A GIRL'S GUILT TRIP at Hudson Backstage Theatre

Alretha Thomas (Tyler Perry's Assisted Living)

Alretha Thomas (Yolanda Banks) graduated from USC with a degree in journalism. Shortly thereafter, she realized her interest in her major was not heartfelt. Instead of writing news stories, she wanted to become an actress and write plays and books. In the mid-eighties, she landed an agent and began auditioning, while also holding down a fulltime job. She was cast in some under five roles on a few soap operas and also landed roles in a few independent films. However, after receiving a Best Actress NAACP nomination for her role as Reecey in the stage play, A Grinning Piece of Lightning, she took a step back from acting to work on her spiritual and mental health. Over the next twenty-three years, not only did she work through the emotional fallout from childhood abuse, but she also penned over a dozen books and produced, wrote, and directed numerous plays. In 2016, she asked her husband if he would be okay with her returning to acting. He agreed and Thomas took a leap of faith and left her corporate job to write and act fulltime. She reactivated her SAG membership, put some footage together, and got an agent. All was going well until Covid hit in 2020. Little did Thomas know that in October that year, she would be cast in Tyler Perry’s Assisted Living as Anastasia Devereaux. “It was a miracle and a dream come true,” she said. Since that time, Alretha has appeared in short films, soap operas, and TV commercials and is looking forward to working on two new films later this year. Follow her on Instagram @athomasforreal.

Marlynne Frierson-Cooley ( This is Us, Double Cross & Salvation Love)

Marlynne Frierson-Cooley (Roberta Renee Lisa Jackson), a graduate of The University of Cincinnati, where she majored in broadcasting, has been blessing audiences with her talent for more than three decades. Appearing in more than twenty TV series and films, like This is Us and The Assassination File, dazzling audiences with her portrayal of memorable characters like Valerie in Double Cross and Melba in Daddy Stop Embarrassing Me, Marlynne is a theatrical force to be reckoned with. Moreover, Marlynne is no stranger to theatre. She’s appeared in more than a dozen productions where she’s played numerous iconic characters, including the legendary Harriett Tubman. Not only does she act, but she’s also a voice over artist for commercials, audiobooks, spoken word, and animation. Her melodic voice can be heard on commercials for Januvia, Huggies, Maimonides Medical Center, and more. Additionally, she’s on the Popular podcast, My Mamma Told Me, as the mother conspiracy voice. A quadruple threat, Marlynne also writes and produces. She’s currently working on A Sister’s Devotion, a film about Alzheimer’s that she has written and is producing. It’s her goal to bring more attention to this insidious disease. Marlynne stated that she’s excited to have reconnected with Alretha and feels blessed to be in A Girl’s Guilt Trip. Marlynne is married, has two adult children, and an adorable grandson who recently turned seven. Follow her on Instagram @marlynne.

Heather Daughtry ( Abbott Elementary, Who All Gon Be There & The Groundlings)

Heather Daughtry (Amy Banks) is a classically trained actor from Los Angeles, focusing on both comedy and drama. She is currently sharpening her comedic skills at The Groundlings, having completed the writing lab level. Heather has also studied at the Los Angeles City College Theatre Academy and collaborated with the Latino Theatre Company. By day, she serves as the Chief of Programming for the Black Boy Writes Media Screenwriting Mentorship program and serves as Head of Partnerships for Creatricity. She is actively auditioning and can be found in a monthly all-Black improv show, “Who All Gon Be There”, at the Barbara Morrison Theatre in Leimert Park. Alongside her theatre training, Heather has a background in music as a vocalist and violinist, as well as in dance. Heather holds a bachelor’s degree in communication & performance studies from California State University, Long Beach, with a minor in music. Looking ahead, Heather aspires to produce her own solo show and of course get booked for theatre, television, and film roles. She is honored to work with Alretha Thomas on another production! A fun fact about Heather: she won the double showcase on The Price is Right and appears in Season 4, Episode 20 of Abbott Elementary. In her free time, she enjoys trying new restaurants, karaoke, international travel, creating and laughing at TikToks, catching up on movies and shows, and spending time with family, friends, and her dog, Ivory Moon. Heather is repped by BAC Talent for commercials and is seeking theatrical representation. Follow her on Instagram @hdee_.

Al LaFleur (Speakeasy & Slice)

Al LaFleur (Jeff Minton), raised in Ohio, caught the acting bug as a child performing in Peter Pan and Annie. Now an eleven-year veteran of the Los Angeles acting scene, his work spans film, television, and stage. Recent highlights include the lead role in the TV pilot Speakeasy (2025) opposite Alex Veadov and Carlo Mendez, and Slice, a 75-minute two-man play with industry veteran Tom Simmons. Al is also a writer and producer, most recently producing and writing the episodic pilot Pulse (2024), while also appearing in the lead role opposite Erik Palladino — a project that won Best Pilot and Audience Favorite at the 2024 LA IFS Film Fest. Additional stage credits include A Streetcar Named Desire (Stanley), The Outsiders (Dallas), The Mousetrap (Sgt. Trotter), and the Hollywood Fringe Festival award-winning production Yes/No/Maybe. Al is also a die-hard Cleveland Browns fan and wants it to be known he remains a delusional optimist. Find his recent bookings and elf-produced work on Instagram @al4lafleur.