Virginia Stage Company

Current Cast

Axel Avin AXEL ALVIN JR. (Joseph Asagai) This is Axel’s first production at the Virginia Stage Co. Off Broadway: Ruined (MTC), Streamers (Roundabout Theater Co.) Violent Delights (The Public Theater Shakespeare Lab) Regional: Fences (Lorraine Hansberry Theater),and A Christmas Carol (American Conservatory Theater). Axel would like to dedicate this performance to all those effected by the earthquake in Haiti, “L’Union Fait La Force”. Axel holds an M.F.A. from A.C.T.

BEATTY BARNES, JR. (Bobo)- is honored to be making his VSC debut with this production. Beatty discovered his theatrical talents as a stand-up comedian with credits including, ABC's America's Funniest People, Comcast Comedy Spotlight and HBO's Aspen Comedy Festival to name a few. Local audiences may remember him as Ketu in Elizabeth River Theatre Company production of '100 and Link the Stink in the Pulitzer Prize winner Topdog/Underdog by Suzan-Lori Parks. Other productions include Coriolanus, Othello, Don Q., Black Battles with Dogs... Beatty would like to thank all those who support live entertainment and remember to be kind to one another.

MATTHEW CABBIL (George Murchison) A native of South Carolina, Matthew began his theatrical career doing school plays and local community theatre. In 2009 he graduated from the University of South Carolina Aiken with a BA in the Visual and Performing Arts. Cabbil has worked extensively in theatre throughout the Southeast, performing with several area theatre companies, including: the Aiken Community Playhouse, the Aiken Kidney Benefit, the Dawa Theatre Group, Orwelles Improv Troupe, Workshop Theatre Company, the Rude Weasels Improv Troupe, and the USCA University Theatre Players. Most recently he was seen playing a number of roles in the Aiken Community Playhouse’s production of Mere Mortals. Other recent credits include Good Night Desdemona, Good Morning Juliet (Othello / Tybalt / Nurse), The God Committee (Father Dunbar), The Mikado (Koko), and Fences (Corey Maxon). Matthew is delighted to join the Virginia Stage Company for their 2009 - 2010 season, and looks forward to calling Norfolk his new home.

Jonathan Cooper JONATHAN BLAKE COOPER (Travis Cooper) - is a 14 year old seventh grader at Ghent School, where he participates in the following activities, the S.C.A. running club and former member of the Ghent chorus. Jonathan enjoys all sports particularly basketball. He has played for several recreational teams. His other community activities include Boy Scouts of America. Jonathan is a active member of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church. He is an assistant percussionist, member of Silent Praise Ministry (a mime group), & the Magic program. He has participated in the Attucks after school program and currently is learning to play the piano.

MARK CURTIS (Karl Linder) - is making his debut at the Virginia Stage Company but has been a local actor for several decades. He has worked in film, video and theatre throughout the Tidewater area. He last worked with Chris Hanna at Old Dominion University in The House of Blue Leaves sixteen years ago and is honored to be working with him again at the Wells Theatre. He was a guest artist at ODU as Creon for Earline Hendrix in Antigone when Chris was the chair of the Theatre department. During his time at ODU he also had the honor of working with Paul Dicklin on many productions at the Riverview Theatre Mark is married to Nancy Curtis, a teacher and director of theatre at First Colonial High School and has a son, Sky, who is pursuing a career in film lighting. He has always loved being an actor. He has worked in New York in commercial work as well as working as a Gaffer, key grip and Art Director on countless video productions and has designed and built many sets for film, theatre, and video productions. He was the Technical director for the Hurrah Players when they first moved into the Roper Theatre on the TCC Norfolk campus. He currently works for the Cinema Cafe and as a freelance actor and video/film production specialist.

WENDELL B. FRANKLIN - (Walter Lee Younger) is very pleased to be making his VSC debut with A Raisin in the Sun. Regional credits include: A Raisin in the Sun, Master Harold and the Boys (Weston Playhouse); Gee's Bend (The Cleveland Playhouse); Fences (Arkansas Rep.); Benefactors and The Fantasticks (Pennsylvania Center Stage); and Comedy of Errors, Julius Caesar and Pericles (Illinois Shakespeare Festival). New York credits include: Speak Truth to Power (Culture Project); The Desire (Billie Holiday Theatre). TV: Law and Order.

NICOLE GANT (Beneatha Younger) is thrilled to make her first appearance at The Virginia Stage Company! Her recent theater credits include Beneatha Younger at The Actor’s Theatre of Louisville’s Production of A Raisin In the Sun, she also appeared at the Crossroads Theater in New Brunswick New Jersey as Nia & Characters in In the Continuum, Additional Credits include The Rise and Rise of Daniel Rocket, Voir Dire, At Home, Approaching Lavendar, and Venus at Mason Gross School of the arts, Rutgers University. Nicole holds a B.F.A. from Howard University and an M.F.A. from Rutgers University Mason Gross School of the Arts.

ELAIN GRAHAM (Lena Younger) Ms. Graham was last seen in The River Crosses Rivers Festival, in the critically acclaimed performance of The Woman, in Lynn Nottage's, Banana Beer Bath. Broadway credits include : Mama Benin in Playboy of the West Indies, Lois in The Talented Tenth, Inancent in Inacent Black, The Chorus in The Bacchae. She has performed with The Negro Ensemble Company in New York, as Jesse Innes James in The Waiting Room, Patti Mae Wells in Home, Ophelia in Louie and Ophelia, Sheleah in Henrietta. She was Lois in The Dance on Widows' Row at The New Federal Theater. Claire Reed, in Cassandra Medley's Relativity. Regional credits include: Ella Franklin in Permanent Collections, Bernice in August Wilson's The Piano Lesson (Best Actress Detroit Free Press Award) Rose in Fences; Portia in Julius Caesar at Hartford Stage and Philadelphia Drama Guild. The North Carolina Theater Festival, From The Mississippi Delta. TV and Film credits include: Across the Universe,Winnie Mandela in Arthur! A Celebration Of Life. The City Teacher, Turn it Up, Mortal Thoughts, Law & Order, Law & Order: SVU, Third Watch, The Juror, Oz, 100 Centre Street and Spencer: For Hire. Ms. Graham was also Carla Redlon on CBN's Another Life and Etta Mae Burrell on NBC's Another World.

JAMES JORDAN (Moving Man)- A Hampton Roads native, James has performed at the Little Theater of Virginia Beach, the Generic Theater and with Children’s Theater of Hampton Roads. James would like to thank his friends and family for their continued support of his theatrical endeavors. Finally, James would like to thank the cast, staff and administrators of Virginia Stage Company for their hard work and dedication. He asks the audience to please consider a donation to the stage company whose continued devotion to the arts provides high quality, affordable entertainment for the community and opportunity for actors and artists throughout the region.

LISA RENEE PITTS (Ruth Younger) - is an award winning stage, television, film and voice over artist. San Diego Critics Circle Award winner, Portland Drama Critics Circle Award winner, NAACP Theater Award nominee; she has been seen Off-Broadway, in Europe and regional theaters across the country, performing leading roles in plays such as, Intimate Apparel (Esther), Doubt (Mrs. Muller), Valley Song (Veronica) Tintypes (Susannah) Our Town (Emily Webb), The Old Settler (Lou Bessie) and Wait Until Dark (Susie) just to name a few. Television and film appearances include The Shield, Numbers, Law-n-Order, Showtime w/ Robert DeNiro and Eddie Murphy and now a recurring role as Alison Sawyer on the hit ABC Family Channel drama Lincoln Heights. Lisa’s voice has also been heard on some of today’s top selling audio book recordings; Left to Tell, Better Than I Know Myself, My Name is not Angelica and Pushkin and the Queen of Spades in which she won an Earphones Award for excellence in narration. Lisa is a graduate of Rutgers University, where she holds a BFA degree in Theater Arts. A native New Yorker, Lisa now resides in Burbank, CA.

MICHAEL SINGLETON (Moving Man) is proud to be a part of Virginia Stage Company’s A Raisin in the Sun. Michael, a Hampton Roads transplant, is enjoying the camaraderie and the lessons he is learning from such a talented group of professionals. As a member of Hampton based Rainbow Puppet Productions, Michael splits his time on local stages with educating and entertaining children about a variety of topics including local history and wildlife. Last seen in the Virginia Opera Association’s production of Barber of Seville, his repertoire also includes Il Trovatore, Lucia Di Lammermoor, Eugene Onegin, La Forza del Destino, Die Zauberflute, La Jolie Fille de Perth, Il Trittico, and Amahl and the Night Visitors. In three family themed VOA productions, Pinocchio, The Adventure’s of Pinocchio’s Sister and Oh Freedom!, Michael had a chance to expose a new generation to the joys of operatic bliss. Additionally he has performed with the Sarasota Opera and the South Carolina Philharmonic. His musical and straight play credits include: Before It Hits Home and Purlie (Iron Street Productions), You Never Know (Little Theater of Virginia Beach), North Star (Generic Theater), Once On This Island (Livestock Musical Theater), Showboat (Florence Little Theater), to name a few. Michael looks forward to a future filled with spreading his love of art in the company of receptive audiences. Special thanks go out to friends and family who continue to support and encourage.