CAST
Paris Crayton III
Paris has essentially been working in theatre for a majority of his life. He began acting at the tender age of six and writing soon after. After college, he knew that he loved nothing more than the stage and dedicated his life to creating new and exciting works of Art. In 2003 he was commissioned by Brooks College (Long Beach) to write a full-length play for the students. In 2006 he was commissioned by Gifted Productions (St. Louis) to pen a play "The Day Daddy Came Home" and it played to sold out audiences. After a few more commissions he moved to Chicago IL. to attend Act One Conservatory, a two year program focused on training the actor. After completion, he journeyed to Atlanta to co-direct and star in the play "Tapestry of Shadows" written by award winning playwright/screen writer David Martyn Conley. This led him to a three year stay in Orlando Florida, where he was commissoned to write two brand new plays, "Eye of the Beholder" and "Laying Where No One Can See" which toured the state of Florida.
In 2010, Paris decided to make Atlanta his home and create a brand new theatre experience. He co-founded 3 Hill Productions and penned the first play of the season "Brothers of Affliction" which was called by avid theatre goers, the best play to hit Atlanta in years. Brothers has since traveled to Orlando for the International Orlando Fringe Festival and was accepted into the D.C and Atlanta Black Theatre Festivals. It also recieved recognition in the illustrious Dramatist Magazine and Artsatl, the top online arts source in Atlanta.
2014 proved to be his most successful year yet. He created Rising Sage Theatre with cofounder and Managing Director Kirk D. Henny. Together they produced 3 highly successful shows, "The Best Game", "Levi" starring Taurean Blacque (Hill Street Blues, The Meeting, world premiere) and "Chainz/Broken" all written by Crayton. He was named an "Artist to watch" by the Atlanta Journal Constitution and named "Best Local Playwright 2014" by Creative Loafing.
He is excited to get back to his first love performing on stage in this extremely relevant work. He dedicates this and all of his performances to his dad Paris Crayton Jr. "Love ya, dad"
Marcus Emel
A native of Birmingham, Alabama, Marcus Emel’s path to acting was unconventional. In high school he was part of a Black History Month production as a dancer. “I was doing African dance, and it was a different way to see us. I felt like I was in an African country dancing, and that made me feel good.” After years of pretending to be other characters in private Emel decided to do more. After performing in “Baby, Ain’t No Way” with AMRAE Ministries at the historic Alabama Theatre, Emel decided to pursue acting fully. “I like becoming someone else, and living life differently through their eyes. It’s like time travel.”
He is the founder of H.U.M.A.N. (Helping Unite Mankind Among Nations) which has published two of his works of poetry - “Love and Other Drugs” and “143.” H.U.M.A.N has also produced segments of the #BringTheHappyBack campaign on YouTube.
Emel was curious about the story of “The Meeting” - the idea of what could have happened had Malcolm X and Dr. King worked together. He currently resides in Atlanta, GA, and his work can be found at MarcusEmel.com.
Jay Ray
Johnnie R. Kornegay, III aka Jay Ray serves as the Managing Director for The Brown Dance Project, and is also the Founder and Artistic Director of Staticc Art & Life. He is from Chester, Pennsylvania and is an artist, photographer, consultant, project manager, artist manager, and lover of all things community.
He approaches all things that he does from a place of love and earnestness. As a photographer, Mr. Kornegay is able to channel his many life and professional experiences to show the beauty in the world. "I approach photography like I am capturing the soul of a person. When the moment has a feeling I gravitate to, I grab my camera and see what comes out."
In addition to the day to day management of The BDP and Staticc, he is also the founder of the technology company Mobotrol, Inc. When he's not working, he can normally be found smiling on a dancefloor somewhere in the world. "Acting is an extension of my artistic expression. "The Meeting" is a fascinating story, and I am privileged to be a part of this amazing cast of professionals."
