Kenny Leon
Founder & Artistic Director
Kenny Leon (Director) is a Tony Award winning Broadway and film director. His Broadway credits include the 2014 revival of A Raisin in the Sun (Tony Award Winner for Best Direction of a Play and Best Revival), The Mountaintop starring Samuel L. Jackson and Angela Bassett, Stick Fly produced by Alicia Keys, August Wilson’s Fences (which garnered ten Tony nominations and won three Tony Awards including Best Revival), the 2004 revival of A Raisin in the Sun with Sean ‘P. Diddy’ Combs, Gem of the Ocean, Radio Golfand the 2014 premiere of Holler If Ya Hear Me, a new musical inspired by the lyrics of Tupac Shakur. Leon’s recent film work includes “In My Dreams” for Hallmark Hall of Fame, “The Watsons go to Birmingham” for Walden Media and Hallmark, and the Sony and Lifetime TV adaptation of “Steel Magnolias”. Leon was awarded the 2010 Julia Hansen Award for Excellence in Directing by the Drama League of New York.
Jane Bishop
Co-Founder
In Loving Memory. We will always remember Jane. We are all blessed that she launched True Colors with her longtime friend and colleague, Kenny Leon. Her dream was a theater that looks like the world, and her best and favorite work was making people bigger and things work better. We continue to work to make these dreams come true and make Jane proud.
Jane received an MA in Theatre Education and an MFA in Directing from Illinois State University where she studied in a class of aspiring actors and directors, which included John Malkovitch, Laurie Metcalf, Gary Sinese, and Terry Kinny.
Jamil is a highly accomplished director, producer, playwright and dramaturg focusing on bringing socially relevant art to the community. Jamil is the Co-Founder of The New Griots Festival, which is dedicated to celebrating, advocating, and advancing the careers of emerging Black artists in the greater Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area in Minnesota. Prior to joining the staff at True Colors, Jamil served as the Artistic Programming Associate at Park Square Theatre in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Chandra Stephens-Albright is the Managing Director of True Colors Theatre Company, where she co-leads the theatre with Artistic Director Kenny Leon. She brings an incredible depth of collaborative leadership and a successful track record of innovative fund development to her role as financial ambassador for the theatre. She is known for her acumen in defining strategy, executing priorities, converting insights into initiatives, and managing diverse groups of stakeholders.
LaTeshia Ellerson joined Kenny Leon’s True Colors Theatre Company in 2007 as Development Associate and was promoted to Director of Development in 2013. In this position, she develops, oversees and implements the strategic fundraising plan for individual donors, corporations and foundations. LaTeshia was a participant in the 2014-15 SPARK Leadership Program, funded by American Express, The Joyce Foundation and The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and administered by Theatre Communications Group.
Nikki Toombs is a married mother of four, who hails from the “Magic City” of Birmingham, Alabama. She has been acting, or shall we say “entertaining” since the ripe age of eight. From singing “Hawaiian Rainbows” in the school recital to producing her own stage plays such as Lemons, this versatile virtuoso has captivated the hearts of many. Her quick wit, jovial sentiments and stern façade have made her a local favorite both on and off the stage. This 14 year educator has quite a range in her resume of instruction. She has taught her students everything from conjugating verbs to constructing sets. This unrelenting commitment to providing quality instruction warranted her Teacher of the Year honors in both the Gwinnett County (Meadowcreek High School) and Birmingham City School(Speech Arts ) systems.
Shana Bagley is the Marketing Director of True Colors Theatre Company. She is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership with a focus on nonprofit leadership from Mercer University. She found her passion for nonprofit during her time with C5 Georgia, a youth leadership organization whose mission is to inspire high-potential youth from risk-filled environments to pursue personal success and to become role-models for others. While at C5 Georgia, Shana developed and executed a strategic marketing plan, growing their online presence and engaging stakeholders through meaningful communication. Over the course of six years, Shana worked to maximize the impact that C5 Georgia program had on the students as well as to optimize the value C5 Georgia students created in the world.
Lisa L. Watson, an Atlanta native, received her undergraduate degree from Clark Atlanta University and went on to pursue graduate studies at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts in Scenic Design. While in NY she worked with the Negro Ensemble Company, New Federal Theatre, Crossroads Theatre and Diane McIntyre’s Sounds in Motions among others. Returning to Atlanta in 1992 she joined Jomandi Productions as Production Manager, a position she held for 10 years.
Kenny Leon
Founder & Artistic Director
Kenny Leon (Director) is a Tony Award winning Broadway and film director. His Broadway credits include the 2014 revival of A Raisin in the Sun (Tony Award Winner for Best Direction of a Play and Best Revival), The Mountaintop starring Samuel L. Jackson and Angela Bassett, Stick Fly produced by Alicia Keys, August Wilson’s Fences (which garnered ten Tony nominations and won three Tony Awards including Best Revival), the 2004 revival of A Raisin in the Sun with Sean ‘P. Diddy’ Combs, Gem of the Ocean, Radio Golfand the 2014 premiere of Holler If Ya Hear Me, a new musical inspired by the lyrics of Tupac Shakur. Leon’s recent film work includes “In My Dreams” for Hallmark Hall of Fame, “The Watsons go to Birmingham” for Walden Media and Hallmark, and the Sony and Lifetime TV adaptation of “Steel Magnolias”. Leon was awarded the 2010 Julia Hansen Award for Excellence in Directing by the Drama League of New York.
Jane Bishop
Co-Founder
In Loving Memory we will always remember Jane. We are all blessed that she launched True Colors with her longtime friend and colleague, Kenny Leon. Her dream was a theater that looks like the world, and her best and favorite work is making people bigger and things work better. We continue to work to make these dreams come true and make Jane proud.
Jane received an MA in Theatre Education and an MFA in Directing from Illinois State University where she studied in a class of aspiring actors and directors, which included John Malkovitch, Laurie Metcalf, Gary Sinese, and Terry Kinny.
Jamil Jude
Associate Artistic Director
Jamil is a highly accomplished director, producer, playwright and dramaturg focusing on bringing socially relevant art to the community. Jamil is the Co-Founder of The New Griots Festival, which is dedicated to celebrating, advocating, and advancing the careers of emerging Black artists in the greater Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area in Minnesota. Prior to joining the staff at True Colors, Jamil served as the Artistic Programming Associate at Park Square Theatre in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Chandra Stephens Albright
Managing Director
Chandra Stephens-Albright is the Managing Director of True Colors Theatre Company, where she co-leads the theatre with Artistic Director Kenny Leon. She brings an incredible depth of collaborative leadership and a successful track record of innovative fund development to her role as financial ambassador for the theatre. She is known for her acumen in defining strategy, executing priorities, converting insights into initiatives, and managing diverse groups of stakeholders.
LaTeshia Ellerson
Development Director
LaTeshia Ellerson joined Kenny Leon’s True Colors Theatre Company in 2007 as Development Associate and was promoted to Director of Development in 2013. In this position, she develops, oversees and implements the strategic fundraising plan for individual donors, corporations and foundations. LaTeshia was a participant in the 2014-15 SPARK Leadership Program, funded by American Express, The Joyce Foundation and The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and administered by Theatre Communications Group.
Nikki Toombs
Director of Education
Nikki Toombs is a married mother of four, who hails from the “Magic City” of Birmingham, Alabama. She has been acting, or shall we say “entertaining” since the ripe age of eight. From singing “Hawaiian Rainbows” in the school recital to producing her own stage plays such as Lemons, this versatile virtuoso has captivated the hearts of many. Her quick wit, jovial sentiments and stern façade have made her a local favorite both on and off the stage. This 14 year educator has quite a range in her resume of instruction. She has taught her students everything from conjugating verbs to constructing sets. This unrelenting commitment to providing quality instruction warranted her Teacher of the Year honors in both the Gwinnett County (Meadowcreek High School) and Birmingham City School(Speech Arts ) systems.
Shana Bagley
Director of Marketing
Shana Bagley is the Marketing Director of True Colors Theatre Company. She is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership with a focus on nonprofit leadership from Mercer University. She found her passion for nonprofit during her time with C5 Georgia, a youth leadership organization whose mission is to inspire high-potential youth from risk-filled environments to pursue personal success and to become role-models for others. While at C5 Georgia, Shana developed and executed a strategic marketing plan, growing their online presence and engaging stakeholders through meaningful communication. Over the course of six years, Shana worked to maximize the impact that C5 Georgia program had on the students as well as to optimize the value C5 Georgia students created in the world.
Lisa L Watson
Production Manager
Lisa L. Watson an Atlanta native, received her undergraduate degree from Clark Atlanta University and went on to pursue graduate studies at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts in Scenic Design. While in NY she worked with the Negro Ensemble Company, New Federal Theatre, Crossroads Theatre and Diane McIntyre’s Sounds in Motions among others. Returning to Atlanta in 1992 she joined Jomandi Productions as Production Manager, a position she held for 10 years.
Current Interns
Summer 2018
