Staff, Crew, Actors, Directors, & Playwrights
Suzette Gunn
Playwright
Suzette Azariah Gunn is a classically trained, actress, writer, director from New York. Degree in Acting from Howard University, DC, Oxford University, England. She has two published books. For more information: www.suzettegunn.com.
Tayler Jones
Actor/Musician — “Melody”
Tayler Jones is an actress, director and teaching artist from Detroit. She earned her Master of Fine Arts in Applied Drama and Theatre for the Young from Eastern Michigan University. Tayler is an alumna of both Cass Tech HS and Wayne State University, where she holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting. She also studied abroad at the Moscow Art Theatre School. Tayler facilitates intergenerational storytelling workshops with Limelight and teaches youth with the Detroit Creativity Project, Matrix Theatre Company and Engage at EMU. A sample of her credits include Relia in North Star (EMU), Chelle in Detroit ‘67 (EMU), Tamika in Resisting (Theatre Nova), Ruth in A Raisin in the Sun (WSU), Helen in A Song for Coretta (WSU), Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Players Guild of Dearborn).
Willie Orlando Ford
Production
Willie Orlando Ford, a Detroit native with a passion for storytelling who has 20 years experience working in video production. Willie is a graduate of the Specs Howard School of Broadcast and has
worked for a variety of clients including Bloomberg TV, Animal Planet, The National Trust for Historic
Preservation, PBS, Fox Sports, NFL Network, PBS, CBS, and BET among others. Oddly enough, in his
spare time you can often catch him reverting to his first love, still photography.
Yemisi Odetoyinbo
Stage Manager
Yemisi Odetoyinbo, born and raised in Detroit, MI received her BFA in Theatre Design and Production from the University of Michigan in 2014. She dedicates her energy to help cultivate spaces of healing through theatre, education, and mental wellness. Yemisi
also holds a Masters of Social Work from Wayne State University. In addition to freelance stage management, Yemisi works as an infant mental health therapist, doula, and social emotional learning consultant.
Sydney Morton
Guests/Teaching Artist
Originally hailing from Cincinnati, Ohio, Sydney started training in ballet at four years old. Growing up in a musical family (her maternal grandfather was a Broadway performer and music teacher), she also sang in school choirs and played piano from a young age. Her interest in the performing arts grew, and eventually included other styles of dance and acting. Sydney went on to receive a BFA in Musical Theatre from the University of Michigan, as well as studying Shakespeare in London at The Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts.
Upon graduating, Sydney moved to New York and began performing in professional theatre, first landing the role of "Gabriella" in HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL at Paper Mill Playhouse. From there, she joined the Chicago company of the hit, JERSEY BOYS, playing the role of "Francine." Broadway soon followed, as she had the honor of performing in four Original Broadway Casts: MEMPHIS, EVITA, AMERICAN PSYCHO, and MOTOWN, where she worked closely with Berry Gordy himself and played the controversial member of the Supremes, "Florence Ballard." Other theatre experience includes THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME ("Esmeralda," Ogunquit Playhouse), AN OCTOROON ("Zoe," Berkeley Rep), and FLASHDANCE ("Alex," First National Tour). You can see Sydney playing "Cheryl Overstreet" in both seasons of Spike Lee's hit series, SHE'S GOTTA HAVE IT on Netflix. Other TV and Film appearances include playing "Dora Larrie" in the recent Netflix mini-series MADAME CJ WALKER starring Octavia Spencer, season two of MANIFEST on NBC ("Alex"), starring opposite Adrian Grenier in the Syfy pilot CIPHER (“Lena”), YOUNGER (“Skye,” TV Land), JESSICA JONES (Netflix), THE INTERN, THE SOUND OF MUSIC LIVE (NBC), SERVICE TO MAN, and the short films THIRDY and LOVE, NEW YORK.
In addition to her acting career, Sydney is passionate about arts education and health and wellness. She is the Associate Director of Graduate Programs for the non-profit, A Broaderway, founded by Idina Menzel. She has also traveled the country as an instructor with The Broadway Collective, and guest taught at Rider College and Marymount Manhattan. She is currently studying to become a certified Health Coach, with the intention of seeking healing and holistic wellness within the black community.
X. Alexander Durden
Actor "The Last Gatekeeper" OTF'23
X. Alexander Durden is an actor, writer and classical vocalist. He is eager to be working with OTF again on The Last Gatekeeper. Select roles include Marcus in Marcus; or the Secret of Sweet, Marcello (cover) in La Boheme, Roger in RENT, and Belmonte in Die Entführung aus dem Serail. He received undergraduate training in opera from Morehouse College, graduate opera training from The Boston Conservatory, and graduate training in acting from The University of Oxford (UK) and Wayne State University. www.XAlexanderDurden.com / @xadurden
kay kemp
Playwright "and god made man" OTF'23
kay kemp (they/them) is a playwright based out of New York City and a graduate of Columbia University, where they are pursuing their PhD in Theatre and Dramatic Literature. They were the 2020 recipient of the Joseph Milton Fee, Jr. Award in Playwriting, as well as the 2022 Austin E. Quigley Award for Excellence in Theatre.
Sydni Jackson
Stage Manager — We Own Everything
Sydni Jackson is a graduate of Western Michigan University with her BFA in Musical Theatre. While stage managing the play, We Own Everything at OTF, she’s currently stage managing the Beat The Streets play with Seedtime and Harvest Productions. She’s thankful for the experience and growth OTF has given her!
Toni Cunningham
Communications Associate
Toni Cunningham is a screenwriter, producer and director of independent film. She is a former Kresge Arts in Detroit fellow and currently teaches screenwriting and media storytelling. She holds a masters degree in Media Arts & Studies.
She is currently producing the feature documentary Sacrifice Zones: The 48217, she is the writer, co-director and producer of the short film Well, which is being funded by Black Public Media, and she recently wrapped production on the short narrative film, T-Minus.
