meet the cast of Dearly departed

Rhonda (Raynelle) has made several appearances on the community stage in the surrounding areas that include, White Christmas (Tessie), Sister Act The Musical (Sister Mary Theresa), Love, Loss, and What I Wore, at Theater Tallahassee; Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Ensemble) at The Quincy Music Theater, and Shaking the Mess Out of Misery (Big Mama) at FAMU Essential Theater.  Marteen hails from Chicago and began exploring her creative talents for dance, writing, and the stage at an early age. She has written and directed local off-stage productions for schools, the community, and civic groups.  She enjoys all genres of performance on stage and would like to thank her family and friends for their continued love and support, as well as the incredible cast and crew who have made this a delightful experience!

Q (Junior) is a fourth-year theatre performance scholar from Atlanta, Georgia. His latest performances include Love in "Thoughts of a Colored Man", Luke/Business Man in "Day of Absence", and JJ Evans in "Good Times: The Windfall". Q strives to tell authentic stories through techniques inspired by legends such as Uta Hagen and Sanford Meisner. Q is also a spring initiate of the Omicron Gamma Chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity of America

Kyndal (Suzanne) is a third-year Theater Performance major from West Palm Beach, Florida. She has appeared in Chicken and Biscuits as Simone Mabry’s understudy,  Single Black Female as Single Black Female 2, The Wiz as an ensemble member, Shakin' the Mess outta Misery as Miss Mary and Miss Shine, and has recently appeared in Good Times “The Windfall” as Wilona Woods. She served as the Co-Assistant Stage Manager for the production of Romeo and Juliet, as well as the 2nd Assistant Stage Manager for the production of Disappearing Acts. She has served as the Vice-President of the Essential Theatre Union.

Keith (Royce) is a rising senior theatre and journalism student at Florida A&M University, hailing from Atlanta, GA. A versatile theatre artist, Keith has performed in the FAMU Essential Theatre’s productions of Thoughts of a Colored Man (Wisdom), Two Trains Running (West), and Romeo & Juliet (Balthasar) as well as Theatre Tallahassee’s production of Fences (Cory/Lyons US). With a strong commitment to service, activism, and storytelling, Keith was recently selected as one of two undergraduate winners nationwide of the Black Theatre Network’s Young Scholars Competition for his essay entitled Dismantling Stereotypes and Redefining the Image of Black Americans. 

Martha (Veda) is thrilled to be back at MOH. Most recently, she played Fiona Starkweather in the murder mystery, “Murders in the Heir”. Last fall, she played Fiona, a grandmother with dementia, in “The Humans.” Other MOH performances include Ethel Thayer in “On Golden Pond” and Delilah in “Father of the Bride.” Martha has appeared in many plays at Theatre Tallahassee, including the 2022 world premiere of “Honey Sugar Lady Doll…”. She also played Dolly in TOSAC’s “The Kitchen Witches” and Florence in FSU School of Theatre’s “Leading Ladies.” She has appeared in many FSU and independent films. Martha dedicates this performance to all who have cared for an ailing loved one.

Vonzel (Reverend Hooker) is reprising his role of Beverly Hooker, marking his second performance with ETA and the Monticello Opera House. Vonzel has performed on local stages as Willie Wonka in Charlie & the Chocolate Factory (Quincy Music Theatre), Shepherd in The Winter's Tale (Shakespeare Theatre), and the titular role in The Wiz (FAMU Essential Theatre), where he established his roots in theatre. He is excited to work with his ETA family once again.

D'Nai (Juanita) is a senior at Saint Leo University, with hopes of earning a Bachelor’s degree in Music. This is her first production with the Monticello Opera House and ETA, but she has had previous experience with theatrical productions at TCC and Lincoln High School. She has been performing since 6th grade and hopes to further her career in performing and making music, which she considers her dream career. She would like to thank her family and friends for their support throughout her journey, with special thanks to her mom, Anita, for going above and beyond for her every time.

Valerie (Nadine) is a Theatre Performance graduate of Florida A&M University from Broward County, Florida. She made her debut at the FAMU Essential Theatre’s production of The Waiting Room (Rachel Johnson). She was seen in Romeo and Juliet Reimagined (Citizen/ Nanny Alt.); The Wiz (Ensemble); Shakin' the Mess Outta Misery (Miss Lamama); Confederates (Luanne/Jade US).

Bryan F. Mitchell (he/him) hails from Miami, FL, where he attended Miami Northwestern Senior High School and was a part of the world-renowned Performing and Visual Arts Center (PAVAC) Drama Department. He is a distinguished theatre artist, educator, and community leader. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Performance with a minor in Education from Florida A&M University, where he performed in productions like Black Nativity, Tartuffe, Dearly Departed, My Emperor's New Clothes, The Trial of the Big Bad Wolf, Ain't Misbehavin', Change it Up, The Wiz, and The Color Purple. From 2004 to 2008, Bryan was also a featured performer in the FAMU Connection and is a founder of the Essential Theatre Union (ETU), a student theatre organization. 

In Tallahassee, Bryan has built an impressive portfolio, performing in productions at Theatre Tallahassee (Once on this Island, The Producers, Guys and Dolls, City of Angels, Dueling Divas [Male Edition], Sister Act, Little Shop of Horrors), Quincy Music Theatre (Parade, A Christmas Carol, A Chorus Line, Hairspray, Dreamgirls, Memphis), and notable productions like Annie at Center Stage, Dearly Departed at the Southside Arts Complex, Fences with Canopy Roads Theatre Company, Aida with Tallahassee Triple Threat, and Laughing Stock: A Politically Twisted Cabaret. Bryan also guest-starred in Grease with the Godby Players at Godby High School. 

Bryan's directing experience is extensive, spanning multiple venues and age groups, with credits that include The Spongebob Squarepants Musical at Theatre Tallahassee, Once on this Island at Quincy Music Theatre, and Shakin' the Mess Outta Misery at FAMU Essential Theatre, as well as Home and Purlie Victorious at Thomasville On Stage and Company. He also directed Amen Corner, Dearly Departed, and Ain't Misbehavin' for the Essential Theatrical Associates (ETA) in partnership with Monticello Opera House. 

In education, Bryan has dedicated thirteen years to the Leon County School System, teaching drama and inspiring young performers. At Leon High School, he directed And Then There Were None, Harvey, Dearly Departed, Impromptu, and the world premiere of Prospect High. He also directed The Lion King Jr. at Augusta Raa Middle School. Currently, he teaches Theatre at Apalachee Tapestry Magnet School of the Arts, where he has directed productions like Aladdin Jr., The Addams Family young@part, Moana Jr., Willy Wonka Jr., The Wiz Jr., and Shrek Jr. His students regularly have the honor of performing at the State Capitol for Children’s Day, and his high school and middle school students have received Superior, Excellent, Critic’s Choice, and Best in Show at Thespians festivals.  Bryan’s extensive performance, directing, and education background exemplifies his commitment to theatre and youth arts, making him an invaluable contributor to the Tallahassee arts community.

Beyond teaching and directing, Bryan serves as the Summer Camp Director at Theatre Tallahassee and as the Assistant Director of Theatre for the 11th Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church. He is on the Board of Directors for Quincy Music Theatre and has served as an adjudicator for Making Light Productions, the Florida District One Thespians Festival, and Florida Junior Thespians, supporting and mentoring the next generation of performers.

Bryan is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., the Florida Association of Theatre Educators, the Leon Classroom Teachers Association, and the Florida Education Association. His dedication has earned him the Glenn-Howell Distinguished Educator of the Year Award for 2023-2024 and the FAMU Essential Theatre Alumni Service Award in both 2009 and 2023. Bryan’s multifaceted contributions as an artist, educator, and leader underscore his deep commitment to theatre and his community. His dedication to theatre and education continues to shape and inspire the next generation of performers.