Jake Alnapulsi

Visual Designer/Officer Blackbird

Jake Alnapulsi is a second-year Political Science major with a minor in African American Studies. He was born and raised in Damascus, Syria, and has since developed a passion for amplifying marginalized voices in the criminal justice system, particularly victims of war. He aspires to become a defense attorney, deeply rooted in his values of transformative justice.

Bryonn Bain 

Director/Writer

Bryonn Bain is an artist, prison activist, writer, actor, hip hop theater innovator and spoken word poetry champion. Bain is a Tony nominated theater maker whose performances have sold out on three continents, from the Apollo Theater to Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall. Bryonn produced For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide… on Broadway, hosted the award-winning BET talk show My Two Cents, and has been featured on 60 Minutes and in the Emmy Award winning LA Stories. Bain's internationally acclaimed production, Lyrics From Lockdown, shares his experience of wrongful incarceration while at Harvard Law, and his connection to a poet wrongfully sentenced to Death Row at 17 years old. Since 1989, Bryonn has brought art and education into prisons across 25 states and over 300 universities worldwide - from Rikers Island, Sing Sing, Folsom and CIW prisons, to Oxford and Cambridge universities. Bryonn is a co-Director of the Center for Justice and founder of the Prison Education Program at UCLA -- where he is a professor of African American Studies, World Arts & Cultures,  and at the School of Law. 

Xavier Brown 

(he/him)

The Good Wizard Eye Am

Officer Blackcrow/Costume Designer

Xavier is an actor, writer, director, and activist from Oakland, California with a B.A. in Theater (2023, emphasis in Acting) from UCLA.  He co-founded Magnum Opus Media: a storytelling company portraying non-racialized stories told through the lens of minorities, where he acts, writes, directs, and edits short films, music videos, features, and series for his own company as well as others’. He runs a clothing brand, BRIGHTSIDE SUPPLY, and a cooking business, The Savant Kitchen. Xavier is a passionate, driven, and detailed artist committed to exhibiting quality creations with joy. 

Megan Diaz

Diva/Rebel Crew/Costume Designer

Megan is a second year in the World Arts and Cultures department, studying the intersections between hip-hop culture and social justice. Her passion for all things street dance has led her to pursue her personal practice of dance alongside her academics. She is a proud member of LA’s Versa-Style Next Generation and hopes to continue a career in arts education. 

Ree Han 

(they/them)

Narrator/Diva/Rebel Crew

Ree is a first-generation student, as a second year CC transfer/4th year in the World Arts & Cultures department, with a minor in Art History. Their love for all forms of art began at an early age with various focuses in film, theater, and dance. Nowadays, they love to creatively write in free verse poetry, freestyle dance, and photograph on 35mm film when they can. They find empowerment and release in the act of creating and growing with others, and is driven to find ways to imagine collective liberation through the creation of art and community.  

Amanda Harris 

(she/her)

Stage Manager/Vocal Coach

Amanda is a third-year PhD student in UCLA’s Education Department studying theater as a method of learning, building intimacy, and resistance. She is a life-long performer. This is her first time in the role of Stage Manager. She  is proud to be working alongside this incredible group of artists and activists to tell this story.

Chaynce Henderson 

(he/him)

Peto/Platinum/Sound Designer

Chaynce is an American actor and director from Houston, Texas, with experience in theater, film and television. Currently pursuing a B.A. in Political Science at the University of California, Los Angeles, he is deeply honored to bring the characters of Peto and Platinum to life in this impactful activist piece, with the goal of educating, inspiring, and leaving a lasting impression on audiences.

Rachel Hsu 

(she/her)

Marketing/Social Media Designer

Rachel has fallen in love with Los Angeles during her second year here as a student and an education and social transformation major. This is her first experience with a theater production!

Tristian Kinney 

(he/him)

Deacon/Smooth

Tristian is an actor and artist pursuing a B.A. in Theater at UCLA, driven by a desire to bring authentic, marginalized stories to life. He believes every character reflects the human experience, fostering connection and empathy. For Tristian, performance creates spaces for silenced voices to be heard. He is grateful for opportunities to contribute to work that entertains and inspires meaningful change. “Storytelling is my way of building bridges between people and experiences we might never know. I’m thankful to be part of something bigger than myself.”

Bruce Lemon 

(he/him)

Assistant Director

The Judge/The Mayor

Bruce is a storyteller born and raised in Watts, California. As a child, his father made him write stories and read them aloud in the hallway as punishment for lies and mischief. He's still in trouble. Co-Artistic Director of Watts Village. Ensemble with Cornerstone Theater Company. Princess Grace Award Winner. Sherwood Award Finalist. BruceLemon.com @BALemonJr

Ichtaca Lira 

(he/they)

Assistant Stage Manager

Ichtaca is a playwright, director, fashion and makeup stylist and creative producer born and raised in the East Bay area. 

Marwan Mograbi 

Percussionist

Marwan Mograbi is a virtuoso Percussionist and drummer, born in Accra, Ghana. A resident of Los Angeles, Marwan’s contributions and presence in the area of African drumming has enriched the cultural and artistic landscape in the classroom, on the stage and currently with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, teaching African music. 

Briana Morris

Ma/Evilese/Associate Producer

Briana  "B Mor" Morris is an Actor. Writer. Producer who fearlessly believes in bold storytelling. When B Mor is not in front of the camera or on stage, she is usually behind the scenes actively transforming a story from script to screen. This Chicago native and Howard University alum has been blessed to work with WB, BET, CW, and HBO. "Earn your sleep” is her motto and what drives her every day.

Aiden Moseley 

(he/him)

Sound Designer/Reporter

Aiden is a fourth year student pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in World Arts and Cultures at UCLA. Growing up in Sacramento, Aiden always had an interest in politics, but his creativity has motivated personal projects in the worlds of music, storytelling, fashion, and art. After taking Professor Bain’s prison education class, Aiden realized he had an important role to play in this production. Although he had no prior experience working in theater, Aiden believes you should always try new things because you never know what you can learn from discomfort. 

Emily Newland 

(she/her)

Dorothy

Emily is an actress, director, and producer, with a passion for sharing untold stories and diversifying the theater, film, and television scene. Currently pursuing her B.A. in Theater at UCLA, Newland embraces the challenges of discovering new ways to bring her characters to life. Outside of theater, Newland enjoys spending time with her loved ones, writing, and collaborating with her peers. “Thank you to everyone who encouraged me and helped me see my potential. To all: Remember, you are powerful, brilliant, beautiful, and brave. Much love.” 

Kennedy Niyah Hill

(she/her)

Assata/Narrator

Kennedy is an alum of the University of Southern California's BFA Acting program. She is a true multi-hyphenate, excelling in acting, writing, and filmmaking (among a slew of other things). Past roles include God/Usher from Everybody and Viola from Twelfth Night. She is a founder of the 501(c)(3) non-profit, Eight Ball Theatre. She’s also the Creator of Fifth Floor Studios - a production company dedicated to telling Black stories for us, by us.

Brad Olsen 

(she/her)

Visual Designer/Diva/Rebel Crew

Brad is a dynamic theater maker and social change advocate, pursuing her BA at UCLA's School of Theater with a focus on directing and projection engineering. Her current passion project blends her diverse interests - the voice and movement of hip hop, dynamic script analysis, visual design, collaborative art - and her dad's favorite film, The Wizard of Oz, into an innovative, multimedia performance. “Be your whole true self”; the greatest privilege we know.

Juan Pacheco 

The WZA

Juan Pacheco is an AfroPhillyRican with a BFA in Acting from Arcadia University. He also holds a “masters  from The Hood.” Juan owes his career not only to his training, but also to his upbringing on the fertile grounds of the North Philly barrios packed with beauty, laughter, love and characters for days. Juan studied at The Public (NYC) as a member of the Shakespeare Lab, and most recently with LAByrinth Theatre Company (NYC) as a member of the 2024 Intensive Ensemble. He has appeared on-camera in over 20 national commercials. And has lent his voice to over 100 television programs and movies combined. On-Camera Film Credits: Code 3, The Take, The Boys and Girls Guide to Getting Down. TV Credits: Scandal (ABC), Rosewood (Fox). TV Voice Credits Include: David Makes Man (OWN) Snowfall(FX), Pose (FX), Law & Order SVU (NBC), Chicago PD (NBC), Dahmer (Netflix), Shameless (HBO) Film Voice Credits: It Ends with Us, Deadpool & Wolverine, Venom, Spiderman: No Way Home, Animation: Into The Spider-verse, Coco, Vivo, Paranorman, Mitchell vs Machines. His favorite role of all time is being a husband to his wife Akia and a father to his 3 radiant sons. This show is dedicated to them and to all the system impacted brothers & sisters seeking and deserving true freedom and liberation.

Chachie 

(she/her/ella)

Community Engagement Coordinator

Charletta Maria Royster-McNeish, affectionately known as Chachie, is a non-traditional student studying sociology, education, community engagement, and social change at UCLA. Born and raised in South Central Los Angeles, Chachie is a Black, Afro-Latina, first-generation, system-impacted, student with dependents, centering her educational journey on social justice research. She is passionate about her community and the opportunity to pay it forward by resetting generational barriers. 

Weldon Scott 

Bassist

Weldon Scott is a multi-instrumentalist and composer based in Los Angeles, California. Born in Houston, Texas, Scott was first introduced to music at the age of four, where he attended a Mommy-And-Me class centered around the piano. His love for the instrument grew as he got older. As a teenager, Scott attended the prestigious High School for The Performing and Visual Arts where he deepened his love and understanding of jazz. It was also during his time at HPVA where the musician learned how to play bass, which would soon become his primary instrument.

Scott’s keen understanding of jazz, as well as Black American music as a whole, has allotted him a myriad of opportunities, including performing at the Jazz Education Network with Kirk Whalum “Gospel to Jazz,” Jason Moran with the Houston Da Camera Series, Leslie Drayton Quintet, Javon Jackson, Pointer Sisters,  EnVogue, Azar Lawrence and many other studio sessions in between. On June 11, 2021, Scott released his debut EP “Here, I Am,” a 25-minute reflection of the artist’s time spent in the 2020 Lockdown. 

Amaru Talledo 

(any pronouns) 

Props/Costume Designer

Amaru is a non-traditional student born in Los Angeles pursuing fashion design, hoping to learn more about design at large. 

Lauryn Versoza  

(any pronouns)

Set/Lighting Designer

Lauryn is a queer multimedia artist born in Los Angeles to a Filipino American family. They are currently in their last year as an undergraduate in the UCLA World Arts and Culture major.

Jai Williams 

Producer/Choreographer

Jai M. Williams is the Program Manager of UCLA's Prison Education Program. She is a South Los Angeles native born in Inglewood, California. She is an alumna of UCLA’s Kaufman School of Dance and received her dual Masters in Dance Education and Masters of Fine Arts in Dance from New York University. She taught dance in New York and Los Angeles for several years to grades K-8th. These styles included Ballet, African, Latin, Tap, Creative Movement, Hip Hop, and Jazz. While at UCLA, she taught movement workshops inside of juvenile halls. After graduating from UCLA, she worked for a non profit, Agency Arts, teaching dance, theater, and poetry to formerly incarcerated, system-impacted, and foster care youth. Jai is working with UCLA's Art & Global Health Center on the Up to Us program, created in partnership with the Prison Education Program. She firmly believes that everyone should have access to dance.