Spunk

ALEXIS J. ROGERS returns to Court Theatre after just closing a nationally acclaimed Porgy and Bess as ‘Bess.’ Other Chicago credits include The Wiz (Theatre at the Center), The Old Settler (Writers’ Theatre), The Piano Lesson (Court Theatre), Seven Guitars and Black Nativity (Congo Square Theatre Company), If All the World Were Paper (Chicago Children’s Theatre), Ain’t Misbehavin’ (Goodman Theatre), and Ragtime (Porchlight Theatre Company). Regional credits include Black Nativity (Kennedy Center, DC), Merchant of Venice (The Shakespeare Theatre Company, DC), and Civil War and Big River (Barn Theatre, MI). Alexis is a proud member of Congo Square Theatre Company, AEA, and AFTRA.

KELVYN BELL is a guitarist/composer, the creator of the avant-funk band Kelvynator, and a contributing innovator to The Association for the Advancement of Creative Music, Black Artist Group, m-Base, The Harlem School of the Arts, The St. Louis Jazz Hall of Fame, and The Black Rock Coalition, of which he is a founding member. Kelvyn has toured internationally and recorded with Arthur Blythe, Lester Bowie, Steve Coleman, James Carter, Maceo Parker, Living Colour, and Joseph Bowie & Defunkt, of which he is a founding member. He has been the Resident Composer for The Classical Theatre of Harlem since 2002. His theater credits include Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Black Nativity, Trojan Women, Macbeth, King Lear, Hamlet, Ruined, and Archbishop Supreme Tartuffe, for which he won the 2009 Audelco Award for Best Musical Direction. Please visit www.kelvynator.com.

CHRIS BOYKIN is excited to be walking the boards at Court Theatre for a second time this season, after playing Slang Talk Man and Joe in Spunk. A recent graduate from the Master of Fine Arts/Acting program at The Theatre School of DePaul University, Chris would like to give thanks and love to Professor Katz, Ed, Unc, Dad, Ma, and M, for everything. Repped by Paonessa Talent Agency.

KENN E. HEAD is proud to be returning to Court Theatre after previously being seen in Spunk. A veteran actor, he is a familiar face on many Chicago stages, having appeared in Romeo and Juliet (Chicago Shakespeare Theater), The Lost Boys of Sudan (Victory Gardens Theater), The Overwhelming (Next Theater), Seven Guitars (Congo Square–Jeff Awards for Best Ensemble and Best Play), as well as productions at Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Goodman Theatre, American Theater Company, and Yale Repertory Theatre.  His television credits include ER, Early Edition, and various commercials. 

PATRESE D. MCCLAIN is honored to be making her Court Theatre debut. She was last seen in Ruined (St. Louis Black Repertory Company) and ABC’s Detroit 1-8-7. Chicago credits include Goodman Theatre, Lookingglass Theatre Company, and CollaborAction Theatre, where she is a proud member. Regional credits include Two Trains Running (Geva Theatre Center, Rochester, NY) and a Kevin Kline-nominated performance in Crumbs from the Table of Joy (Mustard Seed Theatre, St. Louis). She received her B.F.A. from Howard University and her M.F.A. from Pennsylvania State University. Patrese is also the Executive Director of Pure ART, a non-profit organization that offers arts education outreach to inner city youth and produces events to showcase local artists. She would like to thank Seret Scott, Charles Newell, and the Court Theatre family for this wonderful opportunity. She thanks the Creator—He who gives the creativity—along with her mother, family, and friends for their continued support!

MICHAEL POGUE is proud to return to Court Theatre. He debuted earlier this season in Spunk. His other credits include VENUS and Carter’s Way at Steppenwolf Theatre Company; Radio Golf at Raven Theatre; Lobby Hero at Redtwist Theatre; Night and Day at Remy Bumppo Theatre Company; and Six Degrees of Separation at Eclipse Theatre Company. He deeply thanks his family, friends, colleagues, and mentors for their support.