the daddy issue

The Daddy Issue is a powerful cine-theatre experience from Writer and Executive Producer LarryJean Powell that explores themes of grief, connection, and the complexities of relationships for the queer+ kids in the black family unit. A mourning recording artist meets an older man at a bar, setting off an unexpected night that pushes him to confront pain, pleasure, and the will to live through his daddy issues. This is a live recording of a staged reading in motion—raw, sacred, and cinematic—captured at the legendary CBS Television City Studios. Starring LarryJean Powell, J. August Richards, and Joy DeMichelle, the piece unfolds with stand-up-level comedy, gripping drama, and unflinching honesty. Directed by Devere Rogers, with original score by Mahlick Ceesay and edited by Matt Rasku, it moves like an intimate soul-rock, spoken-word symphony caught on film.

SONNY/Writer/EP
larryjean powell (they) is an infinihyphenate auteur who plays well with others. they’re a writer and actor on the 3x emmy-nominated tv sitcom the ms. pat show. for acting, a two-time ovation award nominee, three-time naacp theatre award nominee, san francisco bay area theatre award nominee, and two-time la drama critics circle award winner. a multiple audelco and audie award nominee and winner, they directed the 2023 audie-winning audio drama pipeline. their series the gaze earned 2021 daytime emmy noms, a webby honor, and a micheaux win. they won again in 2023 for strong friend, let go. debut feature mother’s milk earned siff’s 2021 special jury prize.
DUKE
A graduate of the USC School of Dramatic Arts, J. August Richards first came to prominence as vampire hunter Charles Gunn on Angel, followed by his turn as Mike Peterson/Deathlok on Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.. With over 250 hours of television to his name, he has starred in seven network and cable series, including Council of Dads and, most recently, Vampire Academy. His early film credits include The Temptations and Why Do Fools Fall in Love?. On stage, he has mesmerized audiences in Lobby Hero at The Old Globe and Space at the Mark Taper Forum. A three-time Daytime Emmy nominee for his work as a writer, actor, and director on the acclaimed digital series Giants, Richards continues to build a dynamic, multifaceted career across film, television, and new media.
SIMONE | Intimacy Coordinator
Joy DeMichelle (she/her) actress, intimacy choreographer, teaching artist and director recently closed GREENWOOD 1964 as Fannie Lou Hamer and was mostly recently seen on stage in MACBETH at A Noise Within. She has performed regionally in theaters such as Round House Theatre, South Coast Rep, Mark Taper Forum, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Denver Center, WACO Theatre and Crossroads Theatre (NJ) to name a few. Select television credits include: Grey’s Anatomy, Mike, All American, Snowfall, The L Word: Generation Q, For the People, Outlaw, and American Gun.
As an Intimacy Choreographer, a few recent credits include the critically acclaimed production on Bacon at the Rogue Theatre, Jelly’s Last Jam at Pasadena Playhouse and various productions at USC and Chapman. Television/Film: Wild Rose, Imbalance, Stobe, We’re Not Married. Joy’s intimacy work includes workshops at CBS Studios Pipeline Challenge, Celebration Theatre, USC, Chapman University and CSULB Theatre Departments.
Memberships include: SAG/AFTRA, AEA and National Alliance of Acting Teachers; Joy is a graduate of NCA & T University and holds a MFA from Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers University where she was the recipient of the Bettenbender Award.
To learn more visit www.JoyDeMichelle.com or IG: ActingWithJoy.

Director
Devere Rogers is an actor, playwright, screenwriter, producer, and director. Born and raised in Atlanta, GA and a graduate of NYU Tisch School of the Arts. As a performing theater artist, he has appeared in productions on Broadway, Off-Broadway, and regionally. In TV, he has made appearances on shows like Abbott Elementary, Grey’s Anatomy, Sherman’s Showcase, Crazy Ex- Girlfriend, Will & Grace, to name a few. In Film, he has had starring roles in the My Spy franchise, Honk for Jesus, Tankhouse, and many more. As a director, he has directed shows in the Hollywood Fringe festival, co-directed The Latrell Show at IAMA Theater company, and numerous readings and workshops.
Composer/Sound Designer
Malick Ceesay is a musician, playwright, and sound designer with intention on multidimensional storytelling for the stage. As a sound designer, his most notable work is FAIRVIEW with UCLA TFT and We The People with WACO Theatre Company. Malick’s composition, design, and mixing credits include Snow in Atlantis, Def Poetics, Still Harvey Still, Antigone, Tell Me I’m Gorgeous at the End of the World, and FAIRVIEW. As a playwright, his most recent work SUPERAMERICA was workshopped and produced in UCLA TFT’s New Play Festival. Malick is currently a part of IAMA Theatre's Emerging Playwrights Lab for the 2024-25 season. His other plays include Dynamite, Waiting in Vain, The Jazz Equation, and Sacrosanct. His play BLOODSOIL, circa 87 was a semi-finalist for the Eugene O’Neill playwright conference 2022. He was also a finalist for National Black Theatre's "I AM SOUL” playwright residency in 2024. Nationally, Malick has worked with theaters and other institutions such as Ambiance Theatre Company, AMDA College of Performing Arts, Capri Theater, Full Circle Theatre, The Playwrights’ Center, Red Eye Theater, and REDCAT. Malick holds an MFA in Playwriting from UCLA and a BA in Theater from Augsburg University.
Producer
Angelica Robinson is an Emmy®-nominated, award-winning producer and multidisciplinary artist. An active member of the Producers Guild of America and the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, Robinson brings over 20 years of experience to the entertainment industry, with a background rooted in major studios and production companies such as NBCUniversal, Chernin Entertainment, ITV Studios, and Sony Pictures Entertainment. Founder of Tell Me A Story Productions, Robinson leads the development and production of global premium content across film, television, and digital platforms. During the pandemic, the company produced a full slate of digital content including the award-winning live talk show and IGTV series The #SAVAGE Chat Series (created by The Blairisms); the multi-media feature film Mother’s Milk; and the 100% virtually produced series The Gaze, a 2x Daytime Emmy® nominee and Webby Award honoree, created by visionary artist Larryjean Powell. In collaboration with 1025 Productions, Robinson produced the feature film A Rose In Concrete, currently streaming on Tubi, Apple TV, and Prime Video. Additional credits include serving as Line Producer for Handmade Puppet Dreams by Heather Henson, facilitating the production, final delivery, and distribution of independent film projects in partnership with The Jim Henson Company.
Since 2020, Robinson has collaborated with T&T Public Relations and Brentan Media to develop strategic commercial campaign narratives and creative initiatives aimed at audience engagement, while overseeing full-scale production management for broadcast and digital media projects on behalf of various California state agencies.