Join us for our DAILY SCRIPT READ presenting local screenwriters’ work read by local actors followed by a discussion.
The Daily Reads have been organized by organized by New England Local SAG-AFTRA President Andrea Lyman and supported by the Directors of the Actors Forum of the Secret Society of Black Creatives.
Script reads will take place everyday from Monday, June 24th to Friday, June 28th from 12:00 - 1:00PM EST online via Zoom.
Click below to join.
MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2024
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ABOUT THE SCREENWRITER
DANTE HAUGHTON
HE/HIM/HIS
Dante is a director originally from New Haven, CT who, through serving in various roles on set, is developing a collection of knowledge to approach filmmaking in a manner that facilitates holistic and lucid creative exploration. He's concerned with the beauty of mysticism, the movement of investigation, and the lift that can come from revising canonical Western narratives. He's driven by and for the effect of wonder.
ABOUT THE SCRIPT
MINUTES OF ARC
A young contractor with daring aspirations struggles to scaffold his independence throughout a mystical and reformative journey of madness.
ACTORS READING
Arthur Williams
Janine Robinson
Joshua Olumide
Justin Davis
Meagan Dilworth
Parmie Polk
Stephen Spencer
TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 2024
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ABOUT THE SCREENWRITER
MACSONNY C. ONYECHEFULE
HE/HIM/HIS
WEBSITE || EMAIL || TWITTER || INSTAGRAM || YOUTUBE
Macsonny Onyechefule is a writer, director, video editor and public relations manager. His longtime love of stories inspired him to create his own. That inspiration fueled his undergraduate studies at Stonehill College and later his graduate studies at Northeastern University’s College of Professional Studies. To attain his master’s degree in digital media, he wrote, directed, edited and shot his thesis short Readmission.
Several years later, he again took on all those responsibilities and starred in the short 4:59 pm. When he’s not writing, he’s expanding his skills and working on video and motion graphics projects that explore different avenues of storytelling. Macsonny is the proud son of Nigerian immigrants and the oldest of four brothers.
ABOUT THE SCRIPT
THE DUFFEL
A young man tries to survive a final confrontation with his former employer following a series of misadventures occurring after he legally obtained a prized duffel bag.
Trigger Warning: Gun Violence, Death
ACTORS READING
Anjie Parker
Ashley Almar
Brenda Ray
Darline Ann Harris
Dashaun Bartley
Gilda James
Jacqueline Parker
Michael Nurse
Rahman Oladigbolu
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 26, 2024
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ABOUT THE SCREENWRITER
GWEN TANNER
SHE/HER/HERS
Gwen Tanner is a writer, photographer and educator from Oakland, CA. Her career designing educational videos and animations allows her to use storytelling to teach and communicate ideas. Her experience in scriptwriting and directing educational videos inspired her love of writing and visualizing scary stories.
Her love of all things horror began at a young age when she was allowed to stay up late to watch black and white creature features with her parents. Her stories reflect what she witnesses in her daily life. Her works in progress include Little Red in the Hood (short film) and The Spicy Blood (novel).
ABOUT THE SCRIPT
THE MEAN PHOTOGRAPHER
A struggling New York photographer wonders why his client list is shrinking. He blames his failures on Allie, his loyal partner and true love. In frustration, he flees to Louisiana to rebuild his life at his family home and win back her love. Instead, he uncovers a family secret that puts him on a path of destruction - and the only one who can save him is Allie.
Trigger Warnings: Violence
ACTORS READING
Chris Everett
Christopher James
Maria Wilkins
Sharon Squires
THURSDAY, JUNE 27, 2024
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ABOUT THE SCREENWRITER
LOIS P. ROACH
SHE/HER/HERS
LOIS ROACH is a writer, award winning producer and stage director. Her screenplay, "Lena and Leonard," is one of 3 dramatic screenplays she has written exploring the stories of Blacks in Boston.
Lois served as one of Resident Artists for the New Rep Theatre through its relaunch in April 2022 to its final season in October of 2023. Lois most recently directed “A Raisin in the Sun” by Lorraine Hansberry for the New Rep Theatre. The production was awarded The Critics Pick from the Boston Theater Critics Association and was nominated for 5 Elliot Norton Awards.
She produced a series of programs for the Museum of African American History, Boston and Nantucket. The shows looked at the role of women in the 2020 U.S. Election; the impact of racism on the health care response to Covid-19; and the importance of Boston's Black community and its allies in the antislavery movement. Each program was anchored with dramatic, historical vignettes and are hosted on the WGBH Forum Network.
As the former Director of Public Affairs for WBZ-TV and Radio, Lois won an Emmy award for spots written and produced about AIDS. She was the coordinating producer for public service campaigns such as “Stop the Violence” and “Time to Care.” For 16 years, she was a live event producer with First Night Boston.
She is currently a Senior Lecturer in the Theatre Studies department of Wellesley College.
ABOUT THE SCRIPT
LENA AND LEONARD
Lena and Leonard meet the night before he leaves for basic training during World War II. Lena moves on with her life and a new relationship with Mad Williams, yet Leonard never leaves her mind or her heart. Leonard and Lena marry when he returns home but life isn’t easy and the city of Boston becomes its own powder keg of rules and regulations. This black couple accepted the challenge of war but can they survive a riot and each other?
TWO SCENES
Date Night at Wally's
Lena and Leonard have a rare date night when Fingers, Leonard's friend from his military days, comes to town to play a gig at Wally's. Now favored sons in Europe, Fingers and his band are embraced by his adopted home once the war is over. The Morgan household is in chaos with Lena's cousin Mabel in charge of the children as the Lena and Leonard head out.
The Front Porch is the Boxing Ring
Leonard hopes to start his own construction business; he thinks he will have a better chance if he moves his growing family to his sister's home in Virginia. However, sometimes wherever you go you follow.
ACTORS READING
Lois P. Roach
Andrea Lyman
Chrystee Pharris
David J. Curtis
Kadahj Bennett
Naheem Garcia
FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2024
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*SUPRISE READING*
ABOUT THE SCRIPT
It’s a surprise, but we promise it’ll be worth waiting for!
ACTORS READING
Dina Jean
Heather Gibson
Keith Mascoll
Odis Spencer
Sonya Joyner
ABOUT the stars
Click on the actor’s image to read their bio and find contact information!
ANDREA LYMAN
SHE/HER/HERS
WEBSITE || ACTOR FILM DEMO || IMDB
Andrea Lyman is thrilled to be attending and participating in the RoxFilm Festival. Andrea is currently the New England Local President of SAG-AFTRA (Screen Actors Guild-American Federation Of Television and Radio Artists), a co-director of the Actors Forum of The Secret Society Of Black Creatives, on the Executive Board of the Greater Boston Labor Council and on the board of Roxbury International Film Festival (RoxFilm Festival). This year Andrea will be in UGLY SWEATER screening at Hibernian Hall June 23rd. In previous years at RoxFilm she was in Daniel Callahan’s award winning film COME ON IN, Liz Eng’s comedy PLUS 1’s and a variety of short films. Andrea has played real life characters in the historical docudrama films HALF THE HISTORY: ELLEN GARRISON: AN ACTIVIST’S STORY playing Ellen Garrison and in NEGRO ELECTION DAY playing the Phyllis wife of the King. This spring she performed on stage in MOMOLOGUES: THE MUSICAL. She performs her one woman musical show BROADWAY LADY. Andrea has performed in Radio City Music Hall’s CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR, ION-TV’s A SNOW WHITE CHRISTMAS.
Anjie Parker
Anjie Parker
SHE/HER/HERS
Anjie Parker, an actor in the South Shore for over 10 years; is a stage, film, voice actress, and writer who will be performing in a free upcoming production of The Suppliant Women with the Apollinaire Theatre this August!
Recently, Parker has begun filming her first feature, an upcoming horror film from Saicon Productions, Sins of the Devil playing the role of Janet. She has performed on an Improv Team under Improv Asylum, and performs historical reenactments with the company Theatre Espresso.
Parker is constantly sharpening her skills in both voice and acting and is currently training her funny bone with Improv Asylums' improv classes. She has been trained in the techniques of Meisner and Chekhov from Scott Fielding at his school, The Michael Chekhov Studio in Boston. She has received training from Brian Mckeever from SoundTrack Recording Studios, and singer/writer Shealeigh Atkinson.
ARTHUR WILLIAMS III
HE/HIM/HIS
Arthur Williams III is a native of Boston, MA who got his start in the arts at the age of (5) years old singing, acapella at the Playhouse In The Park concert. In High School he was trained as a classical 1st and 2nd tenor singer and toured La Coruna, Spain and parts of the US.
Later, he studied dance and theater at Emerson College in Boston and went on to become A professional dancer, gymnast. and later worked for the NFL as a Gymnast and principle dancer/actor with Boston Youth Theater.
As a stage play actor and director he is currently listed with Playwrite’s Platform and has started as Richard in “Blues to Mr. Charlie”; “I’d Rather Be Lucky than Good”; “FENCES” and Lucius in “Jesus Hopped The A Train”.
More recently he has had principal and lead roles in Indie movies and web series such as “Streets Run Red”; “Curveball” and “Sella’s Kitchen”. Currently, he is represented by Model club Inc., and was nominated for Actor of the year in the DASH Awards 2019…and is honored to work with the Roxbury International Film Festival once again.
ASHLEY ALMAR
SHE/HER/HERS
Ashley is a current theatre performance major at Rhode Island College, she holds a Master’s Degree in International Relations from the University of York and Bachelors in Communications from Rhode Island College. She is also a proud Army Combat Veteran. Her theatre credits include Amy in The Opposite of Hot Chocolate with Academy Players of RI. Bianca in Othello with the CCRI Players, Lucentio in Shrew with the CCRI Players, Lucy in Nothing is the End of the World with RIC Theatre and Joan in Small Mouth Sounds with RIC Theatre. Ashley’s will next take on the role of Cleopatra in Antony and Cleopatra with the CCRI Players in August.
brenda ray
“Disappointment is the seed of success." I am a lover of quotes, proverbs, fables, and humor.
It’s my lifeline to happiness. Like many artists, I’m a lifelong learner and a lover of learning both in and out of the classroom. Formerly, I’ve obtained a Bachelor ofScience degree in Biology, Masters of Education in Instructional Media Design from University of Massachusetts Boston and a Bachelor of Arts in Film and Animation from Mass College of Art and Design.
Throughout the years I’ve had the opportunity to grow as both an artist, writer, and scientist. I’ve entertained on stage as an actress, storyteller, puppeteer, and vocalists. There are too many wacky and weird stories of my ventures to put in this bio.
CHRIS EVERETT
SHE/HER/HERS
Chris Everett (she/her) is an Elliot Norton Award nominated actor, singer, writer, and voiceover artist based in Boston. She is thrilled to participate in the International RoxFilm Festival and Daily Reads for the 3rd year in a row. Chris is the lead singer for the blues, funk & soul band, Umami. Recent theater credits include, ONWARD: Votes for Women (Birch Tree Productions), Break, Break (Legion Theatre Project) the debut performances of, can i touch it? (Company One), at the Strand Theater in 2022, Confidential Informant (TC Squared) in 2023, and The Interrobangers (Company One) in 2024. Television credits include, Kevin Can F*** Himself (AMC), SMILF (SHOWTIME), and Castle Rock (Hulu). Film credits include Don’t Look Up, I Care A Lot (Netflix), About Fate, Godmothered (Disney+), TED, The Good House, and Ella McCay (in postproduction).
CHRISTOPHER JAMES
HE/HIM/HIS
Chris grew up in California and made his first appearance on stage in his third-grade class’s performance of “The Elves and the Shoemaker” where he played the Shoemaker. Chris did not pursue acting, instead choosing the Navy, where he was detailed as ‘Escort’ for the “1973 Miss California Beauty Pageant” in San Francisco, California. Later he was again singled-out for a Navy enlistment photo shoot, that ran in 1984-85. After serving 25 years in the service, later pursuing a master’s in social work at the University of Connecticut, Chris studied “Stage and Theater Acting” under Michael Bradford. Working as a member of Professor Bradford’s ensemble, and preforming play’s such as “Black like my Sole is Black”, by Michael Bradford, Chris might have stayed in theater. However, upon exiting the Navy, Steven Spielberg’s “Amistad” had drawn him in to work as Chiewetel Ejiofor’s stand-in. It has been voice over, stand-in, background work and commercial’s ever since. Currently Chris is serving as SAG/AFTRA convention delegate for 2021-2023, and in the running for 2023-2025.
CHRYSTEE PHARRIS
SHE/HER/HERS
INSTAGRAM || FACEBOOK: ChrysteePharris
Chrystee Pharris blazed onto NBC-TV as Simone Russell on the hit daytime soap opera Passions and she returned to NBC at night creating passion with Golden Globe Nominee Zach Braff on the hit show Scrubs as “J.D.’S” girlfriend Kylie. Currently, she can be seen on Craig Ross Jr.’s Monogamy on ALLBLK. She is also executive producing Mercer Island. And you will catch her recurring on Season 3, Goliath on Amazon Prime. This versatile alumni of Emerson College has conquered feature films, theatre and is currently touring her hit one-woman show In Search of O. Chrystee performed in Let Freedom Ring with SNL's Garret Morris, and Lady Patriot, both plays written and directed by Ted Lange. She has received 2 Best Actress Awards and 3 Best Films Awards for her starring role in Steps of Faith, a faith based film currently on Purflix & Amazon. Chrystee has now put on her directing hat. Directing the stage musical Suessical with 35 kids & adults as well as the short Aimee Victoria which has won two awards; Best Director and Best Covid Film.
Chrystee tirelessly donates her time by mentoring at women’s prisons and teen homeless shelters as well as traveling the world from Compton to South Africa as an Ambassador speaking to young people on everything from education to setting goals in order to plan a better future for themselves. Her specialty is speaking about the Business of Acting to young actors. “My success means nothing, if I have not planted a seed in someone’s life.” “I want to give others what has been given to me: hope, vision and determination.” Without a doubt, Chrystee Pharris, the beauty with brains and belief is turning heads and making people take notice in all aspects of the entertainment industry — all over the world.
Darline Ann Harris
SHE/HER/HERS
Darline Ann Harris is an union Actress in Sag/Aftra and AEA with credits on Stage, TV and Film, Radio, and
Voice Overs. Darline began acting in Boston under Susan Batson and left to trained with the Late Ms Beah Richards' Academy of Being in Los Angeles California and with other known Actors. She was an Artist in Residency for the California Arts and Corrections Program. She feels blessed to have perform on the East, West Coast , and other states in the USA as well as in England and Scotland. So thankful to still be living in the Art and also contributing positive energy in our society performing simulations for Medical Students.
DASHAUN KNIGHT-BARTLEY
HE/HIM/HIS
Facebook: Dashaun Knight
I’m 26 with the whole world ahead of me I’m ready to embark on this great journey called life with hope and aspiration. I plan on building generational wealth from my family and making sure all my dreams come true in the process. right now I’m currently working as a behavioral therapist, but that was not always the goal. I’ve wanted to be an actor since I was little. And I even went to Boston Arts Academy as a theater major. Life had other plans for me, but that does mean I stopped loving the idea of being on the big screen, and hopefully one day it will happen. I just have to keep pushing forward.
DAVID J. CURTIS
HE/HIM/HIS
Born in Washington, D.C., but raised in Boston, MA since 6 months, David J. Curtis has been blessed to work in television, film and stage since
2004. David is a director, actor, screenwriter, and producer. Some of David’s production credits include directing/writing/producing and
starring in the short film, “Love of a Lifetime,” due to make the festival rounds this Summer/Fall, co-directing/producing the short film,
“Plus 1s,” written by and starring his good friend, the amazing Liz Eng,acting in and producing the award-winning, full-length psychological
thriller “By the Water’s Edge,” and many other music videos, promotional and testimonial videos. A proud SAG-AFTRA member since 2007, some of
David’s film and television credits include principal roles in TheWalking Dead: Dead City, The Holdovers, Dexter: New Blood, A Very
Vermont Christmas, Julia, Kevin Can F- - - Himself, Don’t Look Up, Whiskey Floats, R.I.P.D., The Maiden Heist, Edge of Darkness and many
more. With many theatre productions under his belt, his most memorable stage credits include “When January Feels like Summer,” “Brokeology,” “A
Soldier's Play,” “The Crucible,” “A Streetcar Named Desire,” and “Mama, I Want to Sing,” David has also been featured in many national and
regional television. In addition to acting, David is also an accomplished multi-instrumentalist, composer, music producer, and sound engineer with many credits to his name.
GILDA JAMES
SHE/HER/HERS
GILDA JAMES SHE/HER/HERS Born in Queens, grew up in Connecticut, later moving to Italy then Florida, and finally Massachusetts in 2015. Married, one daughter, two grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Gilda started acting very young, inspired by her mother’s involvement with community fashion shows. Later she was modeling at the Naval Submarine Base in Connecticut. Then, swimwear in Florida, and Informal wear in Alabama. Trained for runway photography, and dramatic modeling for TV commercials, at the Alabama Talent Agency. At the University of Connecticut, she worked with Michael Bradford, the Professor of Theater Arts. Her brother, Harry Thomas, also helped in her acting career, with her fist movie “Amistad”. The Amistad Movie gave her the opportunity to meet the director, Steven Spielberg and many other actors. From this first movie she was able join the Screen Actors Guild/American Federation of Television and Radio Artiste (SAG/AFTRA). It created more opportunities to work as a stand-in for the Providence Pilot and the movies Proud Mary and The Sleep Over. She has appeared on TV with Gale King, Talk Shows with John Fahey and Martin Olsen, and heard on radio station 980 WCAP with Dorcas Valentine for Senior Voices. Working to expand within the SAG/AFTRA, she ran for union office. Still working as an actor and union board member on the 2019 SAG/AFTRA Board, she was re elected this past year for 2021. She is further involved in her community as an active Poll worker, and volunteer at the Lowell Senior Center’s Age Friendly Group and Board member for Lowell Council on Aging.
HEATHER GIBSON
SHE/HER/HERS
Heather Gibson is a versatile and dynamic actor known for her performances in theatre, television and film. She received her Bachelors of Arts in Theatre from the University of Maryland College Park. Heather just participated in the 2024 Disney Discovers Showcase in Los Angeles, California! Her television credits include guest starring in NBC's Chicago Fire, Tyler Perry's “All The Queens Men” and appearance FX's “American Horror Story”. Theatre credits include "Steel Magnolias" at Everyman Theatre and two Kennedy Center world premieres of "She A Gem" by Josh Wilder and "HERStory: Love Forever Hip Hop" by Goldie Patrick. Heather's currently working on producing her first full length play, "Biscuits & Gravy"; a play dedicated to the bringing together of multiple generations of a very disconnected and dysfunctional multi racial family.
JACQUI PARKER
SHE/HER/HERS
JACQUI PARKER Is an Actor, Playwright, Director and Producer. Miss Parker’s most recent work was directing two short plays in one night, which included, Grace and The Blind Date at Hibernian Hall. Jacqui Parker was recently seen in Chicken and Biscuits at The Modern Theatre as a part of The Front Porch Theatre Arts Collective. She has performed at The Huntington Theatre Company, Lyric Stage Company, Speakeasy Stage Company, Gloucester Stage Company, Wheelock Family Theatre and Theatre Companies across the country including numerous productions by Our Place Theatre Project, where she is the Artistic Director. Miss Parker has won numerous awards including the Boston Theatre Hero Award, The Elliott Norton Award, several Independent Reviewer of New England Awards as well as community leadership awards, including the DRYLONGSO Award for her work in the struggle for racial equality.
JANINE ROBINSON
SHE/HER/HERS
Janine Robinson is an actor, writer, and film-maker and producer. Her passion for collaborative film-making led her to work in numerous film productions in Boston. She continues to working on her book, The Access Road, a Sci-Fi Drama and other screenplays.
JOSHUA OLUMIDE
HE/HIM/HIS
Joshua Olumide is an actor raised in Worcester, Massachusetts. He studied acting at, The American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City. His theatre credits include: Macbeth (Hanover Theatre Rep), Romeo and Juliet (Classic Theatre of Maryland), A Raisin in the Sun (New Repertory Theatre), Our Town (People’s Light), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival). Film credits include: “American Fiction,” (MGM, Oscar winning screenplay). “Detroit” (Annapurna Pictures, directed by Kathryn Bigelow). This summer you can catch Josh out on Boston Common in William Shakespeare’s, The Winter’s Tale, produced by Commonwealth Shakespeare Company.
JUSTIN DAVIS
HE/THEY
Justin D. Davis (he/they) is elated to be returning RoxFilm Festival daily reads this year. Raised in East Providence, RI and now based in Boston, Justin D. Davis is a communicator, connector, and assistant. He appeared as a backup dancer in the highly acclaimed film, "I Wanna Dance With Somebody". His credits include a variety of theater, film and t.v. productions. He is also a singer-songwriter, whose music can be found via his personal website, as well as a dancer with a wide array of styles that he trained, performed, and competed in along the east coast.
KADAHJ BENNETT
KEITH MASCOLL
HE/HIM/HIS
The Triggered Project: www.triggered1.com
The Triggered Podcast: @livingatriggeredlifepodcast
Keith Mascoll SAG-AFTRA,AEA, M.Ed is a Actor, Producer ,Mental Health advocate, Sneaker-head, and Founder of the Triggered Project. Keith is a co-host/Producer of the Living a Triggered Life Podcast with his wife Roxann, a Luminary for the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, 2023 Black Mental Wellness Advocate of the year,2021 Cambridge Community Foundation Social Innovation Award winner, and NASW MA Chapter’s Citizen of the year 2021. Keith strives to use his art for social change in the black and brown community. Keith is also .Keith has a New York Critics Choice award, a Best Actor Award for Love Jones by John Oluwole Adekoje. His film awards include The Amy Hood Award from Roxbury International Film Festival, and a Best Actor Award for The Triggered Project’s Motion Picture Live Stage Hybrid film Triggered Life Directed by John Oluwole Adekoje. Keith started Harvard University last summer, and is pursuing his Masters at the Harvard Graduate School of Education with a concentration in Art and Learning. Look for Keith in the lead role in the movie Confused by Love on Amazon Prime, and as Applesauce in The Polka King on Netflix. learn more about Keith at keithmascoll.com
MARIA WILKINS
SHE/HER/HERS
Maria is delighted to be participating once again in the Roxbury International Film Festival! A proud citizen of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribal Nation, she recently made her stage debut in John Tavano's celebration of Federico Garcia Lorca, Fuénte Grande. Maria began her career as a voice-over talent but quickly fell in love with on camera work, appearing in commercials and several short films. She has also appeared in stage readings by the Native Theatre Thursdays program in conjunction with American Indian Community House/The Eagle Project in NYC.
MEAGAN DILWORTH
SHE/HER/HERS
Meagan Dilworth (She/Her) is an actor, theatre educator, and choreographer. Acting Credits include Atlanta: Father Comes Home from the Wars (Actors Express) Chicago: Tokens of Promise (Digital–Goodman Theatre), A Day of Absence (Congo Square), The Ridiculous Darkness (Sideshow Theatre). Boston: Paradise Blue(Digital-Gloucester Stage) Saturday Night/Sunday Morning (Lyric Stage). She has worked as an educator with Chicago Children’s Theatre, Court Theatre, Kenny Leon’s True Colors, Emerson College, and Trinity Repertory Theatre. She holds a B.A. in Theatre & Performance Studies from Kennesaw State University and M.A. in Theatre Education from Emerson College.
MICHAEL NURSE
HE/HIM/HIS
Sag Aftra member;
Experience: Shakespeare now; Playwrights platform; Speak easy stage; Gloucester stag; Rights and reasons; Theater Hovey players; Puddingstone creative; Sugan theater; New african.
Films: Amistad; Mystic River; Fletch Spenser For Hire; The Departed; Glory; I Wanna Dance with Somebody; Patriots Day; Blown Away; House Sitter; Fever Pitch; What's The Worst That Could Happen
NAHEEM GARCIA
HE/HIM/HIS
Naheem Garcia arrived in Boston from Cuba in 1968. He is the Founder and Lead Teaching Artist for NG Edutainment, an arts education program, founded in Boston Massachusetts. He has been a teaching artist for the Huntington Theatre Company for over 27 years and recently joined the American Repertory Theatre (A.R.T) as a teaching artist, doing pre-show presentations in several Cambridge and Boston Public Schools, for their production of 1776. Naheem is a long time teaching faculty member for Boston Casting. He is the Speaker in Residence for the METCO Program at Sharon High School in Sharon, MA; leads acting workshops with the Boston Police Department’s youth program, “Acting Up With the 5-0”; and has served as a teaching artist at Salva Regina University in Newport, Rhode Island. He is a member of AFTRA-SAG New England and has appeared in several prominent Hollywood feature films, TV, and local and national commercials. Naheem’s most recent principal roles are, The Challengers (Zendaya Coleman); Money Game ( Co-starring as Professor Gardner); The Holdovers ( Paul Giamatti, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Carrie Preston); I Just Wanna Dance With Somebody; Hocus Pocus 2 (Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kathy Najimy); Somebody (The Whitney Houston Story. Feature); Chili (Ryan Reynolds, Will Ferrell, Octavia Spencer/ Apple TV)
ODIS SPENCER
HE/HIM/HIS
Odis grew up in Roxbury, Massachusetts. He went to Brookline High School and became a member of the Dramatics Society. By the time he finished his freshman year, he realized that he wanted to be an actor. Odis then went to Ithaca College to study acting and directing. He studied acting with Oscar Nominated actor Richard Jenkins Aka Ron Parady. He graduated with honors and received his BFA in Acting and Direction. Two years out of college, Odis became a member of AFTRA, AEA and SAG. He worked on local and national commercials during the early part of his acting career. He also performed in radio plays on WGBH Radio. Odis can be seen In the TV series “Spenser for Hire” with Robert Urich - Seasons One and Two, “Here Comes the Boom” with Kevin James, “Defending Jacob” With Chris Evans on Apple TV Plus as the school principal and on Netflix’s “Don’t Look Up” With Meryl Streep as the Chief Justice. Odis also played Professor Leon in a Short film “Miles of Summer” by Sam Zilic, and Oswald in “Magpie Optical” a film by Madeline Kotary and A short Film “Like Me” by Elias Stevens, which will show June 21, 2024 at the MFA at 8pm. In 2023 he was in a commercial for Point32Healthcare.
PARMIE POLK
SHE/HER/HERS
EMAIL || INSTAGRAM || Facebook: Parmie J Polk (Jeanie Polk)
Parmie is excited to be volunteering with the Roxbury Film Festival and participating in the Daily Script Reads again. Her interest in acting first developed as an undergraduate student at Northeastern University, where she performed in a class production of Anastasia. Her drama professor encouraged her to pursue a career in acting, but life intervened. What has remained constant is her love for the arts. An avid theater-goer, Parmie has been a member of the Arts Emerson Play Reading Book Club (PRBC) since it began in November 2014 and has attended dozens of plays through it and the Huntington Community Membership Initiative. She has attended and participated in many Staged Readings. She made her theatrical debut in the 2018 Workshop Performance of Bar Girl of Jamaica, by Robert Johnson Jr. In March 2019, she appeared in a walk-on role in The National Theater’s Landmark Production of JB Priestley’s Classic Thriller An Inspector Calls Directed by Stephen Daldry and presented by Arts Emerson at the Cutler Majestic Theatre. In November 2019, under the direction of Michelle A. Baxter, she was given the opportunity to perform in A Raisin In The Sun at Pine Manor College in the role of Mama, Lena Younger.
RAHMAN OLADIGBOLU
HE/HIM/HIS
WEBSITE || INSTAGRAM || TWITTER || EMAIL
Facebook: Rahman A. Oladigbolu
Rahman Oladigbolu was coming out of a seven-year illness when he moved to Massachusetts to start a new life. He started as a production assistant on films, television, and experimental short films. As a liberal arts/psychology student and a peer tutor/teacher’s assistant, Rahman sought further film training under the private tutelage of film professor Howard Phillips at the Center for Digital Imaging and Animation school, CDIA, an affiliate of Boston University. He published a memoir of his long-term illness, On Holy Pilgrimage: A Long Journey For Freedom, which details his transformative experience of coming to America against all odds to learn filmmaking.
While furthering his education at Harvard University, and working as a mental health assistant with teenagers and young adults with autism, Rahman wrote and produced his first feature film Soul Sisters. The film tells the story of friendship between a Nigerian young woman faced with unexpected challenges as an undocumented immigrant in the United States and an African American young woman searching for her identity as a black woman in America.
Soul Sisters went ahead to win the “Best Emerging Filmmaker Award” at the Roxbury International Film Festival, “Best Film by an African Abroad” at the African Movie Academy Award (AMAA), and “The Artist Award” at the American Islamic Congress, a multicultural and inter-faith organization. It has been screened at film festivals and cultural institutes around the world, including the Cannes’ Pan-African Film festival.
The stories of Rahman’s college friends became his second feature film, Theory of Conflict.
SHARON SQUIRES
SHE/HER/HERS
Sharon is a graduate of The National Shakespeare Conservatory in New York. Roles include: (Juliet) in "Goodnight Desdemona Good Morning Juliet", Nora Theatre Company. ( u/s Elizabeth Keckley) "A Civil War Christmas", The Huntington Theatre Company. (Volumnia) "Coriolanus", Praxis Stage. (Mrs. Settergren & Carnival Manager) "Pippi Longstocking", Wheelock Family Theatre. (Demeter/Damascus) stage reading "And Jesus Moonwalks the Mississippi", Front Porch Arts Collective. (Lucretia/Francis/Shirley) "Onward: Votes for Women"(03/2020), Birch Tree Productions. (Ross) "Macbeth", Repertory/Bouwerie Lane Theatre, NY.
SONYA JOYNER
SHE/HER/HERS
WEBSITE || EMAIL || INSTAGRAM || FB: SonyaJoyner, Actor (no msgr)
Sonya Joyner has been a mainstay of the Boston (and beyond) theatre scene for many years, working with community, fringe, and professional theatres where favorite roles include Gary Coleman (Avenue Q), and Mrs Muller (Doubt, A Parable). She has filmed commercials, independent films, and the award-winning YouTube web series Love Undone (Lead Actor, Director, and Producer). Currently, Sonya is playing the lead in the independent feature film St Jones' Ditch, which is being filmed in MA and RI. You will now find Sonya acting in more interactive roles. She is a Standardized Patient, working in the local medical school programs, a Standardized Witness in mock trials with lawyers, a haunter at Barrett's Haunted Mansion, and a performing, improvisational storyteller with Red Sage Stories/Playback Theatre and Art For Social Change. Voice over, and corporate videos round out her acting projects. She’s even begun doing singing telegrams and in her few minutes of spare time she loves creating in the kitchen!