CAST & CREATIVE

LAIONA (Lay-ona) MICHELLE (WRITER/NINA SIMONE)

Laiona made her Broadway debut in Amazing Grace. Prior to that, she completed a two-year run with the first national tour of the musical, Book of Mormon. In 2019, Little Girl Blue premiered at the George Street Playhouse where she now serves as the Artistic Associate. As a writer, she is currently collaborating with South African brothers, Greg and Shaun Borowski on the Mandela Musical which will open at the Young Vic in London. Laiona has also made appearances in Showtime’s Lift, ABC’s All My Children, NBC’s Law & Order SVU and Law & Order: CI, The Blacklist as well as Amazon’s, Sneaky Pete. She is a graduate of Brandeis University (MFA) and Alabama State University. Recipient of the Barrymore, Carbonell, and the NAACP Hollywood award (Constant Star). Nominated for the Helen Hayes Award (Yellowman), and 11 Broadway World Awards, (Little Girl Blue). Her greatest reward is her 7-year-old son, Rohan. 

 

DEVANAND JANKI (ADDITIONAL MATERIALS BY) Off-B’way: Zanna, Don’t! (Lortel, Callaway, GLAAD Awards), Junie B. Jones,Yellow Brick Road, Skippyjon Jones, This One Girl’s Story, Cupid & Psyche, Love & Real Estate, Romantic Poetry (MTC). Actors Fund All Star concerts: Hair, Funny Girl, Dreamgirls, Seth Rudetsky’s Broadway 101. Lincoln Center: Amahl and the Night Visitors, Babes in Toyland, Anything Goes in concert, Artisic Assoc. BC/EFA’s Broadway Bares. Regional: Songs For A New World (Village Theatre), Wings of Ikarus Jackson , Barrio Grrrl! (Kennedy Center), Rent, Xanadu, Rocky Horror (Hangar Theatre), Aladdin (Chicago Shakespeare), Full Monty,  Scarlet Pimpernel, Man of La Mancha. As a performer, B’way: Cats, Miss Saigon, The King and I, Side Show, Tours: West Side Story, A Chorus Line. Director - Musical Theatre Division - Stella Adler Studio of Acting, and the Artistic Director of Live & In Color, which develops new works that celebrate diversity. Liveandincolor.org & Devanandjanki.com

 

MARK FIFER (MUSIC DIRECTOR)

Steeped in the classics, seasoned by Rock, Blues, R&B, Jazz, and the American Songbook, Mark Fifer draws on a plethora of perspectives when it comes to making music a visceral, emotional, and necessary element of storytelling. Musical Director: Rent (Hangar, Reg. Premiere), Fame The Musical (Macao), Side by Side by Sondheim (Riverside), The Rocky Horror Show (Hangar), Our Town 75th Anniversary (Actors Fund), The Who’s Tommy, Tits Fisher with Kitten’s Kiss, Company, Cabaret, and more. Faculty at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting (NYC), Vocal Director for Carnival Cruise Lines. www.markfifer.com

 

KENNETH SALTERS (BAND)

Kenn Salters is elated to be making his second Off-Broadway appearance with “Little Girl Blue.” Kenn, a graduate of the University of South Carolina, is a composer and touring percussionist who globe trots with broadway stars Leslie Odom Jr. and Renée Elise Goldsberry and recently finished a tour in Doha, Qatar for the US Embassy and American Voices. Past theater experiences include, “Old Hats” (Signature Theater), “Dream Girls,” and “South Pacific.” You can listen to his debut album “Enter To Exit” on all platforms. He’s grateful for his family and friends, near and far for their support and love.

 

SAADI ZAIN (DOUBLE BASS/ELECTRIC BASS)

is a very versatile and well-traveled bassist on the New York City music scene who is adept at a multitude of musical genres, including jazz, classical, R&B, rock, pop and world music. As a jazz musician, Saadi considers himself quite fortunate to have learned and refined the art form directly through meaningful relationships with jazz masters: saxophonist Jackie McLean, drummer Charli Persip, and, most significantly, the legendary bassist Ron Carter (who actually performed with Nina Simone). Saadi is grateful to have played for many theatrical productions both on and off Broadway. For more information, visit www.saadizain.com.

 
 

LDK PRODUCTIONS (GENERAL MANAGER)

LDK Productions is a theatrical general management and producing firm based in New York City, founded by Lisa Dozier in 2007. Upcoming/recent: Little Girl Blue (New World Stages), 38 Minutes, LIKAH, Be More Chill (West End, Broadway, Off-Broadway), Skates: A New Musical (Chicago), A Letter to Harvey Milk (London, Off-Broadway), Our Brother’s Son, Katsura Sunshine’s Rakugo (New World Stages), the immersive theatrical adaptation of Sideways, Kennedy: Bobby’s Last Crusade (Off-Broadway, Broadway on Demand stream), A Lovely Sunday for Creve Coeur. Lisa is also on faculty at the University of Florida and was the founding producing director of the regional theatre Miami New Drama. www.LDKProductions.com

 
 

JANINE LEE PAPIO (THINK BIG PICTURE LLC) (SOCIAL MEDIA & DIGITAL MARKETING)

Think Big Picture, LLC specializes in digital marketing & social media, branding & graphic design, creative concepts & strategic planning, and more. #TBP successfully connects the client to the audience (and vice versa) by utilizing extensive research and experience alongside authentic engagement and realistic goals in an ever-changing landscape. Innovative techniques in mixed media design, photography, and video production, transparent listening, and hands-on collaboration are valued pillars. Based out of NYC, Think Big Picture, LLC services an international community specializing in music, live entertainment, & creative business