Pearl Cleage (she/her) is an Atlanta-based playwright currently serving as Distinguished Artist in Residence at The Alliance Theatre. The recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Dramatists Guild, she is also Atlanta’s first Poet Laureate. Her plays include Flyin’ West, Blues for an Alabama Sky, The Nacirema Society…, What I Learned in Paris, and Angry, Raucous and Shamelessly Gorgeous. Her work is anthologized in Flyin’ West and Other Plays, published by Theatre Communications Group. In addition to the Alliance, Cleage has been widely produced, including performances at the Goodman Theatre, London’s National Theatre, the McCarter Theatre Center, the Guthrie Theater, The Old Globe, the Negro Ensemble Company, Arena Stage, and Actors Theatre of Louisville. Her work is widely taught and produced at colleges and universities across the country. She is also a performance artist working in collaboration with her husband, writer Zaron W. Burnett, Jr. Their groundbreaking performance work is the subject of a new documentary film Live at Club Zebra! directed by Matthew and David Adeboye. Cleage and Burnett also collaborated on In My Granny’s Garden, a book for young children, which was adapted for the stage by Rosemary Newcott and has been performed in Atlanta, Chicago, and St. Louis. The author of eight novels, including What Looks Like Crazy on an Ordinary Day, a New York Times bestseller, Cleage also co-authored with Burnett “We Speak Your Names,” a praise poem commissioned by Oprah Winfrey. She is currently at work on Off Day at Chickens, in collaboration with Burnett and a play with music, Letters from Aunt Nina, based on the music and memories of Simone’s niece, actor/singer Crystal Fox.

Desireé Clarke Miller (she/her) is a director, actor, producer, and the Executive Artistic Director of MOXIE Theatre. She was also a 2024 Old Globe Theatre Classical Directing Fellow. Select directing credits include [title of show] (New Village Arts), Our Dear Dead Drug Lord, Man and Moon, Chronicles of Kalki, and Mother of the Maid (MOXIE Theatre), Monsters Of The American Cinema (Diversionary Theatre), Powers New Voices Festival: Community Voices (The Old Globe), Gruesome Playground Injuries (Reading, Coyote Stage-Works – Desert Theatre League Award). Desireé also specializes in devised theatre with an emphasis on vulnerable populations. She directed and co-wrote a play titled This Time as part of a partnership with Voices Of Our City Choir, La Jolla Playhouse, and MOXIE Theatre.

Kevane La’Marr Coleman (he/him) is excited for this opportunity to showcase Black work and make Black art.  Kevane was most recently Isom Faciane in the Cygnet Theatre production of The Hot Wing King. Previous credits include One in Two, As Much As You Can, The Facts of Life-The Lost Episode, Monsters of the America Cinema (U/S); The Mystery of Irma Vep (U/S), Our Gay Apparel, Stage Directions (Diversionary Theatre) The Hispanic/Latino/Latina/Latinx/Latine Vote (TuYo Theatre); The Color Purple,  The Secret Garden, 1940’s Radio Hour, Return to the Forbidden Planet (New Village Arts); One in Two (Island City Stage); Angels  in America: Millennium Approaches/Perestroika, Shockheaded Peter (Cygnet Theatre); 9 Hours (Old Globe Theatre); South Pacific, Miss Saigon (Moonlight Amphitheatre); Airline Highway, Grey Gardens, Chicago, Angels in America: Millennium Approaches/ Perestroika (ion Theatre); The Car Plays (La Jolla Playhouse) to name a few. Kevane is a proud graduate of Boston College, and he is the President of the Black Faculty and Staff Association at Cal State San Marcos.

Xavier Carnell Daniels (he/him) is thrilled to make his MOXIE Theatre debut in Blues for an Alabama Sky. A graduate of Concordia University Irvine with a BA in Theater, his past stage credits include Blue/Orange (10th Avenue Theater) and Hot Wing King (Cygnet Theater). He has also appeared in films such as The Foster Story and The Conduit. Xavier trained at John Kirby Studios and brings additional talents in drumming, singing, and mime, along with proficiency in British accents. He is grateful for this opportunity to story-tell artistically and thanks his family and friends for their support. Follow him @xay._.dan

Deja Fields (she/her) is excited to be back on MOXIE’s stage where she recently performed in Clyde’s as Leticia and The Niceties as Zoe Reed. Other recent credits include 1222 Oceanfront: A Black Family Christmas (New Village Arts), The Odyssey (The Old Globe), Hairspray (San Diego REP). She also toured North America as Meekah in the Blippi Wonderful World Tour and is a featured Background Vocalist and Teaching Artist. Follow her journey on IG @dejaafields

Carter Piggee (he/him) is thrilled to be making his return to MOXIE, where he performed his first ever professional role in 2017 in Ironbound. Carter was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and has performed all over San Diego. Regional Theatre credits include As You Like it, Henry 6, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Twelfth Night, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (The Old Globe), The Hot Wing King (Cygnet), One in Two (Diversionary Theatre), Abigail’s Party, Dry Powder (Backyard Renaissance), Miss Bennet Christmas at Pemberley (New Village Arts). He holds a B.A. in Theatre Performance from San Diego State University (Spring 2017), and an M.F.A in Acting from The Old Globe/USD Shiley Graduate Theatre Program (Class of 2024). Instagram: @cjcentric. 

Janine Taylor (she/her), a Phoenix native, started performing as a dancer at the age of eight. After minoring in dance at Arizona State University and dancing with the Elektrolytes, she shifted her attention to acting. Notable credits include the musical Light My Fire (Colabo Performing Arts, San Diego ), the TV show Retribution (executive producer Stephen Bishop), and an upcoming horror short directed by Andrew Bachelor (aka “King Bach”).