COMING HOME
Coming Home – The Musical Play is a powerful homage to the strength, resilience, and brilliance of Black women, told through the voices of three trailblazing icons:
Nina Simone, Josephine Baker, and Jessye Norman.
Through Jazz, Blues, and Opera, this production takes audiences on an emotional journey, showcasing these legendary women as they confront racism, fight for justice, and rise to international stardom.
Writer and director by KhaRå Martin.
Producer by Monique Armstrong.
MEET THE CAST
Khara
KhaRå Martin
Host of the 3 time Canadian Screen Award winning show Black Community Mixtapes. KhaRå Martin is an artist and filmmaker from Pickering/Scarborough Ontario. Attending UofT and Sheridan college, here is where she wrote her first Play Sisterly Love under the helm of Djanet Sears, premiering at UofT’s Beck Festival. She then won the Robert Gill Award for Best Direction for her Hart House directorial debut.
KhaRå’s love for filmmaking thrived when she graduated from OYA’s Emerging Filmmakers program winning best writing. KhaRå’s debut short film No Justice No Peace premiered at TIFF NEXT WAVE and won Best Short Film at the Emerging Lens Film Festival and the Impact award at CineFAM Film Festival in 2021. She then went on to make her second documentary, The Idea of The Black Dollar which is now on CBCGem under Being Black in Toronto 2022.
Currently, she is the host of Black Community Mixtapes for OYA Media Group and CityTV and had her Theatre debut at Thousand Island Playhouse in Intimate Apparel in August of 2023. KhaRå has released her debut directorial music video SCARS under the artist name Azaynia.
Name Lastname
Precious Osarenkhoe
Precious is a dynamic actress known for her emotional depth and commanding stage presence. She recently starred as Nina Simone in Coming Home (The Musical Play) with KMI Productions, bringing powerful authenticity to the role. Her screen credits include leading and supporting performances in acclaimed independent films such as Sweet Freedom (White Swan Productions), Like When We Were Kids (Matha Studios), and Salt + Black (Beautiful) (Nosa Machi Productions). With a growing body of work that spans theater and film, Precious continues to captivate audiences through bold storytelling and heartfelt performances.
Name Lastname
Christina Smith
"5'0 with the talent and personality of a giant" is the general consensus when speaking of internationally acclaimed and award-winning artist, actress and dancer, Christina Smith.
Christina has a natural gift for classical music, creating a one-of-a-kind sound that she calls classical fusion. Known for her emotive soprano voice, the Toronto-born, Jamaican-raised artist has been applauded by audiences, politicians and media worldwide. She was also the recipient of the 2021 Black Diamond Ball "Inspirational Youth" Award, the winner of The Deputy Mayor’s Award and was a contestant on Season 1 of Canada's Got Talent.
Christina credits much of her talent and drive to her family and community in Kingston, Jamaica. “I wouldn’t be in this industry if it weren’t for my community. They raised me. They are my ‘why’ and my foundation for everything I do. ” -Christina Smith, NOW Toronto
In August 2024, Christina embarked on a South African theatre tour that inspired her to advocate for Youth Accessibility to the Arts with the goal of ending Gender-Based Violence.
THE TEAM
Monique Armstrong
Executive Producer
Monique Armstrong is a Film and Media Producer and Business Affairs Consultant with a background in Communications, Theatre, and Film from McMaster University. She is the founder of Media With Mo, where she mentors entrepreneurs and leads creative projects. Her work spans major networks like SLICE, CTV, and The Mom Show, and she has provided media support to the Ministry of Research and Innovation. Monique has also contributed to the non-profit sector through Black Women Film Canada and produced the documentary The National Emancipation Day Celebration for Canada, featuring Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. She is currently Executive Producer of the upcoming short film The Cold Ride (2025).
Bianca Garcia
Marketing & Promotion
Bianca, is a dynamic digital marketer, storyteller, creative director, actor, and influencer. Her work has been featured across major platforms including CBC, CBC East Coast, ByBlacks, CTV, Narcity Canada, and more. As a creative director, she launched the web series T is for Té during Black History Month 2022 and has collaborated as a brand ambassador with Discover Charlottetown, Welcome PEI, Destination Toronto, Flair Airlines, and others. In 2022, she was selected by Black Women Film to attend TIFF with 15 other Black creators, which led to her to work as Outreach and Communications Coordinator for the organization in 2023. She curated in 2023 a major exhibition at the Confederation Centre of the Arts celebrating BIPOC athletes. She earned a Marketing and Advertising diploma from Holland College, and studied Acting for Film & TV at LB Acting Studio.
Why this musical matters:
Coming Home – The Musical Play is more than a performance — it’s a celebration of legacy, courage, and the unbreakable spirit of Black women. By weaving together the voices and stories of Nina Simone, Josephine Baker, and Jessye Norman, it reminds us how art can be both resistance and healing. Their songs, struggles, and triumphs echo across generations, inspiring us to honor their path and continue their fight for justice and freedom.
How you’ll leave the theatre:
You’ll leave moved, empowered, and in awe — carrying the rhythm of their voices, the fire of their conviction, and the reminder that coming home means standing proudly in your truth.