More Behind The Scenes

The Creative Team

Production Staff

The Cast of Respect, A Musical Journey of Women

Shonka Dukureh
Shonka W. Dukureh is a graduate of Fisk University, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre. After enrolling in Fisk with the anticipation of becoming an Algebra Teacher, Dukureh found that her vocal talents, coupled with her innate sense of the dramatic, were well-suited to a performing arts career. These talents as an actress and singer were debuted in the 2003 production of Marcus Hummon's American Duet. Shonka was the recipient of one of the 2003 Tennessean Theater Awards for Best Musical Direction or Performance as a Vocalist for her performance in American Duet. Dukureh spent 5 years touring across the country to college campuses and conferences performing with the First Amendment Center's "Freedom Sings" program. "Freedom Sings" is a live music, multi-media presentation featuring American popular songs that have been challenged or supressed because of controversy over their content. Dukureh's other credits include, God's Trombone, Dreamgirls, Smokey Joes Cafe, Ain't Misbehav'n, Sho' 'Nuff Nativity, The Old Settler, A Raisin in the Sun, Once On This Island, and Jar the Floor.

Sarah Madej
Sarah, who recently opened for Tony Bennett in New York, comes directly from the National Tour of Stephen Schwartz's Captain Louie! This Wagner College graduate was last seen performing in The Tempest at The Cherry Lane Theatre with The Republic Theatre Company and Man of La Mancha in Concert with the Staten Island Philharmonic at the St. George Theatre. Last Spring Sarah played Raphael in the original Off-Off Broadway production of Paradise Lost. Regional credits inlcude:Young Sally in Follies (Snug Harbor); Gloria Upson in Mame (Merry-Go-Round Playhouse); Narrator in Joseph..Technicolor Dreamcoat (Foothills Theatre) and Doatsy Mae on the National Tour of Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. This past summer Sarah performed her cabaret All About Bernstein at the Lorenzo's Restaurant and Cabaret. When she isn't on stage, Sarah can be seen singing with the New Jersey based hip-hop band Thing-One. "For what is done or learned by one class of women becomes, by virtue of their common womanhood, the property of all women."

Marlyn Sanchez
Marlyn is delighted to be a part of Respect Detroit! Marlyn, a native Floridan, was recently seen performing in the Florida production of Respect and is very excited to be a part of Respect again. Marlyn has appeared as the leading soprano for The Songs of Broadway Company touring around the nation for the last eight years. Among her dramatic roles with the touring group, were Maria in West Side Story, Sarah Brown in Guys and Dolls, and Liesl in Sound of Music. Her other theater credits include Guinevere in Camelot and Diana Morales in Chorus Line. In addition, her career as a performer has also taken her into print modeling and television commercials for English and Spanish markets. She is currently the spokes model for Dotster.com. Lastly, Marlyn released a Christmas album and is working on recording her own original songs in the future. A very big thank you to the production team of Respect Detroit for believing in me, to my Mom and Dad for there undying encouragement, love, and support, and GOD for his many blessings. For more information, visit www.marlynsanchez.net

Kelly Shook
Kelly Shook, of Hudson, NY, is very happy to be spending her winter in Michigan with Respect. She has spent previous winters playing “Anytime Annie” in Broadway-in-Moscow’s production of 42nd Street, and touring the US as “Kathy Selden” in Singin’ in the Rain. It hasn’t been all snow and cold though, as she spent last year sailing as a principal singer for Oceania Cruises through South America and the Mediterranean. A summa cum laude graduate of Wagner College, on Staten Island, NY, Kelly is thrilled to be working with her friend Sarah in this show. Favorite regional credits include “Adelaide” in Guys and Dolls, “Louise” in Gypsy, and “Rumpleteaser” in Cats at the Mac-Haydn Theatre. “That’s right, Felix, I love cats! And as always, It’s GREAT to be a Shook!”

Jennifer George-Consiglio
(Understudy) Jennifer George-Consiglio first appeared on the Detroit music scene with the national tour of the hit Musical “Beehive” here at The Gem. Prior to moving to Detroit she received her BFA from The Boston Conservatory of Music. She then went on to perform nationally and internationally as a singer, dancer and choreographer. She has enjoyed lead roles in such shows as “Evita”, “Fame”, “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas”, “Nunsense”, “Little shop of Horrors”, “La Cage Aux Folles”, “Celebration”, “The Songs Of Andrew Lloyd Webber”, “Gypsy”, Grease, etc… She has performed at Radio City Music Hall as well as with Taylor Dayne in the revival of “Archy and Mehitibel”. Jennifer also wrote and co-produced her own one-woman show, which she performed throughout New England. As a choreographer, she has had hit shows in Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Florida, Texas, and Mississippi. Jennifer has also worked extensively as a featured vocalist/ dancer in corporate industrials for such clients as, Dupont, Abbott Pharmaceutical, Uniroyal-Goodyear, OPEC, AT&T and Ford Motor Company. While not doing theatre Jennifer is the lead singer in “The Project”, a five-piece band that works extensively in the Metro-Detroit area. Her greatest joy in life comes from her most remarkable achievements… her 3 beautiful children.