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A B O U T

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Tai French | Creative Director

French is an NAACP Award Winning writer. She received the award for Best Playwright in 2020 for her original stage 2018 production 'Pound Cake.' She was also nominated for Best Director and the cast was nominated for Best Ensemble.

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Los Angeles native Tai French is an award-winning, audacious storyteller, performer, writer and director with 11 stage productions, 2 feature films, and web series under her belt. On camera, she's starred opposite Glenn Close and Michael Chiklis on FX's THE SHIELD. French leads the creative innovation at VCE. Dedicated to highlighting and cultivating diverse voices through the art of storytelling, VCE's work reflects that of the times, pays homage to classics, and paves a new avenue with a unique and poignant perspective through innovative, immersive, and future-focused art. VCE holds commitments to philanthropic efforts in mental health, community building, and Arts & Education. 

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French started in the world of dance & theatre under the tutelage of living legends such as Debbie Allen, Eartha Robinson, and Chip Fields-Hurd. She penned the Broadway book for grammy-winning recording artist Ledisi. French founded VCE in 2010.

Pjai Morris | COO

With an astonishing 30+ year career in Los Angeles law enforcement, Pjai, a family man from Atlanta, Georgia, was a collegiate athlete playing football at University of Tennessee. 

 

As the COO of VCE, Pjai also serves as a producer for all of VCE's original works. Additionally, he sits on the Executive Board of the Morris-Young Legacy House, a Los Angeles based nonprofit organization that provides holistic mental health services globally.

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Tia Morris | CFO

Tia’s contribution to the Arts spanned 4 decades as a Model, Singer, Dancer, Set Designer and Producer of movies and stage plays. Tia was born in Kansas and as a young child moved to Detroit Michigan where she was reared until 1970 when Tia’s family relocated to California.

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As a teenager Tia modeled and danced on Soul Train for several years until she graduated from high school. In 1980 Tia graduated from College with a degree in Criminal Justice and that same year she joined the Los Angeles Police Department. In 1982, Tia married and started her family and has two daughters.

 

Tia was an award-winning author with her memoir Mama's Curse and her thrilling fictional novel series, Gertrude Bellamy: Homicide Detective.

 

Tia gained her heavenly wings on July 28, 2022. We loved her presence, essence, and dedication to perfection. A fierce, phenomenal marvel of a woman, mother, wife, and friend. She is forever with us in all that we do. 

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Mike Eddie | Music Director & Resident Vocal Coach

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Originally from San Diego, CA, Mike Eddie started singing in church choirs at 6 years old. He learned to play the piano, clarinet and viola before making piano his primary instrument at age 9.

 

He attended CSU Northridge as a Vocal Performance/Opera major from 2004-2009 where he sang in the university's advanced master chorale, "The Northridge Singers." Under the direction of Diane Ketchie, Mike has been vocally trained in Classical Opera with specialization in English, German, and French Diction and Pedagogy.

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As a singer/songwriter, Mike was once a part of the influential Hip Hop/Soul collective "Balance and the Traveling Sounds," and has written for various Hip Hop and R&B artists. 

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Brit Morris | Legal Counsel & MGMT Rep

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Serving as Legal Counsel and executive board member for Vintage City, Brit Morris is also the founder of nonprofit Morris Young Legacy House (MYLH) that provides mental health services and resources to the community.

 

Additionally, Brit serves as VCE'S MGMT Representative and shares Tai's vision of expanding VCE's artistic, literary, and philanthropic efforts throughout the Los Angeles Community.

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Malika Blessing | Production Manager

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Malika Blessing hails from Oakland, CA with a Master of Arts degree from Grambling State University with extensive theatre credits. She has been blessed to showcase her talents as an actress, casting director & production stage manager.

 

Malika can be seen on B.E.T in the film THE PERFECT MAN directed by Paul Hannah and in the feature film MACHETE JOE which won "Best Thriller" at The San Diego Black Film Festival. 

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Maurice Settle | Board Member

 

Maurice is a Bay Area native who came to Los Angeles with an intense passion for writing and performing and quickly turned it into an eponymous self-published book of original poetry. Maurice then set out to produce a public platform for self-expression by creating & hosting Mental Mondays, a monthly open-mic poetry event that still continues to stimulate the senses. It was there that this aspiring playwright was introduced to the rising talents of Vintage Soul a.ka. Tai French. Their artistic friendship and similar zeal for entertaining has led him to becoming Chairman of the Board for her Vintage City Entertainment organization from 2012-2020.

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Lorenzo Young | Chairman of the Board

 

With an extensive background in the Information Technology and Cyber Security space, Lorenzo Young is an immense asset to the VCE Team.

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Lorenzo was named Chairman of the Board in February 2020 after a long tenure as a supportive audience member. After becoming invested in VCE through its various stage productions, Lorenzo first served as a Producer for Tai French's NAACP award winning stage play Pound Cake in 2018.

 

Lorenzo will take on his role as Chairman of the Board while still serving as a producing partner in VCE's upcoming productions. 

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