About Us
Writer/ Director/ Executive Producer
ABOUT BILLIE KING
Billie King is a writer, director, playwright and author. She’s also a survivor. King was born and raised in Compton Calif. – a home riddled with poverty, addiction and dysfunction. Beginning at the age of 12, she endured many years of sexual abuse, at the hands of an older family friend. Like most, she never told anyone until she decided to share her harrowing story in her 210-page, tell all, self-published memoir, “Billie: This Ain’t No Billie Jean King Story,” released in 2015
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Based on an excerpt of the book, King also wrote and directed the short film, “The Red Barn,” which enjoyed a film festival run and snapped up many awards along the way. In 2016, King staged a theatrical adaptation of the book to sold-out crowds and an encore performance at the ACME Hollywood Theatre in Los Angeles.
An extremely talented writer, King easily transitioned into other areas of the entertainment industry. As a playwright, director and executive producer, her credits include “Billie: This Aint No Billie Jean King Story" as well as the play "This Is Very Important.” King recently penned a deal of a scripted show with the Mona Scott-Young, the executive producer of the “Love & Hip Hop” franchise and founder of Monami Entertainment.
Janice Robinson / Billie (Lead)
Janice Robinson is a stage, screen, and voice actor based in Los Angeles, California. Her most recent projects include a lead role in the short film José (2018) alongside acting veteran Pepe Serna, as well as voicing "Ophelia" the lead character in an upcoming video game called Elsinore which is slated for release later this year. Soon, Janice will be reprising her role as "Billie" in the play Billie: This Ain't No Billie Jean King Story which debuted in the spring of 2016 and was later remounted that summer. Janice is very excited to have the opportunity to step back into a role in such a gripping story as she hopes to discover even more about herself and the characters within Billie's world during the process.
Henita Telo Older Billie (Voice of Today)
Henita Telo is a first generation American Actress, born to Liberian parents. Born in Arlington, Texas but was raised in Delaware, where she discovered her passion for acting and began to pursue it heavily.
In 2014 she moved to LA for university and in 2018 Henita Telo graduated from California Institute of the Arts in Los Angeles, where she obtained her BFA in Acting. In her career at CalArts she has had the pleasure of playing a number of challenging and contrasting roles, performing as Irina Arkadina The Seagull, Hilde Wangel Master Builder (Ibsen), Imogen Cymbeline, Iachimo Cymbeline, Olivia Twelfth Night, Hester Fucking A (Katori Hall) Margery Vinegar Tom (Caryl Churchill). She has also worked closely with Actor/Director Roger Guenveur Smith from Netflix's Rodney King and Spike Lee's Do the Right Thing, in developing her own character in his new theatrical experience The Hendrix Project, performed at the Under the Radar Festival (2018) at the Public Theater in New York.
About Us
Producer
ABOUT DAWN M HAYNES
Merging fashion, entertainment, and luxury lifestyle, Dawn M Haynes is one of Hollywood’s leading tastemaker and connoisseur of style. She began her career in the entertainment business as a fashion stylist, working with a plethora of A-list celebrities from all facets of the entertainment world – i.e. film, television, music, and sports – as well as designing showstopping, red carpet designs along with trendsetting fashion houses such as, Gucci,Versace, Valentino, Dolce & Gabbana, and Roberto Cavalli -- just to name a few. Her client roster reads like a whos-who in Hollywood, including Oscar nominees and winners Eddie Murphy, Halle Berry, Queen Latifah, and Samuel Jackson as well as Grammy Award-winning and chart-topping artists Usher, Common, Ludacris, Quincy Jones, Dr. Dre and Ciara, and many others.
Expanding her brand, Dawn founded the groundbreaking agency, appropriately named The Dawn To Dusk Agency -- one of the first of its kind, representing and catering to fashion and beauty professionals as well as other creatives. From hair stylists, make-up artists and fashion stylists to photographers and directors, The Dawn to Dusk Agency created iconic, tour de force fashion looks for editorial spreads and red carpet looks by assembling the industry’s most sought-after “glam squads.”
After 25 years in the business and a testament to her longevity, Dawn, a true boss lady, and marketing guru recognized the power behind her name; and she’s renamed her thriving company – Dawn M Haynes, Inc. – to capitalize on her name recognition and reputation in the industry.
Dawn, carries a Bachelor's of Arts Degree from CSULB majoring in Radio/TV/Film
YOYO / Auntie ( Sails Best Friend)
YoYo aka Yolanda Whitaker is a Grammy-nominated rapper and actress best known for classic rap hits like “Can’t Play With My Yo-Yo,” “The Bonnie & Clyde Theme” with Cube and “I Wanna Be Down” with Brandy, Queen Latifah and MC Lyte. She is a co-host for one of the #1 nationally radio show ‘for women of color’, Café Mocha, alongside Loni Love & Angelique Perrin.
With more than 25 years in the music business, YoYo’s professional journey was recently featured on TV One’s marquee franchise, “Unsung.” The Compton, Calif.-native—who has consistently toured throughout the years.
A feminist and community crusader, YoYo is working to empower young people with her youth program, YoYo’s School of Hip-Hop.
YoYo’s program operates in both Los Angeles, California and Highland Park, Michigan. The mission is to help educate youths within the community about dance, music, and learning how to compose and perform powerful messages in rap music.
Instagram: yoyofearless
Facebook: Yolanda Whitaker
DJ Rogers Jr. / WILL (Father)
DJ Rogers Jr., a talented songwriter who has penned platinum hits for some of the most iconic artists and producers in the music industry, including Sean “Puffy” Combs, The Notorious B.I.G., Faith Evans, Stevie J., and Kelly Price – just to name a few. In 2015, Rogers was nominated for the Soul Train Music Ashford and Simpson Songwriter’s Award for the Grammy-nominated song, “Shame.” Performed by Tyrese off his sixth studio album, “Black Rose,” the single hit #1 on the Billboard Adult R & B Songs chart. As an actor, he’s starred in the popular David E. Talbert’s play, “He Say She Say … But What Does God Say” and recently appeared in Carl Weber’s “The Family Business,” on BET
About The Play
How does a young black girl become linked to a white woman she had never met or heard of?
Billie: This Ain’t No Billie Jean King Story is the autobiographical account of one woman learning to cope with her past and a unique set of trials of her own, even as she is unintentionally linked to one of the most iconic women ever to play the game of tennis.
"Prior to the Me-Too movement and Times-Up initiative, there was a heart wrenching, brilliantly written autobiography called, Billie”.
Daddy’s little girl. Or so she thought. Growing up in Compton, California, in a city that has broken many before her, a city that seems to have Keep Out, One Way and No Outlet signs posted at every turn, the odds are stacked against Billie King. Poverty, drug addiction and dysfunction within the household often take center stage as the wild cards in Billie’s life. At a very young age, she becomes a victim of molestation at the hands of a trusted family friend. She also witnesses and personally experiences domestic abuse, all while trying to be the glue that holds her family together.
Cast
Rahvaunia / SAILS (Mother)
Rahvaunia was born Rahvaunia L. Johnson and is the oldest of three siblings, one being a fraternal twin. She is a native of Flint Michigan and now resides in Southern California.
As an actor, Rahvaunia has appeared on all media platforms. She has played on Stage, TV, in Films and Web Series. (Most notably: Criminal Minds, Mistresses, Sexless and School of Hard Knocks) Rahvaunia has a recurring role (Theresa Wood) on the Shonda land 1hr Legal Drama "For the People" on ABC
Rahvaunia has written, produced and performs a one-woman show called “tHis Is Very IMPORTANT”. The show opened in Jan 2018 for a 12 show run. Later that year the show was accepted and performed in the BFF (Binge Fringe Festival) at the Santa Monica Playhouse. Rahvaunia and team “tHis Is Very IMPORTANT” will be going to South Africa to perform in the National Arts Festival Fringe 2019.
Alijah Kai / NIA (Sister)
Born to entertain her favorite words: “Look at me.” Before the age of four she landed several appearances on UPN and CW hit show, One on One and Everybody Hates Chris and at the age of eleven guests starred in Starz’s Survivors Remorse. In addition to acting, singing and dancing are her true passions. She has been apart of the Debbie Allen Dance Academy since the age of three and has performed in several productions such as Freeze Frame at the Kennedy Center and The Hot Chocolate Nutcracker at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. She was a lead singer in the group The Crewe. She has performed around the world. Alijah is blessed to carry on the legacy of her talented mother actress/singer/producer Tichina Arnold.
Cast
Brook England / CAROL (Neighbor)
Brook England is a Miami native and fulltime artist.
She’s known for her outgoing and fearless personality. After graduating from Florida A&M University, she decided to move to NYC to pursue her dreams.
Brook’s professional career began in the big apple at Creative Control TV (CCTV) with legendary mogul Dame Dash and super director duo Coodie & Chike, who are most known for directing Kanye West’s “Through the Wire” video. At CCTV she created content featuring Mos Def, Erykah Badu, Jay Electronica, Ski Beatz, and The Black Keys.
After 8yrs of residing in NY, and developing her skills, Brook decided to relocate to Los Angeles to take her career and ambitions to the next step. As her talents have evolved and progressed over her career, she has also ventured out into acting. She starred in her first play in December 2018 and recently co-starred in her first feature film directed by Robbie Countryman.
Outside of acting, Brook is also known for her work as a BET Breaks correspondent and for hosting Behind the Scenes (BTS) at shows like BET Awards, Hip Hop Awards, Soul Train Awards, and more. She has many talents and loves to showcase them all. She believes creating is her divine calling.
Currently, she is a Senior Producer at Viacom, where she excels at developing and overseeing hit series like I Went Viral; which has surpassed 9 million views on YouTube. She has also produced other BET Digital hits such as Rate The Bars, Body of Work and VIXEN. Brook is also in the midst of building her nonprofit Queens In Production. Queens In Production is dedicated to educating young women in the media and production industry.
Amongst all, Brook continues to look forward to building her career as an actress and one day creating her own television series.
Diontae Simpson / TERRY (Billie's Boyfriend)
His name is Diontae Duane Simpson, born in Inglewood, California. Diontae began studying Acting at Long Beach City College in 2015, with Professional Actor, Tony Carreiro, and Julliard Grad, Gregory Mortensen. After Hit Shows, like "A Soldier's Play" by Charles Fuller and "Really Really" by Paul Downs Colaizzo, both Directed by Tony Carreiro, Diontae earned an Irene Ryan Nomination, and a trip to the 2017 Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival in Mesa, Arizona. There, he performed as "Cooper" in "Really Really", and received a CSU Summer Arts Scholarship to Fresno State, where he took a Camera Acting course with Hal Masonberg, Vicki Goggin, Dan Shaner, and Susan Abbey.
He also Won a National Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival Award for Distinguished Performance in a Play. Diontae is enthralled to begin the journey of his dream, and aims to succeed. He loves his family, romantic comedies, and positive energy. He wants to be loved, needs to be great, and will go out happy, knowing that he put his heart and soul into accomplishing everything he believes he can accomplish.
David Boykins / CROSS (Father's Friend)
A native of Alexandria, Louisiana, David began his acting career in Washington DC at the Source Theatre where immersed himself in every aspect of theatre from stage-managing to assisting with light and sound design. He also got his first chance to act in a few small productions at the theater before landing a role as a heroin addict on the television show Homicide: Life on the Street., The Shield, ER and Arrest and Trail. He’s also starred in several independent films and in numerous plays.
David Wendell Boykins graduated from the Los Angeles Film School where he studied directing, cinematography and producing.
Cast
James Malbrough / SAM (Sails New Man)
James Malbrough is thrilled and honored to be returning to the role of Sam in the hit autobiographical play “Billie”. Born and raised in Los Angeles, CA, James showed that early in life he had a passion to perform. He shared stages with the late and legendary rap artist Tupac Shakur, and many other top 10 recording artist. James' career has encompassed stage, film, and 20 plus years in the music industry. James has starred in the hit plays “Beautiful Poison”, ”You Can't Judge A Booty By Its Cover”, and of course “Billie”. He co-starred in the movie “LA Sheriff, The Lee Baca Story”, and short films “Jonah” and “THOT”. In television, James has had a recurring role on “SciJinks” hosted by Johnny Galecki (Science Channel), and has appeared on popular TV shows like "Rosewood" with Morris Chestnut and ”The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story”.
Franco Vincenti Mocerino / Mr. Willams (Nia's Boss)
Franco Vincenti Mocerino moved to Los Angeles in 2002 pursuing his acting career; film Mr. Jinx, The Butcher, Shut up and Shoot, and Get Thee Behind Me! Theater includes Missionary Mother's Board, and Everything But My Soul! As well as several music videos and television commercials! He loves helping people, singing and the simpler things in life!