The Recipe Book
A reading series dedicated to preserving Black plays
April Recipe:
get me melvina gast
by christina anthony
When you close your eyes and picture America’s sweetheart, does she have a Jheri curl? Hotter than fish grease, baby! That’s Melvina Gast, a former Jet Beauty-of-the-Week surviving in South Central Los Angeles and forging her way through the cut-throat world of multi-cam sitcoms in 1983 Hollywood. Back home in the Midwest, her young godchild comes of age. It seems they couldn’t be further apart as one chases visibility while the other begs to be invisible.
ABOUT THE PLAY:
MEET THE CAST OF MELVINA GAST
Christina Anthony
Christina Anthony is a Los Angeles-based writer, performer, vocalist and comedian with Midwest roots. With a career spanning over two decades, she is perhaps best known as Aunt Dee Dee on ABC’s Mixed-ish, along with appearances in The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window, Black-ish, Key & Peele, Rookie: Feds, and Kenan. Before television, she honed her voice in the theater as a Jeff Award-winning alum of the Second City e.t.c. in Chicago. There she co-wrote and performed three revues that now tour the world. Audiences have enjoyed her at the Kennedy Center on the 1st National Tour of Clue. Off-Broadway in Found (Atlantic Theatre). Regional credits include Second City's Romeo + Juliet Musical (Chicago Shakespeare), The Art of Falling (Hubbard Street + Second City), Radio Golf (Ensemble Theater Cincinnati), Matt & Ben, The Jackie Wilson Story (Black Ensemble Chicago). With a foundation built on political satire and improv, Christina is also committed to empowering a new generation of comedic writer-performers.
PLAYWRIGHT / MELVINA GAST
Carlease burke
Carlease Burke is a seasoned actress with over four decades of experience across television, film, and theater. She is widely recognized for her role as Catherine, the feisty and opinionated mother, on the ABC series Mixed-ish. Throughout her career, Carlease has collaborated with some of the industry’s most respected creators and has appeared in a wide range of projects that highlight her versatility—from comedy to drama. She was also a series regular on the NBC comedy Crowded, directed by the legendary James Burrows. In addition to her on-screen work, Carlease is a passionate advocate for personal growth and creative expression. She is the creator of the empowering message “Be A Star Where You Are,” which inspires others to embrace their individuality and shine in every stage of life. Today, she continues to evolve as an artist, exploring new creative avenues including writing, digital content, and live performance. She is honored to be part of this reading and to support new work by her talented colleague, Christina Anthony.
BABY SISTER
DEB SNYDER
EMILYDeb Snyder's versatility shines across national commercials, film, stage, and television. She delivers comedic performances with characters grounded in reality — laughable yet relatable.. Snyder recurred as 'Dolores' on ABC's "Mixed-ish" (Season 2). Additional TV credits include; "Big Little Lies," "Life in Pieces," "Boston Legal," "Unscripted," and "General Hospital." In national commercials, she's played everyone from a tuba-loving mom to a hungry truck driver. Her 2019 Bombas Sock spot — holding her own opposite a Yorkie Terrier mix — was named one of the holiday's most talked-about commercials by Ad Week and featured on the CW's Greatest Holiday Commercial Countdown. Film credits include Random Hearts (dir. Sydney Pollack), playing a clueless art gallery assistant opposite Harrison Ford, and a starring role in Ang Lee's Pushing Hands. Additional credits: We Want the Virus, Dangerous Worry Dolls, Anna Nicole Movie, Detour, and the web series "Eve & Edna."
On stage, Snyder made her Off-Broadway debut originating multiple characters for playwright Nicky Silver — including 'Vivian' in Freewill and Wanton Lust (credited in the Samuel French edition). LA stage highlights include Six Degrees of Separation, Clean House, and two Ovation-nominated musicals.
Snyder holds an MFA from Brandeis University and studied at the British European Theatre Studies Group in London with faculty from RADA and LAMDA. BA from Kalamazoo College. www.DebSnyder.me
sandi mccree
STAGE DIRECTIONSSandi McCree is known for her commanding work across stage and screen, delivering standout performances in both drama and comedy. She is widely recognized for her performance as De’Londa Brice on HBO’s critically acclaimed series The Wire.
A few of her credits include The New Edition Story, The Bobby Brown Story, and The Upshaws. A proud Sunday Company alum of The Groundlings and the Upright Citizens Brigade (UCB), she continues to perform at The Groundlings Theatre, including the Cookin’ With Gas Show. She recently worked behind the scenes on Wanda Sykes most recent Netflix special, will appear in the upcoming comedy feature The 12, and Sandi is also currently directing...
Best. Dad. NEVER. by Haig Chahinian that's headed to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival this August.
KENNETH MOSLEY
DONNELLKenneth Mosley is an actor, singer, writer, producer, director, and host. He stars in the upcoming film Don’t Tell Larry (Best Film, PIFF) and holds recurring roles on Will Trent (ABC), Night Court (NBC), and Reboot (Hulu). Additional TV and film credits include Grey’s Anatomy, Duster (HBO), The Pitt, Terminal List (Amazon), All American, Kenan, Grace & Frankie, iCarly Revival, Black-ish, and Jimmy Kimmel Live!, among others. He wrote, produced, and stars in the dual-role pilot NTB. As a theatre actor, Mosley led Broadway national tours as Lola in the Tony Award-winning Kinky Boots and as Berry Gordy, Jr. in the Tony-nominated Motown the Musical. His short film Dr. West’s Fervor earned Best Actor at SAFF and screened at 14+ international festivals. Mosley trained at Southern Methodist University, the British American Drama Academy’s MIO program at Oxford, and The Second City conservatory. He makes his directorial debut with Freedom Train.
Jesse Esparza
JOEJesse is a writer and performer from Sacramento whose TV credits include Mixedish on ABC and Maggie on Hulu. Jesse has performed improv and sketch comedy at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater since 2009. In addition to UCB, he wrote for the CBS Diversity Showcase, and was accepted to the NHMC Writers Program and the Disney Writers Program.
SEAN WALTON
BRIGHT SKINNED FRIEND 2Sean Walton is an actor, writer, and director. Previous theatre credits include the title role in Edward II, Belize in Angels in America, Andre in Ain’t Misbehavin, Mister in The Color Purple, Paris in Romeo & Juliet, Little Moe in Five Guys Named Moe, Jimmy in Grand Hotel, Sawyer in Harriet Jacobs at such theatres as Steppenwolf, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, McCarter Theatre Center, Signature Theatre, St. Louis MUNY, Drury Lane, The St. Louis Black Rep, Porchlight Music Theatre. Sean served as Executive Producer and Showrunner on the short series COMMUNE, and co-wrote the book and lyrics for Blacktacular! Television and film credits include Scrooge & Marley, Hogtown, Sirens. As an advocate and board member with the mental health organization NoStigmas, Sean wrote and directed dozens of PSAs and served as emcee for their annual Celebrate Life event. Sean is dedicated to numerous causes, Queer storytelling, and social justice.
Gilbert Glenn Brown
WASHINGTONGilbert Glenn Brown’s credits include: Respect as MLK, Love Songs: Anthology, Best of Enemies, Lilly, the forthcoming Kidnapped in Her Own Home: The Martha Carelli Story and End the Wait to name a few. His television credits include: All American as Coach Bobby, TWD: Darryl Dixon, MAYANS MC, Fight Night BMF, MLK/X,NCIS, Stargirl, General Hospital, Young & The Restless, The Inspectors, The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey, Good Behavior, S.W.A.T. , Bosch: Legacy and Stranger Things. His theater credits include: The Mountaintop (Garry Marshall Theatre), Power to the People (LA Philharmonic/Disney Music Hall), Dot (Billie Holiday Theatre/True Colors Theatre), LATW’s national tour of The Mountaintop, When Jazz Had the Blues (CEK Productions/The Matrix Theatre), Harriet Jacobs (Kansas City Rep), Civil War Christmas (Huntington Theatre), TopDog/UnderDog (Seattle Rep/CTG), Spunk (True Colors Theatre Company), The Painted Rocks at Revolver Creek (Fountain Theatre), Serial. Black. Face. (Actor’s Express) and Charleston Olio (Goodman Theatre & National Black Theatre Festival). His writing/producing and directing credits include the short film Half/Off, the web-series All in the Timing, musicals Beyond the Obvious and C.H.O.I.C.E.S. and the upcoming series NICU-DC. He has also voiced numerous commercials and audiobooks.
tiarre mayden
BRIGHT SKINNED FRIEND 1Tiarre Mayden is a Los Angeles based actor, stand-up comedian, and storyteller with roots in Chicago’s legendary improv scene. She studied at Howard University and Columbia College Chicago, and trained at The Second City Chicago Conservatory, where she developed her sharp comedic voice and character driven storytelling. She has appeared on Everything’s Gonna Be Okay (Freeform) and Bust Down (Peacock), with additional work in film, digital series, and on stage. Her stand-up special Funny AF is featured on Revolt TV. Whether on stage or screen, Tiarre brings humor, truth, and presence to every role, committed to telling stories that connect, uplift, and leave a lasting impression.
BAIRTON BROWN
STAGE MANAGER An award-winning filmmaker and theater practitioner, Bair graduated from the Theatre School at DePaul University (BFA) and NYU (MA). Bair’s directing work includes NAOMI & LEVI TAKE ON THE WORLD (OTV), HOW DARE YOU (Affirmation Theatre), FINAL GOODBYE (Soundscape Theatre), and AFTER PASSAGE for this year’s DSP. Bair’s play, MEMENTO VIVERE, was produced at Congo Square, Denver, and Hollywood Fringe. Bair’s book series, BLACKTOPIA, is published by Syllble Studios. As Executive Director of Stonehaven Studios, Bair hosts cross-county Afrofuturist Art Fairs in Burbank and Inglewood. Currently serving as Development Specialist for Support Black Theatre and co-producer of jean powell's PASSION. @BairtonBrown @StonehavenStudios
CHELSEA BOYD
DIRECTORChelsea Boyd is the co-founder and co-artisic director of Bottle Tree Theatre Company. She is an actor, writer, and producer from Los Angeles and a graduate of Cal State Fullerton’s theatre program. In 2024, Chelsea produced Bottle Tree’s 1st production of I Sell Windows by Kacie Rogers at Outside In Theatre in Highland Park and at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland. She also serves as a board member on The Big Bear Theatre Project.
As an actor she has appeared in The Importance of Being Earnest (Big Bear Theatre); Tinka Tayla Solja Sai (Bottle Tree Theatre); And Then They Fell (Atwater Village Theatre), Sonnets for an Old Century (Skirball Center).
Chelsea’s unapologetic hope in all her work is to illuminate all the ways in which creativity cultivates community and vice versa. This reading of Get Me Melvina Gast is her directorial debut.