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YTI Founder Kwame Johnson, Board President Dr. Mary Lane & YTI Founder Jimmy Hill |
Mary E. Lane, M.D. - President
DeForest Raphael - Vice President
Thomas F. O'Keefe - Treasurer
Symra D. Brandon
Deborah Hudson-Jenkins
Kenneth Lee
Judith Z. Matson
Suzanne Newman
Danette L. Quinlan
Stephen M. Sansone
Andrea Stewart-Cousins
Founders
James P. Hill, Paul Kwame Johnson, Turhan Von Brandon
Advisory Board
Patricia Adams, Turhan Von Brandon, Michael Friedman, Dorothy Johnson, Dorothy Orr, Dave Sarran, Paula Redd-Zeman
Mamie Duncan-Gibbs, Executive/Artistic
Director
Ms. Duncan-Gibbs is originally from
Springfield, Massachusetts, where she began taking acrobatic classes
at the age of eleven under the direction of legendary jazz dance
teacher Frank Hatchett. It was something she did “just
to get out of the house.” When she was fifteen years
of age, it was a dance recital production of “The Wiz” that
prompted Mamie to pursue a career in musical theatre. After
spending one year at Boston Conservatory of Music, she moved to New
York City to try and “make it on Broadway.” She
has had the opportunity to work with some of the best entertainers
in the business including Gregory Hines and Savion Glover (“Jelly’s
Last Jam” on Broadway), Mercer Ellington and the Duke Ellington
Orchestra (“Sophisticated Ladies” at the Claridge Hotel,
Atlantic City), Bob Fosse (“Sweet Charity” national tour),
Liza Minnelli (“Steppin’ Out At Radio City Music Hall”),
Jerry Lewis (“Damn Yankees” national tour), Ann Reinking
and Bebe Neuwirth (“Chicago” on Broadway) and Ben Vereen
and Marilu Henner (“Chicago” Las Vegas Company). She
is thrilled to be at Youth Theatre Interactions and very happy to
be able to “give back.” She’s been married
for over twenty years to musician Marvin Gibbs, and is the mother
of two children, Paula and Joseph.
Edna L. Darby - Administrative
Director
Edna Darby is a native New Yorker
originally born in Yonkers, New York. Edna attended all her primary
schools in Yonkers and graduated from Roosevelt High School. She
relocated to Statesboro, Georgia and attended Georgia Southern University,
receiving her Bachelors with a concentration in Marketing & Business Management and a
minor in Accounting & Finance. She has worked in various capacities.
She was previously employed by Oxford Health Plans and severed in
three different positions. Edna started her own catering business
while she was a student at Georgia Southern University and that served
as the finances to put herself through college. She has continued
with her catering business for the past 16 years catering Southern
Cuisine in her spare time. She married her best friend and soul mate
Mr. Howard Bobo and she is a proud mother of two daughters, Diamond
and Destiny.
Carla Ann Roudette-Brown – Administrative
Assistant
Native born Trinidadian, she is the mother of a 25-year-old
son currently in the United States Navy. Before relocating to Yonkers,
Ms. Roudette-Brown was the Administrative Assistant for the parish
of St. Matthews Roman Catholic Church in Brooklyn for almost ten
years. Prior to that she worked with RKO General for more than
10 years. She attended Mayers School of Fashion Design in NYC, New
York State Paralegal School becoming certified as a Paralegal.
Pedro Lopez, Jr. – Technical
Director
Also our Photography/Substitute
for African Percussion/Beginning Drama
and a member of our full-time staff since 1993, Mr. Lopez joined
YTI when he was fifteen years old and excelled in drama, music, mime,
photography and our technical programs. Mr. Lopez performed
at Lincoln Center “Out of Doors Mime Festival” in 1980,
1981 and 1982 with the YTI “Mime Time Players.” He
was a member of the Obie award winning theater company, “The
Family/La Familia.” In 2000 Mr. Lopez was accepted into
the Sarah Lawrence College Theatre Department’s Community Partnership
Technical Director Apprentice Program. He has since completed
the program and holds a certificate from Sarah Lawrence.
Consultants
Paul Kwame Johnson – Founding Artistic Director
Mamie Duncan-Gibbs (Theatre
Dance and "Intimate Realities")
See bio above
Stanley Hart (Volunteer - Intergenerational Drama Company) is an Emmy Award Winner who comes to YTI through The Volunteer Center of United Way. He has written for stage, screen and television for over 40 years. Theatre credits include co-author of The Mad Show (1966-1968), author of Some of My Best Friends (directed by Hal Prince at the Longacre Theater, NYC, 1977), author of Manhattan Merry-Go-Round (Norris Theater in Palos Verdes, CA 1985) and co-author of Old Enough to Know Better?'s Comedy Sketchbook (Lakeland Playhouse in Littleton, NC, 2002. He wrote the screenplay for Move (20th Century Fox, starring Elliot Gould), and two short films with Saul Bass (both Academy Award nominees for Best Short Film, Live Action). He was a writer for The Carol Burnett Show (1971-1972) winning an Emmy for Best Writing, Variety, 1972, and the head writer for show from 1972-1973, winning a second Emmy for Best Writing, Variety, 1973. He was also a writer for numerous television specials including: Paul Lynde?'s Wishes, Hal Linden?'s Big Apple, Bob Hope For President, Bonnie and The Franklins, and Carol Burnett and Julie Andrews; Together Again. His credits go on and on, and we are thrilled to have him here with us sharing his knowledge and experience with our youth as well as our seniors.
Regina Hood (Modern Dance) Regina began her formal dance training at the North Carolina School of the Arts, studying modern dance (Horton/Graham/Limon), ballet and jazz. Inspired after attending a performance by the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, she subsequently was accepted into the Ailey school as a scholarship student and went on to perform with the Alvin Ailey Repertory Theatre (Ailey II). She has also performed with the Agnes DeMille Heritage Theater as a soloist and with Ballet Hispanico of New York. Musical theatre credits include: "West Side Story", "Your Arms Too Short to Box with God", and extensive tours throughout the US and Europe in "Evita." She has worked as a teaching artist with the Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation and New York City Parks and Recreation Dept. She has also devoted time as a volunteer tutor for Literacy Partners., Inc. of New York.
Alston Jack (Steel Band) – Mr. Alston Jack of Tobago has joined the faculty of YTI as our new instructor of Steel Drums and Director of the YTI Pan Band. Mr. Jack is a steel drum player, arranger and composer. He has worked with Moods Steel Orchestra, Bamboo Steel Band, Harlem All Stars Orchestra, Tobago All Stars Steel Orchestra, Desperadoes Steel Orchestra and Renegades Steel Orchestra. He has appeared at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, The Apollo, Birdland and the Village Gate, as well as on tour in Finland and Mexico. He conducts lecture/demonstrations with the YTI Pan Band as well as composing, arranging and directing for our touring Steel Band. In addition to his love of Steel Band, Mr. Jack also enjoys acting, singing, songwriting and percussion.
Youssouf Koumbassa (African Dance and African Percussion) – teaches African dance and African percussion and has been with YTI for the past eighteen years. He is a native of Guinea, West Africa and is a master drummer, dancer and choreographer having been trained with the National Ballet of Guinea. Mr. Koumbassa is the Artistic Director of Les Ballets Bagata of NYC. He teaches and performs internationally throughout the year. Mr. Koumbassa speaks fifteen African languages in addition to French and English and shares his culture with YTI students.
Bobby LaVell (Music) LaVell was born in Memphis, Tennessee where in high school he gained an interest in music. He attended Memphis State and Shelby State where he became proficient as an arranger and music composer. LaVell continues to perform throughout the U.S., Canada, South America, Europe, and the Caribbean. He has worked alongside B.B. King, Ray Charles, The Temptations, The Four Tops, The Nicholas Brothers, and currently tours with The Duke Ellington Orchestra. He founded and leads The Hudson River Jazz Orchestra.
Michael LeVasseur (Vocal Choir) Michael is a graduate of Sarah Lawrence College (2004) where he studied Immunology, Medical Anthropology, and Entertainment Business. In 2001, he co-founded the college's first all male a cappella group, Vocal Minority, where he served as musical director of the contemporary genre all-male group. He was also a member of the traditional genre co-ed group, Res Miranda, who he appeared with on "The View" as a special performance for Barbara Walters' birthday in 2002. Michael now works for the Weill Cornell Medical College as the Anatomical Gift Coordinator and Administrator for the Program in Anatomy. Michael sings bass, baritone, and tenor' plays piano and saxophone; and writes the vocal arrangements for most of the pieces performed by the choir.
Ricardo Lima (Int. Drama, Intergenerational Drama, “Intimate Realities”) – A recent graduate of SUNY Purchase, and an alumnus of Youth Theatre Interactions, Ricardo Lima is delighted to now be a member of the faculty. Mr. Lima began by teaching Beginner Drama in the fall of 2001. More recently he has been named Assistant Director of the “Intimate Realities” touring troupe. Mr. Lima has studied acting at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, and the Atlantic Theater Company Acting School where he also appeared in a night of Noel Coward one-acts and stage-managed a production of Christopher Durang’s “The Marriage of Bette and Boo”. Currently Ricardo is a student at the Conservatory at SUNY Purchase and is already making a name for himself as assistant to the director in 2003’s production of “Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass.” Some of Ricardo’s other credits include choreographing for the Westchester Invaders and the role of Banquo in Piper Theater Productions’ 2001 version of “Macbeth.” Ricardo also was the recipient of NAACP ACT-SO Regional awards for playwriting in 1997 and 1998.
Pedro Lopez, Jr. (Photography/Substitute
for African Percussion/Beginning Drama)
(see bio above)
Aixa M. Rosario Medina (Latin Dance) A native of Puerto Rico, Aiza M. Rosario Medina has been living in NY for the last 18 years, performing regionally and internationally. Professional experiences include: Broadway (Victor Victoria, Once upon a Mattress, A Christmas Carol), regional and international theatres; industrials, television, film, commercials, choreographer, assistant choreographer, and dance instructor. She presently owns a Pilates studio in Yonkers, NY where she live with her much-loved husband Paul and son Aidan.
Yvonne McFall (Hip Hop Dance and Step Dance) - Born in Manhattan, New York,Yvonne is an optimistic, spirit driven person willing to work hard for her successes in life. Along with her versatility, she has no problem stepping out and learning something new. She believes that education is fruit to her life. At the tender age of six years old she realized what her purpose in life would be. God had blessed her with a melodic voice and inspirational lyrics to match. Yvonne began teaching at the age of seventeen when she started the first Step Team at Yonkers High School. While teaching different rhythmic routines, she also performed in many programs as a singer, dancer, and/or choreographer
Alexandria Meyers (Substitute for African Dance) – Zan has been trained by the most well-known professionals in the arts, including Bernice Johnson, Michael Peters, and Ben Vereen. She has also worked alongside Carolyn DeVore, Kevin A. Hunt, Arron Dugger, Sarita Allen, Nasha Thomas (all principal dancers with the Alvin Ailey Dance Company), Kevin Jeff (Director, Jubilation Dance Company), and Chuck Davis (Director, Dance Africa). Her abilities have enabled her to capture the spirits of movements through the traditions of dance in: West African Dance, Ballet, Jazz, Tap and Modern Dance. She has traveled the world performing and teaching and enjoys every minute of it.
Lynn Sterling (Ballet) Lynn Sterling has performed all over the world, including Europe, Africa, Asia, and the nearly the entire continental United States. She has appeared in the casts of "Evita", "Anything Goes", "Oh, Kay!", "Can-Can", and Bob Fosse's last company of "Sweet Charity". Lynn has also performed the starring roles of The Danseuse, in the national and international companies of "Sophisticated Ladies"; Charlaine, in "Ain't Misbehavin'"; the leading singer/dancer role in the international company of "Fosse"; and the coveted role of Anita in the recent national tour of "West Side Story". On Broadway, Lynn appeared in "Cats" in the roles of Demeter, Bombalurina, and Cassandra. She was also a member of the original cast of "The Life", in which she played the role of the fiery redheaded Carmen. In addition to performing, Lynn has staged and directed five companies of the hit musical revue "Smokey Joe's Cafe", including one company composed of the final Broadway cast, and two companies which starred the great Gladys Knight.
Jimmy Tate (Tap) Jimmy Tate has been performing on stage for over 25 years. He did his first Broadway show at the age of 13; where he played the title role in THE TAP DANCE KID. From there he went on to appear in the Tony Award winning Best Musical -BIG RIVER; JELLY'S LAST JAM, with Savion Glover and Gregory Hines; BRING IN 'DA NOISE, BRING IN 'DA FUNK, also with Glover; and the Irish smash hit RIVERDANCE. On tour, Jimmy recreated Savion Glover's Tony Award nominated role in BRING IN 'DA NOISE, BRING IN 'DA FUNK, and won a 1998 Ovation Award for his performance. He has appeared on "Late Night" with David Letterman, twice on the Rosie O'Donnell Show, and three times on "The Late Show" with Jay Leno. Jimmy danced for former President Bill Clinton at the 1995 Kennedy Center Honors, and at the 1997 Presidential Gala. Jimmy is also a singer/songwriter/guitarist. His first CD "Play Me" was finished in the summer of 2000. His next release came out in May 2003 - a collaboration with guitarist David Leiter under the group name "Sphinx", featuring tracks of his unique tap style and funky rock and roll tracks. Website at www.sphinxmusic.com