont Millennial Productions.
What I admire most is his courage: openly sharing his experiences as a Black gay man in America and on Broadway. Jelani encourages others to use their words, raise their voices, and look consciously at the power of storytelling.
Hassan Anderson
Recently named the Yale School of Music 2019 Distinguished Teaching Artist of the Year, American oboist Hassan Anderson is a soloist, chamber musician, conductor, and teacher.
Currently, Mr. Anderson serves on the faculty of the renowned Juilliard School of Music, Manhattan School of Music, The Harlem School of the Arts and is the founding Director of Music at Wetherby-Pembridge School (NYC). Mr. Anderson was recently named Co-Artistic Director of The East Coast Contemporary Ensemble (ecce) and Director of Educational Programming for The Harlem Chamber Players.
What I admire most about his Hassan is his ability to hold all of these positions! He leads and manages with incredible grace.
Kathryn Allison
From Broadway to the board room, Kathryn is a true CHANGEMAKER.
She’s already performed on New York’s biggest stages: Broadway’s Aladdin, Wicked, and Company, as well as solo concerts at Joe’s Pub and 54 Below. Her long-awaited debut solo album, Something Real, is now available on all platforms.
What I love most about Kathryn is how she uses her powerful voice in other areas. She is a Board Member of CLOTH: Community League of the Heights, and a vocal activist for POC, LGBTQIA+, and body positivity.
Tonya Canady
Known for her roles in I Know This Much Is True, The Politician, New Amsterdam, Tonya Canady is an actress and producer.
Behind-the-scenes, Tonya is a Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker. She is also a caregiver. First, for her paraplegic mother, and now for her paraplegic brother.
What I admire most about Tonya is not only her productivity (go girl!), but also her luminous spirit. She is constantly sharing light, joy, and inspiration through word and deed.
Erin Elizabeth Clemons
Perhaps most known for her critically acclaimed work as Eliza in Hamilton and Eponine in Les Misérables, Erin Elizabeth Clemons is an American Actor and Singer.
What I admire most about her is her mission to help others feel seen and heard. Inspired by family, she is the founder of the #HeartHelpers movement and community on Instagram.
Shawn Cortel
A principle performer on CBS, NBC, STARZ, truTV, indie films, commercials, and more, Sean Cortel’s first short film, Drop-Off, also received acclaim in the film festival circuit nationally and internationally.
Nathan Lee Graham
Ubiquitous and singular, Nathan Lee Graham is an American cabaret artist, stage, television and film actor, singer, writer, and director. He may be most known for his performances as Todd in Zoolander and Zoolander 2, Frederick in Sweet Home Alabama, and Geoff in Hitch.
Beyond the consistency and discipline required to sustain a life and career in the arts, what I admire about Nathan is his commitment to authenticity.
Lunie Jules
A Haitian-American Actor, Coach, and Entrepreneur, Lunie Jules is currently launching Jules of the Nile, an eco-conscious fashion line that amplifies voices, inspires curiosity, and changes the way people communicate.
As an award winning actress and writer, she has been seen in Barrow Group’s Apprentice Company, Teatro SEA, Theatre 80, AlphaNYC Theatre Co, and the New Perspective Theater.
Karen Parks
Karen Parks is a Fulbright Scholar, Olivier Award nominee and Billboard chart-topper. She is also a master teacher and vocal consultant at YoungArts and President, CEO and Director of Stagebound.
What I love most about Karen is her commitment to her students. She is raising the next generation of artists.
Liz Player
Liz Player is the Founder, Executive and Artistic Director of The Harlem Chamber Players. An accomplished Clarinetist, she has performed in venues such as Carnegie Hall, CAMI Hall, Merkin Concert Hall and Brooklyn’s Forecast Music.
What I admire about Liz is her ability to lead, manage, and grow her organization. In spite of a global pandemic, The Harlem Chamber Players continues to produce important work.
Antuan Raimone
Affectionately known as Magic, Antuan Raimone is an NYC-based speaker, performer and advocate. He is currently the Universal Swing for the Pulitzer Prize and 11x Tony award-winning musical, Hamilton.
Beyond his work in the arts, he is an advocate and speaker. As a Survivor of childhood sexual abuse, he is an Advisory Council Member, Advocate and Speaker with the Offices of Victim Services of NYC and volunteers with Live Out Loud of NYC as an openly gay role model to LGBTQ+ Youth.
What I love most about Magic is his vulnerability: sharing his story and inspiring others to also become a Soldier of Love.
Drew Shade
Award-winning journalist and industry trailblazer, Drew Shade is an American Producer and Actor. He is the Founder of Broadway Black, The Antonyo Awards, and is the creator and co-host of the Off-Book Podcast.
Drew knows how to create and I’m constantly in awe of his work.
Angela Renée Simpson
With a music career spanning over 30 years, Angela Renée Simpson is an internationally acclaimed dramatic Soprano who has performed all over the world—from Carnegie Hall to La Scala.
She is also nationally recognized as a top-rated voice teacher, voice over artist, and the host of Juicy Interludes with Angela, presented by Verismo Magazine.
What I love about Angela is her tenacity and discipline. She always shows up and delivers!
Messeret Stroman Wheeler
The singular, Messeret, is an award-winning actor, producer, and philanthropist. She can be seen on The Sopranos, Law & Order, and dozens of commercials.
Messeret is an Ethiopian name that means Foundation or Cornerstone. Messeret lives up to her name as a Board Member, HBCU alumnus, AKA member, and Associate Producer of The American Slavery Project.
Tegan Summer
The CEO of Timeless Stage & Screen, Tegan Summer is a Producer, Librettist, and Lyricist. He is known for his focus on bio-musicals and holds the worldwide stage theatrical rights for the properties of James Dean, Harvey Milk, Malcolm X, Amelia Earhart, and more.
Jamaal Wilson
Most known for his Broadway performances in The Book of Mormon, Jamaal Wilson is an actor and singer.
What I love most about Jamaal, beyond his incredible voice, is that he quietly does the work; moving from show to show.
Black Arts Organizations
I’ll be celebrating Black businesses later this month, but I would also like to highlight the following Black arts organizations. While I’ve collaborated with a few, they should be on your radar and included in your entertainment or philanthropy budgets!
