Tony Smith as John Pettigrew
Tony has been performing on stages around Louisville for over fifteen years. A graduate of the Youth Performing Arts School, he secured his first professional acting job as a company member of the American Theater Arts for Youth, based in Philadelphia, PA. Since that time, he has performed with Stage One, Derby Dinner Playhouse, Actors Theater of Louisville, as well as directing and choreographing various shows for the Alley Theater and The Bard Theater. He is also an active member of the Vava Vixens Troupe, as well as a teaching artist for Stage One Family Theater.
Tony has been performing on stages around Louisville for over fifteen years. A graduate of the Youth Performing Arts School, he secured his first professional acting job as a company member of the American Theater Arts for Youth, based in Philadelphia, PA. Since that time, he has performed with Stage One, Derby Dinner Playhouse, Actors Theater of Louisville, as well as directing and choreographing various shows for the Alley Theater and The Bard Theater. He is also an active member of the Vava Vixens Troupe, as well as a teaching artist for Stage One Family Theater.
Morgan M. Younge as Liza Pettigrew
Morgan, originally from Nashville, Tennessee, now resides in Louisville, and has been an active member of the theatre community. Morgan considers herself a Theatre Professional: her craft includes costume designing, writing, directing and teaching artistry. After committing to becoming a full time teaching artist, she has taught with several local companies including StageOne Family Theatre, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Looking for Lilith Theatre Company, Redline Performing Arts and Drama by George. Recently, Morgan was awarded a grant from the Kentucky Foundation for Women to produce a summer camp of her original script Hip Hop Herc (October 2023). In addition to her teaching, Morgan's acting credits include: Aunt Franny in Don't Tell Me I Can't Fly (StageOne Family Theatre); Truvy in Steel Magnolias (Faith Works Studios) A Sista in Say Her Name: Breonna Taylor (Berea College Theatre Laboratory); Maybelle in Before it Hits Home (The Griot Project); Lady Manchester (The Unknown Project) and June in Good Grief (Looking for Lilith) where she also is a company member. Morgan is grateful to be able to share her gifts with such a group of dynamic people. Please visit her website, morganMYounge.com
Morgan, originally from Nashville, Tennessee, now resides in Louisville, and has been an active member of the theatre community. Morgan considers herself a Theatre Professional: her craft includes costume designing, writing, directing and teaching artistry. After committing to becoming a full time teaching artist, she has taught with several local companies including StageOne Family Theatre, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Looking for Lilith Theatre Company, Redline Performing Arts and Drama by George. Recently, Morgan was awarded a grant from the Kentucky Foundation for Women to produce a summer camp of her original script Hip Hop Herc (October 2023). In addition to her teaching, Morgan's acting credits include: Aunt Franny in Don't Tell Me I Can't Fly (StageOne Family Theatre); Truvy in Steel Magnolias (Faith Works Studios) A Sista in Say Her Name: Breonna Taylor (Berea College Theatre Laboratory); Maybelle in Before it Hits Home (The Griot Project); Lady Manchester (The Unknown Project) and June in Good Grief (Looking for Lilith) where she also is a company member. Morgan is grateful to be able to share her gifts with such a group of dynamic people. Please visit her website, morganMYounge.com
Brandi LaShay as Hannah Wiggins
Brandi is a native of Orangeburg, South Carolina and Alumnus of Claflin University (’17). She furthered her career as a resident performer and Education Assistant at the St. Louis Black Repertory Company. Brandi then earned her Masters of Fine Arts at the University of Louisville ('22). She has returned to the University of Louisville as an Adjunct Professor for the Department of Theatre Arts. Brandi also serves the Louisville Community and JCPS as an actress, Performance Practitioner, Resident Teaching Artist, and Redline Performing Arts (RPA) as the first and only Black Woman in the position of Resident Associate Artistic Director. Brandi LaShay is currently a creative partner with IdeasXLab and the (Un)Known Project where she expanded her partnership as researcher, co-writer and director of an original production Broken Wings, Still Fly (2023-’25). She is excited about her artistic service to the Louisville Community and looks forward to the longevity of her work.
Brandi is a native of Orangeburg, South Carolina and Alumnus of Claflin University (’17). She furthered her career as a resident performer and Education Assistant at the St. Louis Black Repertory Company. Brandi then earned her Masters of Fine Arts at the University of Louisville ('22). She has returned to the University of Louisville as an Adjunct Professor for the Department of Theatre Arts. Brandi also serves the Louisville Community and JCPS as an actress, Performance Practitioner, Resident Teaching Artist, and Redline Performing Arts (RPA) as the first and only Black Woman in the position of Resident Associate Artistic Director. Brandi LaShay is currently a creative partner with IdeasXLab and the (Un)Known Project where she expanded her partnership as researcher, co-writer and director of an original production Broken Wings, Still Fly (2023-’25). She is excited about her artistic service to the Louisville Community and looks forward to the longevity of her work.
Shona Tucker as Mandy Grimes
Native Louisvillian. Actor, director, writer and educator, Tucker is a Full Professor and Chair: University of Louisville Theatre Arts. Mary Riepma Ross Chair at Vassar College Drama Department. As an actress, she is an original cast member of Broadway hit-- To Kill a Mockingbird.. and Broadway’s Death of a Salesman w/ Wendell Pierce. Other performance credits include numerous Off-Broadway, regional theaters, such as: Actors Theater of Louisville, Playwright’s Horizons, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Yale Repertory, Williamstown Theater Festival, , and ACT-San Francisco. Her television/ film credits include: The Hating Game and Linoleum, Lights Out, WALK THE FISH, Preaching to the Choir, New York Undercover, and Law and Order. While at UofL she has directed Bridget Wimberley’s St. Lucy’s Eyes and August Wilson’s Gem of the Ocean. She has directed at the Phillipstown Depot Theatre, Arena Stage, the Smithsonian and many other places. As a writer, the second part of her trilogy, Growing Wild was part of the #HealMeToo Festival at the IRT. Member and awards--NYTW Usual Suspect, Audelco Award, Fulbright Scholar. BS: Northwestern University, MFA: NYU/Tisch.
Native Louisvillian. Actor, director, writer and educator, Tucker is a Full Professor and Chair: University of Louisville Theatre Arts. Mary Riepma Ross Chair at Vassar College Drama Department. As an actress, she is an original cast member of Broadway hit-- To Kill a Mockingbird.. and Broadway’s Death of a Salesman w/ Wendell Pierce. Other performance credits include numerous Off-Broadway, regional theaters, such as: Actors Theater of Louisville, Playwright’s Horizons, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Yale Repertory, Williamstown Theater Festival, , and ACT-San Francisco. Her television/ film credits include: The Hating Game and Linoleum, Lights Out, WALK THE FISH, Preaching to the Choir, New York Undercover, and Law and Order. While at UofL she has directed Bridget Wimberley’s St. Lucy’s Eyes and August Wilson’s Gem of the Ocean. She has directed at the Phillipstown Depot Theatre, Arena Stage, the Smithsonian and many other places. As a writer, the second part of her trilogy, Growing Wild was part of the #HealMeToo Festival at the IRT. Member and awards--NYTW Usual Suspect, Audelco Award, Fulbright Scholar. BS: Northwestern University, MFA: NYU/Tisch.
Keith McGill as Dr. Jenkins
Keith is thrilled to be part of the LFPL reading of Safe. His recent roles include Ben in Night of the Living Dead with StageOne, Dad in Over My Dead Body for This Bridge Theatre, Sam in Bridge in the Distance for Bunbury Theatre, and Bear in Yeti in Love for Pandora Productions. Keith directed Ghost the Giver and Monster of Mine for StageOne, and Threads of our History for Actors Theatre. He is also a teaching artist for Walden Conservatory at StageOne, Actors Theatre, Kentucky Shakespeare Festival, and Shakespeare Behind Bars. He recently premiered a one-person piece—Over My Dead Husband in the Louisville Fringe Festival at Actors Theatre.
Keith is thrilled to be part of the LFPL reading of Safe. His recent roles include Ben in Night of the Living Dead with StageOne, Dad in Over My Dead Body for This Bridge Theatre, Sam in Bridge in the Distance for Bunbury Theatre, and Bear in Yeti in Love for Pandora Productions. Keith directed Ghost the Giver and Monster of Mine for StageOne, and Threads of our History for Actors Theatre. He is also a teaching artist for Walden Conservatory at StageOne, Actors Theatre, Kentucky Shakespeare Festival, and Shakespeare Behind Bars. He recently premiered a one-person piece—Over My Dead Husband in the Louisville Fringe Festival at Actors Theatre.