Photo Flash: World Premiere of DIALOGUES ON GRACE Currently at 14 Pews Through 11/26

DIALOGUES ON GRACE is a celebration of grace and its many complexities. Based on over 50 interviews conducted by Cressandra Thibodeaux, including her own personal story of grace, which she interwove into this diverse tapestry, creating a 75-minute play with 4 actors acting out 18 roles. DIALOGUES ON GRACE seeks to celebrate our similarities, while recognizing and accepting our differences. Like most documentary theater, DIALOGUES ON GRACE is attempting to bridge art and politics while being a catalyst for social change.

PLAYWRIGHT/CAST MEMBER - CRESSANDRA THIBODEAUX is the Executive Director of 14 Pews, which she founded in 2010. She received her MFA from Columbia University's Film Department. Since graduating she has directed several short films, documentaries, commercials, written 14 screenplays, developed a show for Comedy Central, won several screenwriting awards, received a MacDowell Colony Fellowship and Rockefeller grant. While in NYC she studied improv under Amy Poehler and in Los Angeles helped out at the HBO Comedy Workspace and studied improv at both The Groundlings and Upright Citizens Brigade focusing on developing skits. Most recently, Thibodeaux was accepted and studied at Tectonic Theater Project, America's leading documentary theater, famous for creating the Laramie Project and I Am My Own Wife. It was at Tectonic Theater Project that she started the preliminary work for her documentary play, DIALOGUES ON GRACE.

DIRECTOR - LEIGHZA F. WALKER is a performance artist, actor, director, storyteller, set designer, producer, and award winning playwright who studied with Edward Albee. Her play FISHING (which she directed) won the Broadway World Editor's Choice Award for Best New Play in 2013. Walker recently directed GAMBRELS OF THE SKY by Elizabeth Keel for The Landing Theater, and was last seen onstage as "Banquo" in MACBETH, as "Bianca" in the Trebuchet production of DESDEMONA: A PLAY ABOUT A HANDKERCHIEF, as "Elizabeth" in the iconic LAUNDRY & BOURBON, and as "Eunice" in A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE. Her one woman shows, LEIGHZALAND: DECLARATION OF A SOVEREIGN NATION, OBSERVATIONS FROM THE THE LEIGHZASPHERE, and WELCOME TO THE LEIGHZAHOOD premiered at Station Theater in 2015 and are being developed for touring. She was selected in 2012 by the Houston Press as one of "100 Creatives" and is the Executive Director (and Queen) of Leighzaland, a non-profit organization dedicated to producing new work and supporting artists in their endeavor to create art.

CAST MEMBER - CANDICE D'MEZA is a professional educator, actor, and published writer. She is thrilled to be working with 14 Pews again. Previous theater credits include: The Catastrophic Theatre's BURIED CHILD, THE BLACKEST SHORE, MIDDLETOWN and CLEAN/THROUGH; 14 Pews' DIALOGUES ON GRACE workshop performances; The Ensemble Theatre's THE NACIREMA SOCIETY, BLUES IN THE NIGHT, SANCTIFIED; Black Lab Theater's THE SUBMISSION; and HITS Theater's RAGTIME. D'Meza's acting work has been featured in American Theater Magazine, Houston PBS, and on Fox 26 Houston, and her editorial work can be seen in elephant journal. To learn more about her, visit candicelaine.com

CAST MEMBER - ROC LIVING is a native Houstonian who began pursuing acting at The Encore Theater of Houston, where he was inducted into its Hall of Fame of Actors, a few years later. His talent has allowed him to perform at various theaters in Houston such as The Ensemble Theater, Wortham Theater, Hobby Center, Main Street Theater, Stages Repertory Theater & Express Theater, as well as other theaters in surrounding cities and states. Living has performed principal and supporting roles in such productions as SAMSON & DELILAH, CINDERELLA, ROMEO & JULIET, THE OLD SETTLER, THE ELABORATE ENTRANCE OF CHAD DEITY, OTHELLO, THE WATSONS GO TO BIRMINGHAM - 1963, BEFORE IT HITS HOME, SPARKLE, OF MICE & MEN, JACKIE & ME, THE MEETING, CAMP LOGAN, BUFFALO HAIR, THE BOYS NEXT DOORS, and COFFEE-COLORED DREAMS.

CAST MEMBER - MARTY BLAIR is a native of Louisiana and has performed in numerous productions around Houston. He is a former, long-time, company member for A.D. Players Theater. Some of his most well known roles include: TWELVE ANGRY MEN (Juror #7), MALCOLM AND TERESA (Malcolm Muggeridge), OVER THE RIVER AND THROUGH THE WOODS (Nick), ARSENIC AND OLD LACE (Jonathan Brewster), and AN INSPECTOR CALLS (Inspector Goole). Other favorites: THE BEAMS ARE CREAKING (Hans), CHARLEY'S AUNT (Charley), THE GREAT CROSS COUNTRY RACE (The Hare), and PRIDE AND PREJUDICE (Charles Bingley). He has also appeared in SWEENEY TODD and EUGENE ONEGIN at Houston Grand Opera. You may also see Blair starring in various commercials throughout the Texas region and the independent film PIT STOP.

Remaining performances of DIALOGUES ON GRACE are 8 p.m. Friday, November 18, Saturday, November 19 and Friday, November 25 and Saturday, November 26. 14 Pews, 800 Aurora Street. 14pews.org.