The Colored Museum Cast

Bunmi Kusimo-Frazier was born and raised in Charleston, WV. She has been active in the Charleston theater community for many years with roles in for colored girls who have considered suicide / when the rainbow is enuf, A Raisin in the Sun, The Vagina Monologues, and many more. A magna cum laude graduate of Florida A & M University, Bunmi also holds a juris doctor from Washington and Lee University School of Law, in Lexington, Virginia. After law school graduation, Bunmi returned to Charleston to work as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney and as a criminal defense lawyer for a private firm. She now works full time as the Manager of Magistrate Court Services for the West Virginia State Supreme Court. Bunmi is married to Stuart Frazier, and they have one daughter, Naomi. She is a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Alpha Omicron Omega Chapter, and the Charleston-Institute (WV) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated.

Elliot Hicks is a newcomer to the theater stage, his only acting experience consists of arguing cases before juries throughout West Virginia in his role as a lawyer. Elliot practiced as a trial lawyer for 33 years, and currently serves as a mediator, arbitrator and entrepreneur for the past five years. He is a native of Charleston’s West side. When he left large law firm practice to open his own office, he returned to the “convenient” West Side. Elliot attended Washington and Lee University, and graduated from West Virginia University in 1978 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science. He graduated from the West Virginia University College of Law in 1981. He lives in Charleston with his wife, Nancy, and their two daughters, Lauren, a senior at West Virginia University, and Mariel, who is a sophomore at Marshall. Now that Elliot and Nancy are “empty-nesters,” he is excited to take himself out of his comfort zone, and acting in The Colored Museum is his first step.

Toshiba Wilborn was born in Louisville, KY and moved to West Virginia at three years old. Toshiba was active at Bluefield High School as a member of the 4H Club, Homebound, and JROTC. She also lived in Virginia and Michigan through her adult years before settling back in Charleston where she was a health care taker and earned a diploma and certificate in Massage Therapy. Toshiba has worked for the Kanawha County Public Library since 2013.

Jermaine is the second born of two Nigerian immigrants who relocated 35 years ago. He attributes his desire for perfection from his older sister, Alicia and, his attention to detail from his younger sister, Valerie. Jermaine’s most recent role of Dionnysus in the Story of King Midas is an acumen to avocation. He is elated to convolute with the African American community of West Virginia and pleased to put his passion in something other than his studies.

Jayleah Caldwell-Burs hails from Milwaukee, WI. She has been blessed to be married to her husband Keith for 25 wonderful years. They have 2 beautiful children. A son Keith II (KJ) and a daughter also named Jayleah. Speaking at church engagements and the love of the theater has always been her passion. With encouragement from family and friends, this is her second stage play. She played the role of Grandma Anne Walters in “Based on A Woo Story” in 2018. Jayleah looks forward to more opportunities to appear on the Big Stage. She would like to thank everyone for their love & support. Jayleah has a strong faith that “With God all things are possible.”

Michaela Torian is a Senior at West Virginia State University. She is majoring in Criminal Justice and minoring in Psychology. She aspires to be a lawyer one day. She is very involved on her campus. She is the President of Nyansa, Sigma Alpha Lambda, Honors, and NPHC and Vice President of Truth. She is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority,Inc.

From on stage to backstage, this former WVSU student has experience with it all. Christin Wesley has been a part of over 12 shows and active in community theater for the better part of a decade. She has been involved in productions such as, The Hobbit, Annie, Comedy of Error, and Charlotte’s Web. Most known for her work as stage manager, she really does love being on the stage.

Briana is 29 years old, born and raised in Charleston, WV. She graduated from Capital High School in 2008, and obtained an Associates Degree in Legal Assistant in 2010 from WV Junior College, as well as, a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and a minor in Psychology from Marshall University in 2017. She has a 10-year-old daughter named Amirah who is her entire world and a 2-year-old doggy named Izzy. She started acting at the age of 8, when she won a local story telling contest. In high school she was part of the performing arts department all 4 years. She also won Best Overall for the talent section of her 2007 AKA Debutante Cotillion by portraying Janie Starks from Their Eyes Were Watching God. She is currently the Program Director of the Bob Burdette Center, which is a non-profit afterschool program that serves elementary schools on the west side of Charleston, as well as, Stonewall Middle School and Capital High School.

Acting has been Bri’s passion for as long as she can remember. Her first performances were in high school during her years in UPWARD BOUND. The first opportunity she was given to perform as an adult was in 2018 when she portrayed the Princess of Verona in Romeo and Juliet. This will be her second play and she could not be more excited to be part of an all African American cast. She takes every opportunity given to step up and stand out, and if there so happens to be a script involved, EVEN BETTER. She loves the stage and works everyday towards her dream of the stage one day being her home away from home.

Reese West is a freelance illustrator and cartoonist. As someone who enjoys writing characters for stories and tabletop roleplaying, Reese is looking forward to acting for the first time in a production.

Norman Branch is a native of Huntington, WV an alumnus of Marshall University graduated with a Regents B.A. He is founder of Stars R Us Theater Troupe and currently the E.D. of Positive People Association, a community development organization that promotes education and health through arts. Branch has written and produced stage plays, that he has performed in West Virginia, Ohio, Georgia and Kentucky. He has a passion for the theater arts and film. He would like to thank Stuart Frazier for the opportunity to be a part of his production. He is married to Leah Brown-Branch and they have four children together.