CAST

Anita Brilliard

Maria Ridley

A Native of Newark, New Jersey, Maria Ridley was a member of the TSU Aristocrat of Bands as an Alto Saxophonist and graduated with her BBA Degree in Accounting. She received her Master of Science from DeVry University Keller Graduate School of Management. Maria also serves on three non-profit organizations as Accountant for Women Who Rock Nashville, Treasurer of Creative Artists of TN and the Nashville Music City Chapter of Gospel Music Workshop of America (GMWA). She enjoys working in TV Production as a Talent Escort for the Stellar Gospel Music Awards and Black Music Honors annual events. “My greatest joy in life is being a mother, leaving a legacy to my children and serving in ministry at Wellspring Worship Center as a tool in God’s hands.”

May Brilliard

Christan Riley

Born and raised in Nashville, TN, this thespian has been a lover of the stage since she was 7 years old. She studied theatre at Nashville School of the Arts, piano at W.O. Smith School of Music, dance at The Nashville School of Ballet, and performed as a FISK Jubilee Singer during her college years. Christan has been a member of Dream 7 Productions since 2003 and currently acts as the managing director of the company. She has written and performed in many plays, but has lately enjoyed co-writing plays and directing the last few productions Dream 7 has produced. She is a proud wife and mother of 4 and aspires to get involved more in television and film productions. "The opportunity to carry on the legacy Dream 7's late founder, Michael L. Walker, created has given me so much purpose in life, and I am forever grateful."

Liz "Kijana" Maeola

Monica Hyde-Collins

This native of Nashville, Tennessee, has acted in many plays like "Romeo and Juliet" directed by Barry Scott and films like "Keyed: A Deadly Game of Sex, Lies and Betrayal," directed by Howard Lee Bell. She has also played major roles in films called "Blemish," The Light,” and "The Lift,” many of which can be viewed on TUBI. Her roles have reached and touched many viewers. She sees herself in the future as a producer, director or writer.

Nicholas "Nick" Johnson

Angelo Tate

This native Nashvillian graduated from Trevecca Nazarene University with a Bachelor of Business Administration with a concentration in Management and a double major in Theatre. Angelo got his start acting in the church around the age of 11 under the guidance of teacher, writer, and director Alvin Moore Jr. Since then he has been in various works such as Creole, The Silent Natural, and Music City Jubilee. He has also won a Best Director award and Best Horror film award in the Crown Point International Film Festival underneath his production company GeloCup Productions alongside producer Antwon Willis and his company King of Empire Productions. Angelo is also happily newly-wed to his beautiful wife Rachel.  When he is not working, Angelo likes to watch movies, hang out with friends, and occasionally play video games. 

Mr. Harley

Aaron Finley

Aaron is on lend from Dream7 Theatre Productions where he is Technical Director, lighting designer,
sound tech and board member. He comes with experience both on the floor and in the booth where he says he “shines”. He credits D7 leadership, both past and present, for his love of theatre and the
journey its taken him on thus far.

Patrick

(June 18th, 23rd, & 30th & July 1st)

Jonathan Allen

Born and raised in Chicago, Jonathan came to Nashville to attend Tennessee State University. While there he played in a student film called, "The Rooster Crows at Midnight." One of his cast mates asked him to be in a 5-minute play for her class. From there he was asked to be in a summer stock play Romeo and Juliet directed by Barry Scott. After his run with TSU summer stock, he joined Dream7 a year or two later. There he became a proud 10-year member of Dream 7, and he returned once again to play in the 20th anniversary of Cultural Millennium last year. Now honored to play in Michael L's final play.

Patrick

(June 16, 17th, 22nd, & 23rd)

Traviz Lee

Traviz is thrilled to be involved in the production of The Last Chance Texaco with Dream 7 Theatre Productions. Previously, he played the roles of Sebastian and Valentine in Inebriated Shakespeare's The Twelfth Night. Traviz pursued his passion for acting by studying at Tennessee State University and the New York Film Academy. In his leisure time, he volunteers as a drama teacher at local community centers and is presently developing his own one-man show.

Lauretta/Mysterious Woman

Vida Finley

She is the Supervising Producer of this production and is affectionately nicknamed “VEE VEE”. She has a multi-faceted professional arts career that spans over years from acting on Broadway in Dark Cowgirls & Prairie Queens with The Carpetbag Theatre, Knoxville, TN in 1997, producing and writing an on-air radio soap, voice over work, singing, film acting, as a Wolf Trap Teaching Artist, directing and now playwrighting. Finley received her Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Communications from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville and was recently highlighted in Nashville Voyager magazine as one of Nashville’s Hidden Gems. She also serves on the Board of Directors for Inebriated Shakespeare Nashville and San Antonio. She is also a proud alumnus of Black Taffeta and Burlap, the first African American Theatre company founded in the Middle Tennessee region led by Stella Reed Patterson and Denise Owens.  VEE has been the fearless leader, Executive Director of Dream 7 Theatre Productions since February of 2020.When VEE VEE isn’t doing theatre she loves reading, going to the movies with her sons and playing with her cat Gizmo.

Ali

Allen Rucker

This actor hails all the way from Greenwood South Carolina, but currently lives in Nashville TN. This is his 4th production with the Dream 7 family, and he has starred in previous plays such as Militancy, Cultural Millennium, Music City Jubilee and now this amazing production, The Last Chance Texaco.