Bebe Winans
Benjamin, "BeBe" Winans, the six-time Grammy Award winner, is the seventh child and youngest male of the Detroit based first family of gospel music. BeBe is best known as an inspirational, R&B, and popular vocalist, songwriter who along with his musical partner and sister CeCe Winans are the first true Christian crossover artists to hit the mainstream. In 2019, Winans released his first solo album in nearly over 10 years, NEED YOU, which included his hit song “He Promised Me” featuring Tobbi & Tommi and introducing Kiandra. The song reached #1 on the Billboard Gospel airplay charts making it his first solo #1 in his career. Bebe has been developing the critically-acclaimed original musical Born for This for many years and the show is now bound for Broadway. With original music and lyrics by BeBe Winans and a book written by Charles Randolph-Wright, BeBe Winans and Lisa D’Amour, the musical Born For This is a universal story for anyone who has ever yearned for something, for anyone who is looking to find their purpose in life. As a solo artist, BeBe has released eight albums with guest appearances from friends as diverse as Eric Clapton, Stevie Wonder, David Foster and Anita Baker and is known for his jaw dropping performances on some of the most important and star-studded musical specials of the past decades. BeBe Winans has won six Grammy Awards, ten Dove Awards, six Stellar Awards, four NAACP Awards (three with CeCe and one with 3WB with brothers Marvin and Carvin), three Soul Train Music Awards (two of them with sister CeCe), and the NAACP Theatre Award for ‘Best Playwright’ for his musical Born For This.Columbus Short
Columbus Short, a film and television actor, producer and singer/songwriter is best known for his role in ABC’s highest-rated TV drama, Scandal (Kerry Washington, Tony Goldwyn), Stomp the Yard, which was #1 in Box Office two weeks in a row, (Chris Brown, Ne-Yo, Meagan Good), Cadillac Records, nominated and won Best Supporting Actor at NAACP Awards, (Adrien Brody, Jeffrey Wright, Beyonce), Armored (Matt Dillon, Jean Reno, Laurence Fishburne), and The Losers (Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Zoe Saldana, Chris Evans, Idris Elba).
Short choreographed and creative directed Britney Spears’s Onyx Hotel Tour at the age of 20. His acting debut came as a dancer in You Got Served. He then embarked on a career in television, appearing twice in the Disney Channel Original Series, That’s So Raven, as well as ER and Judging Amy.
In 2005, Short founded a film and television production company, Great Picture Show Productions, developed from his passion for writing and producing. The company executive-produced Stomp the Yard 2: Homecoming, Strange Fruit and TVONE Original Movie Mr. Right.
In 2008, Short won Best Ensemble for Cadillac Records at the Black Reel Awards and was nominated for Best Breakthrough Performance. In 2009, he won the Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture for Cadillac Records.
Short starred in and produced the film True To The Game, based on New York Times Best Selling Author Teri Woods’ urban classic novel of the same name. The films is also co-produced by famed Casting Director, Leah Daniels-Butler (FOX’s Empire, Precious, The Paperboy) and will star Vivica Fox, and Nelsan Ellis.
Columbus Short reprised his role as Quadir Richards in the third installment in the True To The Game series, based on the original New York Times bestseller by Teri Woods. True To The Game 3 stars Columbus Short, Vivica A. Fox, Niatia “Lil Mama” Kirkland, Kris Lofton, Jeremy Meeks, Darius McCrary and Starletta DuPois.
Short’s films have a combined box office of over $400M worldwide, with all films seen successful opening weekends theatrically.
Short’s autobiography, “Short Stories” hit stands September 2020.
Short is also gearing up to release his EP coming soon. His newest single “EZ” is out now on all music platforms. He wrote the single and produced “EZ,” along with Patrick “Guitarboy” Hayes and vocal produced by Avehre.
He also wrote the Top 40 single “My Type” for new artist Tylan featuring Soulja Boy.
Most recently, Short played Martin Luther King, Jr., in the film “Remember Me: The Mahalia Jackson Story,” alongside Grammy-Award winner Ledisi who plays Mahalia Jackson. Released in 2022, the film has garnered several keynote awards, and is Global Grind’s top #1 Film on their Fall Films To Watch List.
Short was the special guest Commencement Speaker at the Urban Christian Academy in Savannah, Georgia, where he was honored for his body of work.
Awards and Nominations
Black Reel Awards: 2008, Best Ensemble: Cadillac Records (winner) 2008, Best Breakthrough Performance: Cadillac Records (nominated)
Image Awards: 2009, Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture: Cadillac Records (winner) 2008, Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture: Stomp the Yard (nominated)
MTV Movie Awards: 2007, Breakthrough Performance: Stomp the Yard (nominated) 2007, Best Movie Kiss: Stomp the Yard (nominated)
Teen Choice Awards: 2007, Best Dance: Stomp the Yard (nominated)
Rolonda Watts
For four decades, her name, face, and distinctive voice have been known by audiences everywhere, thanks to her many award-winning works in television, radio, film, theatre, digital media, stand up comedy, motivational speaking and author of DESTINY LINGERS. Rolonda stars in the sitcoms, Mind Your Business, (Bounce) and Partners in Rhyme (ALLBLK). Her dramatic work seen in BULL (CBS), Criminal Minds (CBS). Rolonda made her Off- Broadway debut in “sandblasted” at The Vineyard Theatre in NYC and played nine different roles in The Till Trilogy at the Mosaic Theater in Washington, DC. Rolonda launched her own internationally syndicated talk show (1994-1998), produced by King World Productions and her Watts Works Productions. She returns to daytime TV as the Announcer and Promo Voice for Sherri, recently serving as a comedian judge for Sherri’s Funny Over 50 Comedy Contest.Drew SIdora
Drew Sidora is an actress, producer, entrepreneur, singer, and philanthropist from Chicago, IL best known for her role as Lucy Avila in STEP UP and starring as Tionne Watkins in CRAZYSEXYCOOL: THE TLC STORY. She is also known for portraying a fictionalized version of herself on THE GAME.
Drew produced the film BLESSED AND CURSED and starred alongside Deitrick Haddon and Sheryl Lee Ralph. Sidora guest starred on the hit series GIRLFRIENDS, WITHOUT A TRACE, WHAT I LIKE ABOUT YOU; and feature films: NEVER DIE ALONE and THE PREACHER’S SON.
Drew founded her non-profit organization DREAMAKERS, which offers a creative outlet with performing arts, musical, and mental health workshops; mentoring sessions; and counseling for young girls and women. Sidora’s true passion has always been giving back and supporting our youth through hope, help, and encouragement.