TOSE ADEWUMI (Travis Younger) - Oluwatose was born in Portland, Oregon to Nigerian parents (Yemi and Mojoyin). He is the middle child of three boys. Tose attends Sewickley Academy. When he is not playing soccer, Tose enjoys performing arts and loves spending time with family, especially his brothers Tomiwa and Todi. Tose started attending performing arts camp when he moved to Sewickley in second grade.

Ken Bolden is thankful to return to The Public where he has happily worked in productions like: A Few Good Men as Commander Stone, A Raisin in the Sun as Karl Lindner, The Diary of Anne Frank as Mr. Kraler (his cat Bert also co-starred in the production!), The Odd Couple as Vinnie, The Comedy of Errors as Angelo, Born Yesterday as Assistant Hotel Manager, and Amadeus as Valet. He has also performed extensively with PICT, Quantum Theatre, City Theatre Company, and Off-the Wall. Proud member of AEA and graduate of LAMDA. 

E.FAYE BUTLER* (Lena Younger) - E. has 40 years of experience performing and directing plays, musicals, concerts, and cabarets nationally, internationally and regionally. She is the recipient of nine Jeff, two Helen Hayes, R.A.M.I., Ovation, Sarah Siddons, Excellence in Arts, Kathy Lampkey, Rosetta LeNoire, Guy Adkins, After Dark, Barrymore, two Black Excellence Hellman & Haver Awards, inducted into Women in the Arts Museum, Lunt-Fontaine Fellow, and Chicagoan of the Year. She appears as Myrtle on SouthSide on HBOMax. www.e-fayebutler.com

TY GILLIAM (Travis Younger) - Ty currently majors in musical theatre at Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School. Past roles include Rooster (Annie Jr.), The Wolf (Into the Woods Jr.), Ensemble (Mary Poppins Jr.), and Starveling (A Kidsummer Night’s Dream). Finally, Ty has competed in Pittsburgh Public Theater’s Shakespeare Monologue & Scene Contest for three consecutive years.

KEVIS HILLOCKS* (Joseph Asagai) - Kevis is a Brooklyn, New York native. Off Broadway: X or Betty Shabazz v. the Nation (The Acting Company). Regional/touring: Julius Caesar (The Acting Company). International theatre: Ruined (Greek Festival ’16). Other New York and regional theatre: Pass Over (Luna Stage), Pirira (Luna Stage), College Colors (Crossroads Theatre), Morning Sun (Theatre 167), Thoughts of a Colored Man (Noisy Tenants), King Lear (The Public). TV: Blue Bloods. Film: Pebble Beach (Theeobc). Training: Ted Sluburski Studios - Scene Study, Acting Conservatory (BFA), SUNY Purchase College.

LESLIE HOWARD (Moving Man) - Les is an accomplished actor, beginning his acting career many years ago as a member of the former and prestigious D.C. Black Repertory Company, founded by actor Robert Hooks. Les has had many fine performances for such theaters as Pittsburgh Playwrights Theater Co., New Horizon Theater, Gargaro Productions, and the former Kuntu Repertory Theater. Les may be best remembered as Turnbo in Pittsburgh Playwrights Theater Co.'s production of August Wilson's Jitney and as The Great Father in Pittsburgh Festival Opera's A Gathering of Sons, both directed by Mark Clayton Southers. Les also produced and hosted his own local public access television show called The Howard Entertainment Showcase. Les is also an accomplished jazz singer.

SAMUAL S LOTHARD (Moving Man) - Sam Lothard was born in Youngstown, Ohio but is now a proud Pittsburgher. Blessed and thankful to be working with Pittsburgh Public Theater for the first time, you may have seen Sam as David in Mark Southers’ film Cyril. Other projects include: Project Amelia with Bricolage Theater. August Wilson’s Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom and King Hedley II, Dr. Maya Angelou’s I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Monteze Freeland’s Kalopsia, and John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men. He is excited to be a part of such a talented group of performers. Put God first. Shoot your shot. <Cedar Point> Big Sam 

RICHARD McBRIDE is beyond grateful to be back on the Pittsburgh Public Theater stage . Richard was most recently seen in Pittsburgh Public Theater’s A Midsummer Night's Dream, and before that in A Raisin in the Sun. Richard is thrilled to bring Strayhorn back to Pittsburgh!

RICO PARKER* (Walter Lee) – Rico is excited to make his debut with Pittsburgh Public Theater. A proud member of Actor's Equity, he was born and raised in Dayton, OH. Favorite theatre credits include TopDog/Underdog, Belleville, Colossal, The Brothers Size, Gem of the Ocean, Blue Orange, King Hedley II, A Raisin in the Sun, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, Stagger Lee, Every Tongue Confess, Passing Strange, and The Exonerated. He will be making his film debut as Evan in HBO Max's Turtles All the Way Down.

Brenden Peifer is thrilled to return to PPT! PPT: A Midsummer Night’s Dream in Harlem, A Raisin in the Sun, and August Wilson’s Two Trains Running. Regional: Cleveland PlayHouse (Fat Ham). barebones productions (Skeleton Crew and American Buffalo). Quantum Theatre (Hamlet), City Theatre Company (One Night in Miami), and many more shows in Pittsburgh. He is the Outreach & Engagement Coordinator for the August Wilson Archive at the University of Pittsburgh Library System. Instagram: @brendenpeifer

BRIAN STARKS - Born in Chicago and raised in Pittsburgh, Brian started his entertainment career as a professional breakdancer, doing commercials with Donna Belajac Casting for Nestle, Kmart, and Kodak before moving to New York. Once there, he started doing stage and film, signing with Abrams Artist for film and commercial. After working on numerous film projects and performing and teaching breakdancing for the NYC Board of Education in secondary education schools, he moved back to Pittsburgh to share his experiences with the youth in the city that he loves while doing what he loves on the stage.

DEDRA D. WOODS* (Ruth Younger) - Dedra is a multi-disciplinary artist. A Detroit native, she has been working in Seattle’s Regional Arts scene since 2012. Her work has been seen at The Fifth Avenue Theater, Seattle Children’s Theater, The Williams Project, Seattle Public Theater, Intiman, Seattle Shakespeare Company, Upstart Crow Collective, and Arts West.

TRACEY D. TURNER (Lena Younger u/s) - Tracey is a Carnegie Mellon University Alumna. Most recently, she’s appeared as Tatania/Hippolyta in A Midsummer Night’s Dream for Pittsburgh Shakespeare in the Parks and portrayed Lady Macbeth/Witch One in The Tragedy of MacBeth. She directed The 12 Dates of Christmas for Steel City Shakespeare Center, which was nominated for best holiday show in Pittsburgh 2021/2022. She is a host of independent film, commercials (including Shopping Pittsburgh), and TV where she is currently shooting A Mother’s Love. You can catch Tracey in The Last Witch Hunter with Vin Diesel for Lionsgate. 

Shannon is thrilled to be on stage with The Public for the first time. BFA in acting, Point Park University. She made her debut with barebones productions in Is God Is, and more recently performed with City Theatre Company in their annual Young Playwright’s Festival. Shannon is grateful for opportunities to grow as a performer and sends her love to family and friends.