UMS Artist Facilitators

Meet the UMS Artist Facilitators leading this season’s School Day Performance Plus (SDP+) workshops.

LaDarrel Johnson

LaDarrel “Saxappeal” Johnson is a Grammy nominated recording artist, and former touring saxophonist with R&B Legend, Charlie Wilson, (of The GAP Band), a 2024 Detroit Black Music Awards “Jazz Artist of the Year’ nominee, a 2014 Detroit Music Award nominee for entertainer of the year, a 2013 Crain’s Detroit Business “20 in their 20’s” Award Recipient, Michigan Chronicle’s “40 under 40” Award Recipient, and a “Who’s Who in Black Detroit” Award Recipient, this ambitious young artist has traveled from coast to coast, performing from intimate venues in Detroit, to large scale events in Chicago, Phoenix, New Orleans, Cincinnati, Indiana, Los Angeles, Atlanta, New York, London, Paris, South Africa, and Trinidad & Tobago just to name a few. His first trip to New York was to perform at the legendary Carnegie Hall at the age of 17. 

Kristina Lakey

Kristina Lakey is a multifaceted creative force, weaving together artistry, storytelling, and leadership to craft immersive experiences that captivate audiences. As the Artistic Director of Wandering Lantern Productions, she has cultivated a reputation for producing captivating events, immersive experiences, and unique on-stage performances. Her background in live performance and musical theatre has honed a diverse skill set, enabling her to seamlessly blend various artistic disciplines. Beyond her work on stage, Kristina is a sought-after panelist and workshop leader, sharing her insights and inspiring others to embrace their own creative potential.

Andrew Morton

Andrew Morton (he/him) is a Queer British immigrant, playwright, and theatre-maker. He lives in Detroit, where he works as a teaching artist and arts consultant with various arts and social service organizations and is the founding producing artistic collaborator at Every Soul Arts, a collective of artists who believe every person deserves access to safe and affordable housing and opportunities to explore and celebrate their creativity. As an artist and educator, Morton was recognized by Kresge Arts in Detroit as a 2020 Kresge Artist Fellow, and in 2021, he received a Kennedy Center Gold Medallion for services to theatre education. In 2024, he was named one of six Detroit theatre workers you should know by American Theatre Magazine. Morton’s plays have been produced across the US and internationally in the UK, Australia, and Canada. His award-winning play Bloom, inspired by urban gardeners in Flint, Michigan, is available through Dramatic Publishing, Inc.