Advertise on podcast: No Dream Deferred NOLA Presents: Writer's Lounge

A rare talent who grabs you by the heart and says “Recognize” – Poet, author, performer, songwriter, community “Artivist,” voice over artist, speaker and emcee, Bettina “Poet Gold” Wilkerson is pushing the boundaries of poetry and the spoken word. Living with a chronic illness since childhood, Poet Gold, or as she is affectionately known as, “Gold”, brings a soul-searching insight about the human existence, love, dreams, challenges, and triumph.

Toroes D Thomas Jr. is a filmmaker, he uses his life experiences as inspiration for new stories. Toroes received his B.S. in Screenwriting and Animation from Morgan State University, In 2017, Thomas experienced the sudden loss of his father. Using his father’s passing as inspiration, he directed and co-wrote “The Beach”, a short film about an unforgettable experience. “The Beach” won Best Short Film at the 2019 Denton Black film festival and second place at 2019 made in Baltimore short film festival. Today Toroes is a fellow in the Saul Zaentz innovation grant fund and is gearing up to produce his first feature film “Senior."

Brittany N. Williams is an actress, writer, and nerd of many fandoms who calls the pop culture site Black Nerd Problems her Rebel home base. She holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from Howard University (HU, You Know) and an MA in Classical Acting from the Royal Central School of Speech & Drama (Carrie Fisher’s alma mater for 18 months). Brittany has performed across three continents—including a year spent as a principal vocalist at Hong Kong Disneyland—and her writing has also been featured on Tor.com and in The Indypendent. She’s currently working on her first novel, That Self-Same Metal, a YA historical fantasy set in William Shakespeare’s London.

Ava Turner, a successful adult romance novelist whose personal life is in shambles and her new Therapist Dr. Myles have a meeting of minds following a melee that lands her on a 72 hour psych hold.

Jalea Jackson is an Atlanta-based Editor, Producer, and Director who aims to create films that spark conversation. Through her work, Jalea intentionally focuses on telling stories centered on highlighting the culture and authenticity of marginalized communities and the human condition, all while reclaiming the narrative of stories that are often misconstrued or untold.

Brian Egland is an Artist originally from Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, now residing in New Orleans, Louisiana. He is a Fall 2009 BFA graduate and recipient of Outstanding Graduate of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s Performing Arts Department. Brian is an Actor, Playwright, Photographer, Director, Singer, and Educator among other things. As a playwright and creator his works have streamed on Broadway On Demand, garnered him honors of excellence from the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival Region VI, has been Official Selections of the Atlanta Black Theatre Festival, the D.C. Black Theatre Festival, micro development with The National Black Theatre as part of their I Am Soul Playwright’s Residency Program, placement in Southern Rep Theatre’s 4D program, residency with SIPP Culture’s Rural Performance/Production Lab, and over sixty three thousand views across YouTube and IGTV with Workdays with Nijay, a web series he serves as co-writer on.

A coming of age story written by Brian Egland and starring Javian Harrel, Brookes Washington & Micheal Forest. Directed by Chivas Micheal.

RED is a monologue written by Writer’s Lounge host, Ann McQueen. We find Toni, a thirty-something black woman, at the door to the apartment of her connect, Red, in search of a brief escape from the challenges of white supremacy culture at her workplace.

Lydia Y. Nichols is a writer and arts worker native to New Orleans. Her work explores the lived experience, ancestral memory, and historical imagery of race and their impacts on our bio-social ecology.

Pamela Davis-Noland is a writer, playwright, director, producer AND special guest on this episode of No Dream Deferred Presents: Writer’s Lounge!

Love’s Letter is our BIPOC Mental Health Awareness Month special episode and was written by Pamela Davis-Noland, directed by Lauren E. Turner, and features Idella Johnson as Ruth, and Rhonda Dents as Caroline, with sound design and original music by Asher Griffith. This show is produced by Ann McQueen and Asher Griffith with production assistance from Ilyanette Bernabel.

Sabby is a story about family. Written by Jessica Lozano. Directed by Lauren E. Turner, and featuring Ilyanette Burnabel as Olaria, Denise Frazier as Norma and Philip Yiannopoulos as Enrique, with sound design and original music byAsher Griffith. This show is produced by Ann McQueen and Asher Griffith.