Cast | Musicians | Tour Production Team

Jefferson A. Russell (Stoop Storyteller) is returning for his second national tour of Harlem with the Kennedy Center's Youth and Family Program. Previously he appeared in both touring companies of Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day as Dad, Dr. Fields and the Shoe Salesman. Recent theater credits include Anna Lucasta, Blood Knot, Blues For An Alabama Sky, Hecuba, Heathen Valley and Fences. He also participated in the Voice of America and LA Theatre Works' audio production of A Lesson Before Dying. Jefferson is a veteran of Arena Players, Inc. in Baltimore, the nation's oldest, continuously operating African American Theatre, celebrating its 50th Anniversary during the 2002-2003 season. During his tenure there he has appeared in Home, Imperfection Flawed, An Enemy of the People, Before It Hits Home, Checkmates, The Amen Corner and Zooman and the Sign among other productions. He also appeared as Malcolm X in The Meeting, a co-production of Arena Players and Encore Theatre, also in Baltimore. Television credits include NBC's Homicide: Life on the Street, and HBO's upcoming The Wire. Jefferson is a graduate of Hampton University and former Baltimore Police Officer. To the ancestors, for not only enduring in times of adversity and challenge but also prevailing. To the storytellers, for keeping the traditions of the ancestors alive and vital for the generations to come. And, as always, to Alice and Bruce, Sr.

Musicians

Alvin R. Atkinson, Jr. (Drums) is a second-generation musician who became a student of the drum at the ripe old age of eight and has been playing ever since. With humble beginnings in the church, Alvin was an all-state tenor through high school, as well as an auxiliary percussionist. He received the Louis Armstrong Award, the highest honor for jazz in high school. Inspired by the likes of Art Blakey, James Black, Ed Thigpen, Roy Haynes and Elvin Jones; Alvin has been trained by some of the pioneers in the field,. Alvin has served as an instructor at both UNC - Chapel Hill as well as Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA. As an instructor and musician, his quest is to allow people to hear melody and harmony through the drums much like the music of Africa, Brazil, Cuba and all other parts of the world that are transcendentally in sync with the essence and spirit of rhythm and the harmony of nature. Highlights of the last year include: house drummer for the 2002-03 season of Emeril LIVE on the Food Network, performing with Jazz at Lincoln Center with both the Wycliffe Gordon Quartet and the Wynton Marsalis Octet,

Claudia M. Melton (Pianist/ Vocalist and Lead Musician) hails originally from Corpus Christi, TX and currently resides in the Dallas/Ft. Worth Metroplex. She studied and obtained a Bachelors of Music - Jazz Studies degree with emphasis on Vocal Performance at The University of North Texas. As a student, she was a member of The Association of Professional Black Musicians where she toured with Duke Ellington's "Sophisticated Ladies" to Crested Butte, CO. She performed with the UNT Jazz Singers around the scene and also with the greatest college ensemble to tour the great southwest - "The Zebras". The Zebras, under the direction of Dan Haerle, performed at the Wichita Jazz Festival and many tours around the world. While singing professionally for several years, Claudia has worked with "The Road Crew", with Verve recording artist, Roy Hargrove, Norah Jones of Blue Note Records, and R&B sensation label Atlantic Records recording artist Ray J. Claudia plans to obtain a Masters in Music and further her music career as a vocalist/pianist and continue to work with many other great artists.

Jeff Novack, (Musician) is returning for his second national tour with the Kennedy Center, having been the bassist with the 2002 production of Harlem. Hailing originally from New York, Jeff earned his B.M. in performance from the Berklee College of Music in Boston. After graduating Summa Cum Laude from the college, he received a scholarship to study at the University of North Texas. While there he studied with bassist Lynn Seaton while playing in The Three O'Clock Lab Band and The UNT Jazz Repertory Ensemble, as well as being awarded one of two jazz bass teaching fellowships. Since receiving his Master of Music degree in Jazz Studies, Jeff has performed with such groups as: Rounder Records' recording artist Smokin' Joe Kubek, The Richardson, Texas Symphony Orchestra and Little Jack Melody and His Young Turks, appearing on their live album, Noise and Smoke. In addition to his playing experience, Jeff has also appeared on: the CNN special, Berklee Turns 50, the Good Day Dallas morning show, and in the independent film, The Riff, alongside veteran actor Antonio Fargas.

Tour Production Team

Susan Kelleher (Lighting Director) - Ms. Kelleher is pleased to continue her association with the Kennedy Center's Youth and Family National Touring Program. She has also served as the lighting director for the first national tour of Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, and as the assistant technical director for the first national tour of The Nightingale. When not on the road, Ms. Kelleher works in and around Washington D.C. frequently at the Youth and Family programs home theater, The Theater Lab, at the Kennedy Center.

Nathan R. Miller (Technical Director/Sound Director) comes from northern Virginia and freelances for several Washington DC area sound companies in addition to operating his own part time sound company. His fascination with professional audio began in late 1996 when he started mixing sound for his church. His fascination grew during his college years when he became involved in on-campus production at Virginia Tech, as well as theatre department productions and Music department recordings. In 2001 he began working for theatres and pavilions in the DC area. This is Nathan's inaugural tour and hopes to continue in the field of live touring productions.

Karen Storms (Stage Manager) Karen has enjoyed working at the Kennedy Center on many different projects, including the Suzanne Farrell Ballet, Merrily We Roll Along, Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse, Tales of a 4th Grade Nothing (tour), New Visions/New Voices, and Debbie Allen's Dreams and Soul Possessed. Other regional credits include The Invention of Love, Far East, and A New Brain at the Studio Theatre, and Three Sistahs at MetroStage.