Donnevan Tolbert is a writer, actor, author, father, and teacher. He was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan and has been writing and acting since he was six years old. Creating human stories is his niche. For Donnevan, acting isn’t about “acting”; it’s about being. He believes, “Being present brings forth the ability to lead and impact daily.” For the last three years, he served as a middle school teacher, which has allowed him to grow as a man. The Hillman Grad Program is similar to a group project where every actor, writer, and creative exec works together to earn their individual stripes. Donnevan is battle-tested, love-scarred, and wise beyond his years. He brings positive energy to an ensemble, an open mind, a collaborative attitude, and a work ethic unlike any other. He prides himself on being supportive, having high expectations, a vast array of experience, and a sense of empathy. Donnevan is a great listener, communicator, and storyteller.
Jonny Williams is an actor and artist known for his captivating stage presence and dynamic character creation for camera and Hip-Hop theatre. Williams' work has touched many local to international stages, including The New York Knicks Poetry halftime feature on Broadway's New Amsterdam Theatre, CBS’s American Graduate Day, The Kennedy Center’s Raise Up Competition in DC, and the 2012 Olympics' Cultural Olympiad in London. Williams received his MFA in Acting at the University of Florida. After packing his entire life into a road trip to Los Angeles, he has since honed his craft and positioned himself for the moments where preparation meets opportunity.
Kashayna Johnson, a Brooklyn native, found her way back to her passion for acting after her family relocated her freshman year. She auditioned and was accepted into Suitland High School (P.G. County, MD) as a Theater major in their visual and performing arts program. She then went to Temple University (PA); the Theatre Lab School of the Dramatic Arts Honors Conservatory (D.C.); and was accepted and given scholarship to train at BADA (the British American Dramatic Academy) at Oxford University (England). After graduating, she returned back to the states with her first professional show secured and hasn’t stopped working since. She’s graced stages at prominent theaters such as the New Freedom Theater (Philly); Arena Stage (D.C.), and the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts (D.C.) just to name a few. She currently resides back in her hometown in Brooklyn, but considers herself bi-coastal having spent several periods of extended time in LA each year.
“I believe my experience in the theater and the diversity in the work and types of roles I've taken on could be a great addition to the space and ensemble. The bulk of my professional career has been collaborating with other artists and creatives, whether it be in plays/productions for extended periods of times, or in the workshopping and development of newer works.” She is so excited to now have a true community, network and family in Hillman Grad and looks forward to taking the TV and film industry by storm.
LaNora Terraé Hayden is an actor and multi-passionate artist. She was born and raised in Rochester, NY, where, as a young person, she nurtured her love of the arts by memorizing filmed Broadway musicals. She holds an M.F.A in Acting from The Theatre School at DePaul University in Chicago. She now resides in Los Angeles, where she’s found community collaborating with BIPOC writers and creators who are developing new work for stage and screen. Her favorite stories to tell are ones that help the viewer feel seen and connected as they navigate life’s most daunting and absurd realities. She’s a proud member of SAG and AEA. You can catch her in a recurring role on the web series, Savage. Catch her in the Amazon Studios film, Something From Tiffany’s.
Lee Hubilla is an actor, writer, and the earthiest of earth signs. Born and raised in New Jersey, she began her life in the performing arts as a dancer training at the School of American Ballet, Alvin Ailey, and graduated from Professional Performing Arts High School. She went on to perform with various contemporary dance companies in NYC, namely Sidra Bell Dance New York. In this past life, Lee also taught and choreographed urban and contemporary dance including a brief stint on MTV’s America’s Best Dance Crew.
Lee found her way to acting unintentionally through elective classes while getting her BA in Psychology at Kean University. She’s been hooked ever since.
She’s grateful for her acting experiences thus far, ranging from small screen (Law & Order: SVU, Dash & Lily, FBI: Most Wanted) to the stage (improv/sketch at The Magnet and The PIT, P.S at Ars Nova) and everywhere in between. And honey, she’s ready for more! As a writer, Lee’s work has included sketch comedy (The PIT), short films (Asian American Film Lab), and mentorship under Giant Leap’s inaugural accelerator program. She's so grateful for the Hillman Grad Mentorship Lab and this new community. Also, her therapist is proud of her and she thought you should know.
Native New Yorker, Actor and multi-disciplinary Artist. I got my start in theatre at Harlem School of the Arts;I took a step back from stage to focus on education and after graduating from Wheaton College, shortly there after I became a caregiver for the next eleven years of my adult life. That experience taught me so much about my personal self and myself as an Actor and collaborator. Since then, I’ve performed in numerous stage productions and have made appearances in various TV/ Film projects and print work. Tired of being pigeoned holed in sterotypical roles I set out to create my own platform to showcase projects that inspired me not only as an Actor but a visionary. I wanted to work on roles that transcended my race, gender, age and class. Strong characters, complex characters with range and wonderfully layered lives that would consistently challenge me as an Actor. It was my outlet to have these lived experiences with these characters, and use my perspective from my own life experiences that were so beautifully unique to my work. In addition to film/tv/ stage and print work I have worked collaboratively with Fine Art pieces that have exhibited in such places as; Rush Art Galleries, Pfizer Building, Knockdown Center, A.C. Institute and most recently Alabama Contemporary Art Center where I am currently apart of the Between the Snakes exhibition.
Michaela Obro-Ababio is a Ghanaian-American actress, writer, and dancer who is ready to leave her mark. She holds a BFA in Drama from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts- with training from the Stella Adler Studio of Acting. Michaela has always been told to follow whatever it is that undoubtedly sets her heart ablaze- to reach for it and never let it go. This would lead her to utilizing the gift of storytelling to empower others and to make people feel less alone. Through spending some of her formative years in Ghana and experiencing and witnessing the complexities, radiance, and tenderness within blackness and humanity, she was able to finally discover the stories she wanted to tell. Luckily for Michaela, storytelling also means having the time of her life onstage and onscreen.
Michaela has most recently starred in productions at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting, New York University, the Manhattan Repertory Theatre, and a few national commercials. Michaela plans on using all that she has learned through performing and studying to continue sharing stories that amplify voices that are often silenced within our society; stories that illuminate humanity. She hopes her passion will encourage and uplift others in the same way that those before her did. When Michaela is not acting, she enjoys reading, cooking, watching cartoons, drinking chai tea, and *new* skateboarding.
TJ Chester is a 35-year-old Floridian who lives with their parents, 13-year-old canine companion Isis and a rotating assortment of niblings. TJ consumes a large variety of media including TV/film, podcasts, and books. TJ is very opinionated and welcomes any opportunity to give recommendations on what folks should be watching, listening to, and/or reading. This skill comes in quite handy in the many different dramaturgical projects they are affiliated with. While TJ does adjunct online, they are a recovering academic and plans to never again be in the classroom full-time. TJ spends countless hours recording auditions in the hopes that they will be cast as a non-binary baddie on the next hit TV show. Most recently TJ has contributed essays to 50 Key Figures in Queer US Theatre and the 2022 Roots, Wounds, and Words anthology. If needed, you can find TJ in a kayak or doing artsy/scholarly things.
