Hero Theatre's 10th Anniversary offering of
FLEX 
by Candrice Jones
directed by Korey Jackson
THE CAST
​Jasmine Ashanti - APRIL
​Jasmine Ashanti (she/her), originally from PG County, Maryland. She received a BA in theater from Tempe University and MFA in acting from UC, San Diego. Theater credits: The Last Tiger in Haiti (Co-pro Berkeley Rep, La Jolla Playhouse), Ready Steady Yeti Go (Rogue Machine Theatre). Since moving to LA, Jasmine has done many voice over spots including the Netflix cartoon "LEGO Friends" numerous national commercials, The ABC discovers showcase and guest starring roles on The Good Doctor, Black-ish, Lucifer, and On My Block.
​TaiReikca L.A. - STARRA
​TaiReikca L.A. (they/them) is a San Diego-based Actor, Writer, and Stage Manager. Recent credits include: Acting – Toshi in Mud Row, Roshni in House of Joy (San Diego Rep); MJ in Black Pegasus (The Old Globe); 1st Witch/McDuff in Macbeth: The Unsex Me Project, Stephanie in Hands of Color (OSF Midnight Projects). Stage Management – The Earth Remembers (Virginia Stage Company); Why This Night, The Great Khan, Baton (San Diego Rep Online Readings); Sassy Mamas, RUINED, The House That Will Not Stand (Hattiloo Theatre); Assistant Stage Management – How To Catch Creation, Love’s Labor’s Lost, Hairspray, Henry V (Oregon Shakespeare Festival); Originally from Indianapolis, IN, TaiReikca received their BA in Theatre Arts (Performance) from Alabama State University and their MFA in Stage Management from California Institute of the Arts. They are a member of the Actors’ Equity Association and the Stage Managers’ Association.
Zena Reeder - CHERISE
Zena Reeder (she/her), hailing from Jacksonville, Florida moved here after pursuing acting on and off as a hobby. Having studied at the University of Central Florida, and Art Sake Studios Orlando, she moved to LA not only to study further as an actor with the New York Film Academy, and Identity School of Acting, but to pursue a full time career. Zena Reeder has been blessed to work on short films, commercials, television shows, and now her first LA stage production, we will look forward to seeing more work from this hard working actress in the near future. ​
Chaz Shermil - DONNA
Chaz Shermil (she/her) is an avid reader, writer, poet, and film enthusiast. Originally from Chicago, she made her way to sunny California to complete her MFA at UCSD.  She is currently working on a self-written documentary entitled, "God is a Black Woman." She has taught "Intro to Acting" as an Adjunct Professor at California Lutheran University and the Berkeley Playhouse. Her poem series "Thank You For Breaking My Heart" was recently published by a Chicago-based artist collective entitled, Sixty Inches from Center.  Regional Theater Mixed Blood Theater: Is God Is (regional debut), Guthrie Theatre: The Legend of Georgia McBride, Cygnet Theater: The Wind & the Breeze (world premier), Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park: Marie & Rosetta, The Cleveland Playhouse: Marie & Rosetta, The La Jolla Playhouse: In the Red & Brown Water Film/Television  Amazon's Hunters, Soul Ties, Chevy & Caprice,  Lifetime's My Crazy Ex, Angry Black B@$&%#!; self-acted, written, & produced. Guthrie Theater Festival Premier Awards Theater Bay Area nomination for Best Lead Actor in a show: Hurt Village Training Second City Hollywood, M.F.A., University of California at San Diego @ChazShermil @ChazShermilSpeaks
Carolyn Michelle Smith - COACH
Born in Washington, DC Carolyn Michelle Smith (she/her) is a graduate of Fordham University at Lincoln Center and the Drama Division at Juilliard. Immediately following graduation, Carolyn was cast in the world premiere of Katori Hall’s play: “WHADDABLOODCLOT!!!” at Williamstown Theatre Festival. She made her Off-Broadway debut in “Hit The Wall” at The Barrow Street Theatre, and her Broadway debut in “Romeo and Juliet” starring Orlando Bloom and Condola Rashad. Later that year, she joined Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright on Netflix’s Emmy Award-winning series: “House of Cards” in the recurring role of “Willa Penton” Seasons 2 and 3. Carolyn has worked with Oscar Award-winning director Steve McQueen for HBO’s “Codes of Conduct”, Emmy Award-winning director Carl Franklin, and Executive Producer and Director Jonathan Starch of NBC’s “Law and Order”. Guest Star credits include: “How to Get Away with Murder”, “Notorious”, “The Oath”, and “Colony”.  She’s currently recurring on Season 2 of “Russian Doll” for Netflix. In addition to acting, she is Co-Director of the Acting Track for Lena Waithe’s Hillman Grad Mentorship Lab. Selected by Lena’s Team for her work as a coach and educator, during the 40-week program she and Co-Director Behzad Dabu guide and support Mentees through workshops, guest talks, and one-on-one coaching sessions. As this is the program’s inaugural year, she and the Hillman Grad Team have uniquely designed the curriculum for the modern-day BIPOC actor in Hollywood. Providing a space for work, resources, and to create valuable connections. Carolyn is passionate about her work as both Actress AND Educator, and feel that both serve each other in deeply fulfilling ways. 
Akilah A. Walker - SIDNEY
Akilah A. Walker (she/her) is an actress, auteur & creative producer originally from Atlanta, Georgia. Akilah holds an MFA in acting from American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco as well as a BA in Acting from Fordham University. Akilah has previously performed with Classical Theatre of Harlem, New York Stage & Film and Berkeley Repertory Theatre, just to name a few. On film, she can be seen in 'Under the Lantern Lit Sky' from Emmy-nominated director Jaclyn Bethany and 'Sorry To Bother You' helmed by the legendary Boots Riley. Akilah is currently in post for her directorial debut short film ‘Ivar Tunnel: Shook Ones’ Find out more info via the link in her IG bio @AKthewayy. Akilah is thrilled to be performing in Candrice Jones’ ‘FLEX’ again as she was seen in previous workshops of the plat at Berkeley Rep’s Ground & The Bay Area Playwrights Festival. 
THE TEAM
Playwright - Candrice Jones
Director - Korey Jackson
Stage Manager - Ashley Weaver
Assistant Stage Manager - Jessie Landes
Costume Designer - Maggie Dick
Consultant - Keri Anderson
​
Hero Theatre Leadership Team
Elisa Bocanegra, Producing Artistic Director     
Gabe Figueroa, Associate Artistic Director
Joseph Henderson, Associate Producer & Director of Artist Initiatives
Ashley Busenlener, Director of Communications

Hero Theatre Mentees
​C.J. Craig
Audrey Foreman 
Jamie Gallo
Thalia Colon Garcia
Jessie Landes
*Flex is being developed and presented as part of Hero Ignite, a new division of the company that serves as an incubator for original work inspired by the experiences of youth in today's America.
SPECIAL THANKS
This reading of FLEX is in honor of Olympia Dukakis 
A special thanks to the following friends who helped make tonight possible:
​
Keri Anderson
C.J. Craig
Audrey Foreman 
Jamie Gallo
George Garcia
Korey Jackson
Candrice Jones
Jesse Landes
Nick Manuguerra
John Miyasaki
Melanie Neumann
Jennifer Rey
Carolyn Michelle Smith
Susan Truong
Shelby Williams-Gonzalez

and 
​
Cafe Tropical 
Equelecua Vegan Cuban Catering
Inner-City Arts
Play On Shakespeare
Porto’s Bakery
Trader Joe’s Silverlake