AJA SINGLETARY (Kemeeka)

Aja Singletary (she/her) is excited to work with YPT again. Aja is a Chicago based actor, dancer and director originally from Philly. Chicago: Last Stop on Market Street (YPTC), Amadeus (Steppenwolf), Dance Nation (Steppenwolf u/s). The Nacirema Society (Goodman Theatre u/s); The Buddy Holly Story (Marriott Theatre u/s); Is God Is (A Red Orchid Theatre); Factotum (Lyric Opera of Chicago u/s); Athena (Writers Theatre); Relentless (Timeline Theatre u/s), Rooted (Bramble Theatre Company); Dontrell Who Kissed the Sea, Eclipsed (Pegasus Theatre); As You Like It (Eclectic Full Contact Theatre). Film: Saint Isaac, Rot, Edendale, Like What You Like. Education: BA, Fordham College at Lincoln Center; School at Steppenwolf 2019. Representation: Gray Talent. Offstage, you'll catch Aja quoting Spongebob, eating food and teaching dance. Aja thanks her family, friends and the YPT team for their hooping tips and for their support! 

LIVIA ROBIN (Jamara)

Livia Robin (she/her) is a Chicago-based performer and BFA Musical Theatre graduate of Columbia College Chicago. She is thrilled to be making her debut with Young People’s Theatre of Chicago in this production. Recent stage credits include the World Premiere of Milo Imagines the World (Chicago Children’s Theatre), Ragtime (Metropolis Performing Arts Centre), and Little Shop of Horrors (Cape Fear Regional Theatre). Livia is so grateful to the cast and production team for such a meaningful experience and for the opportunity to help tell this story. She sends a special thank you to her team at Big Mouth Talent for their continued support. @Liviaarobin

SÓL FULLER (Portia)

Sól (she/her) is a Chicago native actor, singer, songwriter, producer, and visual artist. Her acting career began at 6 years old when she was the lead in the award winning short film, Children of Color. Recent credits include: Martha/Fan/ Catherine in A Christmas Carol (The Goodman Theatre), Fatima Curtly in From 145th to 98th Street (Urbanite Theatre), Daisy Bass in The Prodigal Daughter (Raven Theatre), and Isabella in Measure for Measure (Forest Park Theatre). Sól was featured in The Q Brother’s Emmy- award winning campaign, “It’s On” for NBC Sports. She is also the lead in an upcoming animated musical set to release in 2026, where she performs and composes all the music. 

JAZZMA PRYOR (Mama)

Jazzma Pryor (she/her) is so excited for her first production with The Young People's Theatre of Chicago! Jazzma is an award-winning actress, multi-hyphenate theater artist, and ensemble member of Shattered Globe Theatre in Chicago. Some of her Chicago credits include: A Tale of Two Cities, Jump, STEW, Hannah and Martin, and Crime and Punishment (Shattered Globe Theatre); Until The Flood, For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When The Rainbow Is Enuf, The Light, Twilight: Los Angeles,1992, Sunset Baby, and From The Mississippi Delta (Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre); and Doubt: A Parable (Irish Theatre of Chicago). Her regional credits include Flyin' West (The St. Louis Black Rep). Jazzma has a M.S. in Leadership for Creative Enterprises from Northwestern University and B.A. in Production Studies in Theatre from Clemson University. She is represented by Gray Talent Group. Live. Laugh. Love. 

MELANIE HUBBARD (Miz Adeline)

Melanie J. Hubbard (she/her), is thrilled to work for the first time with Young People’s Theatre of Chicago. She recently had her stage debut as an understudy at Shattered Globe Theatre’s adaptation of A Tale of Two Cities. While newer to the stage, Melanie has many on-camera credits, appearing in independent films, commercials, and digital media projects. She studied at The Acting Studio of Chicago and is represented by Gray Talent Group. Melanie wishes to thank her family for their unwavering support.

MICHELLE BESTER (Miss Evelyn)

Michelle Renee Bester (she/her) was born and raised in the south suburbs of Chicago where she fell in love with the performing arts as an actress at the tender age of 6.  She’s performed in well over 20 productions (television, film, and theater) here in Chicago, IL as well as in various other states. She has appeared in Chicago Fire, The RedLine, Electric Dreams and many more television/film productions. Additionally, she’s been on the creative team for productions at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre (Twelfth Night) (Assistant Director), Definition Theatre (Judy’s Life’s Work) (Director) and at the Black Ensemble Theater (Grandma’s Jukebox, The Real Housewives of Motown) (Writer/Director). She thanks her village for the constant support and love and credits God for it all!

MORGAN BARBER (U/S | Kemeeka, Jamara, Portia)

Morgan Barber (she/her) is a Chicagoland native whose recent credits include A Christmas Carol (Metropolis Performing Arts Center), Hairspray (Uptown Music Theatre), and New Year, New Works Festival (Adams Theatre Company). Morgan graduated from Northwestern University with a Bachelor of the Arts in Theatre, and certificates in Musical Theatre and Integrated Marketing Communications. She is now proudly represented by Gray Talent Group. Morgan is incredibly grateful for her loved ones and this amazingly talented cast, crew, and creative team without whom none of this would have been possible!

SHARAINA TURNAGE (U/S | Mama, Miz Adeline, Miss Evelyn)

Sharaina L. Turnage (she/her) is an actor/puppeteer/clown (sometimes). Sharaina is from the Southside of Chicago. With her B.A. in Theater Performance from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in hand, Sharaina has performed in various places from New York to Suriname, South America (one of the first North Americans to study and perform Afro-Surinamese “Du” Theatre) to Scotland (Edinburgh Fringe Festival) and Singapore (Singapore International Festival of Arts). Most recently she performed with Manual Cinema (Leonardo!, Mementos Mori, No Blue Memories, The End of TV), Free Street Theater (A Mild Goose Chase created for Night Out in The Parks), Physical Theater Festival (Curiosity Caught The Cat - a short clown show)and as one of the puppeteers for the movie Candyman (2021).