Meet the Collective
Aaron Spain Bey is a Columbia, Maryland native and Morehouse College Graduate in Economics and Foreign languages. He is very thrilled to be in his Southwest Art Center debut. He wants say thanks to his supportive family and friends and hopes you enjoy the show!
Ciara Shaw, a native of Stone Mountain, Georgia started her acting career at an early age but began studying theatre at Spelman College. A recent graduate of Penn State University, Ciara received her MFA in Acting and realized at that point that being an artist is what seriously feeds her soul. She was last scene in the theatrical productions of Clybourne Park (dir.Steve Broadnax) and Polaroid Stories (dir. Eric Johnson). Want to learn more, follow Ciara on social media
@theciarashaw
Ivan Gaskin
Seattle Poet
The answer is love.
@ivan_gaskin
Jessenia Ingram is beyond thankful for the opportunity to be involved in Into the Black Box. Jessenia is a recent graduate of Spelman College with a degree in Theatre and Performance and a minor in Management and Organization. Currently, she is working at the Alliance Theatre as a Spelman Leadership Fellow and will go on to be an EGOT winner. Jessenia gives many thanks to her parents, brother, sisters, and friends for their endless support and love as she continues to blossom into the woman she is destined to be. Follow her @jesseniaingram.
Jovan Davis, also known as Kofi. I'm from Upper Marlboro, MD, a proud alum of Suitland High School, and Morehouse College. Special thanks to my amazing parents. Without either of them, I would not stand before you today. Peace and love be with you. Enjoy the show!
Julian Ethan Tillery is a musician, artist, and teacher. He has returned to the Southwest Arts Center after a short stint as Technical Theater Instructor at Tri-Cities High School and currently serves as the Arts Education Coordinator Theatre. Julian holds a Bachelor's Degree in Drama from Morehouse College and a Diploma in Audio Technology from SAE Institute of Atlanta.. @juliantillery
Kelsey Newman is a native of Little Rock Arkansas, now residing in Atlanta Georgia. Kelsey has a bachelors degree in Performing Arts from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and is now earning a Masters Degree in Creative Leadership at SCAD Atlanta. Kelsey has been acting, singing, and dancing for over 10 years. She is extremely grateful for this opportunity to be able to express her creativity with an even more talented cast in the debut of “Into the Black Box.” All thanks to God, and the love of her parents,family, and friends for their forever support.
Kenesha T. Ryce was born and raised in Austell, Georgia. She recently returned to the Atlanta area where she is teaching violin, writing children’s books, hosting her podcast Fam Talk, and working on other creative and entrepreneurial endeavors. Kenesha received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Music in 2017 from Oakwood University, an HBCU in Huntsville, Alabama. In 2018 Kenesha published Vio’s Violin, the first book in her We Imagine Music series for young musicians.
Madeleine Wood is a firm believer is the idea that art is the breath of the soul. As a visual and performing artist, she finds herself “breathing” through many different media and inspirations to grow her understanding of the world and to help provide the world with a better understanding of itself. An Atlanta native, Madeleine grew up in the Southwest Arts Center, where she was able to develop a well-rounded experience in the realm of arts, as well as cultivate her visual and performing artistic skills. She earned her BA in Fine Arts from Spelman College. It was in her time at Spelman that she learned the importance of building herself as a free-thinking black woman as well as building up her community. She went on to graduate from William Esper Studio in New York. During her time in New York, Madeleine combined her entrepreneurial spirit, artistic education and thespian background to create designs for a number of brands large and small alike, as well as to develop a showcase for young emerging artists, called Platform. Some of her credits include Vagina Monologues (M. Power Arts), Roots of a Lily (Broadviews on Broadway), When October Goes (American Bard Theatre) and Damaged Virtues (National Black Theatre), Pudding (Atlanta Black Theatre Festival), and Re-Member. She continues to use her art to become her highest self, while inspiring others to do the same.
Tessence Pearson is an Atlanta native. Her passion for the arts started before she could talk but it was being a part of the Performing Arts Musical Theater magnet program at Tri-Cities High School that opened her eyes. Tessence earned her Bachelor’s of Arts in Mass Media from Clark Atlanta University. She is the creator of “The Next Big Move,” and independent series which you can catch on YouTube. Tessence was also a Teen Artists Academy Alum and she’s honored to be back to showcase her talents amongst those she worked beside in 2011. This singer, actress, dancer, and screenwriter looks forward to being an EGOT winner. She owes everything to her mother, Lawanda Pearson and strives to be an amazing role model for her little sister Kylee Pearson.