James McBride is an award-winning author, musician, and screenwriter. His landmark memoir, The Color of Water, published in 1996, has sold millions of copies and spent more than two years on the New York Times bestseller list. Considered an American classic, it is read in schools and universities across the United States.

His debut novel, Miracle at St. Anna, was turned into a 2008 film by Oscar-winning writer and director Spike Lee, with a script written by McBride. His 2013 novel, The Good Lord Bird, about American abolitionist John Brown, won the National Book Award for Fiction and was made into a Showtime limited series in fall 2020 starring Ethan Hawke. His recent novel The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store was named Barnes & Noble 2023 Book of the Year.

McBride has been a staff writer for The Boston Globe, People Magazine, and The Washington Post, and his work has appeared in Essence, Rolling Stone, and The New York Times. His 2007 National Geographic story "Hip Hop Planet" is considered an important examination of African-American music and culture.

A noted musician and composer, McBride has toured as a saxophonist sideman with jazz legend Jimmy Scott, among other musicians. He has written songs for Anita Baker, Grover Washington Jr., Pura Fe, Gary Burton, and even for the PBS television character "Barney." (He did not write the "I Love You" song for Barney, but he wishes he did.) He received the Stephen Sondheim Award and the Richard Rodgers Foundation Horizon Award for his musical Bobos, co-written with playwright Ed Shockley. His 2003 Riffin' and Pontificatin' musical tour was filmed for a nationally televised Comcast documentary. He has been featured on national radio and television in North America, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. He often does his public readings accompanied by a band.

A native New Yorker and a graduate of New York City public schools, McBride studied composition at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music in Ohio and received his master's degree at the Graduate School of Journalism at Columbia University. In 2015, he was awarded the National Humanities Medal by President Obama "for humanizing the complexities of discussing race in America." He holds several honorary doctorates and is currently a Distinguished Writer in Residence at New York University.

Ed Shockley is the author of more than 50 plays that have enjoyed both commercial and critical success, including the record-setting musical Bessie Smith: Empress of the Blues. Other notable works include The Liars' Contest (winner of the HBO New Writers Competition) and the stage adaptation of Mildred D. Taylor's Newbery Award-winning novel Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry. He is the recipient of the Stephen Sondheim Award for Outstanding Contributions to American Musical Theatre, the $25,000 Richard Rodgers Award (presented by the American Academy of Arts and Letters), the New Professional Theatre Writers Festival prize, the American Minority Playwrights contest prize, two Pennsylvania State Arts Council fellowships, the Lila Wallace/Reader's Digest Production Fellowship, and numerous other awards. Shockley has taught at many universities and schools, including New York University, Nassau Community College, St. Paul's School, and Temple University (Future Faculty Fellow), and he has coached thousands of authors through the Philadelphia Young Playwrights Festival and Young Writers Day lecture tours. Currently he is a senior lecturer at both University of the Arts and Rutgers University (Camden Campus) and is artistic director of the Philadelphia Dramatists Center.

Donovan Louis Bazemore: Broadway: Disney's The Lion King (Young Simba). Regional and National Tour: Disney's The Lion King (Young Simba), Rachel (Quintessance Theatre), Ragtime (Arden Theatre), The Snowy Day (Arden Theatre). TV: Survival of the (Netflix), FBI: Most Wanted (CBS), The Last OG (TBS), Dope Thief (Apple TV+). Grateful for my family and my team at CESD and Mara Entertainment LLC.

Lourde Childs is a multi-talented, contemporary recording artist and producer from Phoenix, Arizona, currently studying at Berklee College of Music. He has performed at many reputable venues and events including the Phoenix Symphony Hall, 2017 National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Awards, and the MGM Music Hall at Fenway in Boston.

Carla Cook is a jazz vocalist who has earned a GRAMMY nomination for her debut, It’s All About Love, and critical acclaim for her two subsequent recordings. In addition to performing, Cook is proud of her work as an educator. She is currently on the faculty at The Juilliard School as instructor of Jazz Vocal seminar and private voice.

Ivey Dunham makes her New York debut in Bobos, bringing the precision of classical training and the electric energy of a next-generation performer. A Berklee College of Music candidate and UNCSA alumna, she arrives with roles in Legally Blonde, A Chorus Line, and an undeniable spark.

C.K. Edwards: Broadway: Shuffle Along, After Midnight and Billy Elliot. National Tours: Disney’s Frozen (u/s Olaf & Weselton) and Book of Mormon (Doctor). Off-Broadway: Songs About Trains (New Ohio Theatre), Don’t Bother Me, I Can’t Cope (Encores!) and I ❤️ Bob (The Joyce Theater). Regional: Guys & Dolls (Sky Masterson, Sharon Playhouse), The Scottsboro Boys (Roy, Signature Theatre), Anything Goes (The MUNY), and Sophisticated Ladies (Duke, NJ PAC). @ckedwardz

Lindsey Hailes is a Brooklyn-based artist, songwriter, and performer from Kansas. She has toured nationally with various productions and started in the Tony-winning Broadway musical Hadestown. Now releasing music as Hailes, Lindsey creates soulful, evocative songs that showcase her artistry, passion, and dedication to storytelling through sound and performance.

Sophia Meinel is a Philadelphian vocalist and Berklee alumna, effortlessly blending soulful artistry with dynamic musical talents. Her exceptional vocal prowess and emotive abilities guarantee listeners an unforgettable experience. Having shared stages with legends including Ledisi, Hezekiah Walker, and James McBride, she now joins this incredible cast for an exhilarating performance.

Jhardon Dishon Milton: Broadway: Tina: The Tina Turner Musical (OBC), A Bronx Tale. National Tour: Company (1st National). Off-Broadway: the bandaged place, (Roundabout Theatre), The Black Clown (Lincoln Center & a.r.t.). Regional: Into the Woods (PCLO), Rent (MUNY), Little Shop of Horrors (Tantrum Theatre). TV: Blue Bloods, Harlem, and And Just Like That. Thank you God, mama, and big love to Rochel Saks.

Kevin Trinio Perdido: Broadway: Once Upon a One More Time (OBC), Almost Famous (OBC). Regional: In the Heights (La Mirada Theatre), Once Upon a One More Time (Shakespeare Theatre Company DC), Mamma Mia! (East West Players). He's also been in multiple indie films that have circulated film festivals across the US and Europe.

Ty Stephens has enjoyed a varied career that spans almost 50 years, Philadelphia native, vocalist/songwriter Ty Stephens boasts two Broadway shows: Duke Ellington’s Sophisticated Ladies and the Marilyn Monroe bio Marilyn, An American Fable, touring the world for three years with the legendary Harry Belafonte. With his band (the) SoulJaazz, he spent six summers in Monte Carlo at the world famous Sporting Club, opening for, among others, Stevie Wonder, Tony Bennett, Al Jarreau, George Benson, Steely Dan, Janet Jackson, Eric Clapton, Alicia Keys, Prince, Charles Aznavour, Celine Dion….), toured Eastern Russia and South Korea with the US State Department and headlined in Tokyo, Japan at the Kawaguchi Jazz Festival. Ty is also co-writer/co-producer for stage shows Shades of Harlem, From My Hometown, On Kentucky Avenue, and more.

Miguel Ángel Vásquez: Lionized for his “golden voice” and “ardent baritone.” Miguel was most recently seen as Sweeney Todd in Sweeney Todd (Portland Center Stage, Perelman PAC), World Premiere of Watch Night (Jazz at Lincoln Center), Stonewall (New York City Opera, Met Museum), The Mother of Us All (NY Philharmonic). Regional favorites: Evita (A.R.T), Ragtime (Penn. Shakespeare Festival), Side Show (White Plains Performing Arts Center), Beauty and the Beast (NBFT), Into the Woods (Rehouse Performing Arts). International: Festival of the Aegean (Greece), Don Giovanni, Die Zauberflöte, Madama Butterfly. Opera: Odyssey Opera: X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X (BMOP, GRAMMY-nominated), Carmen, Der Keiser Von Atlantis, Le Nozze di Figaro, Lucia di Lammermoor, and Madama Butterfly. @mv0803 MiguelAngelVasquez.com

Lafayette Harris performs and records with Houston Person. He has toured with some of the greats including Max Roach, Ernestine Anderson, Jon Hendricks, Donald Byrd, Archie Shepp, Melba Moore, Jennifer Holliday, Slide Hampton, and The Ellington Orchestra. Theatre credits include: Bobos, assistant conductor and keyboardist in the 1995 hit Broadway musical: Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk, and Jelly’s Last Jam and Pal Joey (pianist, City Center Encores). He has released 10 CDs, including: You Can’t Lose with the Blues on Savant Records, which was #1 for 2 weeks on the Jazzweek Jazz Chart February 2020 and stayed top ten for 14 weeks. His newest CD Swinging Up In Harlem also made it to the top 10 peaking at number four in the Spring 2023. He’s currently in the process of finishing up CD number 11 due for release spring 2025.

Lance Bryant: Saxophonist, composer, and arranger Lance has performed extensively with major artists such as Lionel Hampton, Phyllis Hyman, and Abdulah Ibrahim. His Broadway experience includes After Midnight, Shuffle Along, featuring Audra McDonald, and MJ The Musical. Lance is currently serving as an adjunct professor at Montclair State University.

Patrice McBride is a DJ and music producer with over 30 years of experience in the live entertainment industry. Patrice is recognized for his musical depth and his ability to cross genres seamlessly, and regarded for his original production work, remixes and DJ edits, which have earned him accolades among music lovers.

Eddie Allen: Trumpeter, composer, arranger, author, educator, Eddie is a graduate of William Paterson University of New Jersey. He’s worked with such legends as Art Blakey, Bette Midler, Joe Henderson, Randy Weston, Ben Harper, Robert Cray, Frank Foster, Billy Harper, John Mayer, Gladys Knight, Gloria Gaynor, Steve Jordan and Kool & the Gang. He has recorded and performed with Louis Hayes, Natalie Merchant, Lester Bowie’s Brass Fantasy, Etta Jones & Houston Person, Joe, Charli Persip, Olivia, Mongo Santamaria, Muhal Richard Abrams, Jimmy Cozier and Vanessa Rubin. He’s performed in the orchestras of such Broadway hits as Ain’t Misbehavin’, Black & Blue, Jelly’s Last Jam, Five Guys Named Mo’ and The Color Purple. He’s written the instructional method book, An Introduction to the Bb Concert Blues, published by Charles Colin Publishing.

Calvin Jones is a graduate of the University of Miami, FL. His recording resume numbers over 50 cds including the movie score of Judas and the Black Messiah. He has toured, performed and recorded with a variety of artists and played for a number of Broadway shows including the recent first national tour of Hadestown. Touring and performing has taken Mr. Jones to 46 of the 50 United States and over 40 countries.

Benjamin A. Vigil (he/they) is a NYC-based stage manager and actor. Broadway: Plaza Suite. Regional: Chicago, Joseph (The Muny). Thanks so much to family and everyone who has helped along the way! Please consider donating to an organization to help protect all individuals who call this country home. @benjaminavigil