Winspear Opera House, AT&T Performing Arts Center Thursday, November 21 2024
FEATURED ARTIST
CEDRIC NEAL is a proud native of Dallas (Oak Cliff), Texas, and attributes all his international success to what he learned, and lived, at several institutions that make up the Dallas Arts District. Growing up in a singing family, and raised in the church, Cedric sang his first solo at four years old. Neal graduated from Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts (Arts Magnet.) He was in the Music-Vocal Cluster, and was integrated into the Musical Theatre program. He went on to major in Classical Vocal Studies at the esteemed Eastman School of Music (University of Rochester). Neal returned to Dallas in the late ‘90’s and immediately began working in the D/FW Theatre community. Cedric was one of the original nine members of the Dallas Theater Center’s Hal and Dianne Brierley Resident Acting Company. While at DTC he starred in productions of The Who’s Tommy, A Christmas Carol, A Midsummer’s Night Dream, Death Of A Salesman, It’s A Bird, It’s A Plane…It’s Superman; and returned to the Wyly stage in 2014 in the world premiere musical Stagger Lee
Other Local/Regional theatre credits include Uptown Players, Soul Rep, Theatre Three, WaterTower Theatre, Jubilee Theatre (Fort Worth, TX), Zach Theatre (Austin, TX) and Pollard Theatre (Guthrie, OK). Neal has been featured soloist with Turtle Creek Chorale and was arranger and soloist for the Complexions Contemporary Ballet Company, acclaimed modern ballet Testament, which premiered at the Winspear Opera House.
Cedric moved to New York City in 2011 and quickly made his Broadway debut in the Tony Winning Revival of The Gershwins’ Porgy And Bess , where he was featured in the ensemble and understudied the role of “Sportin’ Life.” Neal returned to Broadway in the critically acclaimed Jazz musical, After Midnight , which featured guest stars including Fantasia, K.D. Lang, Vanessa Williams, Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds, TonHeBraxton, PattHeLaBelle and Gladys Knight. For his turn as “James THUNDER Early” in the Signature Theatre (Arlington, VA) production of Dreamgirls , Neal won the prestigious Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical.
Cedric made his international debut as “Sportin’ Life” in the London production of the Gershwins’ Porgy And Bess (Regents Park Open Air Theatre), and his West End debut as “Berry Gordy” in Motown-The Musical. Other select London/West End credits include Chess, King-The Martin Luther King Jr. Musical, A Christmas Carol, Songs For A New World, Jesus Christ Superstar, Kinky Boots, as well as the UK premiere of the musicals The View Upstairs and 21 Chump Street . Neal originated the characters of “Goldie Wilson/Marvin Berry” in the world premiere of the multHeaward winning musical Back To The Future, for which he won the Broadway World Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical. For his characterization of “Nicely Nicely Johnson” in the groundbreaking revival of Guys And Dolls at the Bridge Theatre, Cedric was nominated for an Olivier Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Musical. Most recently, Neal was featured as “King Charlemagne” in the 50th Anniversary Concert production of Stephen Schwartz Pippin. He is currently in rehearsals for the UK premiere of the Donmar Warehouse production of Dave Malloy’s Natasha, Pierre And The Great Comet Of 1812 . At the Theatrè Du Chatèlét (Paris, France), Neal was featured as “Bert Barry” in 42nd Street.
In 2019, Cedric was a Semi-Finalists on The Voice-UK , where his coach and mentor, Sir Tom Jones, emphatically proclaimed Neal to be “The best singer to ever be on this show.” Mr. Neal is featured on several Broadway/ West End Cast Recordings and has worked extensively with some of the biggest names in the entertainment industry.
His awards and recognitions include Leon Rabin Awards, Dallas Voice Awards, B. Iden Payne Awards, Austin Critics Circle Award, Texas Legacy of Success, Irma P. Hall Presidential Awards, World International Musical Theatre Artist Award, Black British Theatre Lord Hastings Award as well as back to back WhatsOnStage Awards nominations.
Cedric and his husband, Mitchell, share their home in Brighton, UK with their doghter, Brookland. In his own words, “HEam inexplicably excited to be coming HOME to honor the Arts District, the spaces and people that made me the artist and International storyteller HEam today. No matter where HEam in the world…HEwill always recognize Home.” Smile and Glory to God! - Cedric N. Darden-Keiver
GUEST ARTIST
CHERISH LOVE ROBINSON stands as a distinguished figure in both theatre and music, boasting an illustrious career spanning over two decades. She has graced audiences across the United States, Europe, and beyond, showcasing her talents as an artist, producer, composer, music director, and songwriter. Behind the scenes, Cherish’s voice has lent its magic to some of the industry’s most celebrated performers, including Erykah Badu and The Roots of The Tonight Show , while also gracing national platforms like The Colbert Show as a background singer. Not confined to the spotlight, she has left her mark as a producer, crafting and arranging vocals for esteemed artists such as Elle King, The Texas Gentlemen, and Paul Cauthen. Cherish’s influence also extends to popular TV shows and films, with her work appearing in Big Little Lies, Grey’s Anatomy , and the Amazon Prime Original Movie, My Spy
Her diverse musical tastes and boundless passion for the arts have led Cherish to share her insights as an arts contributor for publications like Elisia Magazine and a podcast shows like The Midday Lockdown. She has been widely praised for her exceptional talents, earning accolades from Broadway World Dallas for delivering unforgettable performances on stages across North Texas and beyond. Recent credits include standout roles in productions such as Into the Woods (The Witch), Sister Act (Deloris), and Detroit ‘67 (Bunny).
A pinnacle of Cherish’s career was her involvement in projects like composing, music directing, and starring in Solstice at Theater Three, written by Dallas-native Jonathon Norton and Danielle Kastner, and composing The Black Album, penned by a Golden Globe-winning actor, Regina Taylor.
Looking ahead, Cherish is set to release her highly anticipated debut Christmas album, Love’s Holiday on November 26, 2024 . This heartfelt collection promises to captivate listeners with its soul-stirring melodies, crafted in collaboration with some of Dallas-Fort Worth’s most beloved artists. The album will showcase Cherish’s signature style of blending rich vocals and intricate arrangements with the warmth and nostalgia of the holiday season.
In addition to her musical endeavors, Cherish finds fulfillment in sharing her expertise with a dedicated roster of students through voice lessons. She is also channeling her wisdom and experiences into her forthcoming book, The Artist’s Parallel, scheduled for release next year.
MAINSTAGE BAND MEMBERS
EUGENE “GENO” YOUNG, IV (Music Director, Piano/Keyboards, Featured Vocalist)
MIKE CLOWES (Guitar)
BRAYLON LACY (Bass)
JAMIL BYROM (Drums)
HIGHER GROUND
Soloist: Cedric Neal
Choreography: Bridget L. Moore
Music: Stevie Wonder
Musicians: Eugene “Geno” Young, IV, Mike Colwes, Braylon Lacy, Jamil Bryom
B. MOORE DANCE
Founded in 2018 by Dallas-native Bridget L. Moore, B. MOORE DANCE is a contemporary dance company known for its dynamic and powerful performances. The company integrates cultural depth with dynamic, cutting-edge choreography, blending African-American and global dance traditions with contemporary artistic forms. Committed to empowering future generations, B. MOORE DANCE promotes leadership, education, and community engagement through its performances and collaborative projects. Under Moore’s direction, the company has earned national acclaim, including its distinguished invitation to perform at the Joyce Theater’s American Dance Platform in New York City. Through its dedication to artistic excellence and global outreach, B. MOORE DANCE is shaping the future of contemporary dance.
BRIDGET L. MOORE (Choreographer) Founder and Artistic-Executive Director of B. MOORE DANCE, has also served as Artistic Director of Joffrey Ballet School-Texas, Dallas Black Dance Theatre and was a Visiting Professor at Sungkyunkwan University in Seoul, South Korea. She holds a BFA from The Ohio State University and an MFA from NYU Tisch School of the Arts. Moore’s choreographic commissions include works for Ailey II, Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, Bruce Wood Dance and Urban Bush Women, to name a few. She choreographed The Sound of Music and Public Works: The Odyssey for Dallas Theater Center. Moore has received the Princess Grace Foundation Choreography Fellowship and was featured in Dance Magazine’s “25 to Watch.” She performed with Ronald K. Brown’s EVIDENCE: A Dance Company from 1999–2008, touring internationally to Cuba, London, Greece, Hungary and more.
CLAUDE ALEXANDER III (Dancer), originally from Washington, D.C, Claude attended Towson University where he studied Dance Performance. He went on to perform with several companies and organizations during his career to include Dallas Black Dance Theatre, 6 o’Clock Dance Theater, Bruce Wood Dance and many more. Claude has also embarked on a choreographic career and has had his work presented at several dance festivals to include Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, International Association of Blacks in Dance Conference and Festival, Summer Stage (NYC), and Battery Dance Festival. He is now a freelance artist working as a performer, teacher and choreographer with plans to continue sharing his gifts around the world.
GILLIAN CLIFFORD (Dancer), is a native of Buffalo, NY, and a 2021 Summa Cum Laude graduate of Howard University, where she earned a BFA in Dance and a minor in Strategic Communications. She has trained with prestigious institutions including Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, the Joffrey Ballet, and the Radio City Rockettes, and has performed works by acclaimed choreographers such as Christopher L. Huggins, Francesca Harper, and Darrell Grand Moultrie. Gillian’s professional experience
includes dancing with Company E, DBDT: Encore!, The DASH Ensemble, and Dallas Black Dance Theatre. Recently, she made her opera debut in Pelléas et Mélisande with The Dallas Opera and will perform in Houston Grand Opera’s upcoming production of West Side Story.
AMBER PICKENS (Dancer), is a Chita Rivera award-winning actor, choreographer, and organizer. A native of Dallas, Texas, Pickens is a versatile and multi-hyphenate artist, receiving acclaim for her work in film, television, theater, advocacy and beyond. Pickens received recognition for her choreography in the compelling Sundance and Netflix film Passing, introducing her as a rising feature film creative with the ability to teach the actors dance from the Harlem Renaissance era. Pickens’ television and Broadway credits include Wu-Tang: An American Saga, Harlem Godfather, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Don’t Bother Me, I Can’t Cope, The Wrong Man, Cirque du Soleil’s Paramour, among many others.
NILE RUFF (Dancer), a native of Washington, DC, began dance training with Kankouran West African Dance Duke Ellington School of the Arts. Nile later attended Point Park University and The Ailey School on scholarship. Professionally, Nile has worked with notable companies such as Attack Theatre, Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, Spectrum Dance Theater + Donald Byrd, Dance Iquail, Dallas Black Dance Theatre, and Ballet Virginia. Nile gives thanks to family, friends and ancestors.
ANTHONY WADE JR. (Dancer), a native of Wilmington, Delaware, began his dance training at the Anna-Marie Dance Studio at the age of 7. He holds a Master’s Degree in Choreography from the University of Roehampton in London and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Ballet and Modern Dance from Texas Christian University, where he graduated Cum Laude. He has performed with B. MOORE DANCE for six years, in numerous works. Wade has also served as a choreographer and instructor at the Joffrey School of Ballet’s summer intensive and is a faculty member at Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts.
MCKINLEY WILLIS (Dancer), a native of Dallas, Texas, received her dance training at Dallas Black Dance Academy, Ozsoy’s School of Ballet, and Booker T. Washington HSPVA. She earned a BFA in Modern Dance Performance from the University of Oklahoma and has trained at The Ailey School and the American Dance Festival. McKinley performed with Bruce Wood Dance and spent eight seasons with Dallas Black Dance Theatre, collaborating with artists such as Matthew Rushing and Christopher Huggins. She is now a freelance dancer, choreographer, and yoga instructor.
ZACHARY J. WILLIS (Emcee) is a dynamic performer originally from Fort Worth, TX and a proud member of the Diane and Hal Brierley Resident Acting Company at the Tony Award-winning Dallas Theater Center. Known for his fearless storytelling, Zachary has brought his talent to leading theater companies across North Texas, celebrated venues across the country, and even the Las Vegas strip. ATTPAC patrons may recently remember him as Sebastian in The Little Mermaid, Columbia in The Rocky Horror Show, and Pickles in the Dallas Theater Center World-Premiere co production of Jonathan Norton’s HEAM DELIVERED’T with Actors Theatre of Louisville. You can see him throughout Dallas Theater Center’s 24-25 season in A Christmas Carol, Shane, Waitress and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. www.zacharyjwillis.com @ zacharyjwillis
AT&T PERFORMING ARTS CENTER RESIDENT COMPANIES
SPOTLIGHT PERFORMANCES
TEXAS BALLET THEATER / THE DALLAS OPERA COLLABORATION
AVE MARIA
Choreographer: Ben Stevenson, OBE
Composer: Giulio Caccini
Dancers: AvaRose Dillon, Henry Winn
Featured vocalist: Ashley Townsley
Musicians:
Ami Campbell - Violin
Grace Wollett - Violin
Liesl-Ann deVilliers - Viola
Mitch Maxwell – Cello
Founded in 1961, Texas Ballet Theater (TBT) is a nonprofit, fully professional ballet company whose mission is to create, present, and tour world-class ballet, from classical to cutting-edge, and promote its appreciation, accessibility, and technical mastery among students, pre-professionals, and audiences of all ages. TBT is the only major arts organization to serve as a resident company in two venues: AT&T Performing Arts Center in Dallas and Bass Performance Hall in Fort Worth. For more information about TBT, visit www.TexasBalletTheater.org
AVAROSE DILLON began dancing at age 9 at the Studio School of Classical Ballet in her hometown of Santa Cruz, California, under Diane Cypher and Robert Kelley. At age 14, she moved to Texas to train at Texas Ballet Theater, where she spent three years in the school, two of which she danced in the Studio Training Company. Dillon graduated high school early and joined the company in 2022. Along with her ballet career, Dillon is a student at Texas Tech University, pursuing her Bachelor’s degree online. Dillon’s favorite TBT productions have included Ben Stevenson’s The Nutcracker, Dracula, Alice in Wonderland and Bartok; George Balanchine’s Serenade and Rubies; and Val Caniparoli’s Without Borders. Dillon has studied across the country at summer intensives with San Francisco Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, School of American Ballet, and TBT. She has also received scholarships from the Dance Council of North Texas. Dillon is thrilled to be dancing another season with TBT.
HENRY WINN started dancing at age 7 in Salt Lake City, Utah, with Ballet West Academy under the direction of Peter Christie, Jan Fugit and Jeff Rogers. While at Ballet West, he performed many ballets with the company including Don Quixote, The Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, Cinderella and The Rite of Spring. While at Ballet West, Winn was invited to perform The Nutcracker with Ballet West at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. Winn attended many summer intensives including The School of American Ballet in New York City, Houston Ballet, and Boston Ballet. From 2017-2019, Winn trained with Boston Ballet under the direction of Peter Stark, where he performed with Boston Ballet and Boston Ballet II. Winn joined Texas Ballet Theater in 2019.
THE DALLAS OPERA
The Dallas Opera connects local and global audiences through its worldclass performances of both new and traditional works. We sing stories for all generations, harmonizing entertainment, education, and artistic quality.
The Dallas Opera opened with an unforgettable performance by legendary Greek soprano Maria Callas in November of 1957. Subsequently, the Dallas Opera has presented many international stars in their American debuts, including Dame Joan Sutherland, Montserrat Caballé, Jon Vickers and Plácido Domingo, as well as designer/director Franco Zeffirelli.
ASHLEY TOWNSLEY, Soprano, is a native of Houston. She made her debut with the Houston Grand Opera in the world premiere of Jake Heggie’s Pieces of 9/11: Memories from Houston . She has since sung Amor in Orfeo ed Euridice , Pamina in Die Zauberflöte , Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro , Stella in A Streetcar named Desire , La Fée in Cendrillon , and Despina in Così fan tutte with UNT Opera and others, and has been the featured soloist in Mozart’s Krönungsmesse, Handel’s Messiah, and Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass.
ANITA N. MARTINEZ BALLET FOLKLORICO
Anita N. Martinez Ballet Folklorico is Non-profit organization that focuses on providing Education & Cultural Awareness through the Arts. Founded in 1975 by Mrs. Anita N. Martinez, Dallas’ first Hispanic City Councilwoman, what started as a small community dance group, has achieved artistic stature in the community and is a Resident Company of the AT&T Performing Arts Center (ATTPAC) in the Dallas Arts District.
ANMBF has served the Dallas community in a broad capacity for 49 years. Although intended for audiences of all ages, ANMBF has always championed the community’s youth, acting as cultural and artistic stewards for future generations of art patrons and performance-goers to come. The company is a professionally trained troupe of 40+ dancers, ranging from children of 5 years to lifelong veterans of the art form.
Executive Director: Lisa Mesa-Rogers
Artistic Director: Juan Jose Lopez Rodriguez
Dancers: Alexis Gomez, Arihanna Muñoz, Diana McGee,
GUEST ARTISTS PERFORMING IN LEXUS RED
SERENATA STRINGS
JAY SMITH has extensive experience as a private lesson instructor as well as a director of various music ensembles. In addition to teaching independently and at Music Starz Studios, Jay has also taught at the university level. He spent 5 years teaching at the University of North Texas, where he gave private lessons and directed the UNT Classical Guitar Ensemble. Jay also served on the faculty of the Community Music Program while at UNT.
In addition to teaching, Jay has also stayed active as a performer. He has played in numerous solo and ensemble settings throughout the DFW area with Serenata Strings, a live music company owned and operated by Jay and his wife, Karen. Jay has also performed with The Tulsa Opera and the Milwaukee symphony, as well as in a jazz setting with artists such as Frank Mantooth and Neil Harmon.
KAREN LIM-SMITH , Malaysian-born entrepreneur, educator, author, violinist and pianist performs regularly as a freelance musician, touring with Andrea Bocelli and Diana Ross and the Supremes in 2000. She has been performing with the National Association of Composers USA (NACUSA) since 2008. In 2009, she presented the world premiere performance of Wayang for solo violin, composed by Wieslaw V. Rentowski at the Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas. The following year, she presented the world premiere performance of “Appassionato” for violin and piano composed by Rentowski at the University of San Marcos, Texas. Her performance of Wayang is featured on Wieslaw Rentowski: Solo & Emanuel Vargas, Fernando Lara, Jessica Sebastian, Juan Jose Lopez Rodriguez, Norma Cruz, Rebecca Lopez
Chamber Music, released by Navona Records in August 2021. On Sept. 27, 2022, she presented the world premiere of Rentowski’s Triptych — 1945 with world-renowned soprano Dominika Zamara and Dr. Cameron Hofmann from Baylor University at the Dallas Latino Cultural Center sponsored by the City of Dallas Office of Arts & Culture. She manages Serenata Strings, a professional ensemble specializing in live music for entertainment averaging 300 events per year. Along with husband Jay Smith on guitar, they performed the pre-shows to four performances of Fiddler on the Roof from May 11-13, 2023 at AT&T Performing Arts Center. In Fall 2023, she added the position of orchestra director at the Founders Classical Academy in Lewisville. She is also co-owner of Music Starz Studios and maintains a studio of 40 music students per year. She is also author of I Do! (2022, 2023, 2024 editions).