Christina Tomlinson – Costume Director

Christina Tomlinson – Costume Director

An artist living in metro Detroit, Christina Tomlinson is best known for her provocative and thoughtful designs. In a career that has spanned over a decade, Christina has worked within the film, theatre, and music industry designing costumes, scenery, and make up. Her recent designs include costumes for The Taming of the Shrew at the Elizabeth Theatre, scenery for the short film Lonely, and costumes for Odd Hours’ music video Khaleesi. Christina’s intriguing designs have been seen on stages across the globe, as well in videos as on MTV networks, print media such as the New York Times, Prism Magazine, Metrotimes, Real Detroit, and featured as album art for several musical artists, including Tunde Olaniran.

Christina studied theatrical design at the University of Michigan-Flint where she obtained a Bachelors degree in technical theatre and English. She also attended Wayne State University, where she earned a Masters degree in costume design.

Christina is honored to be working with such a talented cast and crew on Walk Tall.

Kristin Dawn-Dumas as Jazz Club Singer and Mrs. White

Kristin Dawn-Dumas as Jazz Club Singer and Mrs White.

Kristin Dawn-Dumas is a Southwest Detroit native approaching graduation from Wayne State University. Previous stage credits include Lacey in Roaming Charges at the Detroit Repertory Theatre, Emily in Our Town at the Bonstelle Theatre, and Gerda in The Snow Queen, also at the Bonstelle Theatre. She is very grateful for the opportunity to work with the cast and crew of Walk Tall, and is excited for all projects yet to come.

DeVaughn Cone as Bent White

DeVaughn Cone (Bent White) is a 14 year old student at Harper Woods High School. He enjoys swimming, basketball, soccer, baseball, and video games. Later in life he wants to become an NBA player, veterinarian,or a comedian. DeVaughn also enjoys animals. This would be his third stage play performing in ͵he was also a cast member in Low Winter Sun. His parents and him are looking forward to seeing him in other plays in the near future.

Ramona Lucius as Mrs. Asnault

Ramona Lucius as Mrs. Asnault

Ramona Lucius graduated with a BFA in Acting at Wayne State. She holds a certificate from the Moscow Art Theatre and has been professionally performing in the Metro-Detroit area for several years. Ramona’s most recent credits include Akin in the Algorithm, Jane in The New Theatre Project’s premiere of Wolf Cry Wolf, and Tawara Toda in Hands On Folktales.

John Douglas as Nat Adderley

John Douglas as Nat Adderley

John Douglas is your Funk specialist, your Acid- and Latin-Jazz All-star, and a seasoned Be-Bop professional. With dexterous ease, he rips the high notes, caresses the low notes, and rocks the melodic scales in between – all without compromise on clarity or tonal quality. Again and again, his exclusive trumpet style is described as “hefty”, “technically accomplished,” “unexpected,” and downright “phat!” John Douglas’ pioneering spirit continues to thrive as he performs in venues in the U.S., Canada, and Europe. Douglas’ dynamic range of sound and space is documented on a variety of television, news magazine, and radio programs, and witnessed at renowned venues across the globe. John Douglas continues to explore new dimensions with a pulsating line-up of jazz musicians forming the present-day version of the John Douglas Quartet.  Best of all, just as the group’s powerful sounds, skills, and stamina indulge the senses, John provides an insinuating energy that both lights up the stage and minds of audiences everywhere.

Angela Roberts-Johnson as Ms. Carter and Jazz Waitress

Angela Roberts-Johnson as Ms. Carter and Jazz Waitress

Angela Roberts-Johnson marked her film debut as a cynical acerbic teen in Surviving the Rush, 2005. A short film version was included in A Collection of 2006 Academy Award Nominated Short Films (Magnolia Pictures). With her second film Approaching Midnight, she won “Best Actress in a comedy” at the 2006 Michigan Urban Film Festival. 2007 marked the launch of her first national commercial campaign for Ban Solid Deodorant®. In January 2009, Angela took on the ambitious yet ruthless role of “Lady Macbeth” in William Shakespeare’s Macbeth; (nominated for “Best Actress” at the 2010 Detroit Stage & Fashion Awards) which was by far her favorite role to date. In the official selection of the 2010 Sundance Film Festival under the Next category, Bilal’s Stand, Angela played the annoying yet loyal to a fault little sister, “Jamila”. Angela also made several recurring guest star appearances in the campy thriller television series Lee Martin’s Midnight Hour. Angela portrayed the role of “Kat”, the woman you love to hate, in the touring production of the hit stage play Church Girl, previously performed by veteran actress Robin Givens. As title character in the web series Aliah, Angela portrays a Muslim woman struggling with love, faith, and independence. In theofficial selection of the 2012 Toronto International Film Festival under the Discovery category, Detroit Unleaded, Angela took on the role of Kessha, a poverty stricken teen mother trying to make a better life for her son. The film is the winner of The Grolsch Film Works Discovery Award.

Dennis Kleinsmith as Bishop Schoenherr

Dennis Kleinsmith as Bishop Schoenherr

Dennis Kleinsmith/Sarge, Mr. Deschaine, Bishop Schoenherr

Dennis is now in his fourth year with Michigan Shakespeare Festival’s Touring productions of “Romeo & Juliet” (as Lord Capulet) and “Macbeth” (as Macbeth) performing in High Schools all over Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, Northern Indiana and Northern Ohio.  He just recently finished a run in several one-acts by Samuel Beckett at the Abreact Theatre and performed the role of Iago in Shakespeare in Detroit’s inaugural production of “Othello” in Grand Circus Park in 2013.  Also, this year has seen the premiere of the feature film “Some Are Born” by Michigan-based RuMor Productions in which he plays the featured role of Fred Walters, the father of the lead and later this Spring the short film “Malignant Separation” in which he plays Police Captain Lionel Roberts will make it’s debut. Both films will be making the festival circuits and eventually-hopefully-land on a screen near you.  In the meantime, he can be seen on Video-on-Demand and DVD as a Tinker in “Oz the Great and Powerful” with James Franco and Michelle Williams and later this Spring in the horror/thriller “Ghostlight” as the mysterious theater owner Mr. Black directed by Jeff Ferrell who also directed the short “Morella” which can be seen online on Youtube.

Nicholas Pobutsky as Fr. Klettner

Nicholas Pobutsky as Fr. Klettner

Nicholas Pobutsky is originally from Detroit and now lives in Dearborn. He has worked for the Detroit Puppet Theatre since 2002 as a puppeteer and technician. He is also a musician, a 16mm film collector, and a student of Art History at the University of Michigan (Dearborn).    Nicholas plays the role of Gary Frink, Mr. Bailey, Mr. Fairbrother and Father Klettner in Walk Tall.

Marcus Elliot as Cannonball Adderley

Marcus Elliot as Cannonball Adderley

Marcus Elliot is a saxophonist/composer/educator of the metro-Detroit area who is quickly gaining recognition for his imaginative improvising, and fervently thoughtful voice on the saxophone. Marcus began playing professionally in the Detroit Jazz scene when he was 15 years old. He was awarded a scholarship for his talents as a musician to attend Michigan State University to study with Wess “Warmdaddy” Anderson, Diego Rivera and Rodney Whitaker. As a Band Leader, Marcus has led the Marcus Elliot Quartet for the past 8 years. He self-released his first album “Looking Forward”, in 2010 and is currently working on a new album to be released in the summer of 2014. The Marcus Elliot Quartet Performs at Cliff Bells every Tuesday. As a Sideman, Marcus has performed with  Bob Hurst, Karriem Riggins, James Carter, Jimmy Cobb, Geri Allen, Marcus Belgrave, Mulgrew Miller Rodney Whitaker, Talib Kweli and many others. As an Educator, Marcus was the Artist-in-Residence at Troy High school, and Director of the Detroit Symphony Orchestras Civic Jazz Band. He currently lives in Detroit where he performs and composes music for local ensembles.

Jillian Wills as Mrs. Black

Jillian Wills as Mrs. Black

Jillian is a student at Marygrove College, pursuing a degree in voice performance. Though “Walk Tall” is her first professional theatrical performance, Jillian has much vocal experience including Marygrove’s music departmental recitals, cantoring at both St. Peter Catholic Church and St. Matthias Catholic Church, as well as volunteering every summer at St. Peter’s Vacation Bible School, leading the kids in song and dance throughout the day.   She is hoping to gain experience in theater to aid in expanding her knowledge of the performing arts.  Jillian plays the role of Mrs. Black and Mrs. Basney in Walk Tall.