Musical Director and Musical Arrangements
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13 years ago the amazing Anthony Evans joined Queen Esther’s Harlem Gospel Singers and in so doing began a relationship that will last a lifetime. The connection between Queen Esther and Anthony is undeniable. Anthony was chosen to be Musical Director of Queen Esther Marrow’sm Harlem Gospel Singers in Inspiration at the Ford’s Theatre in Washington D.C. This work earned him a nomination of the prestigious Helen Hayes Award. As selfless as he is talented Anthony is a true community servant. He has performed in benefit concerts at the United Nations for Tsunami victims and in Texas with Queen Esther for Hurricane relief. He directs over four different choirs including recipients of the McDonalds Gospel Festival and developed the music program for the A. Philip Randolph Institute. Anthony is a classically trained pianist who was discovered at the age of 18 by Alan Parker who chose him for the film Fame. He was nominated for a Grammy award for his work on the movie soundtrack. Anthony has appeared with Patti LaBelle, The Clarke Sisters and Tremaine Hawkins, he was the musical director for Melba Moore and conducted the classical production of Scott Joplin’s Treemonisha. This multifunctional artist branched into the field of television with a music video for Spike Lee and Michael Jackson for the album HIStory. Anthony’s unique fanciful style and athletic endurance are a staple for the Queen Esther Marrow’s Harlem Gospel Singers. We are pleased to have him for this adventure.
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Associate Musical Director
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Kevin Harrington is an accomplished musician. He has played for Atlantic/Grand Hustle recording artist Govenor, Nona Hendryx, Stanley Turrentine, Oliver Lake, Sherry Winston, Hiram Bullock, Onage Allen Gumbs, and the jazz group Special EFX. Kevin has played with some of the hottest R&B artists in America including Chico DeBarge, Joe, Teddy Riley, Blue Magic, Ray Goodman & Brown and Kool and the Gang. Kevin was born in Jamaica, Queens, New York the home of musical giants like James Brown, Count Bassie, Billy Cobham, Omar Hakim and Marcus Miller. He began the study of music and pursuit of his career at the age of 11. Kevin was influenced by some of America’s greatest musicians; among them Richard Ruiz who taught Kevin the art of tempo, groove and most importantly improvisation in music. Kevin was hired by local churches where he continued to develop his unique style. When not in church he listened to Jazz Fusion, to the Mahavishnu Orchestra to drummers from Motown, and to Rhythm and Blues. By the age of 15 he was hired to play in Fusion and R&B bands where he continued to develop as he was influenced by the styles of Stanley Clarke, Larry Graham, Verdine White, Jaco Pastorius, Bootsy Collins and James Jamerson. Kevin learned the importance of “the pocket” and began the mastery of various styles of music. Kevin is also accomplished as a writer and producer. He has created music for artists with his partners as owners of Fullee Loaded Productions LLC, Some of their artists include Tomi, The Groove Dept., Amanda K., Solo Nubian, guitarist John Willis as well as artists for New City Entertainment, Kevin tours with other groups including Freddie Jackson and EMI Recording artists PLFD. We are grateful that his journey always leads him back to one more ride with Queen Esther Marrow and the Harlem Gospel Singers.
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Choreography
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Leslie is a gifted choreographer, performer and teacher. As a teacher Leslie contributes to the choreographers of the future as a dance instructor and as the choreographer of Hal Jackson’s Talented Teens International Scholarship Competition. As a performer she has worked Off-Broadway with Cab Calloway on Bubblin’ Brown Sugar. Even more notably she has appeared in
several Broadway productions including: Eubie!, Sophisticated Ladies, The Tap Dance Kid, and the Amen Corner are some of the Broadway shows that feature her talents. Leslie made her Broadway debut as a director with Rollin’ on the T.O.B.A., a tribute to Black Vaudeville. The list of Leslie’s credit goes on to include choreographer for New York Mercury Opera House on their production of Show Boat and The Crossroads Theatres revival of One Mo’ Time. She also served as choreographer on Don’t Bother Me I Can’t Cope (Tony Award Season/Crossroads Theatre). Broadway Melody, Raising Hell, the original workshops of Beehive and Smokey Joe’s Café. Leslie is pleased to be back with Queen Esther Marrow’s Harlem Gospel Singers for one more trip on the train.
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Choir Director, Dance Captain and Design of Robes
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Queen Esther Marrow’s Harlem Gospel Singers welcomes back Dennis M. Hinson as the assistant choreographer for the 19th annual European tour. Assistant Choreographer is only one of the hats Dennis has worn for us. He began with this group as a singer in 2001. Since then Dennis has served as casting director, costume consultant, dance captain, choir director, robe designer, choreographer and has arranged a few music selections as well. Dennis has also served as assistant to respected
directors and choreographers: Cerise John, David H. Bell and Mercedes Ellington. He also served as Co-director with Barbara Montgomery on Showboat for the Mercury Opera Company of Rochester. Dennis has appeared in the National Black
Theater’s 20 year anniversary production of Don’t bother Me I Can’t Cope. We are excited to have him along for the ride.
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Jen Caprio Designs - Costume Design
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Queen Esther Marrow’s Harlem Gospel Singers welcomes our new costume designer Jennifer Caprio of Jen Caprio Designs. Jen saw her first Broadway Production at age 13. She knew then what she wanted to do with her life. Much to her parents chagrin she dropped out of competitive swimming and training for the Olympics in favor of working in the theater. She went on to attend Ithaca College and Carnegie Mellon and has now worked on over 100 plays, musicals and operas. New York credits include: In Transit at Primary Stages, Post Modern Living and Modern Living at LaMaMa Etc., Signs of Life, and Wanda’s World at Amas Musical Theater, You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, for the Make a Wish Benefit, Girl’s Room at Queens Theater in the Park, Serendib at Ensemble Studio Theater. Jennifer has costumed shows in many theaters across the USA including: The Hangar Theater’s November, Rent, Oklahoma, No Child, Bad Dates, Bleeding Kansas, Doubt, Bloodline, Hello Dolly, As You Like it, Cats, and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Also regionally Jennifer has worked with the Williamstown Theater Festival on Ubu the King, Our Country’s Good, and A Clockwork Orange. She
has also designed for La Jolla Playhouse in California, the Minnesota Opera, The Utah Shakespearean Festival and the Helen Hayes Theater. Jen made her Broadway debut with The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee on Broadway. We warmly welcome her on this wonderful trip.
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Design and Execution of Traditional Robes
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Roberta Garner, affectionately known as “Mom Bert”, is the owner and manager of Roberta’s Custom Choir and Ministerial Robe Company. Her entrepreneur spirit and drive has grown her family- based company to headquarters in both Philadelphia and Atlanta. She has been designing custom cassocks, clergy and choir robes for over 35 years providing the best in handcrafted custom apparel quality. Roberta often quips that she was given the right name at birth, because her product is part of her name: ROBErta. She is known locally, nationally and internationally for her generous character and craftsmanship. Clients include The John Howard Gospel Caravan of Atlantic City, The Georgia Mass Choir, The Wilmington Chester Mass Choir, Bishop Albert Jamison – Chairman of the Board of the Gospel Music Workshop of America and Sundance Productions, just to name a few. A mother of three, grandmother, great grandmother and Godmother to many, Roberta “Mom
Bert” is a member of the Christ Haven Pentecostal Church of Darby, Pennsylvania, where Bishop Wm. F. Todd, Sr. serves as Pastor. She is also a part of the World Assemblies of Restoration (WAR). Nationally, she is an active member of the Gospel Music Workshop of America as well as a member of the Philadelphia Chapter of the GMWA.
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Supervising Producer / Director, Production Concept and Original Lyrics
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From Broadway to the stages of Europe Roseanne Kirk has conceived written and produced near 35 productions in the past 16 years alone. More than a producer Ms. Kirk has united people of all ages and ethnicities using the power of music. In the early stages of her career Ms. Kirk was a well known talent agent in New York City representing many respected artists including: Savion Glover, Abby Lincoln, Craig Schulman, Ruth Brown, Broadway Director Robert Kalfin, Jasmine Guy and Queen Esther Marrow. As a respected writer Roseanne worked in public relations with Ade Kahn. She has written extensively for American Theater Magazine, Playbill and others. She has given seminars and workshops at Vassar, Wagner College, Berkeley College, Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, the Julliard School and the renowned American Academy of Dramatic Arts. Some of Ms. Kirk’s projects include Walk Tall (2001), God Cares (2003), Rock My Soul (2005), NY to Paris (1998), In Mahalia’s Light (2006), Brand New Day (2008/2009), and Happiness and that Spirit. Ms. Kirk also produced Gospel programming for The Gospel Music Channel and for PBS. Currently she is working as a consultant on the development of new play Second Hand Smoke adapted for the stage by Marsha Lee Sheiness, directed by Robert Kalfin featuring Dylan McDermott and Tina Fabrique. Ms. Kirk is a philanthropist, Ms. Kirk who is currently working as Associate Director with Restart your Heart an organization dedicated to the life saving measure of ensuring that heart defibrillators are available in public places to save lives.
She is honored by and humbled by the amazing work she is able to create with Queen Esther and this amazing group of talented artists. The journey continues.
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Located in the heart of Times Square, Sundance Productions is a global entertainment and production firm specializing in live stage productions.
With services ranging from casting, contracting, artist liaison and support to professional management of administrative, creative
and technical theatrical issues, the agency coordinates all logistical elements concerning theatrical performances.
Under the leadership of David Coffman as Managing Director the company takes particular pride in working with the most creative and successful production teams in theatre today. Previous productions in association with the internationally operating BB Group include West Side Story, Tanguera, Grease, Saturday Night Fever, Queen Esther Marrow, The Harlem Gospel Singers, Latin Heat, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, Martha Graham Dance Company, and the co-production of the original Broadway show Swing!.
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Producer and Impresario
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Producer and Impresario Michael Brenner had been organizing musicals, ballet performances and concerts in the 1980s, when in 1987 he laid the foundations for BB Group when establishing BB Promotion – The Art of Entertainment. Today, BB Group comprises several affiliates, the majority of which are in the live entertainment business.
Along with the signing of international stars such as Shirley MacLaine, Diana Ross, Marcel Marceau, Rudolf Nureyev and Mikhail Baryshnikov, it was as producer of innovative, high quality dance theatre performances that BB Group had developed its distinctive reputation over the following years, representing important dance ensembles: Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Martha Graham Dance Company and Ballet Nacional de España, the dance revue Fosse and Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake are just a few of the many examples. BB Group has also introduced a wide selection of original musical productions, music shows and stage shows to European and international stages alike, CATS (2008), the English original for the first time in Germany, and the first ever tango musical Tanguera (since 2007) among them. Its activities also comprise the organization of major tours for unique live shows, including STOMP! (since 1997), TA P DOGS (1998–2005), Yamato – The
Drummers of Japan (since 2002) and many other exceptional productions. BB Group’s areas of expertise encompass both
independent productions and co -productions of classics such as West Side Story (since 2003), Chicago (2005), The Original Broadway Swing! (1998), Queen Esther Marrow’s The Harlem Gospel Singers Show (since 1987), the new production of Richard O’Brien’s Rocky Horror Show (2008) and the original staging of CATS (2010 /11). As a lead producer for BB Group,
Michael Brenner has also staged successful productions of Grease (1994–96), Saturday Night Fever (1998–2006) and Hairspray (2009–2010). In 2004, in cooperation with QUEEN he produced the musical We Will Rock You (Cologne 2004–2008, Zurich 2006–2007, Vienna 2008, Stuttgart 2008–2010, Stockholm and Oslo 2010/11 as well as Berlin since 2010). With more than 90 employees, BB Group has become one of the industry’s largest and most important agencies for exclusive live entertainment in Europe.
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