ABOUT THE COMPANY:




VANESSA SHAW (Playwright, Marian Anderson, Mary Saunders Patterson, Maude) has just added playwright to her long list of achievements. As both author and star of “Welcome Home Marian Anderson” she has garnered rave reviews for her portrayal of one of America’s most beloved heroines. “Bringing this legend to the stage has been both rewarding and daunting,” declares Miss Shaw, “and worth every minute.” Before portraying Marian Anderson Miss Shaw graced the Broadway stage opposite such luminaries as Eartha Kitt in "Timbuktu", where she was cast in the role of Marsinah; Robert Goulet in "Camelot", where she played the enchantress Nimue and stirred one New York critic to declare that “Vanessa Shaw stops the show with her rendition of 'Follow Me'". She was seen as Ruth Younger opposite Debbie Alien and Joe Morton in “Raisin” and Ginny in “The Tap Dance Kid.” In addition to Performing in the national touring companies of all of the above she has also starred in several productions of “Porgy and Bess"; alternating the roles of Bess, Clara, Serena and Strawberry Woman. In “Carmen Jones” she has sung all the female leads from Carmen (soprano) to Frankie (mezzo-soprano) and Myrt (coloratura). Her regional theater experiences have included such heroines as Sonia Sedoya in "The Merry Widow", Helene in "La Belle Helene", Mrs. Segstrom in "A Little Night Music", Vera Charles in "Mame", Tuptim in “The King and I” and countless other musicals. Her classical and theater concerts have taken her literally all over the world and include the works of composers as diverse as Copeland, Bizet, Rogers and Hart/Hammerstein, Howard Roberts, Schubert, Stevie Wonder and Cole Porter. In the soap opera "One Life to Live” she created the role of Lila Rose. In independent films, she starred in "The Game", "Walls and Bridges , and her favorite" The Session" where she portrayed a psychopathic psychologist.


MARK E. LANG (Kosti Vehanen, Sol Hurok et. al.) is a New York-based actor and director, with over fifteen years of professional experience performing, teaching and directing. He has played this role in WELCOME HOME MARIAN ANDERSON in New York, San Francisco, Atlanta and at the National Black Theater Festival in North Carolina, and around the country since 1998. Regional stage work includes lead roles in TERRA NOVA in South Carolina and THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST in South Carolina and Florida; WAR OF THE WORLDS, THE DICTATOR, THE NEW YORK IDEA and VOICE OF THE CITY in New Jersey. Also thirty-five states on tour, with the National Shakespeare Company, Living Arts and others. He has studied with Royal Shakespeare Company directors John Barton and Patrick Tucker, and at the New Actors Workshop. Recent directing credits include a much-lauded production of Eugene O’Neill’s ANNA CHRISTIE for the East Lynne Theater Company in Cape May, New Jersey; and Shakespeare’s OTHELLO on 42nd Street in New York for the Africa Arts Theater Company, starring Timothy D. Stickney (R.J. on ABC-TV’s “One Life to Live”). He is an Artistic Associate with New York City’s Harbor Theatre Company, an honors graduate of Vassar College, and recipient of the Kazan Prize for Excellence in the Dramatic Arts.

IVAN THOMAS (Musical Director, Accompanist, Billy King, Nazi Guard, Orpheus, Paul Robeson, et. al.) is a true Renaissance performer. A linguist who speaks five languages (German, Italian, Portuguese and Dutch); a certified fight instructor who has staged numerous fight scenes; an accomplished classical pianist who also plays guitar and clarinet; an actor and classically trained baritone who has been critically acclaimed for his portrayals of the villainous roles in "Les Contes D'Hoffman”, Baron Scarpia in "Tosca", Rigaletto Tomo in “I Pagliacci", Pique Dame, Don Pasquale, and Crown in several productions of “Porgy and Bess”, debuting opposite William Warfield at the Lake George Festival. He has repeated that role in international tours of Germany, Japan and North and South America. At the Rome Opera, he premiered the production of Philip Glass' "The Civil War” and Conrad Sousa's "Transformation" at Netherlands Opera. He has sung all over the world from Lithuania to Australia to East and Western Europe and all points in between. In concerts he has graced the stage with the Calgary, Edmonton, Strasbourg Ban, Valencia, RAI Italian, Nashville and Mitch Miller Orchestras where he currently serves as permanent baritone. He had the distinction of premiering the song "Heal the Hearts” in the international hit "Riverdance".


JEFFERY V. THOMPSON (Director) is proud to have the opportunity direct this production of WELCOME HOME, MARIAN ANDERSON starring his long-time friend and fellow artist, Vanessa Shaw. They have previously collaborated on productions of this play off-Broadway at The John Houseman Theatre and at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center. Mr. Thompson's other directing credits include: PAUL ROBESON (Passage Theatre Company; starring Tony award-winner Chuck Cooper), SOME OF MY BEST FRIENDS (The Producers Club; starring T'Keyah Crystal Keymah), GORILLA, MY LOVE (Lincoln Center Institute and Cincinnatti Playhouse in the Park; starring John Patterson), LETTERS TO GRAMMIE (New Professional Theater at The Public Theatre), NEFERTITI: THE PYRAMID QUEEN (Josie's Cafe, San Francisco), TREADING THE MAELSTROM OF FEAR. (New Professional Theatre), SURVIVING THE RHYTHM AND BLUES OF LIFE (Aaron Davis Hall), SHELTER: REFUGEES OF THE AMERICAN DREAM (BlackberryProductions), TRAVELIN' SHOES (New Perspectives Theater), THE SOULS OF BLACK FOLKS: A CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION (National Black Arts Festival), THE SHANEEQUA CHRONICLES (Hobby Center for the Performing Arts; starring Stephanie Berry), WORKSONG (Aaron Davis Hall) and his own one-man show LIFT EV'RY VOICE. Mr. Thompson is well-known as an actor and playwright, having appeared in several critically-acclaimed productions On and Off-Broadway; as well as extensively in Regional Theaters across the United States. Mr. Thompson's scripts have been produced on Broadway, as well as at theaters in New Jersey, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Florida, Arkansas and Ohio. He wishes to thank Ms. Shaw for entrusting her vision and bountiful gifts into his stewardship; the amazingly gifted Mark E. Lang and Ivan Thomas for their continued artistry and trust, and "Rock of Gibraltar" Larry Ramsey for being the glue holds the whole thing together.

LARRY RAMSEY (Stage Manager) spent many years in educational theatre working in New York City public schools (John Dewey High School, East Harlem Performing Arts School, Jackie Robinson Intermediate School) where he taught drama and English. He directed/ supervised/ stage-managed middle and high school students in productions too numerous to count, including “The Wiz”, “Hello, Dolly”, “West Side Story”, “Oliver!” and “Dreamgirls”. In addition, he has served as technical director for dance recitals and plays of many community-based organizations. He stage-managed earlier productions of “Welcome Home, Marian Anderson”, as well as the Blackberry Productions' presentation of “Survivin' the Rhythm and Blues of Life” at Aaron Davis Hall. He holds an M.F.A. in directing from Brooklyn College.