Family Secrets Destroy Lives
The Message
Before the "Me Too" movement and the "Times Up" initiative there was a heart-wrenching autobiography called Billie: This Ain't No Billie Jean King Story about a young girl who clawed her way to the top after living at the bottom.
THE PROMISE
Come experience a stage production that will have you on the edge of your seats from the very first scene.
The Play
Daddy's little girl. Or so she thought. Growing up in Compton where there seem to have Keep Out, One Way and No Outlet posted at every turn, the odds were stacked against Billie King.
Poverty, drug addiction and dysfunction within the household often take center stage as wild cards in Billie's life. At a very young age, she becomes a victim of molestation by the hands of a family trusted friend. She also witnesses and personally experiences domestic abuse all while trying to be the glue that holds her family together.
Following her destiny, Billie assumes the role of protector and redeemer of her broken family, but at a great cost to her sanity and artistic future. She discoverers that both the hardships and her name have come to form the rock-solid foundation of her destiny and her strength. Along the way, she rises above a broken family and tragic life to become an award-winner writer/director.
Successful Past Shows at Barnsdall Gallery Theater
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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
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.
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.
thisisveryimportantshow.com
Quinn Bellows / NIA (Sister)
Quinn is a Chicago born film and theatre actress. She studied theatre at Grinnell College where she played Ophelia in “Hamlet”, Eurydice in “Polaroid Stories”, and lead in 4:48 Psychosis. She also studied performance art abroad in Taipei, Taiwan.
After college she began leading in independent films in Chicago playing Iris in Lawrence Lee Wallace’s “ Pieces of David” and Kit in Darius Dawson’s “Downstream” .
She continued acting in main stage plays taking on the lead role of Butterfly Jackson in HerStory theatre’s play on sex trafficking, “ Money Make’m Smile” performed at Greenhouse theater Chicago.
Quinn also gained a small role on Chicago Fire.
She is over joyed to showcase her love for acting and make her theatrical debut in her first main stage play in Los Angeles . Quinn is thankful to her director, cast, and crew for the wonderful opportunity to share this inspirational story.
Wrekless Watson / WILL (Father)
Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Wrekless Watson has been in the arts since the age of 7. He has performed in short films, and theater productions such as “Prince of Egypt”, “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”, “Out of The Shadows”, “Workplace Drama” and most recently Fat’s Waller’s “Ain’t Misbehavin”. Also following in the steps of his father Wally “Gator” Watson and Wesley Landers, Wrekless has forged his way into becoming an experienced and diverse drummer and percussionist. Wrekless studied at Fierello H. LaGuardia H.S., Harlem School of The Arts, the Music Advancement Program at The Julliard School and Fort Valley State University. He has had the opportunity to work with the likes of Lionel Hampton and the Lionel Hampton Big Band, The Cab Calloway Orchestra, The Long Island Youth Orchestra, Shania Twain, Tito Puente, Jazz Saxophonist Eddie Baccus Jr., Liquid Blue, Gospel Artist Joe Pace, Kurk Whalum and a host of others. Most recently he competed and currently holds the title of Mr. Black San Diego. Also, he also is the Vice-chair of the African American Advisory Council. An avid runner, Wrekless also trains in MMA.
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.
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!
Nikea Gamby-Turner Auntie (Family Friend)
Nikea Gamby-Turner Is an LA native not born but raised, who loves to play make believe, and theater is one of her favorite places to do it. Nikea just landed her first lead in the film 12 hour shift a dark comedy about a group of nurses who sell organs on the black market. Some of her other TV and film credits include. Veronica Mars, Brooklyn 99 Animal Kingdom, Lucifer, Speechless, Rosewood, Sons of Anarchy, When it Comes Around, Behind the Candelabra and Colombiana. She can’t wait to be apart of such great story telling.
Instagram: Okayimhere / Facebook: Nikea Gamby-Turner
Natalie Byrdsong (Cousin)
"We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty."
-Maya Angelou
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