Meet the Panelists for the RENT Pre-Show Panel Discussion | March 4!

 Join us on Saturday, March 4, at 6:00 p.m. in the Howard Drew Theatre. Four panelists will offer their perspectives on RENT as well as share their lived experiences as persons living with HIV.

Meet The Panelists:

Moderator: Tommy Young-Dennis

Tommy Young-Dennis, born in Omaha, Nebraska, is a gay Black man, LGBTQ+ advocate, HIV activist, and educator. After being diagnosed with HIV+ in 2010, Young-Dennis turned his devastation into action. Within three months of his diagnosis, he founded an HIV+ support group for young adults, began volunteering at Nebraska AIDS Project, and dedicated his time to supporting and educating others living with the disease. In 2017, Young-Dennis joined the Nebraska AIDS Project (NAP) full-time as their prevention and outreach specialist. He does onsite testing, Linkage to Care, and focuses on providing resources and education to Black, gay, and same-gender-loving men (BGBM), a population disproportionately affected by HIV. Tommy was promoted to Outreach Coordinator in June 2020 and then to Outreach Manager in 2022. Additionally, Young-Dennis serves as one of the co-chairs of the National LGBT Juvenile Justice HIV sub-group, which focuses on de-criminalizing HIV laws and those who they impact.
In 2018, Tommy was awarded the Young Black Influential Award for his advocacy. In 2021, he also received the Kuwasi Balagoon Award for his work on HIV education and outreach from Black and Pink, the nation’s largest LGBTQIA+ Prison abolitionist organization.

Pastor Darryl Brown Jr.

Pastor Darryl Brown, Jr. is the only openly gay Black founding and senior pastor of Kingdom Builders Christian Center of Omaha, NE (2009), in Nebraska, and the director of reconciliation and restorative practices at Planned Parenthood. Brown has been recognized within his community with awards, including the Omaha Chamber of Commerce’s “Change Maker Award” (2020), Omaha Jaycee’s “Ten Outstanding Young Omahans Award” (2021), YBI’s “Young Black & Influential Award” (2021), and Black & Pink National’s “Kuwasi Balagoon Award” (2021). As a nationally recognized author, sexual health educator, spiritual life coach and teacher, his work intersects spirituality, healing, black advocacy/liberation, and LGBTQ+ identities. Brown’s most recent work, I’m Positive, I Forgive You (How I Forgave the Man That Gave Me HIV), candidly reveals how he navigated his shocking HIV diagnosis and, after four years, decided to forgive. Seeing the total person “living in their abundance” is the desired outcome of Pastor Brown’s work.

Erin Fulton

Erin Fulton has been a financial professional in Omaha, Nebraska, for 15 years. She was diagnosed with HIV in 1994 when she was 17 years old. Fulton attributes her positive health outcomes to adhering to her treatment plan. She has been undetectable for 29 years. She's a wife in a serodiscordant marriage for 13 years. Fulton has two daughters, who are 22 and 12. Fulton's passion is to help others learn about living with HIV.  

TJ King

TJ King is a Nebraska native born and raised in Lincoln and currently lives in Omaha. He was diagnosed with HIV in 1993. King has always been steadfast in community engagement and using his gifts to improve and uplift others. He currently works for the Nebraska AIDS Project as the prevention, testing, and outreach specialist.

The Three 'Raynells' of AUGUST WILSON'S FENCES!

Three youth actors make their OCP debut playing the role of 'Raynell' in August Wilson's Fences. We spoke to youth actors Anavie Lyons, Hope Haddad and Brooklyn Montegut after their Tech Sunday rehearsal about the role and what their theatre experience has been like thus far!

Hi my name is Anavie, and I’m playing Raynell! 
My name’s Hope, and I’m Raynell! 
My name is Brooklyn and I’m playing Raynell!

Interviewer: Hello! Thank you for taking some time to chat with me. Ok, first question: Is this your first show/theater performance?

• Anavie Lyons: This is my first show but, I’ve done other shows at some other places.
  
• Hope Haddad: It is my first show but not my first theatre performance!
  
• Brooklyn Montegut: I've done a show at the Rose Theatre, and I’m still practicing for Frozen Kids at my school. We’re doing the first movie of Frozen. I am the Housekeeper and I’m part of the Snow Chorus, it’s a musical!
• Interviewer: It's a musical! Love that. That's awesome!

·     It’s opening week! You guys will be on stage really soon, are you excited, are you nervous?
How are you feeling?

• Anavie Lyons: I’m, excited and nervous.
• Hope Haddad: I’m excited and nervous, so… excited-nervous!
• Brooklyn Montegut: Kind of a little in the mix, nervous and excited.
  
• Interviewer: Okay! You guys are going to do great, no worries.

·     Ok so you play Raynell… What is she like? …Is she shy, is she bold? Cool? Is she happy and confident, what do you think?

• Anavie Lyons: She’s brave, she kind to everyone, and she asks questions.
  
• Hope Haddad: She’s kind. She definitely wants to help others, and when other people feel sad, she helps them!
  
• Brooklyn Montegut: She’s like confident and bold.
  Interviewer: That's really good: she's confident and she asks questions, that's important.

What is your favorite part about playing Raynell?

• Anavie Lyons: When I hold the phone and I call for her [Rose], and I tell her to come in!
• Hope Haddad: My favorite part is like, when I get to talk on the phone, and then I say my line and I get to hold the phone!
• Brooklyn Montegut: I don’t really have a favorite part; I like the whole thing!

What have you been doing to help yourself remember all your lines & remember where you’re supposed to go?

• Anavie Lyons: I practice at home, and I watch people to do it.
• Hope Haddad: I've been practicing and, I just watch the other people.
• Brooklyn Montegut: I practice a little bit, and I don't really do anything, I just kinda know!
• Interviewer: You just kinda know... you're just that good! That's great!

What has been your favorite part about being in this show so far??

• Anavie Lyons: Rehearsal, going back and forth in the house, (the house on stage,) and putting those microphones on.
• Hope Haddad: My favorite part has been, I have two: being in rehearsal, and going in and out of the house and putting those [mic packs] on!
• Brooklyn Montegut: I really like using props, and I also like just to go to the break room to eat!
• Interviewer: Going in the break room to eat, that's one of my favorite parts too.

Alrighty, if you could be in ANY SHOW you wanted on stage, your DREAM show, what would it be?

• Anavie Lyons: In The Heights!
• Interviewer: In The Heights! That's coming, did you know that? Anavie Lyons: Yea!
• Hope Haddad: Mine would be like someone who stands up for everyone, and even though people are mean to her she still never gives up.
• Brooklyn Montegut: I kind of have four... two connect: one is The Thundermans, the other one is The Little Mermaid, the new one that's coming out! And then there's Henry Danger and the other one that connects to it is The Danger.
• Interviewer: Okay all four of those shows. That'd be awesome, I'd love to see that happen!

Ok last question, guys! Do you think you will audition for more shows in the future?

• Anavie Lyons: Yes! I will!
• Hope Haddad: Um yes! I definitely will.
• Brooklyn Montegut: I already have! 
• Interviewer: You already have! Ok you're ahead of the game, that's great! Well thank you guys so much for speaking with me, and good luck on your performances and your opening night... You will all be amazing.