DOUGLAS LYONS – PLAYWRIGHT

Douglas Lyons is an actor, writer, director, composer-lyricist and playwright. He served as a writer & composer on Apple TV’s 2022 series Fraggle Rock. Douglas received a GLAAD nomination for his Broadway playwriting debut, Chicken and Biscuits. His music and lyrics have been featured on BET Plus, CBS’s Sunday Morning Show, Carnegie Hall’s Voices of Hope Festival and Lincoln Center’s Broadway Songbook Series. As an actor he’s appeared on Broadway in The Book of Mormon and Beautiful (Original Cast), as well as the tours of Rent and Dreamgirls. Other theater writing credits include: Polkadots (Off Broadway Alliance Winner Best Family Show, Atlantic Theater Company). Beau (Adirondack Theatre Festival) and Five Points currently in development with Hamilton’s Andy Blankenbuehler. With musical writing partner Ethan D. Pakchar, Douglas is a 2020 Jonathan Larson Grant finalist.
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THOMAS W. JONES – DIRECTOR

II has directed, written, and performed in more than 200 plays worldwide. In 1978, Tom founded Jomandi Productions, where, as Co-Artistic Director and Producing Director, led Jomandi to become the third largest African-American theatre company in the U.S. His work as writer, director, and actor has been acclaimed nationally and internationally garnering 48 Helen Hayes Award nominations winning 15 awards, including Best Director for Samm Art Williams’ Home and his own Bessie’s Blues. He has also received 3 New York Audelco Award nominations, the Dramalogue Award, the San Diego Critics Award, NAACP Phoenix Award, among others. In 2000, Tom and his co-founders left Jomandi to create the entertainment company VIA International Artists, Inc. and subsequently a musical theatre company VIA Theatrical. He co-executive produced Sonia Sanchez’ CD “Full Moon of Sonia” and accompanying tour. His works include Three Sistahs, Point of Revue, Two Queens One Castle, Bricktop, Heart ‘n’ Soul, Love Johnny, A Cool Drink A Water, Holler, Sheddin’ and Blackberry Daze. Tom’s musical Cool Papa’s Party completed a workshop in New York with Wayne Brady. He directed Kandi Burress’ musical A Mother’s Love, Only Just a Minute and Mary Honey B. Morrison’s play Single Husbands. Other projects include Anne & Emmett, Black Pearl Sings, Big River, Rooms, among others. He also directed a tour of Janet Langhart Cohen’s Anne & Emmett. His most recent work was playwright and lyricist on the new musical For Peace I Rise on the life of Civil Right icon C.T. Vivian presented by Emory University’s Brave New World new work series.