Lessley Harmon (Namir Abdul Mateen) lives in Youngstown and is back on the streets after 12 years, many of them at the Trumbull Correctional Institution in Leavittsburg. Before his incarceration, he worked at the General Motors Assembly Plant in Lordstown, Ohio, until incapacitated by chemical fumes at work. He then became founding member of Workers Against Toxic Chemical Hazards (WATCH), a grassroots organization that spurred General Motors and the United Automobile Workers Union to conduct an epidemiological study of cancer deaths among former auto-plant employees. During his time behind bars, Lessley helped many other prisoners as a counselor. He now works part-time for a maintenance service that makes home repairs for elderly homeowners in the inner city. Lessley was raised on the Bible and has a warrior’s heart for fighting injustices. He admits to making lots of mistakes therefore making it easy for him to forgive the mistakes of others. He’s recently proclaimed a love for the performing arts and will add it to his new resume. The media exposure Lessley received during the 2007 Lucasville tour earned him the nickname “Denzel” from the cast.
Sam Perry (George Skatzes) originated the role of prison inmate negotiator George Skatzes in the original touring production of Lucasville in 2007. He has appeared in dozens of shows, including portraying Dr. Martin Dysart in Equus. Sam is well-known throughout northeastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania. He says he been around a long time and has done a lot of good shows and some better off forgotten.
Chazz Sutton (Siddique Abdullah Hasan) is a former student of Youngstown State University where he majored in theatre. He was most recently seen in YSU’s production of “Hamlet” where he played Marcellus. Chazz was also featured as the title role in the production of Zastrozzi. His other works include Oedipus, Dr. Faustus, King Arthur, Good Thing, Painting Churches and Zorro. Chazz has appeared in independent films around the Ohio area. He is a certified martial arts instructor and stage combatant. He is a singer/songwriter and enjoys playing the guitar.
Arcale Peace (Keith LaMar) is a senior Bachelor of Arts Theatre Studies Major at YSU. He appeared in this same role in the staged reading of Lucasville in the spring of 2008 at Youngstown State University. He last appeared on stage as William in the BlackBox show Lobby Hero, and the Third Priest in Murder in the Cathedral. He has worked backstage and as a stage manager. He plans on pursuing his master’s degree after graduation. This is Arcale's second visit to New York, and his first time performing a theatrical production in the state. He considers it a true blessing from Almighty God not only for the opportunity, but also to work with such a talented cast.
Brandon Smith(Jason Robb) is an actor with an activist streak or an activist with an acting streak. He is currently a Junior at Youngstown State University, pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Performance. Brandon has been seen on Regional, Campus, and Community theatre stages. Brandon has appeared in a variety of shows ranging from the works of T.S. Eliot and William Shakespeare, to the plays of David Ives and Tony Kushner. He occasionally throws his hat into the rings of directing and dramaturgy. Brandon has been active with many civil rights and liberties organizations over the years, including the ACLU, Amnesty International, and A.R.A (Anti-Racist Action). He first became interested in Lucasville after reading about the trials and jumped on the opportunity to become involved in a piece of theatre that could effect the outcome of a worthy cause. As a staunch Constitutional Libertarian, Brandon believes John Locke would spin in his grave if he didn't help these men receive fair trials, and in that spirit he hopes that you too will join our cause.
Dorian Thomas (Anthony Lavelle) is the vice president/dance choreographer of Excell American Dance company in Akron, Ohio (4 years). He is also a choreographer for both Sent Forth and Next Level Mime Ministries in Youngstown, Ohio (10 years). He has also done work with the Youngstown Playhouse. He has performed in Mexico, in California and at many other venues. His most resent accomplishment was becoming the first African American male to perform gospel pantomime at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. He strives to become a professional actor, model, writer, and instrumentalist. He owes much of his musical background to his family gospel group "Jimmy and the Family Circle" ( Youngstown ,Ohio 1994).
Greg Mocker (State Negotiator) has been a substitute teacher, an actor, a writer and an Emmy-nominated television news reporter. He appeared in the staged reading of Lucasville this spring on the campus of Youngstown State University. He heard and told a lot of stories in the decade he spent reporting the news for local affiliates across the country from Augusta, Georgia to Phoenix. His work has appeared on CNN. He manages his own internet video company and his work can be seen on mockrevolution.com and several internet news sites. He has appeared in local productions of the musicals Assassins and Titanic, and has had leading roles in Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead and Tribute.
Monica Beasley-Martin (Tessa Unwin, Captain) is the senior pastor of Sheridan A.M.E. Church in Youngstown, Ohio, a Y.C.S. Substitute Teacher, and a professional storyteller. She has a BA degree from Ohio State University and a M.T.S. from Vision Christian University. Monica’s acting credits include For Colored Girls Who Considered Suicide, Christmas Is Comin Uptown, Taming Of The Shrew, Raisin, Idora Forever, Mame, Nunsense at The Youngstown Playhouse. She has taught Creative Dramatics at the Playhouse Youth Theater. Monica directed How To Eat Fried Worms & African Tales Of Earth & Sky at the Youth Theater. She received 3 Marquee Awards, 3 Youth Theater Awards, 1 Arthur Award, and is a Youth Theater Lifetime Achievement recipient. Monica is a member of YACTA (Youngstown Area Community Theater Alliance), Who’s Who Among American Women, and C.U.R.E. She is the author of the children’s book Bald is Beautiful Too about a little girl with alopecia. Monica, also a member of the original Lucasville cast, has decided to become the change she wants to see. She attended her first protest against the death penalty in January 2008.
Jim Canacci (Sgt. Hudson) a graduate of Youngstown State University, is an English professor at Kent State University Trumbull Campus where he teaches English and Theatre courses. Over the last 20 years, Jim has worked in more than 60 University and community theater productions in a variety of roles. Jim is also the faculty adviser for the Amnesty International Organization at Kent Trumbull. He started working with the Lucasville project as the KSUTC campus contact. Staughton Lynd spoke on "Prisoners and Human Rights" at Jim's campus the week proceeding the fifteen-year mark of the Uprising. Bringing awareness and advocating for others, Jim is a proud member of the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Youngstown. He lives in Boardman, Ohio with his wife, Kristine, and his daughters, Miranda and Gillian.
Brandon Martin (Director, Kenneth Law, Lieutenant and Officer Demons) is a senior theatre arts major at Youngstown State University. He is a member of Youngstown Area Community Theater Alliance (YACTA), C.U.R.E., The YSU Dance Club, Sigma Alpha Lambda, S.T.A.R.S., & Emerging Leaders. Brandon is the recipient of 3 Marquee Awards and one Youth Theater Award. He was a part of the original touring production of Lucasville. Acting credits include Charley’s Aunt at The Victorian Players, 1st Breeze Of Summer , The Exonerated, & Colored Museusm at The Oakland Center for the Arts in Youngstown, Black Nativity, Christmas Is Comin Uptown, One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, It’s A Wonderful Life,and Grease at The Youngstown Playhouse. Brandon has assisted on directing productions and in teaching dramatic classes at The Playhouse Youth Theater, and is a former choreographer for Y.C.S. All City Choir and the Y.S.U. Dance Ensemble. He is a tap soloist at various nursing homes and community centers. At YSU he appeared in Anything Goes. His uncle, the late Dr. Chester Wilson, was the psychiatrist on duty at Lucasville during the time of the riots.
Ric Panning (Officer Ratcliff)is new to the theater scene but has had several high-profile roles in some of Youngstown, Ohio's biggest productions. He played the lead in The Full Monty, a show that generated a lot of buzz and excitement around town. Ric portrayed Pigpen in Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead at the Oakland Center for the Arts in Youngstown. Ric's love of the stage began with a 10-year stint with the regional touring band "December Son." He is enjoying the challenge of playing multiple roles and portraying real people in Lucasville. As part of Never Forget Productions, Ric co-writes, directs and shoots his own internet-based skits and performance pieces with his co-writer, Matt Liller.
Ray Beiersdorfer, Ph.D. (Producer) is an award-winning Professor of Geological and Environmental Sciences at Youngstown State University in Ohio, but as a participant in the Federal Witness Protection Program, he still thinks he's Ian Hunter of Mott the Hoople. A native New Yorker, Ray attended Grover Cleveland High School in Ridgewood, Queens and graduated from Queens College, CUNY. His name has been mentioned on the International Space Station and on Ohio's Death Row. In 2005, he made his theatrical debut in Youngstown, Ohio in The Exonerated, starring as Gary Gauger, a middle-aged hippie wrongfully convicted of killing his parents. Ray was a road manager and actor in the original touring-production of Lucasville. In edition to creating Dr. Ray's Amazing Sideshow of Science and running study abroad geology excursions to China, he is currently the principal investigator for the $1.5 Million OPFERST project to provide high quality professional development to northeastern Ohio Science Teachers. This appointment really shocked his mother, who expected him to have his own talk show by now.
Jackie Bowers (Herself) Jackie is the sister of George Skatzes and has worked on Justice for George for fifteen years because she firmly believes in his innocence on all charges. Her friend Karen Torley has set up a website, georgeskatzescampaign.blogspot.com, where you can read all about George's case and decide for yourself. She is very thankful for this play, created to address the injustices surrounding George and other Lucasville inmates as well as raising public awareness of the Death Penalty. This is her experience on stage, although she has been speaking out for years. She dedicates her performance to her brother George. Jackie and her husband Ron live in Marion, Ohio.
Brooke Slanina (Tower, Reporter) is a native of the Youngstown area. She has been seen onstage in theaters throughout Youngstown in productions of Proof, Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead, The Book of Liz, As Bees in Honey Drown, and Picasso at the Lapin Agile. In addition to acting credits, Brooke has also stage managed, directed, produced, and served as light and sound board operator for numerous shows. Currently serving as president of The Oakland Center for the Arts board, a non-profit community theater located in downtown Youngstown, Brooke feels most at home doing promotional and fundraising work. Though she has seen past productions of Lucasville, this marks her first role in the show. She is excited to be working with the cast and thanks Dr. Ray for all his support.
Susie Beiersdorfer (Associate Producer) Susie is an activist/organizer/teacher who lives the Martin Luther King philosophy that "injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere". Her community involvement includes: social action co-chair at the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Youngstown, Board secretary for the Oakland Center for the Arts and for Treez Please, member of Grow Youngstown, part time geology teacher at Youngstown State University and yoga teacher. As a member of Loved Ones of Prisoners (LOOP), she helped to organize 2 vigils and a community justice teach-in next door to the Ohio Supermax Prison in Youngstown, advocating for full contact visits for death row prisoners and an end to executions. She was an organizer of the April 2007 seven-city Ohio tour of Lucasville. She works part time for the ACLU of Ohio as the state project coordinator for the 2008 Lucasville Justice Project and encourages people to sign the petition at acluohio.org. She and her husband Ray are a "dream team" and their greatest gifts to this world are their twin daughters Rochelle and Crystal.
