Abena Joan Brown Performing Arts
Summer Enrichment
Program 2025
Staff and Instructors
Rueben D. Echoles - consulting Artistic Director/ Program Director
Rueben is an accomplished Playwright, Director, Choreographer, Illustrator, Costume, Wig and Makeup Designer.
He is also a proud Alumni of Eta Creative Arts Foundation, having trained there from the age of 8 until 18, later he returned to work professionally as a Director, Choreographer and Costume Designer.
Rueben has over 10 years of experience as a Teaching Artist specializing in Secondary Education teaching English Literature, World History and African American History through Theater. Mr. Echoles continued his service in Arts Education executing many Arts Mentorship programs in the Chicagoland area. For over 25 years , Rueben has had the pleasure of working with many theater companies across the country such as Black Ensemble Theater, (where he served as Associate Artistic Director, Resident Choreographer, Resident Wig Designer, and Associate Director of Arts Education), Mmpact, Congo Square, The Goodman Theatre, Refuge, Porchlight Music Theater, Drury Lane Oakbrook, Writers Theater, Theo Ubique, Invictus, and Studio One Dance Theater.
His most recent projects include Wig Design – She Who Dared at Chicago Opera Theater, Wig Design - Fat Ham at Cleveland Playhouse. Director of ‘Timon’ and ‘The Last Gatekeeper’ for Obsidian Theatre Festival in Detroit . Costume and Wig design - Fela at Olney Theater in DC. Director and Choreographer for In the Heights at UAC Theater, Choreography and Costume Design for The Color Purple with Phoenix Theater Company. Wig design for Rent at The Muny in St. Louis, as well as Costume Design for You Can’t Fake the Funk which was featured at The National Black Theater Festival and earned Rueben A Joseph Jefferson award for best costume design in a Large Theater. Rueben has also designed costumes for 4 Episodes for WTTW’s Chicago Stories docu- series, two of which (Ida B. Wells and The History of Gospel) have won Emmys for best production. Rueben attributes his success to his love and dedication to Christ his Savior.
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eta is excited to have Rueben back as the Program Director for the 2025 Summer Program!
Michelle Renee Bester - Instructor/ Theater and Visual Art ​
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Michelle Renee Bester was born and raised in the south suburbs of Chicago. She fell in love with the performing arts at the tender age of 6. She’s performed in well over 20 productions (television, film, and theater) here in Chicago, IL as well as in various other states. She’s directed productions at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre (Twelfth Night), Definition Theatre (Judy’s Life’s Work) and at the Black Ensemble Theater (Grandma’s Jukebox, The Real Housewives of Motown). She thanks her village for the constant support and love and credits God for it all!
Isaac Ray - Instructor/ Music
Isaac Ray is currently a full-time professional artist, actor, and recording session singer. His theatre credits include: The Gospel At Colonus (Getty Villa), The Gospel At Colonus (Court Theatre), A New Attitude: In Tribute To Patti Labelle and A Time Machine: Tribute to the 80s (Black Ensemble Theater), Jersey Boys (Mercury Theater). He currently leads and directs the Homewood-Flossmoor High School’s gospel choir called “The Inspirational Voices”. In 2022, he dropped his first R&B EP and project entitled “LOVE GAMES” on all streaming platform. He wants to thank his family, friends, and God for favoring his life. “
Ariel Dorsey - Instructor/ Dance
Ariel M Dorsey is a Chicago native, she began her formal training at Chicago Academy for the Arts under the direction of Ana Peskevska and Randy Duncan. Ariel went on to further her studies at SUNY Purchase College in New York where she graduated with a BFA in dance. Mrs. Dorsey's musical theatre credits include “ensemble” in Memphis (Porchlight music theatre), “female swing” in Sophisticated Ladies (Porchlight music theatre), “assistant choreographer” Blues in the Night (Porchlight music theatre), and “ensemble” The Wiz (Fulton theatre). Ariel’s dance companies include Winifred Haun and Dancers, Hot Crowd, Banks Performance Project (guest artist) and Moonwater dance project.