Artistic Director’s Note

I cannot tell you how much joy it brings me to share Team M the Musical with you tonight. This musical has been a five‑year journey for me: five years of writing, re‑writing, listening, crying, laughing, doubting, and trusting that this story needed to be told. I have not walked that journey alone. I want to offer deep thanks to Michael Beatty, Shawna Flanigan, Kit Greene, Jonathan Savage, Annie Zigman, Alma Woodmore, and so many others who have poured time, wisdom, prayer, and sheer hard work into bringing this project to the finish line. Their belief in this piece helped me keep going when the road felt long. 

Team M was born in the middle of a moment when the world felt like it was coming apart. During the pandemic, I watched students, friends, colleagues, and family members carry heavy questions about identity, purpose, grief, and survival. Some of those questions had names like anxiety, depression, or trauma. Some of them did not have names at all. I wrote this musical because I wanted to create a space where we could stop pretending we are “fine” and start telling the truth about how we really feel. 

If you see yourself anywhere on this stage tonight, I want you to know that was not an accident. My hope is that this work gives you permission to feel what you feel, an open door to start conversations you have been avoiding, and a new way of thinking about mental health that is rooted in compassion instead of shame. We may not all use the same language, we may not all come from the same background, but we all know what it is to hurt and to hope. This show is an invitation to bring all of that into the room. 

As an artist, I believe in the beauty and the power of art to hold what ordinary words cannot. I believe in the transformative power of music. Many of you know my work from Antigone in Ferguson, where we gathered to process our collective trauma after the murder of Michael Brown. That project taught me that when music, story, and community come together, something shifts. Hearts open. People who would never speak to each other start to listen. Team M is the next step in that same calling. Where Antigone in Ferguson held our grief and anger around racial injustice, Team M turns our attention to the battles we fight inside our own minds and hearts. 

My prayer is that this musical offers another space for healing and connection. I hope it reminds you that you are not the only one wrestling with heavy thoughts in the middle of the night. I hope it nudges you to check in on the strong friend, to ask a better question, and to answer a little more honestly when someone asks, “How are you?” And if you need help, I hope this evening gives you the courage to reach for it. 

Thank you for trusting me with your time and your spirit tonight. Thank you for stepping into this story with us. May what you hear and see in Team M stay with you after the lights come up, and may it move you a little closer to the healing you deserve. 

Dr. Philip A. Woodmore

Artistic Director of Voice

Director’s Note

This piece begins in fracture, but it is not about brokenness—it is about the quiet, difficult work of becoming whole. 

At the center of this musical is a young person navigating a mind that has learned to survive by dividing itself. What we witness is not a spectacle of multiplicity, but a deeply human response to pain: the creation of selves that carry what could not be carried alone. Each voice, each shift; each contradiction is rooted in protection, in endurance, in the instinct to keep going. 

It is built slowly, sometimes awkwardly, often imperfectly. Trust here is not immediate; it is negotiated, tested, and earned in small, fragile moments. Therapy is not portrayed as a place of easy answers, but as a space where honesty can begin to surface, where language is found for what once felt unspeakable, and where connection steady, patient, and real can take root. 

Music allows us to enter the inner landscape with compassion rather than judgment. The different parts of this young person are not presented as enemies to be defeated, but as voices to be heard. They sing because they must. They argue, protect, retreat, and reach out. And over time, through presence and care, they begin to listen to one another. 

This story holds space for the complexity of healing. There is no single moment of transformation, no clean resolution. Instead, redemption is found in the willingness to stay—to remain in the room, in the conversation, in relationship with oneself and with another person. It is found in the courage to be seen, even partially, even uncertainly. 

My goal is not to define or explain, but to witness with empathy and integrity. If this musical offers anything, I hope it is a sense of recognition: that healing is not about erasing what has happened, but about finding connection within it—and discovering that, even in fragmentation, there is a profound and enduring capacity for wholeness. 

Upward and Onward, 

Jacqueline Thompson 

Director of Team M

Musical Numbers

ACT ONE

“Opening Sequence” 

“Indiana” (Ensemble) 

“Safety” (Milo) 

“Market Street” (Michael & Ensemble) 

“Why Me” (Ashley) 

“The Storm” (Rose & Ensemble) 

“Falling Down” (Ensemble) 

INTERMISSION

ACT TWO

“Quiet Strength” 

“Maria” (Maria) 

“My Skin” (Milo) 

“The Storm” Reprise (Maria & Ensemble) 

“We Are” (Linda and Forrest) 

“How Do I” (Bruce) 

“I’m Sorry” (Bruce & Rose) 

“Anxiety” (Sofi) 

“Dear Mom” (Michael) 

“Closing Support” (Ensemble) 

“Final Sequence”  

“Time to Live” (Maria, Milo & Ensemble) 

Bow Music 

Exit Music 

Orchestra

Piano: Larry Pry 

Bass: Brandon Henry 

Guitar: Nathan Reeves 

Reeds: Brandon Thompson 

Drums: Matthew Clark 

Cello: Marie Brown 

Violin: Hollis McCormick 

Viola: Monet Royal 

Cast

Milo: Noah Van Ess 

Maria: Dorrian NeyMour 

Bruce: Duane Foster 

Rose: De-Rance Blaylock 

Linda: Nikki Daluga-Guenther 

Forrest: Langston Casey 

Sofi: Sarah Hopp

Ashley: Nikki Prodes 

Michael: Stephan Griffin 

Production Team

ASM/Backstage: Emma Fletcher

Light Board Operator: Morgan Brennan

Sound Engineer: Justin Foster

Creative Team

Director: Jacqueline Thompson

Music Supervisor/Pit Conductor: Alerica Anderson

Choreographer: Alisa Cooper

Artistic Team

Senior Director of Artistic Strategy & Programs: Shawna Flanigan

Artistic Director of Voice & Director of Camps: Dr. Philip A. Woodmore

Artistic Director of Theatre: Will Bonfiglio

Artistic Director of Dance: Jay Staten

Costume Manager: Cody Floyd

Dance Manager: Kate Bircher

Pre-Professional Division Manager: Rachel Schneider

Production Manager: Carolyn Carter

Creative Team Biographies

Dr. Philip A. Woodmore (Playwright, Composer & Lyricist)

Dr. Philip A. Woodmore is a composer, conductor, director, and arts leader whose work sits at the intersection of music, theater, and social impact. His compositions and productions have been presented nationally and internationally, with a focus on storytelling that fosters community dialogue, healing, and transformation. 

Dr. Woodmore is the composer of the Off-Broadway production Antigone in Ferguson, a nationally recognized work blending classical theater and many music genres, as well as The Drum Major Instinct, which has toured nationally and continues to engage audiences in conversations around justice and leadership. His additional creative works include the children’s musical Growing Pains and the workshop production Frederick Douglass, developed in Staten Island. 

A recognized cultural curator and artistic collaborator, Dr. Woodmore led the St. Louis visit of Little Amal, the internationally celebrated 12-foot puppet symbolizing the global refugee crisis. He also served as composer and artistic director for Requiem of Light, a citywide memorial honoring those lost to COVID-19, bringing together artists and organizations from across the region. 

His international work includes serving as a guest clinician in London with Together Productions and presenting a Black History Month concert in Paris titled Echoes of Resilience, where he led and collaborated with 30 Parisian singers in a powerful program celebrating the Black experience through music. 

In addition to his work as a creator, Dr. Woodmore is a highly sought-after music director, having led numerous productions across the St. Louis region. He currently serves as the Artistic Director of Voice and Camps at COCA and the Worship and Arts Director at New Sunny Mount Missionary Baptist Church, where he continues to shape innovative programming at the intersection of faith and the arts. 

As a performer, Dr. Woodmore appeared as Coalhouse Walker Jr. in COCA’s 10th Anniversary production of Ragtime and is honored to return to the stage this summer as King Triton in COCA’s production of The Little Mermaid. 

Dr. Woodmore holds advanced degrees in music eduction and is committed to mentoring the next generation of artists. He is also the author of a forthcoming second edition of his book, Antigone in Ferguson: The Transformative Power of Music, set to be released this fall. 

Through all of his work, Dr. Woodmore remains dedicated to using music as a tool for connection, storytelling, and transformation, sharing the power of the arts with communities around the world. 

Learn more at www.philipawoodmore.com. 

Noah Van Ess (Orchestrator/Co-Arranger)

Noah Van Ess is a rising senior in the Musical Theatre program at Carnegie Mellon University and an emerging composer, orchestrator, and performer. He is honored to serve as orchestrator and Co-Arranger for Team M the Musical, bringing a collaborative and contemporary musical voice to the project. 

As a performer, Noah’s recent credits include Les Misérables, Evita, Dear Evan Hansen, and Jersey Boys at The Muny, as well as Eurydice, Titanic, and Antigone at Carnegie Mellon University. In addition to his work on stage, Noah is an active creator of new musical works, having composed and developed several original short musicals at Carnegie Mellon, including Dyin’ Slow, There Goes the Bride and Wait Out the War. 

As an orchestrator, Noah has contributed arrangements and orchestrations for multiple compositions with the New Sunny Mount Worship and Arts Department, helping to shape dynamic musical experiences for live performance. 

Noah’s artistic excellence has been recognized through several honors, including Second Place in the Fox Teen Talent Competition for two consecutive years, Second Place in a national competition in New York, and the Helen Wayne Rauh award at Carngie Mellon’s School of Drama. 

He is deeply grateful for the unwavering support of his friends, family, and mentors as he continues to grow as both an artist and storyteller. 

Jacqueline Thompson (Director) 

Jacqueline Thompson is an Actor, Director, and Associate Professor at UMSL in the Communication and Media Studies Department. She currently serves as the Artistic Director of Metro Theater Company, where she champions innovative, inclusive, and youth-centered storytelling. Her work focuses on developing new plays, amplifying diverse perspectives, and creating meaningful theatrical experiences for multigenerational audiences. 

Jacqueline directed the 2019 COCA production of Birmingham 1963: Four Littel Girls. She has also worked as a facilitator for COCAbiz. Some local directing credits include The Brothers Size (Repertory Theatre of St. Louis), Death Of A Salesmen (The Black Rep), District Merchants (New Jewish Theatre), The World Begun (Shakespeare Festival St. Louis) and Last Stop On Market Street (Metro Theater Company).     

In 2018, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch recognized Jacqueline not only as one of St. Louis’ most versatile performers, but also as one of six women shaping the arts and entertainment in St. Louis. She’s received a St. Louis Theater Circle Award for acting and direction as well as a Saint Louis Visionary Award. She’s a proud member of Actors Equity Association and TYA/USA Board Member.   

Alisa Cooper (Choreographer)

Alisa Cooper, a dancer and choreographer from St. Louis, found her passion for dance and choreography while studying at COCA–Center of Creative Arts and earning induction into the National Society for Dance Arts. After high school, she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Dance with a Minor in Health Promotions from Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau. While at SEMO, Alisa choreographed for the main stage production of Mary Poppins and choreographed the second stage production of Urinetown. Also during her time in Cape Girardeau, Alisa was appointed Director of Dance at Heartland Dance where she served for five years. There she honed her skills, teaching young artists and choreographing across many genres. While at Heartland Dance, Alisa earned several choreographic awards, as well as recognition for her work building the program. 

In 2021, Alisa moved back to St. Louis, returning as COCA’s Student Success Coordinator. She now serves as the Program Manager for COCA’s Summer Arts Camps, where she continues to teach, choreograph, and inspire young artists. 

Alerica L. Anderson (Music Supervisor & Pit Conductor)

Alerica L. Anderson (He/Him/His) is an accomplished performing artist who has served as Music Director/Keyboardist/Bassist/Tubist for several touring and local artists as well as regional theatre companies to include: The Tap Dance Kid St. Louis Black Repertory Company (Associate MD/Keyboard 2), Stages St. Louis’ productions of the Pre-Broadway Opening of The Karate Kid, the Musical (Bassist), In The Heights (Associate Music Director/Bassist ), A Chorus Line (Bassist), AIDA (Associate Music Director/Bassist), Newsies (Bassist), Ragtime (Tuba & String Bass), and Beautiful-The Carole King Story (Bassist). His acting credits include Five Guys Named Moe (Big Moe) St. Louis Black Repertory Company. Alerica has performed with artists including: Edwin Hawkins, Walter Hawkins, David Peaston, The Drifters, Melba Moore, Lynn Whitfield, Dr. Bobby Jones, The Ebony Fashion Fair, The Miss Universe Pageant and Celine Dion and The Missouri Symphony (MOSY). Known for his artist development skills, he has worked with hundreds of artists in all genres of music and performing arts and serves as a consultant/advisor for several artist management companies and arts organizations both locally and nationally. As a composer, producer, and arranger, Alerica has created works used on stage and on screen across all genres. Alerica is the founding Artistic Director and Conductor of the newly formed Metropolitan Pops Orchestra based in St. Louis. 

De-Andrea Blaylock-Solar (Mental Health Consultant)

De-Andrea Blaylock-Solar (she/her) is Missouri’s first Black AASECT-Certified Sex Therapist and a supervisor for social workers seeking clinical licensure in the State of Missouri. She has worked in behavioral health for over 20 years. As a graduate of Saint Louis University, she majored in social work and minored in theology before completing a Master of Social Work degree at Washington University in St. Louis. She is currently a student in the Doctor of Social Work Program at the University of Kentucky with a clinical concentration. De-Andrea sees herself as a catalyst for positive change, serving as a collaborator and co-facilitator in healing, and enjoys the journey of working with her clients. As the owner of Sankofa Sex Therapy, LLC, she works with individuals and those in all types of relationships and provides therapy from a Christian perspective when requested. She also conducts workshops about sexuality, intimacy, and sensuality, and is a member of the Leadership Collective of the Women of Color Sexual Health Network (WOCSHN). She currently serves as the Midcontinent Regional Representative to the Nominating Committee of the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists (AASECT) and is a Facilitator with Theater of War Productions, completing two off-Broadway runs of the critically acclaimed Antigone in Ferguson. De-Andrea is also a proud 25-year member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. 

Cast Biographies

Nikki Daluga-Guenther (Linda) 

Nikki Daluga-Guenther is grateful to perform again after a long interlude devoted to graduate school, her career, and parenthood. Nikki’s passion for mental health, shaped by her own personal healing journey as well as her career spanning public health, school counseling, and early childhood mental health, drew her to Team M. She holds a Master of Public Health in Behavioral Sciences and Health Education from Emory University and a Master of Education in School Counseling from Georgia State University. She is also a classically trained singer who grew up studying opera, jazz, and musical theatre. 

Nikki is an Indiana native who spent childhood weekends and summers in a small town that could be Macey’s twin. In adulthood, she served several years as the community’s lone high school counselor. Bringing this show to life has been deeply cathartic for her in making peace with the emotional complexity of growing-up navigating two disparate worlds—rural and semi-urban Midwestern America. 

Heartfelt appreciation to her parents for their unwavering encouragement and to Janet for helping her build a lasting vocal foundation. Deepest love to Zooey for both inspiring her daily and challenging her to take the risk of returning to the stage as well as to Eric for helping her to welcome new possibilities for the future. 

She is humbled to accompany such a lovely and talented group of humans on the journey of bringing this beautiful and important story to life. An enormous thank you to the Team M family for all the ways they have helped her to grow. She hopes that the show will spark more widespread, vulnerable conversations about mental health and what authentic healing journeys really look like. Team M invariably reminds us that we are all, ALWAYS, a work in progress! 

De-Rance Blaylock (Rose) 

A native St. Louisan, De-Rance Blaylock has sung with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra’s IN-UNISON Chorus during its inaugural season and two years following. She returned to the chorus in 2022 and has been featured as a soloist for A Gospel Christmas and Lift Every Voice concerts. She has toured the country, and Greece with the Phil Woodmore Singers as they perform the critically acclaimed projects, Antigone in Ferguson and The Drum Major Instinct. Antigone in Ferguson was featured as an off-Broadway hit in New York. It was featured during five weeks at the Harlem Stage in 2018, and again during ten weeks at the St. Ann and Holy Trinity Church in Brooklyn in 2019. De-Rance played the title role of the musical Caroline, or Change, presented by the Fly North Theatricals Company in July/August 2023, in St. Louis. She was awarded Best Performer in a Musical, Female or Non-Binary Role from the St. Louis Theater Circle in March 2024. She made her Black Rep debut as The Lady in Blues in the Night during the 48th season, and played Mrs. Johnson in the Musical Raisin, debuting the Black Rep’s 49th season. She will play the Killer Queen in New Line Theatre’s production of We Will Rock You in June 2026. 

Sarah Hopp (Sofi) 

Sarah Hopp is a St. Louis–based actor with experience in Off‑Broadway, regional, and community theatre. She most recently appeared in Antigone in Ferguson with Theatre of War Productions, an Off‑Broadway ensemble project directed by Bryan Doerries and music written by Dr. Phil Woodmore. Regionally, Sarah has performed a wide range of roles, including Eponine (Les Misérables), Reno Sweeney (Anything Goes), Cindy Lou (The Marvelous Wonderettes), and multiple featured roles in Godspell, Legally Blonde, and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. After stepping away from the stage for several years to focus on other professional pursuits, Sarah is thrilled (and nervous) to be returning to performance and reconnecting with the collaborative energy of live theatre. Thank you, Phil, for trusting me with such an important piece of work.  

Nikki (Nichole) Prodes (Ashley) 

Nikki Prodes (she/her) is very happy to be back at COCA on the Berges stage as Ashley in Team M. She was first introduced to Team M. three years ago and she couldn’t be happier that she gets to be a part of bringing this show to life in its world premiere! Nikki was a student at COCA in 2021 where she was involved in COCAwrites and Allegro vocal company. During this time she met Dr. Phillip Woodmore and began vocal coaching with him. Nikki recently graduated college in 2025 with her BFA degree in Acting from the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University. Since then, she has been living in Chicago, working as a Montessori preschool teacher and an actor. This past October (2025) she played the role of Cow in Click Clack Boo! At Lifeline Theatre in Chicago. Nikki feels very blessed to be a part of this new musical. She would like to thank Dr. Phil Woodmore for trusting and allowing her to originate this role in his new work. She also thanks the cast and production team, she has had the best time working with and getting to know them. Lastly she thanks her family and friends for their endless love and support! 

Noah Van Ess (Milo) 

Noah Van Ess is a rising senior in the Musical Theatre program at Carnegie Mellon University. His recent credits include Les Misérables, Evita, Dear Evan Hansen, Jersey Boys (The Muny), Eurydice, Titanic, and Antigone (CMU). In addition to performing, Noah is an active composer and orchestrator of new musical works. He is grateful for the unwavering support of his friends and family. #217 

Dorrian Neymour (Maria) 

Dorrian Neymour is a dynamic creative and ministry leader who has spent over 30 years uplifting and guiding young voices. A gifted singer, actress, coach, and culinary professional, she has graced stages through touring productions such as Be Careful What You Pray 4 and Looking for Mr. Do Right written by Lisa Reynolds and produced by Marvelous Entertainment. Her global impact includes serving as a U.S. Embassy ambassador for gospel and blues music and directing gospel choirs in Japan.  Toured Europe with The Golden Gospel Singers. Dorrian has led in multiple ministry roles, including Minister of Music and national praise and worship leader/facilitator for National Convention of Gospel Choirs and Choruses Inc. Above all, she dedicates her journey to her daughter, Emara—her inspiration, joy, and shining star. 

Langston Casey (Forrest) 

Langston Casey is a St. Louis-based actor and vocalist and a senior at Grand Center Arts Academy. Over the past three years, he has distinguished himself as a dynamic young performer, with notable stage credits including Coalhouse Walker Jr. in Ragtime (GCAA), William Barfée in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Fly North Theatricals), and J.D. in Heathers: The Musical (Ignite Theater Company). 

Langston continues to build his artistry through advanced training opportunities, including participation in the Acting the Song Master Class and a selective Young Actors Program in New York City. He is a member of COCA’s Pre-Professional Division Choir, Allegro Senior Company, and has also performed with The Sheldon Choir: All-Stars. 

A recognized emerging talent, Langston was a finalist in the Fox Teen Talent Competition and earned 3rd place in the 2026 Teen Talent Competition. He is an in-demand young vocalist in the St. Louis area, performing regularly at major events and venues. 

Langston studies voice with Dr. Philip A. Woodmore and continues to train in dance. He will attend Carnegie Mellon University in the fall to pursue a BFA in Musical Theater. Known for his humility, focus, and drive, Langston is a rising artist with a bright future ahead. 

Stephan Griffin (Michael) 

Stephan Griffin has been performing and engaging in the arts for over 15 years, with a long-standing connection to COCA throughout that time. He began his journey at COCA as Benny in In the Heights and has since appeared in numerous productions, including Ragtime, Bring It On, and The Color Purple. 

In addition to his work on stage, Stephan has recently expanded his artistic expression through participation in cosplay events across the country, portraying characters from literature, television, and popular media. Professionally, he works as a bartender while continuing to pursue his passion for performance. 

COCA has played a significant role in shaping Stephan’s growth as an artist, encouraging him to step beyond his comfort zone and embrace bold, creative choices. He is honored to be part of the world premiere of Team M the Musical and has deeply valued the opportunity to collaborate with this cast, Dr. Woodmore, Jacqueline, and the entire creative team. Stephan hopes to bring the same level of passion and emotion to the stage that this process has inspired in him. 

Dr. Duane Martin Foster (Bruce) 

Dr. Duane Martin Foster is a St. Louis-based educator, director, and Broadway performer whose career spans decades of work in the arts. A graduate of Morehouse College, he has performed on some of the nation’s most prestigious stages, including Lincoln Center with the New York City Opera.  

On Broadway, Dr. Foster appeared in the Tony Award–winning musical Ragtime. His additional professional credits include national touring, film appearances, and collaborations with many artists across the country.  

In addition to his performance career, Dr. Foster is a highly respected arts educator and leader. He has served as Fine Arts Coordinator and Assistant Principal within the Normandy Schools Collaborative and currently serves as the Principal of Roosevelt High School in St. Louis. His work in education has earned national recognition, including the Yale Distinguished Music Educator Award and Arts Educator of the Year from the Arts and Education Council of St. Louis.  

A longtime contributor to the St. Louis arts community, Dr. Foster has appeared in productions at The Muny and with numerous regional companies and has directed and developed arts programs that continue to impact young artists across the region.  

Dr. Foster is honored to be part of the world premiere of Team M the Musical and is grateful to continue using his artistry and leadership to inspire the next generation.