The Renaissance Guild

Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom Cast Bios
Photos by Ron Abrams unless noted

Tamara Cline-Russell (Ma Rainey) is a San Antonio native and made her acting debut in TRG’s ActOne Series XIV in the scene “Grandma’s Amulet” as Grandma Lucille. She follows that role with Ma Rainey, a tougher than nails businesswoman in the 1920’s, in the production of August Wilson’s Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. She will continue to work with The Renaissance Guild in all aspects of production. She wants to give thanks to God, her family, friends and all supporters.

Arthur Bouier (Levee) is a San Antonio native who has been acting for over 20 years in San Antonio, Detroit, and Los Angeles. His last role was in 2006 when he played Walter in A Raisin in the Sun for the Guild, which he earned an ATAC Award for Best Lead Actorin a Drama.

Michael D, Gray (Cutler) Made his acting debut in “A raisin in the Sun” directed by Kathy Hornsby. He has performed in two plays written and directed by Bobby Mc Morris, and has worked with the TRG in the “ActOne Series – Vol XIV”. Michael loves life. He believes you should live your life as if you are in an hour glass; plan it out wisely, and love longer. He also always says, “give God the entire honor”.

Kevin Majors (Toledo) is an aspiring actor who began his acting career in Indianapolis , Indiana where he participated in numerous high school plays. Kevin’s long list of credits includes: commercials, corporate videos, and an appearance on Showtime at the Apollo. His TRG performances include Dearly Departed, Spell #7, Riff Raff, and In The Blood, for which he won a Best Supporting Actor Award from A.T.A.C. This brotha is keeping it real!

Charles Riley (Slow Drag) is a San Antonio native and started acting in 2004 with the sketch comedy group called the Woodies. He has done multiple shows with TRG including; A Raisin In The Sun; Fences; Dearly Departed, and Fabulation. He has also been on the show Personal Justice with the TLC channel. He would like to thank God, family and friends for all of their support!

Shaundra Lamkin (Dussie Mae) studies in the arts began at Brackenridge High School. She later attended St. Philips College before transferring to Huston-Tilloston College in Austin, TX. Shaundra has spent 10+ years in the gospel community of San Antonio as a vocalist, and in the jazz/urban community here as an artist/stage manager, event promoter, and avid supporter. Shaundra is also dedicated to helping raise awareness for Autism which affects 1 in 90 children.

Clifford Ross (Sylvester) was born in Los Angeles, CA. He moved to San Antonio in 2000 and started volunteering with the Renaissance Guild in 2003. He retired from the U.S. Air Force in 2005 and decided to stay in San Antonio. He has acted in Fabulation, or the Re-Education of Undine, numerous ActOne series and also directed “Off the Wagon” another ActOne series short play.

Steven Valdez (Irvin) has worked with TRG once before, playing the crazy Cleaver in AOS XI. He also has worked with Boerne Community Theatre since 2007, appearing in Light In The Tunnel; The Kitchen Witches; Ghost of A Chance; and the musicals Soup Du Jour and Crossroads. He recently took part in SATCO’s TheatreASAP 24-HR Playfest. Steven wishes to thank his family for all of their support.

David Clingan (Sturdyvant) started acting at the perfect age of 52. This is his second time working with the TRG the first being in A RAISIN IN THE SUN. Working with this cast is not only fun, but mystifying. There is something magical about this cast that is just beyond words. Could the magic be the belief in the work, the art of transforming words into life, or is it just the wonderful personalities mixing together to form an enlightened power to show what was and how we have grown and changed in each of our lives. Whatever it is, David is enjoying this and hopes you do too.

Gene Hildabrand (Policeman/Irvin) returns from self-imposed retirement from the stage. Gene attended Trinity University as a drama major and was a co-founder/charter member of the First Repertory Company where he played Stanley in Pinter’s The Birthday Party and Nick in Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? He helped found a community theater in Brazil, ID where he directed Shakespeare’s Midsummer Night’s Dream and performed frequently at the Bartlesville (OK) Theater Guild in roles ranging from Dr. Rank in Ibsen’s A Doll’s House to Starbuck in The Rainmaker.

Rick Clyde (Policeman) is thrilled to work with TRG again. His recent roles include: Spencer “A Wake!” TRG AOS XIV, Sea Captain, Officer, and Priest “Twelfth Night” The Classic Theatre of San Antonio, and Rev. Hooker “Dearly Departed” TRG. Thanks to his family for love, support, and inspiration and to Jesus Christ, though whom All things are possible. Photo by Scott Smith

deAnna Navarro (Understudy) debuted with TRG in The Big Sign as calculating character Nora and later exhibited her diversity in In The Shadows of Lies as Woman. She pursued a BA in Mass Communications, minored in Theatre at Langston University, while participating in the Dust Bowl Players acting troupe. deAnna demonstrates her love of GOD, writing, singing and performance poetry as Creative Director of Spiritually Speaking, an RBC dramatic arts ensemble for which she wrote the play Deliverance. deAnna is dedicated to promoting Sickle Cell awareness throughout the South Texas Region.

Tony Campbell (Understudy) most recent stage credits include “Guy Jacobs” in The Renaissance Guild’s production of “Blues For An Alabama Sky”, “Nick Bottom” in OLLU’s production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and “Bono” in The Renaissance Guild’s production of “Fences”. Tony has performed in various productions throughout Northern California. He is also an Equity Membership Candidate for the Actors’ Equity Association.

Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom Crew Bios
Photos by Ron Abrams unless noted

Antoinette F. Winstead (Director) Professor of Communication Arts at Our Lady of the Lake University, she has a BFA in Film/TV Production from NYU and a MFA in Film from Columbia University. For her direction of TRG’s 2006 A Raisin in the Sun, she was awarded the 2005 -2006 ATAC Globe award for Director of a Drama. Other plays she’s directed for TRG include: In the Blood; Fences; and Blues for an Alabama Sky. Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom marks her sixth main stage production forTRG.

Cindy Rodriguez (Stage Manager) has treaded boards of San Antonio stages since 1971 (yikes!) She has most recently worked with Diane Malone on Classic Theatre’s Twelfth Night, and slaved to prepare her students for an original production of You Might Be Growing Up, Charlie Brown! This is her second production with TRG and she’s lovin’ the wealth of talent, fellowship, and quality of work. Hopefully, there’ll be many more. Photo by Scott Smith

Mark Denison (Musical Director) is a newly-hired music instructor at San Antonio College. He is currently the director of the SAC Jazz Band, Orchestra and Wind Ensemble. A veteran of theater, Mark worked for many years in the pit as an orchestra member as well as on-stage as singer/actor in productions such as “Chicago”, “Camelot”, “Purlie” and “the King and I”. He was music director for a production of Stephen Schwartz’ “Working” in Olympia, WA in 2007. (personal photo)

Gladys Karina Carielo (Assistant Director) is a 25 year-old versatile artist who is no stranger to the stage. She has been performing since she was eight. Whether she is acting, light designing, light board operating, stage-managing, or being director’s assistant, you are sure to know Gladys is always up to something. Today this recent graduate of OLLU has a BA in Comm. Cinema Studies, and is working on her first film project, which she wrote herself called The Portrait of Maria.

Hector Machado (Set Designer)has worked with TRG many times before as a director, actor and writer. He’s been involved in numerous theatre and film projects. Most recently he directed Stuffed for the ActOne Series and appeared as Dr. Padron in the independent film, Dream Healing. His videoblog is Cine Chips on Blip.tv (also, studioMACH4 on YouTube). Special thanks to TRG and his lovely wife, Kimberly. (personal photo)

Martin Sanchez (Costume Designer) marks his second collaboration with The Renaissance Guild and hopefully not his last. A graduate of The University of the Incarnate Word Theatre program he is now a TD and production designer at Byron Steele High School. Previous credits include Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolf at St. Philips, Romeo and Juliet at the University of Washington, and Little Shop of Horrors at UIW. He thanks his family, students, and the Artist Foundation for their support. Photo by Scott Smith

Jesse Arenas (Light Designer) is the Head of Production Lighting at San Antonio Sound & Light. He is the company’s webmaster and also helps in the lighting design on permanent installations. Recently he designed the lighting for a corporate event that produced a musical revue on Broadway in New York City. He has worked in production in San Antonio for over 13 years. He worked with Renaissance Guild for over 8 years and loves working with such great people and shows the company produces.

Rigel Nunez (Sound Designer) is a product of the wonderful Theatre Arts program at the University of the Incarnate Word. Since her graduation in December 2008, she has done a variety of jobs around town including the sound design for TRG’s Fabulation; Scene Design for UIW’s Eleemosynary and If I Can’t Have You No One Can; Scene Design for St. Phillip’s Sterling Houston double feature La Frontera/ Miss Bowden’s Dream. As Technical Director of the Overtime Theatre, at it’s new Bluestar location, she is involved, in some if not many capacities, in all of the Overtime’s shows. Catch her most recent light design for Sob Choke Love, 3-D!! Opening February 12th at the Overtime Theater. (Personal photo)

Scharlette Donald (Sound Board Operator) a native San Antonian has been in the arts for the past eight years. She has also performed with The Renaissance Guild in three ActOne Series productions and also writes and produces plays. Photo by Scott Smith

John Martin-Fitzhugh (Sound Board Operator) is a native Pennsylvanian but now makes San Antonio, Texas his home. After completing a distinguished military career as a U.S. Air Force officer, he returned to his first love—acting. He is featured in the independent film, The Sitdown, various commercials, and other live and recorded productions. John is a graduate of Southern Illinois University and received a M.A. in Management degree from American Military University. Photo by Scott Smith

Jasmine Ramirez (Light Board Operator) was born and raised in San Antonio Texas. She comes from a large family and maintains close ties with her mother. She loves and is involved in many activities-arts, music, books, theater, concerts and horror movies. She loves to work in the theater and to work with children.

Rose Espinoza (Marque Designer) is an aspiring talented artist who loves helping out where ever she can. This is her second venture into the realm of theatre and she is very excited! (personal photo)

Ron Abrams (Photographer – abramsphotography.com) was born in Tampa, Florida and moved to San Antonio after retiring from the US ARMY in 2005. He will receive his BS in Management in May of this year. He has photographed for the Renaissance Guild from 2008 to present. Fabulation, and ActOne series plays are of his latest photography projects and has done exceptional work in presenting the great photography you see in this flyer.

Danielle King (Assistant Producer) is a practicing Christian, co-founder of TRG, and founder of DramaChild Productions. Her recent theatre performances include Crimes of the Heart, Proposals, Black & Blue, the musical Crowns, and the film Dating Danielle. She has won several Alamo Theatre Arts Council Globe Awards, including her last two in 2008 for Best Actress in a Drama for TRG’s Blues for An Alabama Sky, and Best Supporting Actress in a Musical for Church Street’s Nuncrackers. She sends lots of love and thanks to her family, friends, supporters, and mostly to God.

Paul Riddle Jr. (Producer) is a Co-Founder and President of TRG. Paul began his acting career over 16 years ago and some of his on stage appearances include The Gin Game, A Soldier’s Play, Raisin In the Sun, Colored Museum, Ceremonies in Dark Old Men, Fences, Betrayal, Spell #7 and Blessed Assurance. He has produced several ActOne and Mainstage plays including TRG’s ATAC multi-award winning production of A Raisin in the Sun. He is happy to watch others on and off stage enjoying the magic of theatre and is pleased with the Guild’s move into their new venue, The Carver. He continues to thank God for all of the support from patrons, family and friends.