The McKinney Center and UMOJA Johnson City is excited to host Crowns, a gospel musical, in downtown Jonesborough!
Crowns is the story of a Chicago teenager who sent to live with her grandmother in South Carolina, finds connection among a community of resilient African American women. Weaving together faith, fashion and family, Crowns is an inspirational, joyous musical celebration of love and redemption that will make your spirit sing with the many gospel numbers sung throughout the story.
Performances will be held on August 18-20, and you can buy tickets by going to Jonesborough.com/Tickets or calling the Jonesborough Visitors Center and Emporium at (423) 753-1010!
Learn more about the cast:
Natisha (Tisha) Sanders (Mother Shaw)
Tisha lives in Johnson City. She attends Jubilee World Outreach and is one of the lead worship leaders there. She enjoys singing and spending time with her four adult children and family.
Jasmine Potter (Yolanda)
Jasmine is the mother of four amazingly awesome children, Kaia, Jaelen, Dominic, and Noelle. Professionally, she is a Vendor Relations Manager, which she absolutely loves. In the little spare time she has, she enjoys travelling, listening to music, and hanging out with her friends and family. She is a member of Thankful Baptist Church. She is a Johnson City Native, so is excited and honored about having this opportunity to give back to her community.
Cathy Walker (Wanda)
Cathy is a member of Friendship Baptist Church! She is the Sunday School Superintendent, Mass Choir President, Sunday School Teacher, Gracie Norris Missionary member, amateur photographer for the church Facebook page, member of several Community organizations, retired Speech-Language Pathologist for local schools in the tri-cities area and Bristol VA, as well as Assisted Living facilities in W TN and the local area with 35+ years. Loves God, her family, friends, and flowers!
Stephanie Lattany (Mabel)
Stephanie is a graduate of Science Hill High School. She was a member of the Marching Band playing the French horn and the flute. She attended Walters Sate Community College and East Tennessee State University focusing on Early Childhood Development. She served as an Assistant Teacher at the UETHDA’s Head Start program. Stephanie served as a Records Clerk for the City of Johnson City Police Department. She retired from Good Samaritan Ministries, after serving as Intake Coordinator. Stephanie was recognized by the NAACP as a “Servant to the People of God”. Stephanie serves as the “First Lady” of the Friendship Baptist Church of Johnson City, TN. She is a member of the Mass Choir, The Gracie Norris Missionary Circle, and Director of the Children’s Church Ministry. Stephanie is married to Rev. Lester Lattany and is known to him as “Pretty Girl.”
Taleah D. Rogers, M.Ed. (Jeanette)
Taleah is a Johnson City native & graduate of Science Hill High School Class of 1996. She is a 22 year veteran educator, with a Bachelor’s in Education from Middle Tennessee State University and a Master’s from Trevecca Nazarene University. Ms. Rogers teaches Middle School Digital Media at Indian Trail Middle School (Johnson City Schools) and actively serves in several community organizations such as the Johnson City Progress Together (Pro-To) Club and the Umoja Festival Board. Taleah is a member of Thankful Baptist Church and has one daughter, Carah Taylor.
Christa J. Reid (Velma)
Christa’s traditional Gospel roots stem from Jackson, Mississippi. Her father was a preacher, her mother was a teacher so she believes, “ I was created to praise the Lord.” She grew up and was educated in Chattanooga, TN. While attending ETSU, she fell in love with the mountains and has lived her entire adult life in Johnson City, TN. After a 30 year career as a teacher in the Johnson City School System, she is back at ETSU as a Coordinator of Student Access and Success, helping freshmen students become acclimated to college. She is the proud mother of three wonderful adult children and a grand mother of two WONDERFUL Boys! She says, “It is my honor to be involved in this production of Crowns. We are more than a Cast and Crew —We are family.”
Ralph Martin (Man)
Ralph is a graduate of East Tennessee State University and the Art Institute of Pittsburgh. He lives in Johnson City with his wife, Jeralyn. He is a member of Thankful Baptist Church in Johnson City. In his spare time, Ralph enjoys doing graphic design work.