Matthias J. Schneider as Anchorman 1 and Mr. Szermet

Matthias J. Schneider as Anchorman 1, Mr. Szermet, Mr. Groening and Mr. O’Connor

Matthias Schneider has been a member of the improv scene here in Detroit for many years, performing at the Planet Ant Theatre, the Century Theatre, The Second City, and GO Comedy. He also did improv in Chicago for a couple years where he performed regularly at I.O., the Playground Theatre, and with the Second City Conservatory.  His acting experience stems from a year in the University of Montana’s MFA program, and many other productions including his latest role as Jeremiah in Lambert Street also produced by Aaron.

Sara Kline as Mrs. Lesner

Sara Kline as Mrs. Lesner

Sara Kline is a local actor from Madison Heights who is madly in love with Detroit. She performs improv with RPG Comedy in Macomb County. Last year, she graduated from Wayne State University with a BFA in Acting and directed Ivanov in the Studio Theatre.  She thanks her family and friends for their support.

Matthew Daher as Roy McCurdy (Cannonball Adderley Quintet)

Matthew Daher Roy McCurdy (Cannonball Adderley Quintet)

Matthew Daher is the band leader for Walk Tall and plays as Cannonball Adderley Quintet’s Roy McCurdy.  Matthew is a drummer, composer, and improvisor currently based in Detroit. His recent endeavors have included performances in and curation of Spread Art’s Creative [Music] Incubator (Detroit Contemporary, January 2014) and the first edition of “Spectral Slumber” : A Drone Sleepover Show (December 2013, the Jam Handy). “Green Mountain State,” co-written by Daher as part of Corinna Rose and the Rusty Horse Band,  won the grand prize in the 2013 John Lennon Song Writing Competition (Folk Category), and is featured in Sarah Polley’s 2012 film “Take This Waltz” starring Seth Rogan, Sara Silverman, and Michelle Williams. Daher has performed at the Montreal International Jazz Festival, Canadian Music Week, North by Northeast, and the Toronto International Film Festival. He is currently finishing production on a solo EP to be released summer 2014 and writing music for “Tiny Ocean,” a short film by local director Peter Skorupskas starring Jackie Strez and Langston Fishburne.

Rachel Elizabeth Porter – Wardrobe Mistress

Rachel Elizabeth Porter -Wardrobe Mistress

Rachel Elizabeth Porter is an actress, dancer/choreographer, and collaborator in the Metro-Detroit Film and Theatre scene.  As well as assisting with the costumes for “Walk Tall”, she is currently starring in “Princess Blossom and the Very Stubborn Dr. Winter” performed in the courtyard at Somorset Collection (North).  Rachel is thankful to be a part of the production of “Walk Tall” and work with such a talented group of artists!

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.

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.