Vondell Richmond
Soon to release Sophisticated Romance his feature film debut as actor/writer, Vondell
knows that racial boundaries are no respecter of talent. Vondell recently toured the
nation in the play Cover Girls by Bishop T.D. Jakes where he originated the role of
Shadrach Brewster. Prior to that was a stop at the John F. Kennedy Center, in The Color
Of Justice, a Theatreworks/USA children’s production about Thurgood Marshall and
Brown vs. The Board of Education. He earned his MFA in acting from Mason Gross
School of the Arts, at Rutgers University. As an actor, he has appeared in over 35
productions to include (Oberon) in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, (Clay) in Black, (Doc)
in Blues for an Alabama Sky, (Harold) in Orphans, and (Det. Cole) in Stop Kiss.
He has also appeared on Broadway and in productions of My Life (Crossroads Theater),
7-11 (Guthrie Theater), David Richmond, Crack Cream and Brown Sugar, Zooman,
Purlie, A Raisin In the Sun, Boy X Man, Born Yesterday, Our Town, Good Person of
Setzchwan, Blues for Mr. Charlie, and Little Shop of Horrors. He’s also acted in several
short films, which include his own Variety Show. To learn more about his feature film
debut as actor/writer logon at (www.azuspeak.net).
Vondell received a National Best Performance honor at the ACTF/KC (American
College Theatre Festival/Kennedy Center) for his portrayal of Watusi in Crack, Cream
and Brown Sugar, a role he originated while attending North Carolina A & T State
University, where he graduated (Magna Cum Laude) with his BFA in Acting/Directing.
As a writer in addition to adapting Sophisticated Romance for the screen, he has written
the one-act plays Mother of Mine, and Take Me Back, a play whose theme celebrated 40
years of desegregation at the University of Florida. Currently in development are his
one-man show Me Against the World and the screenplays Fall N’2 Tha Flow, Black
Girl Lost, and Actions Speak Louder.
As director, he’s directed the one-act plays Whatever Gets You Through, and Take Me
Back. As teaching artist he developed a six-week playwriting curriculum for high school
students attending the summer Upward Bound Programs at The Ohio-State and Rutgers
Universities. He’s also taught improvisational acting and movement classes with
Rutgers’ Young Actor Workshop, and alongside former founding artistic director of
Crossroads Theater, Mr. Ricardo Khan, as part of The New Brunswick Drama Club, an
after school arts program for teens in New Brunswick, NJ.
Not only is Richmond a versatile talent, he’s also listed in Who’s Who Among American
Colleges and University students and received the 1996 Merit Undergraduate Student of
the Year Award. As a member of Alpha Psi Omega National Dramatic Organization,
and Golden Key National Honor Society, he realizes the importance of training and a
quality education. “I simply give honor and credit to God the Father for His many gifts,
all the various opportunities and for the wonderful relationships He’s provided along
the way.”
Vondell currently works as a teaching artist in residence at the McCarter Theater in
Princeton and lives in New Brunswick, NJ where he is a faithful member of Abundant Life Family Worship Church (www.alfwc.org) under the leadership of Bishop George
and Lady Mary Searight. When not acting or teaching he loves to write/direct and lead
workshops with the VISION DRAMA Ministry. While at Abundant, Vondell has
appeared in The Prayer Dancer, The Blood and HE IS RISEN the annual Easter piece
about the Passion of the Christ. He is also the CEO and founder of Open Mind
Productions a theatrical and film production company whose mission is to: Provide
life-changing information through education, entertainment, and personal
encouragement.
Soon to release Sophisticated Romance his feature film debut as actor/writer, Vondell
knows that racial boundaries are no respecter of talent. Vondell recently toured the
nation in the play Cover Girls by Bishop T.D. Jakes where he originated the role of
Shadrach Brewster. Prior to that was a stop at the John F. Kennedy Center, in The Color
Of Justice, a Theatreworks/USA children’s production about Thurgood Marshall and
Brown vs. The Board of Education. He earned his MFA in acting from Mason Gross
School of the Arts, at Rutgers University. As an actor, he has appeared in over 35
productions to include (Oberon) in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, (Clay) in Black, (Doc)
in Blues for an Alabama Sky, (Harold) in Orphans, and (Det. Cole) in Stop Kiss.
He has also appeared on Broadway and in productions of My Life (Crossroads Theater),
7-11 (Guthrie Theater), David Richmond, Crack Cream and Brown Sugar, Zooman,
Purlie, A Raisin In the Sun, Boy X Man, Born Yesterday, Our Town, Good Person of
Setzchwan, Blues for Mr. Charlie, and Little Shop of Horrors. He’s also acted in several
short films, which include his own Variety Show. To learn more about his feature film
debut as actor/writer logon at (www.azuspeak.net).
Vondell received a National Best Performance honor at the ACTF/KC (American
College Theatre Festival/Kennedy Center) for his portrayal of Watusi in Crack, Cream
and Brown Sugar, a role he originated while attending North Carolina A & T State
University, where he graduated (Magna Cum Laude) with his BFA in Acting/Directing.
As a writer in addition to adapting Sophisticated Romance for the screen, he has written
the one-act plays Mother of Mine, and Take Me Back, a play whose theme celebrated 40
years of desegregation at the University of Florida. Currently in development are his
one-man show Me Against the World and the screenplays Fall N’2 Tha Flow, Black
Girl Lost, and Actions Speak Louder.
As director, he’s directed the one-act plays Whatever Gets You Through, and Take Me
Back. As teaching artist he developed a six-week playwriting curriculum for high school
students attending the summer Upward Bound Programs at The Ohio-State and Rutgers
Universities. He’s also taught improvisational acting and movement classes with
Rutgers’ Young Actor Workshop, and alongside former founding artistic director of
Crossroads Theater, Mr. Ricardo Khan, as part of The New Brunswick Drama Club, an
after school arts program for teens in New Brunswick, NJ.
Not only is Richmond a versatile talent, he’s also listed in Who’s Who Among American
Colleges and University students and received the 1996 Merit Undergraduate Student of
the Year Award. As a member of Alpha Psi Omega National Dramatic Organization,
and Golden Key National Honor Society, he realizes the importance of training and a
quality education. “I simply give honor and credit to God the Father for His many gifts,
all the various opportunities and for the wonderful relationships He’s provided along
the way.”
Vondell currently works as a teaching artist in residence at the McCarter Theater in
Princeton and lives in New Brunswick, NJ where he is a faithful member of Abundant Life Family Worship Church (www.alfwc.org) under the leadership of Bishop George
and Lady Mary Searight. When not acting or teaching he loves to write/direct and lead
workshops with the VISION DRAMA Ministry. While at Abundant, Vondell has
appeared in The Prayer Dancer, The Blood and HE IS RISEN the annual Easter piece
about the Passion of the Christ. He is also the CEO and founder of Open Mind
Productions a theatrical and film production company whose mission is to: Provide
life-changing information through education, entertainment, and personal
encouragement.
