Meet the Directors
MOHAMED S. JALLOH: CREATOR/DIRECTOR
Mohamed Jalloh began performing at an early age, securing lead roles in elementary school productions. His early talent inspired his parents to enroll him in the prestigious Newark Boys Choir School, where his love for the arts flourished. At just 11 years old, Mohamed wrote and performed his first play, Jonah, sparking a lifelong passion for theater and storytelling.
As a student at Roselle Catholic High School, Mohamed shined in productions such as Finians Rainbow and West Side Story, where he played Bernardo. He later performed with the Mystic Vision Players in A Chorus Line and reprised the role of Bernardo in West Side Story.
DARYL L. STEWART: CO-DIRECTOR
Daryl Stewart, a nominee for the prestigious 2026 United States Artist Fellowship, is a celebrated multi-hyphenate theatre artist with over two decades of experience as an actor, singer, director, producer, and educator. Widely known for his genre-defying, interdisciplinary approach, Stewart has created impactful works in theaters, cabarets, black box theatres, parks, civic centers, schools, and unconventional venues like old bank vaults, outdoor spaces and new media platforms.
A co-founder of Vanguard Theater Company and the leader of Daryl Stewart Productions, Stewart is deeply committed to uplifting diverse voices and serving the arts community at large. As the Inaugural Curator of Performing Arts for Newark Arts Festival, he reimagined the festival to include a rich spectrum of performing arts. His work has earned numerous accolades, including the Union County Advancing Community Theater (UCACT), Eulace E. Peacock Award, NYU Wasserman Award and the NJEA Alumni Award of Excellence, with features in The New York Times and ESSENCE Magazine. He can be reached @thedarylstewart on social media.
Meet the Cast
Wilhemina Allen
Wilhemina Alimatu Allen, grew up in Franklin Township and loves her community. She is a mother of three children and an active member in the Somerset County Black Caucus. She has been acting and performing since she was a teenager and while in college. She loves being able to bring characters to life and fulfill the vision as a creative.
Rob Evans
Rob is humbled and grateful for this opportunity to share Sugarcane Productions' vision with the audience. Rob earned his BA in Theater from Kean University and has been an advocate for the arts for over 30 years in many roles on and off stage.
Mimi Frances
Mimi has performed on stage and screen in NY, NJ and CA. She is honored to work with this cast and crew. Previous directing credits include American Son at Playhouse 22, Sweat at Villagers Theatre for which she received a Perry nomination for Outstanding Production of a Play. Also, the play School Girls: The African Mean Girls Play with Dragonfly Arts. A classically trained vocalist, Mimi was last seen on the Count Basie stage in Red Bank, NJ in The Color Purple. Always grateful to the creator for life, family & friends on this artistic journey.
Lisa Griffith Fleming
Lisa G. With God all things are possible! Lisa G. is an actress, writer, director and storyteller. She has performed in numerous regional and community theatre productions in New York, Atlanta, Baltimore, Maryland and New Jersey. As owner of Gstylproductions and Ent. Ms. G. Is currently working to reprise her role as Betty Jo Glam’mor. In her original play Miss Betty’s Glam-O-Rama/The Final Cut. As well as debut the second installment to the series Miss Betty’s On-The-Line-Dating/B-Harmony. Lisa is also currently working on various television and film projects.
Zachary Halley
Zachery Halley is a recent graduate at Kean University with a BA in theatre at. Selecting acting credits includes Memphis (Black DJ), Once on this island (Tonton Julian), Avenue Q (Trekkie Monster), and A sunday morning in the south (Tom) along with directing Suzan-Lori Parks’s Topdog/Underdog. Zachery also was a backup singer for Alex Newell at Kean. His play A Guyanese Dream performed by high school students at Drew University. Additionally Zachery performed a monologue as Digna Ochoa with Alfre Woodard.
Isaiah Joseph
Isaiah Joseph ia an Actor local to New York City who is represented by Dream Maker Talent Management and Crystal Ship Artists. Although, he has never been formally trained, his hard work and dedication to his craft has landed him many roles. From New York Homicide on Oxygen, My True Crime Story on VH1, Zooman and the Sign (Off-Broadway) where he was nominated for Best Lead Actor by the Audelco Committee, etc. Taking pride in his craftsmanship, he knows he will be exactly where he needs to be.
Jasmine Manley
Jasmine Manley is a voice graduate from North Carolina Central University. Her credits include “Guys & Dolls” Dreamgirls” “The Wiz” as well as extensive opera and choral experience. A MUSE member and artist with the Tribeca New Music Festival & Phoenicia Voice Festival. She‘s had a residency at The Seven venue in Brooklyn, and is an active choir member at Bethel and the Voices of Convent Baptist Church.
Yanae McCray
Yanae McCray is a lover of art, history, and storytelling. However, she is deeply passionate about acting and theatre, which hold a special place in her heart. She enjoys writing poetry and cherishes spending quality time with family and friends.
Diane L. Parker
Diane L. Parker is an actress, singer, director and producer and the executive director of the New Jersey Creative Arts Collaborative. She serves on the board of trustees for the New Jersey Theatre Alliance and the American Theater Group. Diane has worked with numerous theater companies such as Luna Stage, Premiere Stages, The Theater Project, Phoenix Productions, Vanguard Theater and more. In 2017, Diane was the recipient of the NY Strawberry Festival best play and best actress awards for her original play of voting rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer. She is honored to portray Mrs. Hamer in Underground Experience.
Khalilah Daye
Khalilah Daye (Conductor) is twenty-four years old and was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY.
She has a degree in acting from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Los Angeles, CA. She has had the honor of recently touring, and starring with the Bright Star Touring Theatre Company which allowed her to present three different plays to different schools, libraries and theatres across multiple states. In addition to appearing in a short film titled "Not Like The Other Girls". As well as performing in a few original plays. She is delighted to continue progressing in her career.
April C. Bauknight
April Bauknight is a New Jersey licensed attorney specializing in Real Estate and Wills, Trusts and Estates. Before becoming an attorney, April was a member of Karamu, a black theater group at Duke University. April enjoys the theater and is excited to participate in her first production with us.
Rabiya Rickard
Rabiya Rickard, a self-published Author to her 1st Poetry book, Egypt’s Introspective, Poet, Screenwriter and Filmmaker has a dream and passion for sharing her perspective, inspiring and bringing consciousness back to the screens through her films, to the world and especially targeted for her people! She is a ‘22 graduate of Montclair State University with a Bachelor’s of Arts in Communication & Media Arts! She has a dream that will come true as all of her outlets of expressions are through the arts.
Asia Jenine Todd
Asia Jenine (she/her) is an emerging New Jersey based theater artist and administrator with backgrounds in acting, directing, film production, and more! Her most recent credits include: The Rabbit in The Velveteen Rabbit (Miles Square Theater), Ethel in Memphis (Playhouse 22), and Narrator/ Ensemble in the one woman play titled The Penny Executive (Various locations). When she is not performing, Asia can be found working with Vanguard Theater in Montclair, NJ as their Community Outreach and Events Coordinator. To keep up with Asia’s professional pursuits, you can visit her website www.Theasiajenine.com and follow her on Linkedin.
Matthew Wright
Matthew Wright (He/Him,They/Them) is a journalist/editor originally from St. Louis, MO, pursuing their acting passion. Matthew has a Journalism and Political Science degree from Northwestern University in Evanston, IL. While at Northwestern, they were the President/Producer/Actor of Out Da Box (ODB), the premier Black student sketch and improv comedy group on campus. Matthew deeply appreciates the arts and loves going to the theater.