COLETTE BROWN (She/Her): Candace Mason

Colette Brown has been acting in film and stage for 20 years. Other productions she has performed in include Intimate Apparel, To Kill a Mockingbird, 12 Angry Women, Amistad and Scottsboro Boys. She has also served as costume designer and makeup artist on several productions.

“When we are open, life has an amazing way of directing us to where we are meant to be. I am blessed to have been directed to collaborate with this exceptionally talented cast, crew and production team on this thought provoking and beautiful production. My continued gratitude always to God, my family and friends who love and support me unconditionally.”

NYLAH LANGFORD (She/Her): Amari Khadijah Mason

Nylah Langford is a young artist, in her junior year of high school, who enjoys singing acting, and engaging in all things creative. Nylah has afforded the opportunity to perform in various choirs, learn from other various performers in the theatre industry, and perform in several theatre productions as follows: Speck (a student written production) (Amina), When We Get Home (a student written production) (Kiara), Amadeus (Ensemble Member), 9 to 5 (Ensemble Member), The Bond Of Separation (a student written production) (Cheyenne), Seussical The Musical Jr. (Sour Kangaroo/Young Kangaroo), OTHER CREDITS: Lone Tree Performing Arts - Fences (Raynell). Nylah would like to thank her family, friends, and teachers for all of the help and support to get her to where she is now as an performer. She would also like to give a special thanks to the entire cast and crew for all their hard work and dedication to the show.

GABRIEL GARYEAZON (He/Him): Daktari

FRONZO D. GILKEY (He/Him): Kimani Malik Mason

A native to Colorado, Fronzo was introduced to the arts at a young age. Through the years, his enthusiasm for acting turned into dedication, and a vessel for exploring many mediums within the craft. He is now woven into multiple outlets, and communities that provide him the opportunities to express and build his talent as a writer, actor, producer, & educator. He looks to create art that leaves the viewer feeling a sense of relation, while also left with questions to ponder for themselves. In early 2021 he was a part of Rainbow Militia’s immersive show “Celestial Chaos” and looks to debut a video series called “Dream Cast” in October (Produced by IDEA Stages). Find Fronzo on Instagram

MELANIE BINDON (She/Her): Puppet Designer and Lead Puppeteer

An alumni of Metropolitan State University of Denver with a BFA in Art Education, I love Colorado and have made my home in Denver for 12 years. For the past 7 years, I've worked as an art educator in addition to a small business owner of Playful Mirrors. Previously, I've designed puppets for the Denver School of the Arts, The Spark, Theatreworks and the City of Englewood. A storyteller at heart, I love many ways of creating and overlapping creative processes. I strive to playfully connect people with their community and to encourage everyone everywhere to express themselves freely.

FAITH ANGELISE GOINS-SIMMONS (She/Her): Nasira

ALICIA “LISA” YOUNG (She/Her): Co-Producer, Co-Director, Playwright, Costumes, Set Designer

Alicia is the founder of IDEAs and an actor, singer, director, teacher, stroke survivor, and activist. Sojourners Project: Busing marks Alicia and IDEAs first live theatrical production. Alicia’s last acting project was a virtual short with The Artibus Recipe: Shared- Gumbo. She directed Phamaly’s virtual CoronaVox: Stories from the Front and Reach by Ryan Sprague as Misfits Theatre. With deep roots in activism, Lisa worked on voters’ rights in the South and was the president of the Disabled Student Union while a Pre-Medicine student at Southern University. She is a drama teacher for Aurora Public Schools and she has served on the Colorado Theatre Guild for 8 years. She is eternally grateful to God, her family, godchildren, the IDEAs team and especially the “BEAR” Rev. J Michael Young.

PATRICK MUELLER (He/Him): Co-Producer and Production Manager

Patrick Mueller grew up in Lakewood, CO, on the ancestral lands of the Arapahoe, Cheyenne, and Ute peoples. He studied Dance and Performance Art at Pomona College, and later earned an MFA in Dance Composition & Theory in the Hollins University/American Dance Festival program. Patrick founded Control Group in 2008, and has created over 20 original works with the company, from stage and site performance to interactive events and films. As the Managing Director of two black box venues (2009-14), he curated and presented dozens of local and touring productions and supported the formation of at least seven local dance and theatre companies. As an independent choreographer, he has created commissioned works for the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, Open Dance Project (Houston, TX), Dance Initiative (Carbondale, CO), Naropa University (Boulder, CO), and various other local university and youth studio programs. You can learn more about Control Group at www.controlgroupproductions.org

AUBREE FULLWOOD (She/Her): Assistant Director and Choreographer

Aubree has trained in dance at a young age studying in styles such as: Hip hop, Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Contemporary and Lyrical. She furthered her training at the Eaglecrest Highschool dance program under Eulanda Shead. Aubree continued extensive training in dance at Santa Monica college (Santa Monica, CA). Moving further east Aubree studied at local studios in Washington DC and performed frequently with a competitive hip hop dance crew. She relocated back to Denver to have performed in several events including the 2018 Summer Jam and 2018 Pride Parade as a choreographer/backup dancer for renowned recording artist Kayla Rae. She has also provided choreography and backup for recording artist Rachel Bailey and various local artist. Aubree was a featured dancer in the Denver Art Museum’s Senga Negundi's exhibit "Collaboration"(2021) and 5280 Artist CO-OP production "One night Six plays"(2019-2021). More recently Aubree has performed live for the Denver 2021 Juneteenth Celebration. Aubree continues to choreograph for young up and coming local artist and for various community events. Aubree is also the dance director for "Ascention dance program" specializing in Hip hop, Jazz funk, Contemporary, Ballet, and Heel’s technique. She has also worked in several school teaching dance and mental wellness.

WHITNEY RENELL ROY (She/Her): Stage Manager

Whitney is interested in traveling the world to make dynamic and impactful Black theatre. She is graduating from Colorado State University in December 2021, with a BA in Theatre. Whitney will also be graduating with a minor in Ethnic Studies where she concentrates on African American history and modern-day resistance. Some of Whitney's past credits at CSU include being the stage manager for On the Brink, a reading series that workshops new plays and the scenic designer for the KCACTF award-winning production of Cabaret. Outside of CSU, Whitney recently worked on Local Theatre Company’s, Discount Ghost Stories. You can find Whitney stage managing Sense and Sensibility this winter at OpenStage Theatre in Fort Collins. Whitney would like to thank all the incredible BIPOC and accomplices that made this production such a wonderful and impactful process.

KATIE DAY WEISBERGER (She/Her): Director of Marketing

Katie is a photographer, designer, and teacher. Her work has been published in numerous places including The New York Times, The Hartford Courant, The Richmond Times Dispatch, Die Tageszeitung, and many more. She has also worked as an art teacher in Denver Public Schools for the past eight years. Katie is excited to be working with Control Group Productions and the cast and crew of Sojourners Project: Busing — it’s very meaningful to be able to support such important work in the Denver arts community. She would like to thank everyone involved for being wonderfully creative, welcoming, and brave. You can see more of her work at www.saykatieday.com.

PATIENCE “BELLA SCRATCH” SYRUS (She/Her): DJ

ADRIENNE MARTIN-FULLWOOD (She/Her): Executive Partner and Producer of 5280 Artist Co-op Entertainment Group

Adrienne has been in the entertainment business for over 35 years. She has performed in over 100 theatrical shows; voice over productions, in addition to countless t.v. commercials both local and national, short films and Training Videos. Her credits also include producing and directing which includes her most recent directorial debut and produced production of 1 Night 6 Short Plays. She currently works as a Facilitator for Kaiser Permanente's Theatrical Department by performing theatrical illustrations and conducting group discussions regarding and to bring awareness to audiences regarding Colorado's poverty and hunger issues. I'd like to thank Alicia and Control Group for this opportunity to sore in an un-treaded territory for me as a new up and coming writer. The journey has been rewarding and tantalizing!

NORMA JOHNSON (She/Her): Co-Creator

Norma is a spiritual healer, speaker, writer-poet-playwright, performance artist and facilitator that brings a creative background into her distinctive presentation form of social justice education and activism. Norma collaborates with a dynamic range of organizations, institutions, faith communities, civic groups, and educational forums such as the highly regarded Annual White Privilege Conference. Her deeply moving poems are featured in racial justice courses taught by educators across the country. Her storytelling inspires awareness and insight and the power we have to bring paths of healing to our future. Norma sends blessings & gratitude to Alicia “Lisa” Young for her invitation to join this phenomenal show! www.allinspirit.com

CECE SMITH (She/Her): Sound Designer

Cece is a Sound Designer based in Colorado. Her most recent Sound Design Project was Queen's Girl in the World at the Aurora Fox and her next project will be Dontrell at the Aurora Fox. CeCe would love to thank IDEAs for this opportunity to create a really impactful piece as well as her family, friends, and community. Shout out to this AMAZING production team; these humans have kept her grounded and supported her throughout this entire process! You can find more info about her work at www.cecesmithdesigns.com

ILIANA LUCERO BARRON (She/Ella/ Hers): Co-Director

Iliana is a bilingual latinx teaching artist, creative, and advocate based in Denver, Colorado. Graduating from the University of Colorado at Denver in 2016, Iliana became a first generation college graduate, earning a degree in Theatre, Film and Television. She is currently working as a teaching artist and performer on the DCPA’s: The Shakespeare in the Parking Lot Education Tour. Iliana is thankful to Alicia, Norma and Adrienne for the opportunity to co-direct and support Sojourners Project: Busing. Stories like these are what our community needs and deserves.

TRE’VONNE COLEMAN (He/Him): Assistant Stage Manager

Tre’Vonne is a Senior studying theater with an emphasis in performance at Colorado State University. He has been in four productions at the university's Center for the Arts: One Man, Two Guvnors (Barman), Joint Stock’s "Me Too" (ensemble), A Midsummer Night's Dream (Francis Flute), and his own solo performance of "Life is a Bowl of Cherries" in the H.O.P.E. Project. Tre’Vonne would like to thank his family and friends for supporting him in his endeavors to be an actor and is excited for what the future holds for him.

DERRON “DK” STEWART (He/Him): Stage Crew and Assistant Puppeteer

DARRIUS STEWART (He/Him): Stage Crew and Assistant Puppeteer