Nina Simone: Four Women

Akili (she/her) is an actor and independent recording artist originally from San Diego, California. Regional: Snow Fever (Phoenix Theatre Cultural Centre); Beautiful (Beef & Boards Dinner Theater); Chlorine Sky  (Steppenwolf Theatre); Sense and Sensibility (Indiana Repertory Theatre); Richard III and Riverside (Indianapolis Shakespeare Company); Skeleton Crew (Summit Performance Indianapolis); Hairspray (Legacy Theatre). International: Norwegian Cruise Lines (2019). Film: Heist 88. Television: Chicago Fire, Chicago PD. Commercial: DenTek, Andre Champagne. Discography: Breathe (2020), Good Life (2020), Right  (2021), Sold (2022), Lana Del Rey (2023) and 9-5 (2024). Education: B.F.A. Musical Theatre, Ball State University (2019).

Precious (she/her) is an actress born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. She found her love for the craft at an early age when she was enticed by the mystery and magic of acting. She aspires to impact and empower other artists through different mediums: theatre, film, and music.

Aeriel is grateful to be joining Nina Simone: Four Women. Off-Broadway: Trevor the Musical. National Tour: The Color Purple. Select Regional: Slippin’ Through... (Goodman Theater), Memphis (Porchlight), Ain’t Misbehavin’ (Drury Lane), Caterpillar & Butterfly (Steppenwolf), Million Dollar Quartet (Center Theater), Dreamgirls (Paramount), Antigone, Gospel at Colonus, Oedipus Rex (Court Theater), Jitney (Congo Square), The Josephine Baker Story (Black Ensemble Theater) Genisis (Definition Theater). Television: Chicago Med, The Chi, Empire. “Love to my family and The Tribe for loving me no matter the ‘journey.’ Special thanks to my manager Becky, and this company. Jeremiah 29:11.”@monaerie

PsyWrn Simone, a multi-hyphenate artist from Indianapolis, is overjoyed to return to IRT! Favorite theatre credits include: Toni Stone (Indianapolis Black Theater Company), Blackademics (Fonseca Theatre Company), Fannie: The Life and Music of Fannie Lou Hamer (understudy/performer, Indiana Repertory Theatre), The Mountaintop (Cardinal Stage), The Color Purple Musical (Booth Tarkington Civic Theatre) and Phoenix Theatre Cultural Center. PsyWrn is a member of Actors’ Equity Association, a Founding Company Member of the Indianapolis Black Theater Company, the Associate Artistic Director for the Asante Art Institute of Indianapolis, and serves on the Board for Inspire Music Collective. IG: @psywrn.simone

Guthrie: Skeleton Crew, A Raisin in the Sun, Choir Boy (choreography); Asolo Rep: Intimate Apparel; Yellow Three Theatre: Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill, The Rats and The Wasps’ Nest, Passing Strange, In the Next Room, Skeleton Crew, The Royale; History Theatre: Lonely Soldiers, A Civil War Christmas, The Defeat of Jesse James (choreography); Theatre North: Ain’t Misbehavin’ (director /choreographer); New Dawn Theatre Company: Crowns; Ordway: Annie, Blues in the Night; Ten Thousand Things: Intimate Apparel; Park Square Theatre: Rule of Thumb, Gee’s Bend, Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill; Penumbra Theatre: Black Nativity. Awards: McKnight Theatre Artist Fellowship; Ivey Award.

Regina (she/her/ella) is a Chicago-based scenic designer from Puerto Rico. IRT: Steel Magnolias, Mrs. Harrison. She has had long standing relationships with the Latinx Theatre’s renowned Teatros including Repertorio Español, Teatro Vista and Pregones Theater. Recently completed projects include American Players Theatre and the Alley Theatre. Regina is a Fellow of the NEA/TCG Career Development Program for Designers and the Princess Grace Awards, USA; a Regional Associate member of the League of Professional Theatre Women. She is the Head of Scenic Design at The Theatre School, DePaul University, and a founding organizational member of La Gente: The Latinx Theatre Production Network.

At the IRT, Mathew has designed costumes for Fences, What I Learned in Paris, and Boeing, Boeing! Mathew has designed costumes for more than 25 productions at the Guthrie Theater, including A Christmas Carol, A Streetcar Named Desire, 1776, and She Loves Me. Other regional credits include the Seattle Opera, Penumbra Theatre Company, Old Globe, the Acting Company, the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, the Minnesota Opera, Milwaukee Repertory Theater, Trinity Repertory Company, Cleveland Play House, Theatre de la Jeune Lune, Geffen Playhouse, the Jungle Theater, and American Players Theatre.

Nic (he/him) is a lighting designer based out of New York City and Toronto. He is pleased to be making his Indiana Repertory Theatre debut with such incredible collaborators. Recent Off-Broadway: Theater Row/Keen Company, Lincoln Center Theater, Roundabout, Atlantic, New Ohio, the Apollo, New York Live Arts, 59E59, Mabou Mines, Rattlestick. Regional: Geva Theatre, Guthrie Theater, Yale Repertory Theatre, People’s Light (Barrymore nominated), Sacramento Opera. Other work includes Nightgowns (Sasha Velour/Quibi), and numerous projects at La Mama and the Cell. Up next: Portland Opera. Founding member: Associated Designers of Canada ADC IATSE 659, M.F.A.: Yale School of Drama. nicvincent.com

Theatre: Guthrie: A Raisin in the Sun, Skeleton Crew, Intimate Apparel; Asolo Rep: The Royale; Park Square: Agatha Christie: Rule of Thumb; New Dawn Theatre Company: Divas After Dark, Crowns. Film/Television: White Savior (Sparkhouse). Professional bassist: Jonathan Brooke, Mike Stern, Geoffrey Keezer, Fareed Haque, Charles Lazarus, Minnesota Orchestra, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Andrés Prado, Charley Drayton, Doc Martin, Joey McIntrye. Training: M.M., Bass Performance, McNally Smith College of Music; University of Minnesota (James Clute). Jeff is a Hamline University Professor of Practice and Director of the Hamline Music Production Program.

At the IRT, Mike has designed projections for Fannie, Sense and Sensibility, The Book Club Play, The Hound of the Baskervilles, and The Mountaintop. Based in Chicago, his credits include the Goodman, Steppenwolf, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Second City, Victory Gardens, Lookingglass, Writers’ Theatre, the Court Theatre, and many more. Off-Broadway credits include MCC Theater, p73, EnGarde Arts, and the York Theatre. Regional credits include the Alliance Theatre, Philadelphia Theatre Company, South Coast Rep, Center Stage, Syracuse Stage, and more. Mike is an artistic associate with TimeLine Theatre and a member of United Scenic Artists local 829.

Tenéh (she/her) is elated to return to the IRT. She is a multi-hyphenate creative encompassing talents in piano, voice, theatre, and creative direction. Tenéh attended Hampton University and returned to Indianapolis to contribute to the local arts scene. In 2020 she was honored to be chosen as a Featured Artist by the Arts Council of Indianapolis for its annual Art and Soul series. She has performed and taught throughout the city and recently was presented the Broadway World award for music and orchestral direction for Sophisticated Ladies. “I thank my tribe, family, friends, and all those fighting for oppressed people.”

Previous IRT credits include Alice/Brittany in The Folks at Home and Mrs. Peacock in Clue. Other fave recent Indianapolis roles: Heidi in What the Constitution Means to Me (American Lives Theatre); A Midsummer Night's Dream (IndyShakes); Woman in White City Murder and director/head writer of A Very Phoenix Xmas (both at the Phoenix Theatre). Claire is also a certified Intimacy Director with IDC Professionals, and she served as the primary intimacy consultant for the 24/25 season at the IRT.