Lillie Iris Andrews is native to New Orleans and was born while her father was serving as an MP in the Pacific Theater during World War II and her mother, a housewife, was living with her in-laws in the Marigny neighborhood. Both of her parents were raised in the St. Roch neighborhood. She is a proud product of Orleans Parish Public Schools, a graduate of SUNO and Tulane University. She has been a Public Servant for over 40 years having worked at Federal Agencies in Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas. She spent the last 20 years as an employee of the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals as a social worker, addictions counselor and compulsive gambling counselor. She has lived in Gentilly (70122) for over 30 years. Presently, she serves as a Self-Appointed Community Public Health Advocate. Lily Iris is eagerly looking forward to her next phase of life as a servant.
Barry Blackman is a US military vet who studied Technical Theatre & Fine Arts at the University of Houston. He also graduated from Tulane University having studied Biological & Engineering Science. He also built the theatre space for Dashiki Theatre on Fulton St as Production Manager and opened the Riverwalk as Technical Director in New Orleans. He served as Site Rigger and Night Concert Asst Stage Manager for the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. He additionally performed duties as a Rigging Grip and Set Electrician for IATSE in and around New Orleans And Atlanta. His performance credits include musical appearances in Atlanta with Jimmi Esspirit, Bilal Sunni-Ali, & Paul Sidiki Lancaster.
Cinnamon Boyd was born in Florida and raised in Southwest Georgia, currently lives in the Gentilly neighborhood, and recently graduated from Delgado with a degree in business management. She has been a resident of New Orleans for 6 years now. She knew from the first visit to New Orleans in 2013 that she wanted to make this city her home. She is a mother to one 11 year old daughter, and she and her fiancé are expecting their son in just a few weeks! She is a self employed tax professional and enjoys spending time with her family, traveling and binge watching her favorite shows. This is her first theatrical project and she is excited to be a part of this project!
Ma'ayan Israel is an Israeli-American multimedia artist who moved to New Orleans in 2016. She has been a resident of Gentilly for the past two years. Ma’ayan received her BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She has always been inspired by stories and storytelling, and looks for ways to express them visually through art, puppetry or animation. This experience has given her the precious opportunity to meet with wonderful creative neighbors, to collaborate and share stories with each other, and learn a lot about how weather and climate change work and affect our lives and relationships.
Lori Elizabeth Parquet is an actor, director, and playwright from New Orleans, Louisiana with a B.A. in Theatre Arts from Cornell University. She is also a Creative Partner of Flux Theatre Ensemble. Her New York City stage credits include Macbeth, Dispatches From (A)mended America (Off-Broadway, Epic Theatre Ensemble), and Medea (Phoenix Theatre Ensemble). She made her international debut performing in Pillars of Society at Teater Ibsen in Skien, Norway. As a director Lori has assistant directed The Public Theater’s most recent Shakespeare in the Park productions of As You Like It, and Twelfth Night. As a playwright, Lori was selected as one of six featured playwrights for Season Five of the Fire This Time Festival.
Mia Rotondo is an activist educator with over 18 years of experience in accessible education. After coming up in Philly as a paraeducator, teacher, grant writer, and co-creator of theatre programming for autistic young people, she headed South in 2012. The New Orleans community has graciously made space for her to continue learning and put down roots that have grown deep over the past 9 years. Mia works closely with fellow radical educators, students, and community members to dream, build and facilitate flexible, child-led learning spaces. While on sabbatical from full-time teaching, Mia has continued her work with KID smART to develop and provide professional development and coaching opportunities grounded in creating more just spaces for young folks.
Kelly Walton was born in St Louis, Mo, then from birth on lived first on the campus of Mary Holmes College (West Point, MS) then Dillard University on to the Oak Park area of Gentilly. She is the mother of four adult children and Gigi to a wonderful grandson. She has been a calligrapher since 1979 and an artist since the 1980s running her own business Artistique Ink. Kelly has also been a part of numerous liturgical dance ministries : collaborating with her childhood friend Ariel Charles Adams (leader) as co leader of Adonais Footsteps and Children of Zion (Mount Zion United Methodist Church) & Adonais Grace (Greater Grace Fellowship) presently as ministry lead. Kelly is excited about being a part of this Gentilly project with such a phenomenal group of people .
Jennifer M. Williams is the Communications Manager at the arts service organization Alternate ROOTS. She is passionate about collaborating with artists and recently served as the Public Programs Manager at the New Orleans Museum of Art. Before taking on her role at NOMA, Williams served as the Deputy Director for the Public Experience for Prospect.4. For six years, Williams served as the Director and Curator of the George and Leah McKenna Museum of African American Art. As a visual art curator organizing exhibitions & performances, Jennifer is committed to contributing to the cultural and artistic landscape in the city and across the region. She received her B.A. in History with a concentration in Art History from Georgia State University.