Drag
Anita Witness
Welcome!
Have you ever wondered what you’d get when you add 3 parts Southern Charm, 2 parts Quirkiness, and a pinch of Sass?
No? Neither did my parents, and yet, here I am! Raised predominately in South Georgia, I grew up as a shy and reserved child until I found myself in a community production of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever! From that moment on, I knew that I always wanted to be on the stage. I was blessed to start working professionally with a small community program touring to schools in my hometown area at the ripe old age of 12, the youngest troupe member. After graduating high school, I attended Valdosta State University, where I received a BFA in Theatre Arts with an emphasis in Musical Theatre in 2011. That’s when the fun began!
For the next few years, I worked with Lexington Children’s Theatre as an Acting Intern and eventually as a Company Member before joining several different Theatre for Young Audiences where I toured across the United States. In 2019 I decided it was time to move to New York, where I found success with Harlem Repertory Theatre, before Covid shuttered theatre in 2020. Most recently I have been seen as Mr. Beauregarde in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at Arizona Broadway Theatre for the Regional Premiere. Afterwards, I had the amazing opportunity to take live theatre to the Turks and Caicos with Bright Star Touring Theatre, touring the island visiting underprivileged schools. I am so excited to see what adventures await in the future.
Arizona Broadway Theatre, 2024
Dir. Anthony C. Daniels
Charlie and the Chocolate factory - Mr. Beauregarde
“Can you hear the people sing…”
"It [The Paper Bag Princess] features infectiously energetic acting […] that actors Michael Whitten, Deidre Cochran and Antony Russell are more [...] Russell is hilarious, lovable and a master of physical comedy as Clyde the dragon. The audience, me included, particularly enjoyed the "dragon language" he created, which is somehow comprehensible even when it's not strictly English. Russell has had success with enough tongues to make me wonder if he is the go-to guy for creating animal languages.The cohesive timing between Russell and Whitten in comic scenes — including a flashback of their glory days on the badminton circuit — are a visual treat."
- The Herald-Leader,Lexington, Ky
"Antony Terrell opens the play addressing the children in the audience, and he had us in the palm of his hand from that first moment. The children giggled, answered his questions, and listened intently as he took a quick phone call from his mother. His comedic timing was perfect. They adored him instantly."
-Katie, Lex Fun 4 Kids
"Brianna Case, Matt Bass, Antony Russell and Carly Crawford are contagiously funny in their multiple roles. What's more, they keep the pace speeding along and they navigate director Vivian Snipes' imaginative blocking with fluidity...Another audience favorite was Russell's hilarious portrayal of the Tooth Fairy."
-The Herald-Leader, Lexington, Ky
