The Recipe Book
A reading series dedicated to preserving Black plays
get me melvina gast
by christina anthony
April Recipe:
ABOUT THE PLAY:
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.
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
STAGE DIRECTIONSsandi mccree
Sandi 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.
DONNELLKENNETH MOSLEY
PLACEHOLDER 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
PLACEHOLDER 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.
JOEBRIGHT SKINNED FRIEND 1TIARRE MAYDEN
Kenneth 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.
PLACEHOLDER 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.
EMILYDEB SNYDER
Deb 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
Gilbert Glenn Brown
WASHINGTONPLACEHOLDER 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.
CHELSEA BOYD
DIRECTORPLACEHOLDER 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.
BRIGHT SKINNED FRIEND 2