Company Bio’s!

Youth Leaders

Dominique Johnson, Youth Leader/Dance Instructor,Choreographer,19yrs. She currently attends Fairfield University. She has been a youth leader for three years and a dance instructor for two semesters.  She has shown leadership qualities through her original choreography for many events including most recently Johnny Cinders Goes to Hollywood.  She played lead roles in Her and HiStory as Alice Busybody and Nicki Menage in Johnny Cinders Goes To Hollywood. She has also been part of the youth and police mini-grants for several years participating in writing and acting on the grants. Currently she is writing and directing a sketch for The Reaching For Respect mini-grant awarded by The Consultation Center called It Ain’t right, a sketch addressing bullying in school.

 

 

 

 

Leandra Brooks, Youth Leader/Theater Director and Instructor, 18yrs. She currently attends Housatonic Community College. Leandra has been a youth leader for four years, and an instructor for  two semesters. . Leandra is a seasoned director starting her career directing, Not So Sweet Sixteen, in 2008 for an underage drinking grant given by YDTRC. Since she has directed dozens of sketches including her popular Barber Shop Sitcom Series. Last year she played the lead role in the famously funny original play, The Spanish Soap Opera. She also played the dramatic and emotional role of Genesis in the original play, Dying to Live, at the Downtown Cabaret Theater in June 2011. She was also the lead host/facilitator of the forum segment, What About Those Baggy Pants? She is currently writing and directing her third sketch for our newest youth and police mini-grant.

Ben Saldana, Youth Leader,actor,writer, 15yrs. Attends Bullard Havens Technical School. He has been a youth leader for three years and has been in the youth development programs for five years. Ben has had lead acting roles for the last two years in the following producitons: One Shot Lost, Her and History, and created the original infamous part of Chang in Dying to Live. He also played Pablo in The Spanish Soap Opera and will also playing this role in the film scheduled for this summer. He played the funny and dumb brother in Johnny Cinders Goes to Hollywood. He has writing credits on all of these productions. He is currently writing and acting with a team of four youth leaders on his third youth and police sketch around racism in schoools.

 

 

 

 

 

Latisha Billups, Youth Leader/Dancer/Actress,15yrs. She attends Central Magnet High School. She has been involved with youth development projects for five years. Latisha played the lead acting role as Harriet Tubman in Her and HiStory. She played the dramatic and emotional role of the mother in Dying To Live, She has been a lead dancer for four years. She has been a lead actress of the SRO training for police officers in Weathersfield and Farmington,CT for two years.  She is currently playing a police officer in a sketch, It Ain’t Right!.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Joshua DeGuzman,  Youth Leader/Actor/Writer, 12yrs. Attends Newtown Middle School. Joshua has been a  youth leader for two years and has been in the youth development programs for three years. He played the lead role, Alykai in Dying to Live, one of the dumb brothers in Johnny Cinders, and many character roles including a police officer in One Shot Lost. He has writing credits on all of these productions and currently is working on an original rap number for Dying to Live this year.  He is also on a writing/directing team for the newest sketch of the youth and police mini-grant around racism. Joshua has been playing violin for three years.

 

 

 

 

Liliana Ortiz, Youth Leader/Actress 14yrs. Liliana attends Harding High School. She has  been a youth leader for three years and has been in the youth development programs for five years. Liliana has been playing lead roles for the last two years. She had the lead role, Genisis in Dying to Live and Veronica in The Spanish Soap Opera, Her and HiStory, One Shot Lost, and most recently singing as  Selena Gomez in Johnny Cinders Goes to Hollywood. She is currently on a the team that is writing a sketch for the youth and police mini-grant around racism.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Samuel Panton, Youth Leader/Writer/Actor/Director, 14yrs. He attends Weston High School. Sam has been a youth leader for two years. He has been acting for five years. Her started acting in his 5th grade play. He started to play lead roles two years ago with playing Frederick Douglass in  Her and HiStory. He went on to have the lead role, Alykai in Dying to Live, and played a police officer in One Shot Lost and most recently he played Johnny this summer in  Johnny Cinders Goes to Hollywood. He shouts out to God, his Mom and Dad and Brother and Sisters. A special shout out to Ms. Donna Sue and everyone in YouthArtWorks Inc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fekianne Charles, Youth Leader/Dancer 16yrs. Attends Kolbe Cathedral High School. She has performed in plays and attended performing arts camps for several years. She sings in her church choir.  She attends the McGivney Community Center. She has been in YouthArtWorks for two semesters and she loves it. She was a lead host in the Youth Forum this past June at the Downtown Cabaret Theater. She shouts out to the dancers of YouthArtWorks, Jamila, Lexi, Kaylynne and Sheina.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Keith (Kenni) Shaw Jr. Youth Leader/Actor/Rapper, 14yrs. He attends Bridge Academy School. Kenni sings in his church choir, plays piano and trombone. This is Kenni’s third semester with YouthArtWorks. He played several charcters in Johnny Cinders Goes To Hollywood, and snatched the lead part in the upcoming much anticipated play, This Is Me. He shouts out to the following families: Pantons, Johnsons, Bohannans, Smiths, Shaws and the House of Prayer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clarivel Davis, Youth Leader/Actress,16yrs. She attends Central High School. Clarivel has been in the program for three years. She as been seen in many productions: Her and HiStory, Holiday Show, The Spanish Soap Opera and was seen on the Red Carpet for Oscar night in 2011 and 2012. She has been a regualar acrtress in Barber Shop Sitcom series.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leslie Moncada, Youth Leader/Actress/Dancer,12yrs. She attends Park City Magnet School. This is Leslie’s third semester with YouthArtWorks. She played several roles this past summer in Johnny Cinders Goes To Hollywood. She is currently cast as the mother to Eric in the upcoming much anticipated play, This Is Me.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Karie Jackson, Youth Leader, Actress/Dancer,15yrs. She attends Bassick High School. She has done step team the last few years and has taken dance class for 7 years. Karie played the lead role this past summer as Jennifer Charmings in Johnny Cinders Goes to Hollywood. She will be seen as Kate in the new much anticipated play, This Is Me. She also snagged the role of Brenda in Dying to Live. She shouts out to her Mom and Ms. Donna Sue for allowing her to be part of this wonderful program.

 

 

 

 

 

 

ENSEMBLE CAST

Jack Ruiz, Actor/Writer/Rapper/Dancer, 15 yrs. He attends Bunnel High School in Stratford. Jack has been in these youth programs for fours years. He started out in the dance department and switched the following year and snagged lead roles as Ricardo in The Spanish Soap Opera, Pit in Dying to Live, and many other character roles such as a regular actor in the Barber shop Sitcom series.

 

 

 

 

 

Latisha Davis, Dancer 18yrs. She attends Bassick High School. She is a dancer in her church and also is going to be in their choir. She has been a youth leader for two semesters. She was an actress/dancer in Dying to Live, at the Downtown Cabaret Theater and was a dancer/actress in the summer production, Johnny Cinders Goes to Hollywood. She played Lady Gaga’s choreographer. She is a resident of Bridgeport Housing Authority.

 

 

 

 

Idalis Wynn, dancer, 8yrs. She attends Blackham Middle School. This is her first semester at YouthArtWorks. She is in the dance department and she will be in her first performance of Dying to Live this year. She is the youngest ensemble member.She loves to dance. Shout out to my family, I love you!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sapphire Charity Panton, Actress/Dancer, 8yrs. She attends Jettie S. Tisdale School. Saphire is in her second year at YouthArtWorks. She been in the Holiday Show, A Dinner, Dance and Soap Opera, Oscar Night, and most recently she was a fairy in Johnny Cinders Goes to Hollywood. Shout out ot her Mommy,Daddy, Sam, Amore, Adanny, all my peeps. Ms. Donna Sue and all the people in YouthArtWorks

 

Trevon McCoy, Actor/Dancer/Rapper, 10yrs. He attends Geraldine W. Johnson School. Trevon joined YouthArtWorks this summer with an outstanding performance in Johnny Cinders Goes to Hollywood. He was acting, dancing and rapping in the show. He will be performing in the upcoming productions of both Dying to Live and This is Me. Shout out to his Mom.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Takyah Johnson, Actress/Dancer, 11yrs. She attends Jettie S. Tisdale School. Takyah has performed in school plays, her church and YouthArtWorks. She has been with the company for two years. She had her first lead role this summer in Johnny Cinders Goes To Hollywood. Shout out to god, her Mom and Dominique and her Grandma.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Micaiah Ferguson, Dancer, 11yrs. She attends Bryant School. She plays basketball and has atteded YouthArtWorks for two years. Shout out to her family, friends and Ms. Donna Sue for making this program.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

La Ray Rice, Actress/Dancer, 12yrs. She attends Jettie S.Tisdale School. La Ray dances for her church. She has been in several summer theater programs. She joined YouthArtWorks this past summer and performed in Johnny Cinders Goes To Hollywood. She will be performing in the up coming production of Dying to Live. Shout out to her Mom. Dad, Grandmother, and to Ms. Donna Sue.

 

 

 

 

 

Tamia Johnson, Actress, 13yrs. Attends Jettie S. Tisdale School. Tamia joined YouthArtWorks this past summer and was part of the cast Johnny Cinders goes to Holywood. She currently is playing a lead role in the sketch, It Ain’t Right! for the youth and police mini-grant. Shout out to her family, the Johnson family, Ms. Donna Sue and to everyone at YouthArtWorks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Latrell Smith, Actor,14yrs. Latrell has acted in school plays and has performed with his school band. He likes to play basketball and act. This is Latrell’s first year with YouthArtWorks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Taylor Cruz, Dancer,14yrs. Attends Blackham Middle School. This is Taylor’s first year with YouthArtWorks. Shout OUT to her mother for getting her into this program and her dance teacher for teaching me the steps!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alexis Miller, Actress,13yrs. She attends Bedford Middle School. Alexis has been involved with the arts at her school, talent shows, and plays the flute. This is her first semester at YouthArtWorks. She attends the McGivney Community Center. Shout out to Aventura, Fekianne, Jamillionaire, and Nvtella.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kaylynne Mercado, Actress, 13yrs. She attends Coleytown Middle School. She has performed in school plays and has played a variety of instruments. This is her first year at YouthArtWorks. She has snagged the lead role in the upcoming production of Dying to Live as Genesis. She attends McGivney Community Center. Shout out to Aventura, Nannie, Lexi, Jmills, and Nutella<31.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Daejah Morgan, Dancer, 14yrs. Attends Jettie S. Tisdale School. Daijah has been in the dance department for two years. She has performed in a Dinner a Dance and a Soap Opera. She also performed at Oscar Night.  She shouts out to her Mother, Grandmother, cousins and the rest of her family.

 

 

 

 

 

Monaya Desiree Cabble,Actress,15yrs. She attends Bassick High School. Monaya sang in the choir, United Girls Choir for two years. She also participated on a drill team called, The Dream Steppers. This is Monaya’s first year with YouthArtWorks. Shout out to her mother and Ms. Donna Sue for allowing me to join this production company. Follow me on twitter: @ Mrs___Sappxo.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aaliyah Cruz, Dancer, 16 yrs. Attends Central High School. This is Aaliyah first year in YouthArtWorks. She is in the Dance Department and getting experience in acting. Shout out to her Mother for putting her in this program and Donna Sue for creating a place for us to express ourselves.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tyasia Francis, Dancer, 16yrs. Attends Bassick High School. Tyasia has been in the dance department for two years. She has been seen in A Dinner, Dance and a Soap Opera, Holiday Show, and several Oscar Nights. Shout out to Dominique for introducing her to YouthArtWorks and teaching her new dances.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jamila Freeman, Actress, 17yrs. Attends Kolbe Cathedral High School. Jamila has done school plays including, Wizard of Oz in fourth grade. She took vocal lessons from 7th-8th grade. This is her first year with YouthArtWorks. Shout out to Nannizzle, Alexisizzle, Shanika my vocal coach. S.O. to my madre Y padre, y hermana, y prima, y misamigas, and Kaylizzle31.