MAGIC OF MEMPHIS

Lar’Juanette is a singer, dancer, actress, writer, director and arts administrator that is originally from Memphis, TN, and after having spent 25 years working abroad in the arts, she is very pleased to have been handed the baton to administrate one of the oldest and most influential African American Arts organization in the state of TN, the Memphis Black Arts Alliance! Williams is a recipient of the 2014 Georgie Award for Outstanding Performance by an Actress, the 2012 Broadway World’s Best Actress in a Musical, and the 2000 Ostrander Award for Best Actress in a Musical. She was listed as one of the 10 Most Outstanding Young Women In America for her many contributions in the performing arts at the age of 24.

Williams’ film and television credits include SNAPPED, E.R, Chicago Hope, Seinfeld, NYPD Blue, Spy Hard, Ghost of Mississippi, and Night Stand. Her numerous professional stage credits include Ain’t Misbehavin, Hairspray, Hello Dolly, and starring as Effie White in the National Broadway Tour of DREAMGIRLS.

In addition, Williams hold a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications Speech and a Master of Science degree in Sociology. She is a graduate from Stella Adler Academy in Performance Pedagogy and a graduate from Zoe Christian Leadership Institute in Los Angeles, CA in Ministry.

Williams served as a regional talent scout/coach for World Championship of Performing Arts (WCOPA) in Los Angeles, and is the founder of Optasia Productions, creating more than 100 professional theatrical, television, and independent film works including TBN’s “Secrets To Success” as well as Casting Director for PAX Network’s “It’s A Miracle”. This former Executive Director of the Historic Bijou Theatre in Knoxville, TN, brought more than 300,000 patrons to the theater, wrote and developed numerous arts educational training and touring pieces that has reached more than 200,000 students statewide including We Shall Overcome, Mother Goose On The Loose, and No More Drama. Since taking the helm at the Memphis Black Arts Alliance in 2016, Lar’Juanette has developed programming that has trained 10,070 Youth, engaged 62,731 patrons, and employed 1016 Artists of Color with MBAA. She is an active member of Christ Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. Dr. Gina Marcia Stewart.

(Favorite Quote) “If you Decree It, and Believe It, You will See It – Have Faith in God!”

Born in Memphis, Whitney lived in New York for thirteen years where she was the resident tap-coach for the Broadway show Billy Elliot and two of its national tours. The day after graduating from Wagner College in NYC, she started work as the personal/executive assistant to Charles Strouse (composer of Annie, Bye Bye Birdie, and Applause!). Whitney has worked across the country (Bally’s Casino in Las Vegas) and across the ocean (three “Pick of the Fringe” Award-winning trips to the International Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland). Whitney was the world-premiere choreographer of Changing Minds for Theatrical Rights Worldwide in NYC. She choreographed The Irish and How They Got That Way at New York City’s Snug Harbor Theatre and Off-Off Broadway at Queens Theatre in the Park, and directed/choreographed the live concert Steve Kinworthy’s Lovin’ Every Minute, filmed in Branson, MO. A favorite director/choreographer credit is crafting four musical productions aboard the American Queen, the largest luxury paddle boat in the world. She directed/choreographed four music videos for songwriter Amy Barkley. She is the founder/owner of Dramatic Movement (a company that provides dance classes for professional and pre-professional dancers in Memphis) and a faculty member at Rhodes College where she teaches Jazz, Contemporary, Commercial, and Musical Theatre dance.

Whitney has worked extensively with the Texas Shakespeare Festival, choreographing The Tempest, Nell Gwynn, Pride and Prejudice, Comedy of Errors as well as directing/choreographing The Music Man and Something Rotten! (which both broke records for the top-grossing musical in TSF history). Whitney will return to Texas Shakes in 2024 to direct/choreograph Sweeney Todd. In 2022, she was awarded the Otis Smith Legacy Dance Award at the Ostranders and the Mitzi Award for Artistic Excellence at the B.B. Awards. Whitney has received multiple Ostrander, Allie, BroadwayWorld, and NY Innovative Theatre awards and nominations for her work.

Memphis/Mississippi director and/or choreographer credits include:

(Playhouse On the Square): Something Rotten!; The Wizard of Oz; Head Over Heels; The Taming; Madagascar: A Musical Adventure; Junie B Jones: The Musical; Schoolhouse Rock Live!. (Theatre Memphis): Sondheim Tribute Revue, Mamma Mia!; La Cage Aux Folles; Newsies [associate]. (New Moon Theatre): Shockheaded Peter; Evil Dead The Musical. (DeSoto Family Theatre): Camelot; Oklahoma!; Bye Bye Birdie; Junie B Jones Jr: The Musical; Newsies; Beauty and the Beast Jr; Aladdin Jr; The Lion King Jr.

Proud Member of SAG-AFTRA, AEA, and SDC unions. whitneybranan.com insta: whitneyfbranan