Much Ado About Nothing

Carl Ackers (he/him), II a.k.a Carl Stewart, is an actor/voice actor from New Orleans, LA. Carl received his BFA in 2020 from Howard University and has studied at the British American Drama Academy (BADA) in Oxford University. His latest endeavor after the Covid outbreak was with Imagination Stage and one of their new works, "10 Seconds." He is looking forward to working with the cast and crew of Olney Theatre and is excited to be performing on his first tour.

Donte’ Bynum (he/him), This is Donte’ Bynum’s professional debut with the National Players. He is 22 years old, from Prince George’s County, Maryland. He attended Howard University, pursuing his Bachelors in Fine Arts degree. His previous credits include playing Bosco in Katori Hall’s Children of Killers for the Howard Players in 2020. He wants to thank God for watching over him, and thank his family and friends for helping him find his passion and providing an incredible amount of love and support all the time.

Avery Ford (he/him) is an actor, writer, and stand up comedian from Houston, Texas. He is a recent graduate from Colby College where he earned a BA in acting techniques and B.Ed in education (he also studied acting at Howard University and loved every second of that!). He is immensely grateful for this opportunity! He would like to thank the National Players for giving him his professional stage debut, his Colby and Howard professors who mentored him, his cast mates for being awesome, his family and beautiful girlfriend Lo. Instagram- @Averyford200

Monuaze Mason (he/him), aka “Joshua Christopher” or “JC,” is a San Diego actor that will be touring around with the National Players to perform Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing and August Wilson’s Fences. Monuaze is really excited to educate and perform these plays with National Players Tour 73 and Olney Theatre Center.

Rashaud Matthews (he/him, they) “Positivity will always be GOOD to me." Musical Theatre is what allowed Rashaud to become the man he is today. Not only did it allow him to blossom, but it also released the voice that had been locked away. At Bowie State University he developed a new found love: directing. In fact, Matthews’s recent directorial credit, What to Send Up When it Goes Down, received a host of awards including Special Achievement in Directing and Special Achievement in Virtual Community Engagement and Audience. At Bowie State, he received his Bachelor's Degree in Theater Arts with a concentration in Acting and Directing. Rashaud’s purpose as a Theatre Artist (Performer, Director, and Writer) is to be the voice for the voiceless. He wants to prove that there is light and hope at the end of the tunnel. As his saying goes, before a diamond shines, it starts off a piece of dark coal, but with heat and pressure it shines bright forever. Therefore, he wants to continue to be the bright voice of reason for those to come. So, let us shine and sparkle together! 

Adirah Robinson (she/her), REGIONAL: Howard University: Finding Our Way: ℅ 2022 Acting Showcase, 2020 8x10 Play Festival, Children of Killers. Alliance Theater: A Brief History of Fire, Palefsky Collision Project: From Grover’s Corners to ATL: A Journey of Heart and Mind. | OTHER: Testimonial appearances at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in the exhibition “Make The Good Promises: Reconstruction and Its Legacies.” | PERSONAL: Training: Howard University: BFA in Acting. She is thrilled to be joining the National Players Tour 73 as her first job in the industry as a recent graduate and cannot thank her family and friends enough for their endless support.

Ría Simpkins (she/ella/hers) DC Credits: Synetic Theater, Cinderella, JOY: Maria, The Decameron, Snow Queen; Theater Alliance, Do You Feel Anger; Flying V, Initiative; Convergence Theater, Boiling Point; Discovery Theater, The Great Unknown. Regional Credits; For Colored Girls, In the Blood, Speak UP Speak OUT. Ría was the choreographer and assistant director for Behold, A Negress at Everyman Theatre, co-adpater and director of Cinderella at Synetic Theater, and the lead and subject of JOY: Maria at Synetic Theater. A multi-disciplinary artist, her work centers communal recovery through accountable self healing using movement based theater and poetry. Ría Simpkins attempts to move through the world as a Creatavist, a person who makes space for positive change. She wishes you many moments of deep laughter today.

Ryan Anthony (he/him) is from Lanham, Maryland and graduated from Bowie State University, majoring in Theatre Arts with an Acting and Directing Concentration. Recent performing credits include short films Net Full of Flowers by Nova Cat Film, and Tale of Tarot by 1939 Studios, both of which are streaming on Amazon Prime. Some of his other credits include working with professional theatre companies such as 1st Stage, 4615 Theatre, Convergence Theatre, and Adventure Theatre MTC. He formally served as a member of Bowie State Theatre Student Executive Producers and a resident artist with MMQ Theatre and Events Group inc. Along with associations with Production On Deck and The United States Institute of Technical Theatre, he credits his success to God, his family, his advisors and mentors Elena Velasco, Kathryn Kawecki, Chil Kong, and Tony Sanders for continuing to motivate his passion and work ethic moving in this field.