A sassy seasonal celebration! Back by popular demand! The DPT Holiday Cabaret is a bold new Detroit holiday tradition packed with world-class vocalists, heartfelt laughter, and a whole lot of sass. So get holly, get jolly, and get tickets! DPT’s Holiday Cabaret is the not-to-be-missed celebration of the season.
DPT’s Holiday Cabaret
DPT’s Holiday Cabaret is the not-to-be-missed celebration of the season.
A sassy seasonal celebration! Back by popular demand! The DPT Holiday Cabaret is a bold new Detroit holiday tradition packed with world-class vocalists, heartfelt laughter, and a whole lot of sass. So get holly, get jolly, and get tickets!
Meet The Cast
X. Alexander Durden
Preformer
X. ALEXANDER DURDEN (Performer) is an actor, writer, and Classical vocalist, originally from San Diego, CA. After much anticipation, he is humbled to be making his Detroit Public Theatre debut in the 2025 DPT Holiday Cabaret. Select credits include fragile (‘huddle’, Carnegie Hall), Fat Richard (Meadowlark, post-production), Johnny (Frankie & Johnny Build a Prison, Planet Ant), Max (The Play That Goes Wrong, Tipping Point Theatre), & various premiere productions with Detroit Opera including BLISS, Twilight: Gods, & La Boheme (Detroit/Charleston, SC). X. Alexander has received performance training from Morehouse College (BA), Boston Conservatory (MM), Wayne State University (MFA) & University of Oxford/British American Drama Academy (Cert., Acting). He is a Dramatist Guild Playwriting Grant Winner, Black Broadway Men Playwriting Initiative Finalist, and Gordon Nelson Vocal Scholar for the Detroit Concert Choir. ‘The stage is your canvas, paint it with passion and conviction’. DAL3. www.XAlexanderDurden.com
Lulu Fall
Preformer
LULU FALL (Performer) is a singer, award-winning songwriter, Broadway actor and visual artist from Washington, DC. Theatrical highlights: Hair (first National tour, Broadway); Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812 (Broadway, off-Broadway); Skittles: The Musical (one-night event, Broadway); Hadestown
(off-Broadway); Wild Goose Dreams (off-Broadway); Hastings Street (Detroit Music Hall); Passing Strange (Detroit Public Theatre). TV credits: Random Acts of Flyness (HBO); The Last O.G. (TBS); The 71st Tony Awards (ensemble performance for Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812). Lulu was a finalist in the 4th annual Sarah Vaughan International Vocal Jazz Competition. Album releases: It’s Official in 2009; Heal: Part 1, in 2015; The Unpaved Road, in 2017; Between Two Worlds, in 2019 under Ropeadope Records; Transform, in 2022. Songwriting Competition highlights: Mid-Atlantic Song Competition (MASC); Great American Song Contest; International Songwriting Competition (ISC). In 2021, Lulu launched her visual art Etsy shop, LuluFallAbstracts. www.lulufall.com
ERIC GUTMAN
Performer
ERIC GUTMAN (Co-Creator, Music Director, Performer) is thrilled to return to DPT in Here There Are Blueberries and in the DPT Holiday Cabaret (third year as performer, music director, and vocal arranger). He is grateful to DPT’s artistic staff and proud to call DPT his “home” theatre since its inception. More: ericgutman.com | IG: @theguter.
Bryana Hall
Preformer
BRYANA HALL (Performer) is a Detroit-based musical theatre actor, choreographer, and director, who received her training from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (Go Blue!). Her two favorite things on the planet are singing and Christmas, so she’s right at home for her third year in DPT’s Holiday Cabaret. Favorite regional credits include Spring Awakening (Ilse), Godspell (In A Pool!) (Day by Day), The Magnificent Seven (Dominique Dawes), Brigadoon(Jean MacLaren), Ragtime(Sarah), Little Shop of Horrors(Chiffon), Agnes of God(Agnes), Anything Goes(Reno standby), The Drowsy Chaperone (Trix the Aviatrix), Once on this Island (Mama Euralie), the world premiere of Hastings Street (Naomi), and The Obsidian Theatre Festival.
Meet The Creative Team
Courtney Burkett
Director
Courtney is a member of the artistic leadership team at Detroit Public Theatre, where she regularly directs productions. In her role as Producing Artistic Director, she oversees production and marketing. Prior to co-founding DPT, Courtney was the Director of Theatre Programs with Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit, directing the internationally-acclaimed Mosaic Acting Company. Courtney was a founding Artistic Partner with Breathe Art Theatre Project and also served as Managing Director of the CRLT Players at the University of Michigan, and as Business Manager for the University of Detroit Mercy Theatre Company. Courtney is a fourth generation native Detroiter. She holds a BFA from Webster Conservatory of Theatre Arts in St. Louis, and and MFA from Wayne State University’s Hilberry Theatre program.
ERIC GUTMAN
Music Director and Vocal Arrangements
ERIC GUTMAN (Co-Creator, Music Director, Performer) is thrilled to return to DPT in Here There Are Blueberries and in the DPT Holiday Cabaret (third year as performer, music director, and vocal arranger). He is grateful to DPT’s artistic staff and proud to call DPT his “home” theatre since its inception. More: ericgutman.com | IG: @theguter.
Betty-Alexandria Pride
Accompanist
BETTY-ALEXANDRIA PRIDE (Accompanist) Musician Betty-Alexandria Pride is the pianist/vocalist for up and coming group Eminent Vibrations. She plays several instruments, teaches, and accompanies. After learning music theory from her late father Elder Larry J. Pride, she began classical lessons at Marygrove College. Betty then went on to attend performing arts schools in Detroit, MI. She began honing in her talents to become a well rounded musician, serving as a musician for her church since the age of 7. The culmination of experiences, humility and discipline led to Pride’s acceptance into Claflin University with a Music degree. From 2012-2016, she began her matriculation. Over the years, she has won various awards and shared the stage with many of the greats. Such awards include the 1st place prize in the NAACP ACT-SO competition nationally for Music Composition (2011). Currently, Pride can be found at Baker’s Keyboard Lounge performing with the band Eminent Vibrations. Earning certification in music education, Betty-Alexandria aims to spread her gift and love for music with others.
Angie Ayriss
Production Stage Manager
Angeline has recently made her way back to the great city of Detroit after graduating with an MFA in Stage Management at Wayne State University in 2004. She is thrilled to be joining DPT’s eleventh season as Resident Stage Manager. Angeline has had the privilege of working across the country with The Midnight Circus, Circus Smirkus, and The Oregon Shakespeare Festival. She is so grateful for the support and love of her mom, partner and two amazing kiddos!
Badriyyah F. Wazeerud-Din
Assistant Stage Manager
(she/her) Badriyyah is delighted to be part of the Detroit Public Theatre family. She was the PSM (Clyde’s), RSM (DPT’s Holiday Cabaret 2024) and an ASM (Detroit ’67 On Tour 2023-2025, Passing Strange, DPT’s Holiday Cabaret 2023 & 2025, Eight Nights, Blues for an Alabama Sky, Fat Ham, Soft Target) at DPT, stage manager/production assistant for the African World Festival, and a stage manager for the Obsidian Theatre Festival. Badriyyah is a captivating singer-songwriter/recording/voiceover artist who enjoys telling stories through music. Family and friends bring her the greatest blessings and joy. IG: @badriyyahthesinger
Pegi Marshall
Scenic and Props Designer
Scenographer, Detroit Native, Cass Tech Graduate and advocate for sustainable theatre practices. Pegi’s diverse portfolio encompasses theatre, performance installations, and parades. She has showcased her work across the globe, including New Zealand, Serbia, Prague, and various locations in the U.S. She holds an MFA in Scenic Design from University of Maryland College Park and is a proud member of USA829, United Scenic Artists Union. Previously, Pegi taught and inspired students at Baltimore School for the Arts, Morgan State University, Wayne State University, University of North Carolina, and California Polytechnic State University. Now, Pegi is mother of twins and a Licensed Massage Therapist. She is thrilled her children witness her journey – creating art for the stage and using her hands for both creative and healing endeavors.
Neil Koivu
Lighting Designer
Neil Koivu, Lighting Designer, is an Andes Award winning for Little Shop of Horrors at Meadow Brook Theatre, and a Wilde Award nominee for Eric Gutman’s From Broadway to Obscurity at Detroit Public Theatre. Highlights include lighting for Ben Vereen, Thornetta Davis, Chita Rivera, Patti LuPone, Charles Strouse, and Bebe Neuwirth. Credits include American Hero at Detroit Public Theatre, A Christmas Carol, The 39 Steps, and A Comedy of Tenors at Tipping Point Theatre; Vanities the Musical, A Little More Alive, A Closer Walk With Patsy Cline, Native Gardens, Angel Next Door and Blues in the Night at Meadow Brook Theatre; Ain’t Misbehavin’, Casa Valentina, and Diary of Anne Frank at Jewish Ensemble Theatre; and Fiddler on the Roof, Pippin, Anything Goes, and Guys and Dolls for Nicely Theatre Group. Upcoming show is Come From Away at Meadow Brook Theatre. www.neilkoivulighting.com
Julie Bonema
Costume Designer
Lumumba Reynolds
Audio Designer
Lumumba Leon Reynolds II was educated in Detroit Public Schools. During the summers of his youth, he studied stagecraft and public speaking under renowned entertainer, Motown artist Kim Weston’s Festival For The Performing Arts. In his teens, Lumumba was a DJ for house parties, cabarets and various hall parties including the Boblo Boat. After graduating from Cooley High School, Lumumba went on to earn a degree from Specs Howard School of Broadcast Arts. Lumumba has a passion for sound design, has been a practitioner since the 80’s, teaches sound design and engineering at Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit, and is honored to contribute to the storytelling excellence that is always on display at Detroit Public Theatre.
Carollette Phillips
Choreographer
Carollette is a choreographer, actress, writer, director and proud Detroit native. She has a BA in Mass Communications from Miami University and MFA from Wayne State University, including studies abroad at the Moscow Art Theatre School in Russia. Outside of working as an actress on stage and screen, Carollette loves creating choreography. Her dance works have been presented at venues large and small including Joe’s Pub at The Public Theatre (New York, NY), The Signature Theatre (Arlington, VA), The MUNY (St. Louis, MO), The Wharton Center of Michigan State University and here at the Detroit Public Theatre. As the resident choreographer of Mosaic Youth Theatre and Artistic Director of the LSODance Company, Carollette has staged works for musicals, commercial and concert dance. She is certified in the Cecchetti Ballet Method, and member of Dance Masters of America and the International Association of Blacks in Dance.
IG @iamCarollette
