Divine, Intelligent, VersAtile Artists
The Society for Women in the Arts, Incorporated
6 Women saw there was a need
Founders Row
Collette Taylor
– ANN MARGARET
Collette hails from Clairton, PA (“A small town girl, on a Saturday night”). She received her BFA from Howard in ’83 then began her career as a professional actress. Her career has taken her on regional, national, and international tours over a span of 20 years. She received her Master of Arts Education from Roosevelt University in Chicago. Her life is now dedicated to teaching the passion and craft of the theatre to young people; “and I love it!” A diva forever!!!
Carla Faye Pardo
– DEBBIE ALLEN
Gisele Jackson
– GLADYS KNIGHT
Brooklyn Raised – Baltimore native Gisele Jackson toured as a “Raylette” with legendary musician Ray Charles, shared many a stage with the incomparable Donna Summer and grooved with James Brown, the Godfather of Soul. She has performed in 33+ countries; covering 4 continents: Africa, Asia, Europe and North America. She has performed solo at leading jazz houses in the U.S. and been the opening act for Tito Puente, Bette Midler, The Commodores, the B-52’s and a host of other music giants across a variety of genres. A most memorable performance was at Carnegie Hall with the NY Pops; Marvin Hamlisch, Conductor. Ms. Jackson’s worldwide smash hit “Love Commandments” reached #3 on Billboard’s Dance chart and today is a bona fide “Club Classic”. Other performances include international music festivals, major openings, numerous celebrity weddings, corporate events for Fortune 500 companies, Hollywood premieres, and award ceremonies. She was requested to perform at the Inauguration of U.S. President William H. Clinton, and so she did!
Danette Wills
– NTOZAKE SHANGE
Sunset 8/20/2013
“Danette was an integral part of the Terrie Williams Agency family,” the company said in a statement. “She was intelligent, aggressive and a driving force behind the success of each account she managed which included Ntozake Shange, Academy Award winner Mo’Nique, Michele Norris, Louis Gossett, Jr., The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture and StudentsFirst to name a few.
Prior to joining the TWA, Danette was the Director of Media Relations and Publicity at BET in Washington D.C. for 12 years. There she led publicity for the company’s six subsidiaries that included BET, BETJazz, BET Movies, and BET.com as well as BET’s Walk of Fame for Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston. She also spearheaded BET’s exclusive interviews with O.J. Simpson, Mike Tyson and Oprah Winfrey.
Before to her tenure at BET, she served as Director of Public Relations for the Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts in Vienna, VA.
Danette achieved a B.F.A. from Howard University and an M.A. in Journalism & Public Affairs from American University. She was a huge basketball fan (and also played and coached), but most of all, she enjoyed her family, especially spending time with her grandchildren.
Danette is survived by two daughters , four grandchildren, her twin sister and her mother.
Crystal Jackson
– LUCILLE BALL
Crystal Yvonne Jackson has been a member of Mojo Ensemble, West Coast Ensemble and now Actors Co-op. She earned praise in the following shows The Grapes of Wrath as Ma Joad, To Kill a Mockingbird as Calpurnia and Our Town as the Stage Manager. Crystal took a look g break from the theater business to open a Cafe with business partner Jennifer Ritchkoff called Cafe Muse. Having live performances from open mic night to live jazz kept her in reach of that creative outlet.
Still itching to perform she joined a Sketch Comedy group called Crack’d Nutz performing in the LA area. Crystal also created many of the sketches performed.
Crystal is also a rehearsal actor and has worked on many Award shows such as the Oscar’s, Golden Globes, Emmy’s and the BET Awards to name a few.
Finding her way back has been long but rewarding as she is currently with Actors Co-op she has found another love in Producing and has been able to produce some amazing shows with outstanding reviews. Finding your voice in the World and leaving a mark is what being a Diva is all about. The sisterhood is something she is thankful for every day.
Harriett D. Foy
– Bette Davis
Harriett D. Foy is an award-winning actress who has performed for audiences from Broadway to Dubai. She received an AUDELCO Award for Lead Actress in a Play, as well as Drama League, Outer Critics Circle and Drama Desk nominations for The House That Will Not Stand by Marcus Gardley. Ms. Foy is the Board President of The Lighthouse Opera Company in NY, sits on the Board of Directors for the Al D. Rodriguez Liver Foundation, the Advisory Board for A Mile in My Shoes Inc and is Captain for the ‘Mothership Connexion’ Team on the Broadway Bowling League.
Ms. Foy is a series regular portraying Patrice “Pastor” Woodbine on P-Valley (STARZ) by Katori Hall.
Her Broadway credits include… “Amelie,” “Amazing Grace,” “The American Plan”, “Mamma Mia,” and “Once on This Island.” Harriett is the creator and star of My Soul Looks Back in Wonder, a one-woman play with music based on Slave Narratives. She made her concert debut at Merkin Hall in “The African American Spiritual” produced by B. Arts Presenter and can be heard on the Original Cast Recordings for Amelie, Amazing Grace, Lone Star Love, Reunion, and Inside Out. Her film/television credits include: Collateral Beauty, Winter’s Tale, Orange is the New Black, Rescue Me, Law & Order and she voices the character of Miss Clara on Welcome to the Wayne (Nickelodeon).
Ms. Foy’s MASTERCLASS is entitled “The Versatile Actor”
Harriett is a native of New Bern, NC, by way of Brooklyn, NY and Forestville, Maryland. She is a proud alumna of Howard University (Howard Player) where she received her BFA in acting. “WGATAP!”
Twitter: @divafoyh Instagram: foytata