About our ESUU Team

 An award-winning actor and stage director, he has garnered praise for his performances as King Richard in Richard III, Prospero in The Tempest, and Romeo and Juliet with Evan Rachel Wood as well as his original direction of A Midsummer Night's Dream. His television credits include Windmills of the Gods, Smokey and the Bandit-The Series, and several guest appearances on Matlock. His film acting credits include Ramblin' Rose, Road to Wellville, Twilight Zone-The Lost Episodes, and Radioland Murders. From the beginning of his career, Tony has consistently been involved as a coach and arts educator, developing and working with programs and workshops throughout the southeast including The Growing Theatre of Georgia, Actor's Training Ground, and Applause! Cary Youth Theatre.  

Chanda Branch’s credits include Smokey Joe's Cafe (Brenda), Chicago (Velma), Hairspray (Lorraine), 9 to 5 (Kathy), Ragtime (Sarah), Zuccotti Park (Kate), Crowns (Velma), Porgy & Bess (Strawberry Woman), Ain't Misbehavin' (Charlaine), Big Fish (The Witch), and Three Little Birds (Montego), Loving (Narrator) A Motown Christmas, and A Soulful Christmas & A Gospel New Year with companies across Florida, Tennessee, and North Carolina. She has performed at the National Black Theatre Festival and the Women's Theatre Festival Fringe where she was recognized for her "Outstanding Performance" in Call & Response (Pearl). She has also designed, directed, choreographed, and produced theatre for schools and youth programs. She has held city, state, and regional titles in beauty pageants and is the nationally reigning Ms. Black USA! Family and friends have cut a path for her on this journey as an Artist, Wife, Mommy, Advocate, Educator and Queen and she is grateful for every opportunity that head led her to this very spot! Follow her on Instagram: @iamrsbranch and @modernblackmommy 

Adrienne is a nationally recognized playwright whose plays have been widely produced throughout the Triangle Area. Her works have also been performed or read at the Wordsmyth Theatre (Houston), The Drama Book Shop (NYC), and The FuturefFest Festival of New Works in Dayton, Ohio.  She received a 2015 Tao House Fellowship from the Eugene O'Neil Foundation.  Most recently, her play  "N" which is the story of Charles Gilpin, the first black actor on Broadway, was adapted for screen as The Black Emperor of Broadway. The film, starring Shaun Parkes and Jon Hensley  is currently available for streaming on Amazon, VDU, and DirectTV. 

Sheldon Mba is a native of Durham, North Carolina, where he received his Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and Dance Performance from North Carolina Central University. Mba received his M.F.A. in Theatre Performance, from the University of Southern Mississippi. Mba favorite roles include; Citizen Barlow in August Wilson's Gem of the Ocean, Guy Jacobs in Pearle Cleage's Blues For An Alabama Sky, Laertes from Hamlet, and Agamemnon from Robert Icke's Oresteia. His choreographic works were featured at The National Black Theatre Festival, American Dance Festival, and KCACTF Region 4. Mba is currently the Director of the Music Theatre program at Friends University. 

Pure Life Theatre Company is a diverse group of artists who exist to serve the community through exceptional theatrical experiences and life-giving performances that explore and nourish truth, hope, redemption and love.  Their current virtual production, "A Soulful Christmas and a Gospel New Year" is available to rent on-demand.   Visit https://www.purelifetheatre.com/ for more info on this and other upcoming arts programs.