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MAHALIA: A Gospel Musical – Creative Team


The Creative Team


PATDRO HARRIS – DIRECTOR

Patdro has directed at distinguished theaters such as The Alliance Theater, Sacramento Theatre Company, Round House Theater, Liberty Theater Cultural Center, San Diego Repertory Theater Company, Penumbra Theater, Tuskegee Repertory Theater, Ensemble Theater, True Colors Theater Company, Tribeca Performing Arts Center, Connecticut Repertory Theatre, Syracuse Stage, Indiana Repertory Theatre, Howard University, Syracuse University, Florida A&M University, and University of Northern Colorado. He also served as choreographer, artistic consultant, and movement director with the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, The Kennedy Center, Studio Theatre D.C, City Theatre of Pittsburgh, Minneapolis Mixed Blood Theatre, Jomandi Productions, The National Black Theatre Festival, Guthrie Theater, The National Black Arts Festival, Portland Center Stage, and Broadway’s Royal Theatre.  Patdro has traveled the world as choreographer and lead dancer for the incomparable Stevie Wonder. His talents were also showcased as Choreographer and Movement Specialist in Toni Morrison’s world premiere opera, Margaret Garner.  He choreographed the Tony Award-winning Broadway hit, A Raisin in the Sun starring Sean Combs and Phylicia Rashad. Patdro choreographed The Movie A Raisin in the Sun and he also did additional choreographic work on the movie The Gospel.  

LAWRENCE FLOWERS – MUSICAL DIRECTOR

Lawrence is an American Gospel music singer, actor, song writer, producer and founder of multi – indie award winning Gospel Group, Lawrence Flowers & Intercession. He attended Florida State University where he studied Music Performance/Edu & Psychology. He received both national and international exposure from his Billboard charting, praise and worship hit song, “More.” He has had the opportunity to collaborate with many notable artists, including R&B recording artist “Tweet” and Q Parker (112), as well as gospel artist Eric Dawkins, Paris Bennett (American Idol Season 5) and Delvin Choice (NBC’s The Voice – Season 5), to Name a few. Since his relocation to Atlanta, GA, Lawrence has been featured in Own’s Greenleaf (season 2 & 3), Black Nativity (Dominion Entertainment Group), Raise Your Voice (AGI Entertainment), Toxic Avenger (Atlanta Horizon Theater), and Dream Girls (Atlanta Lyric) – where he played the role of CC White brother of Effie White.

LISA WATSON – PRODUCTION STAGE MANAGER*

Lisa L. Watson an Atlanta native, received her undergraduate degree from Clark Atlanta University and went on to pursue graduate studies at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts in Scenic Design. While in NY she worked with the Negro Ensemble Company, New Federal Theatre, Crossroads Theatre and Diane McIntyre’s Sounds in Motions among others. Returning to Atlanta in 1992 she joined Jomandi Productions as Production Manager, a position she held for 10 years. Most recent projects – “90 Years-Birthday Celebration for Dr. Joseph E. Lowery” , “MLK – A Monumental Life” for Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity for the unveiling of the King Memorial in Washington DC with Creative Eye Productions and “A Bluesman in the Life of the Mind” celebrating the retirement of Cornel West from Princeton University at the McCarter Theatre.

CALVIN JOHNSON – LIGHTING DESIGN

Calvin G. Johnson is an accomplished lighting and production designer specializing in integrating lighting and video into one cohesive design for concerts and corporate events. Since it is becoming increasingly more common these days for video and lighting elements to be combined into a singular design aesthetic, he has expanded his focus to include both principles of design when conceptualizing a show. Calvin is not only a highly sought after designer, but a well-versed programmer on some of the most state of the art lighting consoles in the industry such as the GrandMA. With the aid of various media servers such as Resolume’s Arena, Calvin can play back both video and lighting elements to create spectacular shows. Having access to someone with such an expansive set of skills offers an abundance of creative opportunity when developing a production. Overall, his underlying philosophy is to create a visual statement that supports his clients vision.

SEAMUS BOURNE – SCENIC DESIGN

Seamus is a native of Tenafly, NJ by way of Los Angeles, CA and New York, NY. After graduating in 2005 from UNC Wilmington with a BA in Theatre, Seamus stayed in Wilmington and worked with several community theatre companies while also working at Scenic Asylum, a large-scale scene shop, as a draftsman and carpenter. In 2006 he moved to Bloomington, IN to attend Indiana University to pursue an MFA in Scenic Design. Seamus is a member of the United Scenic Artists, Local 829, the labor union. Seamus has taught design, technology and stage management at Berry College in Northwest Georgia and currently serves as Production Manager for Actor’s Express.Metro Atlanta theatre goers may have seen his work on the stages of Actor’s Express, Atlanta Lyric Theatre, Aurora Theatre, The Center for Puppetry Arts, Georgia Ensemble Theatre, Theatrical Outfit and the late Theatre in the Square. Regionally, Seamus has designed at theatres in Kearney, NE; Richmond, VA; Sullivan, IL; and Tulsa, OK. In addition to theatre and in his ample “spare time” he enjoys cooking, listening to music on vinyl, photography, reading, and traveling.

MARSHELIA PARRISH – COSTUME DESIGN

Marsheila is a Costume Designer for film, stage and television. Her love affair with clothes became evident at a very young age and she began sewing at the age of 13. After earning her
bachelor’s degree in fashion merchandising her professional journey in fashion design began in 1991 custom designing & tailoring bridal gowns and special occasion dresses as lead designer for the company Sew Unique Inc. She has since avidly pursued her passion for film and received her Certification in Digital Film Technology from Clayton State University in 2015. In addition she established her company, MPVOGUE in 2013, which specializes in image & wardrobe styling, professional space organization and apparel alterations. Marsheila believes that clothing has the power to define, heal and empower. Her life
mission is to teach and reveal that in every opportunity and individual that presents itself in her life’s journey. Her latest design credits include Jack Squad 2 Movie(costume designer)
Black Nativity & In The Heights (wardrobe master), Jackie Red (costume designer) Kaligrafee’ singing trio (wardrobe stylist).

The Producing Team


ROBERT JOHN CONNOR – EXECUTIVE PRODUCER

Robert John Connor, MFA CEO/Artistic Director for Dominion Entertainment Group and founder of Dominion Arts Foundation, Inc. has enjoyed a 40+ year career in the performing arts. As a professional performer, Robert has appeared in a variety of stage productions including: 110 in the Shade, Once on this Island, Camelot, Crowns, The Club, Urinetown, Queen of the Blues, Higher Ground, Come out of the Rain, Tyler Perry’s I Know I’ve Been Changed and Jezebel. His directing credits include: In The Heights, Chicago, Cinderella, Hairspray, Jar the Floor, Dreamgirls, The Amen Corner, Romeo & Juliet, Execution of Justice, Black Nativity, Hairspray, Miss Saigon and the world premiere of the amateur production of The Color Purple. Some of his film and television credits include: Star on FOX, Greenleaf (OWN), A Different World, The Cosby Show, the film Glory, and Showtime at the Apollo. Robert can be heard on the two-time Stellar award-winning soundtrack to Greenleaf (Season 2) and has sung with a variety of artists including: Michael Buble, Gladys Knight, Barry Manilow, Byron Cage and Cassi Davis. 

JEREMY CORMIER – COMPANY/BUSINESS MANAGER

Jeremy E. Cormier holds a Business Administration degree from Morehouse College and a MBA from South University. Cormier has served as a Financial Analyst for the State of Georgia where he has analyzed a portfolio of federal and state funding of $1.8 Billion dollars. His entertainment projects range from working production featuring Nicki Minaj, Ludacris, T.I, Shirley Murdock and a host of others. Additionally, Jeremy is the CEO of Jeremy Cormier Presents, an entertainment company based in Atlanta, GA. He has worked on several service and entertainment projects over the last 12 years. Those projects include organizations such as the late James Brown Family Foundation where he currently serves as Director of Special Programming, Morehouse College Community Service Day and organized a project with two of the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. children.Cormier is currently partnering with several schools in the southern states to bring awareness to bullying with an anti-bullying initiative titled, For Members Only: Rising Up 2 Bullying.

S. RENEE CLARK – ASSOCIATE PRODUCER/ MUSIC CONSULTANT

S. Renee has had a very exciting career in music. She’s performed in all types of ensembles ranging from jazz, dance, soul, funk, rock and country music to gospel, choral and classical.  She toured for 12 years as a solo performer (piano/vocal) across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.  Some of Ms. Clark’s music contributions to the theatre include Horizon Theatre(Cowgirls, Every Tongue Confess, Sheddin, Avenue Q—2011 Suzi Bass Award for Outstanding Music Director, Madeline’s Christmas, Three Sistahs, The Thing About Men, Cafe Puttanesca); Theatrical Outfit (Gift of the Magi, Big River–2009 Suzi Bass Award for Outstanding Music Director, Gee’s Bend, Waiting To Be Invited, Ain’t Misbehavin’); Fabrefaction (Urinetown); True Colors (Spunk); Trey Anthony’s(Da Kink in My Hair); Alliance Theatre (By the Way Velma Stark, Jesus Christ Super Star Gospel, Jacques Brel, Avenue X); Center for Puppetry Arts(Ruth and the Green Book, Brer Rabbit). She has MD’d musicals at Georgia State University, Clayton State University and Clark/Atlanta University. She was the co-writer and composer of Travelin’ Black which premiered at Theatrical Outfit.