Primary Trust at Detroit Repertory Theatre

John Alexander Hatcher has been a professional actor for five years, majored in theatre at Interlochen Arts Academy, and received his BA in Theatre Performance from Fordham University. He’s recently performed as Benny is Michigan Stage’s production of Guys and Dolls and as Benny in the Downriver Actor’s Guild’s performance of RENT. John was most recently seen on the Rep’s stage as Dante in Alamo Shoes.

T. Pharaoh Muhammad is a seasoned professional actor and two-time award-winning filmmaker. He is a Wayne State University theatre graduate and Second City Detroit alumnus. Some of his recent stage roles include Charles Gilpin in N at Marygrove Theater, Kissimbe in Ruined and Lincoln in Topdog/Underdog at Clubhouse Theater, and Ferdinand in The Tempest at Hilberry Studio. T. Pharaoh also co-starred in seasons 5 and 8 of Chicago Med (NBC) and has appeared in a number of films and commercials. His most recent appearance on the Rep’s stage was as Toledo in last winter’s hit production of August Wilson’s Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.

Rosie DeSantis has been a professional actor for 10 years, having received her B.F.A. in Acting from New York University’s Experimental Theatre Wing and studied at the Detroit Repertory Theatre’s Actors Workshop. Her recent stage roles include various parts in Our Voices: New Plays by Detroit Area Playwrights at the Black & Brown Theatre, the Player in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead at the Cave Theatre, and Olga in Four Sisters with What Will the Neighbors Say?. They were last seen on the Rep’s stage as Camelia in Annabella in July.

Patrick O'Lear has been a professional actor for 15 years and studied at the New York Film Academy Los Angeles, the Michael Howard Acting Studio in New York City, and received his B.A. from University of Detroit Mercy. He appeared as Stan in the Rep’s production of Sweat.

Gabriel Dodson is making his professional debut with this show. He had studied theatre in college and is taking part in the Detroit Repertory Theatre’s Actors Workshop. In his role as an advertising creative, he’s appeared on screen and performed voiceover work. After spending many years focusing on leading a band as a singer/songwriter, Gabriel is returning to acting for the first time since college.

Antoine McKay (AEA, SAG-AFTRA) and has been a professional theatremaker for 35 years. He honed his skills at Eastern Michigan University’s theatre arts program and by studying under world-famous acting coach Uta Hagen. Antoine began his professional acting career at the Second City’s mainstages in Detroit and Chicago and has found continued success with appearances on programs including Detroit 187 (ABC), ER (NBC), Prison Break (FOX), and Sports Action Team (NBC). He has also appeared in such feature films as The Weatherman, Someone to Eat Cheese With, Standing in the Shadows of Motown, and Osso Bucco. Antoine has most recently appeared on the Rep’s stage in August Wilson’s Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Annabella in July, and August Wilson’s Joe Turner’s Come and Gone. Antoine has been a long-time resident of Detroit where he lives with his wife Michelle and their children.

Michelle Guernsey-McKay has been a professional theatre worker for two years and received her Bachelor’s in Dance Education from Wayne State University. Michelle has also studied acting in the Detroit Rep’s Actors Workshop. She has previously worked as Rep’s intern stage manager for Season 68, the stage manager for Forgotten: the Murder at the Ford Rouge Plant at Marygrove Conservancy, and as a stage hand for August Wilson’s Joe Turner’s Come and Gone and Annabella in July at the Rep. She’s appeared in a number of indie films and television pilots. Michelle’s most recent work at the Rep was as the intern stage manager for Covenant.

Harold Jurkiewicz is returning to the Rep for another season and bringing the experience of a storied theatre career. Harold’s most recent work at the Rep was as the Stage Manager for the hit show Covenant.

Damian Bullis has been the Technical Director at the Rep since 2023. He received his education from Detroit Rep legends such as Robert Vogue Williams, Harry Wetzel, Lynch Travis, and of course Leah Smith and Bruce Millan. He’s also the resident barkeep.

Moníka Essen is an award-winning, nationally recognized artist and designer. The recipient of the Lawrence DeVine Award for Outstanding Contribution to Theatre, she studied Interior Architecture and Environmental Design at Parsons School of Design and received her MFA in scenography from the renowned Hilberry Repertory Co. Moníka has designed countless productions nationwide in theatre, opera, and film, and is currently the resident designer at the Detroit Opera. Additionally, she creates furniture, museum exhibits, interiors, and full sensory multi-media environments for residential and commercial clients, including the Detroit Zoo. You may have recently seen her artistry in Covenant.

Sandra Glover has been a professional theatre worker for 30 years and is the costumer for Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit and the Detroit Repertory Theatre. She studied at Henry Ford College and Wayne State University. Her most recent work at the Rep was as the costume designer for Covenant, the final show in Season 68.

Dan Morency has been the Rep's lighting designer for a decade. His work was most recently a part of Hysterical, August Wilson's Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, and Alamo Shoes.

Krista Pennington has been the sound designer at the Rep since 2023 and has her degree in theatre based in sound design from Alma College. She’s also directed a number of plays and musicals.