Gift Certificates & Coupons

THE ARTISTIC TEAM

LISA TARRER-LACY (FOUNDER & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR)

Originally from Chicago, Lisa is an actress, playwright and director who has appeared in over 40 plays, which include performances in New York City, Oakland, San Francisco, Sacramento, on television and in film. Lisa trained professionally in New York City, at the Richard Allen Center for Cultural & Arts (RACCA), HB Studios, Dance Theater of Harlem and Jo Jo Dance Factory. She has a BA and Masters degree from CSU, Sacramento, and is a proud veteran of the CSU, Sacramento theater company, Sons and Ancestors Players. Her achievements include playwriting, directing, acting, and teaching within the professional, community and educational theatre arenas. From 2002-2006, Lisa was the director, co-writer/co-creator of California Musical Theatre’s, Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) Project productions “Keeping the Dream Alive” and “And the Dream Goes On.” She is also the Executive and Artistic Director as well as the founder of IMAGES THEATRE COMPANY, which she began by assembling 3 additional actors and a musical director in 2003. Since that time period, ITC has grown to employ over 60 paid and voluntary staff as performers and technical staff. In 2009, Lisa received the Elly Award for best original script of the year, for her play, Solomon's Storefront. In 2005, Lisa received the Cornel West Distinguished Alumni Award, and in 2004, she received two Elly nominations for best director and best actress for her portrayal of Lena in the play “Boseman and Lena” at Celebration Arts. In addition to the CMT "DREAM" series, Lisa has written and/or co-authored the following plays: We Come from Greatness, Freedom, Wings of Freedom, Evangelize, Everyday People - A Musical Revue, Legacy, Hallelujah City and The Homecoming, A Christmas Story. Her performance poetry, “Belly of America” was published in Drum Voices Review. A partial list of plays that she has directed locally include: Sacramento Theatre Company's staged reading of Joe Turner's Come and Gone, Sacramento City College’s production of “Joe Turner's Come and Gone, Spell #7 and A Love Song for Miss Lydia.” She was most recently seen in San Francisco as the Chorus Leader in IPH (Iphigenia at Aulis) produced by African-American Shakespeare Company, & Brava Theater. Her favorite roles are both August Wilson plays where she played the roles of "Aunt Ester" in Sacramento Theatre Company's, production of Gem of the Ocean and "Ruby" in the Celebration Arts production of "King Hedley." Lisa is a proud member of Actors Equity Association, the professional union for actors.

CHARLES COOPER (FOUNDING MEMBER/DIRECTOR OF MUSIC)

Charles is a composer, lyricist and musical director, as well as the Associate Pastor for All People's Church and the Minister of Music at Christ Unity. He previously was the director of Samaritan Center Food Bank and Clothes Closet. For many years, Charles participated in the California Musical Theatre, Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) Theater Projects. He is the composer and musical director for 2004, 2005 and 2006 productions of "And the Dream Goes On," for which he was nominated for an Elly award. In 2001 and 2003, he was a soloist in the MLK Project "Keeping the Dream Alive" and "Gospel at Colonus." Most recently, Charles starred in Magic Circle Theater's production of "Piano Men." Also, Charles is the co-founder and musical director of IMAGES THEATRE COMPANY and has performed at Garbeau's Dinner Theatre, and credits include "Smokey Joe's Café" and musical composer and musical director for "Wings of Freedom". Charles has performed on stage with such notables as Donna Summer and Lou Rawls and has entertained all across this country including New York, Las Vegas and Hawaii.