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Information about
Gee's Bend and the
quilt makers

 

Gees Bend Cast Members in Order of Appearance
Sylvia Howard  as Sadie A graduate of Kentucky State University, Sylvia returns for her fifth appearance with the Agape Theatre Troupe. Her previous performances with ATT include Flyin’ West, Above My Head, Memories of Life… Unchained Melodies, and most recently, ATT’s production of Sweat’In Da Bluez – da Muzikle. Sylvia has also performed several shows with the Actors Guild of Lexington. Sylvia’s first time ever stepping on stage was to perform in AGL’s 2005 hit production of CROWNS. She’s also performed in AGL’s productions of Ain’t Misbehavin’, Anton in Show Business, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, and Constant Star. Lastly, Sylvia recently performed in the Woodford County Theatrical Arts Association’s production of The Honky Tonk Angels Holiday Spectacular. Sylvia has a daughter, Cameron Howard and is a member of the Imani Missionary Baptist Church. She considers it a privilege to work with such a talented cast and director!
Cathy Rawlings as  Nella This is Cathy's fourth show with Agape Theatre Troupe. She is the wife of William "Bill" Rawlings III, and the mother of two, Alex & Chris Knowles. She has been employed with Verizon for thirty years. Cathy has made previous appearances in shows with Actors Guild of Lexington which include Flyin’  West, The Old Settler, The Vagina Monologues, Yellowman, Crowns, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, and Constant Star; at Studio Players, Steel Magnolias; with Lexington Children's Theatre, Amazing  Grace and the now defunct Phoenix Group Theatre’s Spunk: Three Tales by Zora Neale Hurston; African American Theater’s production Colorblind and The Spinning Of The Web.  Cathy is the recipient of 2 Smitty awards for Best Actress in a lead role for The Old Settler and Yellowman , and also received a Smitty her performance in The Vagina Monologues.   Her directing credits include At The Crucifixion, Memories Of Life Unchained Melodies, Above My Head, and Sweatin Da Bluez...da muzikle, with Agape and she assisted directed The Watsons Go To Birmingham 1963 with Lexington Children's Theatre under the direction of Jeremy Kisling.  Cathy is an artistic associate with Actors Guild Of Lexington. Her film credits includes the one-hour made for television movie Brotherly Love and a trailer of an upcoming feature film The Phoenix. She is pleased to grace the stage with such an outstanding cast and is excited about working with Deb Shoss again !
Carolyn Garner  as Alice This is Carolyn’s second time on the stage. Her first appearance was in last years production of Agape’s “Sweatin’da Bluez….da muzikle. She is  52 years old ,mother of four, and  grandmother of eight. Carolyn is a member of Imani Baptist Church. In her spare time, she enjoys caring for the elderly, reading, cooking and spending time with her grandchildren. She feels honored to grace the stage with such an outstanding cast.
Jeremy Gillett as  Macon Jeremy made his acting debut in the Bluegrass Community and Technical production of  Laddy Sardin’s Blessed Assurance directed by Tim X. Davis.  More recently, he has been seen in the University of Kentucky productions of The Grapes of Wrath and The African Company Presents: Papa Shakespeare. He was in Dancing with Dani, Working the Musical as Tom, The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail as Bailey, and The Boys Next Dorr as Lucien P. Smith. He represented BCTC in the SETC auditions and was selected to participate in regional auditions.  In 2007, directed by Sidney Shaw, he played Cutler, the bandleader in August Wilson’s Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. This award winning play highlighted the African-American experience in the early twentieth century music industry.   This was his first professional acting role and he received noteworthy reviews.  He played Andy in The Phoenix, a movie trailer produced and directed by Jason Epperson.   Jeremy is a graduate of Tates Creek High School. While at Tates Creek, he was a point guard, co-captain of the Tates Creek Commodores varsity basketball team, and as a senior helped to lead the team to the conference championship.  Born in Cedar Falls, Iowa, he has lived in Chicago, Kentucky, and Texas.  He is majoring in theatre at the University of Kentucky.
Samantha Johnson as Asia Samantha Johnson is a native of Versailles, KY and currently resides in Lexington where she works for UHAPS.com promoting and event planning for local businesses.  This is her second theatrical appearance, as many of you may have seen her in the last AGAPE Troupe performance Sweatin' Da Bluez-Da Muzikal. Samantha has a background in media and does a great deal of volunteer work throughout her community.  She looks forward to the adventures she has yet to explore in her life and lives each day to the fullest! Look for her, this is not the last you've seen of Samantha Johnson...
Deb Shoss, Director Deb Shoss formerly served as Producing Director of Actors Guild of Lexington, where she initiated a partnership with the Roots and Heritage Festival to produce festival plays annually.  She has directed such plays as The Old Settler, The Vagina Monologues, The Kathy and Mo Show, My Castle’s Rockin’ and The Good Times Are Killing Me; she produced Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill and served as an artistic consultant on AGAPE productions of Above My Head, Unchained Melodies and Sweatin’ da Bluez.