Artistic Staff

Jean-Remy Monnay, Artistic Director

Jean-Remy Monnay (Remy) is the founder and the Producing Artistic Director of the Black Theatre Troupe of Upstate NY (BTTUNY), founded in 2010, which mission is to promote performances and theatrical pieces by, and about, artists of color. In highlighting these works, we hope to foster greater understanding, appreciation and participation in the performing arts within communities of color. Remy was born in Haiti and raised in a small town called, Ville Bonheur also known as Saut-D’Eau. Remy, as a little boy, was very active in theatre, doing Shakespeare and reading poetry on stage in his native tongue, French. In 1982 at the age of 18, he moved to New York, where he found the English language barrier difficult as a stage performer. He joined a Haitian Theater Troupe and performed in French and Creole, traveling to Montreal and other French and Creole speaking communities.

In 1997, he decided to move from Brooklyn to the Capital Region. He took a break from theatre for about two years, but in early 1999 he decided not to let language or anything else get in his way of becoming an English-speaking stage actor. He enrolled in Schenectady Community College to study performing arts in English.

In late 1999, Remy auditioned for the Hubbard Hall Theatre Company in Cambridge, NY, where he met Kevin McGuire, the resident Artistic Director. Kevin offered Remy a part in his first major production at the theatre, “Saint Joan”.

From February of 2000 to the present time, Jean-Remy has appeared in over 200 plays, films (including Grand Army – Episode 4 in Netflix), Follow Her, Time Crunch, commercials and a documentary for the History Channel. He has directed The Piano Lesson, TopDog/UnderDog, Hoodoo Love, Sweat, The Light, Flyin’ West, Yours For The Oppressed, Barbecue, Dead and Breathing, AIN’T Misbehavin’, A Lesson Before Dying, The Niceties, Mountaintop, Camp Logan, Fences, Eclipsed, Harriet Tubman Visits A Therapist, Medal Of Honor Rag, Slow Dance On The Killing Ground, Intimate Apparel, The Exonerated, American Dream, Wedding Band, Reunion in Bartersville, Meridian Mississippi,  American Dream and many more.

Barbara Howard, Associate Director

Barbara N. Howard was born and raised in Albany, New York. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the State University of New York at Brockport and her Master’s Degree in Elementary Education from Grand Canyon University. These achievements helped lead her to become an elementary school teacher, gospel recording artist, actor, and storyteller.

During her matriculation as a teacher and professional artist, Mrs. Howard has had many notable experiences and extraordinary opportunities. The most momentous performances in her career have been the portrayals of Carrie Watts (Trip to Bountiful); Caroline (Caroline or Change); and Nell Carter (Ain't Misbehavin). In addition, she also received the 2012 Theater Association of New York State (TANYS) Outstanding Achievement Award for her portrayal as Lena Younger in A Raisin in the Sun. Currently, she is a producer of Storytime (in its second season), and an Associate Artist for Professional Theater Cap Rep in Albany, New York.

As a gospel recording artist, Mrs. Howard has had the pleasure of performing at Jacob’s Pillow Theatre in the Berkshires. A clear highlight during this time was when she had the distinguished opportunity to be the opening act for The Queen of Gospel, Shirley Caesar. Additionally, she has shared the stage with Dr. Bobby Jones. In 1997, Mrs. Howard released her album, Perfect Peace; and reprised it in 2014. Her drive and love for gospel music allowed her a remarkable journey to tour in London, England and throughout the United States over the years.

For sharing her artistic talents in so many ways, and for using music as a teaching tool, Mrs. Howard has received many awards while also servicing her community, such as Albany Summer Leadership Program for Girls, African American Cultural Center of the Capital Region and religious organizations most notably for Blessed Hope Worship Center.

Mrs. Howard believes that her purpose is to empower and inspire people through knowledge, the gift of song, and storytelling.

Diaka Kaba Hill, Assistant Artistic DIrector

Born in Mali and raised in Brooklyn, Diaka has decades of experience spanning the globe as a theater teacher and performer.

Diaka was a founding member and Actor-Teacher at the Creative Arts Team (CAT) youth theater program, then in partnership with NYU. In 2008, she became one of the final graduates produced by the prestigious New Actors Workshop conservatory founded by Mike Nichols, George Morrison, and Paul Sills. She has also been a longtime collaborator with Piper Theatre in its annual youth playwriting festival at William Alexander Middle School (M.S. 51) in Brooklyn.

Diaka played lead roles in the nationally touring performance of Platanos Y Collard Greens as well as The Last Days of Judas Iscariot, performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival (UK) in 2017.
Diaka arrived in Albany in 2018, quickly earning roles in a range of regional productions including Shakespeare In Love (Capital Repertory Theatre), The Treasurer (Steamer No. 10 Theatre), and A Midsummer Night's Dream (Players of Utica). She first became involved with BTTUNY as a Production Assistant in its 2019 presentation of August Wilson's Fences at Siena College.

Diaka is also credited with multiple TV and film roles, most recently the 2021 film adaptation of the collaborative performance piece Whitewashed (Creative Action Unlimited).
Diaka lives in Albany with her husband and two daughters.
www.diaka.com