THE JOINT

CREATIVE TEAM

DENISE GRAY
PRODUCER

Has more than 25 years’ experience in entertainment, event production and event management for nonprofits. A graduate of New York University, Tisch School of the Arts, she has worked with and learned from the best in the business; including award-winning artist and creators Micki Grant, Olympia Dukakis, Ruby Dee, Douglas Turner Ward, Woodie King, Jr., Steve Carter, James Earl Jones, Kenny Leon, Daryl Waters and Alia Jones. Ms Gray’s credits span Broadway, Off-Broadway and regional theaters across the country.
In 2004 Tony award winning composer and trailblazer, Micki Grant launched her producing career, giving her the rights to develop *Don’t Bother Me, I Can’t Cope* for B’way return because Ms. Grant saw something special in her and wanted to help her break “that glass ceiling.” Since then Denise Gray has worked diligently to pay it forward and produce meaningful work, particularly for diverse audiences and women of color. She has produced *LOVE, above all things*, the powerful one-woman show by the award-winning spoken word artist, Jennifer Falu and The Women’s Project’s *Not A Fairytale*.
Denise Gray is a proud graduate of Theater Resources Unlimited’s (TRU) Producers Master Class and the City College of New York’s producing program. In 2017, she received TRU’s Randall Wreghitt Award for promising producers.
She launched the first Special Events Department for the Brooklyn Public Library, producing the Library’s year-long centennial celebration and gala fundraiser, generating a record $850,000.00. Under her event management, the Library garnered national recognition and partnerships with major corporations and broadcast outlets, including Con Edison, Barnes & Noble, 98.7 KISS-FM, WNET and the Brooklyn Academy of Music.
Denise Gray founded SeasonWalk Productions in 2010. At SeasonWalk, her knowledge of vendors and talents complements her ability to teach organizations about branding and promoting themselves, about showcasing their strengths and expertise. Ms. Gray combines theatrical coaching with marketing know-how, to bring out the very best performance for just the right audience.
Ms. Gray has helped institutions of all kinds: local entities including Paul J. Cooper Center for Human Services and St. Paul Community Baptist Church; citywide organizations such as New York City Department of Education and Neighborhood Housing Services of New York City (producing their popular *From* *Broadway to the Boroughs* at the American Airlines Theater). She has coached extensively, specializing in theater games-based workshops for corporations and films, as well as one-on-one performance coaching.

DOMINIC TAYLOR
PLAYWRIGHT

Is a scholar of African-American theater and a writer-director whose work has been seen across the country. He is the former associate artistic director of Penumbra Theatre Company in St. Paul, Minn., one of the premiere African-American theaters in the country. There he utilized his unique culturally specific play development process called OKRA. Formerly, the Chair of the UCLA TFT, Taylor has reshaped the school's curriculum for African American theater with a cycle of courses that begin in 1619 and go through contemporary African American life. The Goodman Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre, Ensemble Studio Theatre and New York Theatre Workshop have all commissioned Taylor as a writer. His play, *I Wish You Love*, premiered at Penumbra Theatre, and was produced at both The Kennedy Center and at Hartford Stage in 2012. His play *Hype Hero* was developed at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre Center in Waterford, Conn., and was produced at Brown University in Fall 2014. His written work includes *Wedding Dance* and *Personal History*, both produced at the Kennedy Center by the African Continuum Theatre. His play *Upcity Service(s)* is included in the anthology *Seven More Different Plays*, edited by Mac Wellman (Broadway Play Publishing). Taylor received his bachelor's and master of fine arts degree from Brown University and is an alumnus member of New Dramatists. He is also a member of the Dramatists Guild, and the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society; a board member of the Givens Foundation for African American Literature; and an associate artistic director of America-in-Play.

**TIMOTHY GRAPHENREED COMPOSER**

Is best known for composing *The Tornado, The Funky Monkey,* and *Emerald City Ballet* in the Mega Broadway hit *The Wiz.* He is a member of ASCAP and has worked with a multitude of multi-talented directors and choreographers; including Michael Peters, Maurice Hines, Pat Birch, Hinton Battle, Louis Johnson, Debbie Allen, Otis Sallid and of course, Tony Award-winning George Faison. Mr. Graphenreed has the distinct pleasure of having done vocal arrangements for four African American Tony Award winners; including Lillias White, Hinton Battle, Adriane Lenox, and LaChanze. He has also composed for numerous notables, including Gregory Hines; Jennifer Holiday; Phylicia Rashad; Jeff Goldblum; Robert Downey, Jr.; Maya Angelou; Valerie Simpson; Darlene Love; Morgan Freeman; Charles Strouse; Ben Vereen; Melba Moore; Lalo Schifrin; Nick Ashford; Peabo Bryson and Patti Austin to name a few. He has written arrangements for corporations including Ford, Krizia, L’Oreal, Essence Magazine, CBS, Rai Uno, Panasonic, PBS, Coca Cola *100 Years of Coca Cola* and Lincoln Mercury.

KENNETH L. ROBERSON DIRECTOR

New York City credits as Choreographer include : AVENUE Q Tony Award For Best Musical; ALL SHOOK UP, The Palace Theater; PURLIE (Encores!), City Center; A BOY AND HIS SOUL, The Vineyard; JAZZ A LA CARTE (as director and choreographer.) and HARLEM SONG both at the Apollo Theater.

Regional Theatre credit as Director include: NINA SIMONE-FOUR WOMEN, Northlight and Merrick Rep; ETHEL, Alliance Theatre; FROG KISS (world premier Virginia Stage.) CROWNS, LADY DAY AT THE EMERSON BAR AND GRILL and AIN'T MISBEHAVIN' all at the Arena Stage in Washington D.C.: ONCE ON THIS ISLAND, Baltimore Center Stage. As Professor of Pratctice in the Drama, Theatre and Contemporary Dance Department at Indiana University: Director and choreographer for SWEET CHARITY Directed INTO THE WOODS, PIPPIN and THE DROWSY CHAPERONE.

Regional Theatre credits as Choreographer; RAY, Pasadena Playhouse; THE COLOR PURPLE (world premiere,) Alliance Theater, GUYS AND DOLLS and THUNDER KNOCKING ON THE DOOR, both at Arena Stage. Film: HBO's LACKAWANNA BLUES, PREACHING TO THE CHOIR, and John Lequizamo's HOUSE OF BUGGIN', Fox T.V. which he received an Emmy Nomination. Other awards include: two NAACP Awards, two Lucille Lortel Award nominations, Drama Desk Award nomination and AUDELCO Award, BET Spirit Award, NPT Spirit Award and Lifetime Achievement Award from SAY (Stuttering Association for the Young.). He is a graduate of the University of Georgia's Henry Grady School of Journalism. Website is kennethroberson.com

THE JOINT

CREATIVE TEAM

DENISE GRAY

PRODUCER

DOMINIC TAYLOR

PLAYWRIGHT

TIMOTHY GRAPHENREED COMPOSER

KENNETH L. ROBERSON DIRECTOR

HOLLIE E. WRIGHT CHOREOGRAPHER

JENISE BISHOP

PRODUCTION MANAGER