Anita Davis (she/her/hers) (Eloise Amponsah) A Columbus native, Anita has been performing as an actor, vocalist, dancer, and model since childhood. Her numerous credits include work in theatre, film, television, music, video, voiceover, and print. She has performed throughout the country, starring onstage in Steal Away, Stepper’s Ball, Sisters, Crumbs from the Table of Joy, The Trip, and numerous other plays. Her on-screen roles include the films The Endangered, Compensation, Cruel and Unusual, and Turning the Corner, along with made-for-TV movies Skin Complex and the Emmy-award-winning Our Father. A talented vocalist, Anita has performed as a soloist and with various bands, and as a member of Columbus’ own Harmony Project. She is currently working on several podcasts, a new music project, and an original play she is developing with friends. She is a proud graduate of Northwestern University, where she majored in Theatre. Anita is thrilled to be back on stage – and back with CATCO – after a long hiatus, during which time she has been starring in the role of her life: being a mama to her two children, Isabella and Julian.

Wilma Hatton (she/her/hers) (Headmistress Francis) has been part of the Columbus theatre community for over twenty-five years. She has enjoyed productions such as Company and Curtains! with Gallery Players, Hairspray with Weathervane Playhouse, A Raisin in the Sun with SRO Theater,  How We got On and several other productions with Available Light Theater, and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom with Short North Stage.  Most recently she performed in The African Company presents Richard the Third with Actors Theatre of Columbus.  Wilma has done several commercials, short films, and staged readings.  She is more than delighted to be performing in this production of School Girls, or the African Mean Girls Play.!!! When not performing, she works as a tech/secretary for OhioHealth.  She is definitely blessed by the Best! Enjoy the show!!!!!!

Sermontee Brown (she/her/hers) (Gifty) This is Sermontee Brown’s first CATCO production but not her first time performing. She started dancing when she was three years old. Sermontee is a dancer, singer, producer, actress, and recently an up-and-coming model. At the age of 25, she’s ready to spread her wings and show the world her many talents. This is her first play in 4 years and she’s very excited to get back to her roots and hopes you enjoy the show. She would like to give a special shoutout to her friends, family, and everyone for continuing to support her. Break a Leg! 

Jacinda Forbes (she/they) (Mercy) is a senior at The Ohio State University studying Theatre and Strategic Communications.  She was involved in Off the Lake Productions of She Kills Monsters and 9 to 5: The Musical, as well as Ohio State’s Department of Theatre’s Her Naked Skin and Legally Blonde: The Musical. She is excited and grateful to be back on stage!

Shauna Marie (She/Her/Hers) (Nana) is a local theatre human. She is very fortunate to get to do fun things on stage with other humans. The last thing she did on stage with other humans was Mr. Burns, a post-electric play with CATCO and before that a musical called Ain’t Misbehavin’ with Trinity Theatre Company. She is so happy and grateful to be back with her CATCO theatre fam making art!

Taylor Nelson (she/they) (Ama) made her acting debut in ArtPrize 2009 with RabbitMitten USA!. Since that time, Taylor went on to study Black and Africana Studies at Denison University. She was seen in the Association of University Women’s #StandUpToSexism campaign, and recently had an appearance in the indie film Poser at the TriBeCa Film Festival. Taylor was featured as Ann Johnson in Actors’ Theatre of Columbus performance of ‘The African Company Presents Richard III’. She will be playing Ama and is excited to show the earnest struggles of black girlhood.

Lisa Glover (she/her/hers) (Ericka Boafo) is excited to be making her CATCO debut as Erika in School Girls! She is a local singer/songwriter and you can find her music on YouTube, Tiktok, and more! Some of her favorite theatre credits include Deena Jones (Dreamgirls), Anita (West Side Story), Whathermame (American Idiot), and Brooke/Vicki  (Noises Off). Lisa studied dance at the Dayton Academy of Gymnastics and Dance and received acting training under the late Melissa Montague.

Kerri Garrett* (she/her/hers) (Paulina Sarpong) Kerri Garrett is an interdisciplinary artist from Columbus, Ohio, based out of Atlanta, Georgia. A Clark Atlanta University alumnus, she intertwines the art forms of dance, film, and fashion to create compelling narratives about the black experience. From stage to screen, Kerri can be seen on multiple platforms showcasing her acting abilities. Some of her theatrical credits include Sorry About That (written by Nina Lee, Zae Jordan, and Javier Williams), 360 Degrees of Blackness (directed by Melissa Alexander), Salt City: An Afro-futuristic Choreopoem (directed by Aku Kadogo), and Hand’s Up (directed by Keith Bolden). A trained dancer, Kerri has studied at Theatre Street Dance Academy, Spelman Dance Theatre, and Staib Dance. Her choreography credits include For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf and God’s Trombones (directed by Eric J. Little) at Clark Atlanta University. In 2020, Kerri was University of West Georgia’s Guest Artist and choreographed Songs for a New World (directed by Jonathan Kitt) for their fall musical. Recently, Kerri starred as Frieda/Darlene in Synchronicity Theatre’s theatrical production of The Bluest Eye.

Jocelyn Bioh (she/her/hers) Playwright is an award-winning Ghanaian-American writer and performer from New York City. Her plays include SCHOOL GIRLS; OR, THE AFRICAN MEAN GIRLS PLAY (Kilroy’s List, 2016; CTG; MCC Theater; Lortel Award Winner; OCC John Gardner Award Winner; Hull-Warriner Award Winner; Drama Desk Nomination; Drama League Nomination; Off-Broadway Alliance nomination), NOLLYWOOD DREAMS (Cherry Lane Mentor Project, 2017; Kilroy’s List, 2015), and AFRICAN AMERICANS (Produced at Howard University, 2015; Southern Rep Ruby Prize Award Finalist, 2011; O’Neill Center Semifinalist, 2012). Jocelyn conceived and wrote the libretto for THE LADYKILLER’S LOVE STORY (music and lyrics by CeeLo Green) and GODDESS (book writer). She has also been a staff writer for the Netflix TV shows “Russian Doll” and Spike Lee’s “She’s Gotta Have It.” Jocelyn received her MFA in Theatre/Playwriting from Columbia University. She is under commission with Manhattan Theatre Club, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Second Stage, and Atlantic Theater Company, and is a resident playwright at LCT3. As an actress, Jocelyn’s credits include: IN THE BLOOD (Signature Theatre; Drama Desk nomination, Best Featured Actress), EVERYBODY (Signature Theatre; Lucille Lortel Award nomination, Best Supporting Actress, 2017), MEN ON BOATS (Clubbed Thumb at Playwrights Horizons), THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME (Broadway; Tony Award Winner for Best Play, 2015), AN OCTOROON (Soho Rep; Obie Award Winner for Best Play, 2014), BOOTY CANDY (Wilma Theater), SEED (Classical Theatre of Harlem; AUDELCO Award Nominee), and MARCUS; OR THE SECRET OF SWEET (City Theatre). She also originated the role of “Topsy” in the world premiere of NEIGHBORS (The Public Theater; AUDELCO Award Nominee). FILM/TV acting credits include: “Ben is Back” (Black Bear Pictures), “Russian Doll” (Netflix) “Blue Bloods” (CBS), “The Detour” (TBS), “The Characters” (Netflix), “Louie” (FX), and “One Life to Live” (ABC).