Featured Actors
Emma Gibson and Marcia Saunders

Theme for the Salon Evening: Hope in the Dark

When day comes we step out of the shade,

Aflame and unafraid.

The new dawn blooms as we free it.

For there is always light if only we’re brave enough to see it,

If only we’re brave enough to be it.

~From The Hill We Climb - Poem by Inaugural Poet, Amanda Gorman

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Joilet Harris
Joilet Harris is a Philadelphia treasure whose powerful, dynamic and passionate performances command attention on the stage and screen.

Her television roles include the recurring role of Officer Caroline Massey on The Wire, and additional guest starring roles include on New York Undercover, Law & Order: SVU, Philly, and Hack. Joilet also starred on the big screen, appearing in the films Rocky V, Beloved, 12 Monkeys, and several more.
In addition to developing her own cabaret shows, Joilet has also toured the world as a vocalist, most recently playing Ella Fitzgerald in Ella, The Ella Fitzgerald Story. She starred as Gloria in the Broadway-bound Because of Winn Dixie and has also appeared as Motormouth Maybelle in Hairspray, Miss Jones in How to Succeed in Business… and in Ain't Misbehavin' and It Ain't Nothin But the Blues.

She has appeared on many Philadelphia stages including Arden Theatre Company, 1812 Productions, Walnut Street Theatre, Act 2 Playhouse, People's Light and Theatre Company and Delaware Theatre Company. She is a Barrymore-Award winner for her performance as Caroline in Caroline, or Change produced by the Arden Theatre Company. "To God Be the Glory for all His many blessings in my life!!"

Emma Gibson
Emma Gibson is a writer, director, actor and producer, originally from the UK but now living in Philadelphia. In the UK she worked as an actress in London, Edinburgh, on tour and regionally around the UK in both new writing and classical theatre, for BBC radio drama, and film.

In Philadelphia she has worked with many local companies, and most recently performed in the Barrymore nominated production of Perfect Blue. She has also directed multiple classical theatre productions at The Shipley School. As the founding producing artistic director of Tiny Dynamite she has produced over 20 productions ranging from Scottish one acts, to full length plays that integrate complex technology in performance.

She is also the proud Mom to Oscar and Willow. Thanks to Susan for this wonderful opportunity. www.britishemma.com

Marcia Saunders

People’s Light: Over 85 productions including Cora in Morning’s at Seven, Ethel in Moon Over Buffalo, Mrs. Jennings in Sense and Sensibility, Stella in Stella and Lou, Mrs. Bennet in Pride & Prejudice, Dotty in Noises Off, Nurse Ratched in One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, Amanda in The Glass Menagerie, Lady Macbeth in Macbeth, Skin of our Teeth, My Mother Said I Never Should, A Room Of One’s Own, Heartbreak House, Abelard & Heloise, Toys in the Attic, Memory of Water, The Stonehouse, Hamlet, The Misanthrope, The Taming of the Shrew.

Theatre Includes: Recently Paige in HIR at Simpatico Theatre, made her directorial debut at Candlelight Theater in Delaware directing Steel Magnolias. Off Broadway: The Intelligent Design of Jenny Chow (Atlantic Theatre Co.) Regional: The Wilma, Arden Theatre, Two River Theater, Quintessence Theater. Playing Claire in A Delicate Balance garnered Marcia a Best Supporting Actress award and she has received numerous Barrymore nominations including Best Actress for Stella and Lou and A Man from Nebraska.