The Cast
Mahalia Brown (Played by KESHIA CHANTÉ)
Mahalia Brown is passionate, soulful and idealistic – a young woman bursting with energy and blessed with the gift of music. But her life has reached a crossroads. Mahalia loves and respects her parents, but as she develops her own way of seeing things, she finds herself more and more at odds with them. She has a deep faith and loves being part of the church, too, but she could do without the narrow-mindedness and fear of change. Above all, Mahalia wants to live a spiritual life – but she also wants to give expression to her musical talent. Can she do both? Well, she’s going to give it her best shot. And you can bet that both her faith and her music are going to be tested.
Ottawa-born R&B singer and songwriter Keshia Chanté released her self-titled debut album in 2004. The third single from that album, “Bad Boy,” broke the top five on Canadian radio and became the number one video on MuchMusic for four weeks. She collected five Urban Music Awards in 2003 and 2004, and a Juno Award the following year for best R&B/Soul Recording. Her follow-up album, 2U, was released in 2006, and a third album is slated for release in 2009. Chanté is signed to Ford Models International. Her screen credits include ’da Kink in My Hair and the independent film Cat’s Cradle.
Alicia Sang (Played by JESSICA PARKER KENNEDY)
Alicia is Mahalia’s best friend. With her exotic good looks, she has always been the centre of attention, and she likes it that way. Alicia has long been the primary soloist of the Keystone youth choir – and to keep Alicia happy, Mahalia has suppressed her own talent. Now that the pecking order has changed, Alicia’s life is beginning to fracture, leading her to take some desperate measures. Her friendship with Mahalia is about to be put to the test.
Calgary native Jessica Parker Kennedy has been acting since the age of six. After receiving a diploma in theatre arts from Calgary’s Mount Royal College and working for two years in local theatre she moved to Vancouver to pursue a career in film and television. Her recent credits include guest appearances on Smallville (CW) and Fear Itself (NBC).
Samson Stennett (Played by ELI GOREE)
Samson is Mahalia’s other best friend. Or rather, he used to be. Now he’s the guy she’s crushing on, and he knows it. But Samson is struggling with new feelings of his own – feelings that have forced him to question himself, and to keep secrets from the people closest to him. Funny and full of life, Samson seems outwardly to have everything going for him. And he would – if not for this one little problem.
Halifax, NS native Eli Goree has been performing from the age of six, when he appeared on Sesame Street. His screen credits include Street Cents, Canada Now and North/South, along with a regular rule on Global Television’s ’da Kink in My Hair.
Dee Dee Washington (Played by KAREN LEBLANC)
Dee Dee is the new choir leader at Keystone Sanctuary. In her former life, she was an R&B star infamous for the clothes she didn’t wear. Alcohol and drugs were her downfall. In the aftermath of a suicide attempt, it was Clinton Brown who helped Dee Dee find her way back, and who took the risk of giving her a job at Keystone. Clean for the past three years, Dee Dee focuses now on using her musical talent to glorify God. She has a special place in her heart for Mahalia, and a determination to keep this girl from making the same mistakes she did.
Singer and actress Karen LeBlanc has fronted her own R&B band, performed background vocals for the likes of Chaka Khan and Rik Emmet, and appeared on stage in such musical productions as Rent and Outrageous. Her television credits include Playmakers, Trailer Park Boys, This is Wonderland and a Gemini Award-nominated guest spot on ReGenesis. She earned the Best Actress award at the 2008 Atlantic Film Festival for her performance in the feature film Nurse.Fighter.Boy.
Clinton Brown (Played by MICHAEL ANTHONY RAWLINS)
Clinton Brown is pastor of Keystone Sanctuary and father to Mahalia and Malcolm. It was music that got him into trouble back in his teens, and it was his mother who got him out and put him in the army. At university, Clinton played in a band with Dee Dee, only to be left behind when she decided to follow her own path. Happily, it was also there that he met the love of his life, Roslyn. Through her, he became involved in the church, eventually entering the ministry. These days, Clinton focuses nearly all of his attention on the church and his new choir leader, Dee Dee, leaving little time for his wife and kids. He may need to be reminded what comes first.
Michael Anthony Rawlins has more than 20 years of experience on television, in feature films and on stage. His screen credits include Beverly Hills 90210, Total Recall 2070, The Best Years and Intelligence.
Rosyln Brown (Played by KIM ROBERTS)
Roslyn, Clinton’s wife, comes from a prominent Jamaican family. Trained as a corporate lawyer, she serves now as a legal aid provider for the community. Roslyn works hard at giving her kids, Mahalia and Malcolm, a solid grounding. But she knows enough to step back sometimes, letting them make their own mistakes and learn independence. It troubles her that Clinton is spending so much time on the church – and on Dee Dee. But can she bring herself to say what's on her mind?
Kim Roberts made her first screen appearance in 1993 on CBC-TV's Street Legal. Her credits include Degrassi: The Next Generation, I'm Not There, Charlie Bartlett and Dawn of the Dead.
Malcolm Brown (Played by ISH MORRIS)
Malcolm is Mahalia’s older brother – a young man with all the makings of a player. He’s turning out to be the classic preacher’s kid: knows all the right things to do, and does all the wrong ones. A talented musician, Malcolm dreams of becoming a world class hip-hop producer. So far, he has managed to keep his nose clean: he goes to church and stays out of trouble with the law. But under the surface, it’s a different story. He’s hanging with some questionable characters, and adopting an "any means necessary" approach to making his dream reality. Malcolm and Mahalia have always been tight – and she can sense the change in him.
Actor and musician Ish Morris grew up in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. Educated at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York, he has appeared in numerous film and television productions, including The Incredible Hulk, ReGenesis and 1-800-Missing. Signed to Northern Heights Records, Morris released his first single in 2008, and is working on his debut album.
Jamil Foster (Played by MPHO KOAHO)
Music producer Jamil Foster has fame and fortune in his sights. Having worked for labels in New York and L.A., he knows the real money is in discovering brand new artists, signing them and breaking them worldwide. His alliance with gang leader Shaka gives him access to the Babylon Fire club, the perfect spot to scout and showcase talent. But Jamil isn’t looking to get caught up in gang business. He’s out to make Mahalia a superstar – whether she wants it or not.
Toronto native Mpho Koaho made his screen debut as a teenager in Down in the Delta, a Showtime movie directed by Maya Angelou. His credits include The Salton Sea, Blindness, Four Brothers and the 50 Cent biopic Get Rich or Die Tryin'.
Shaka (Played by ANDY MARSHALL)
Brilliant, focused and utterly ruthless, Shaka leads the United Nations gang, and owns the Babylon Fire nightclub, which serves as his home base. Shaka's goal is wealth by any means necessary – a philosophy that earns him plenty of respect, especially when it’s backed up by a gun. No one crosses Shaka. And Shaka answers to no one.
Actor and filmmaker Andy Marshall is co-creator and one of the writers of SOUL. A 15-year veteran of the film and television industry, he began his career as an actor before branching out into production of videos, commercials, short films and features. A graduate of the Canadian Film Centre, he produced the award-winning short The Sadness of Johnson Joe Jangles and the popular Shaolin Delivery Boy. His screen credits include Mysterious Island, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Monk and The Life and Hard Times of Guy Terrifico.
