About Destiny Ensemble Theatre Company
Officers
Chairman - Karl D. Gardner
Karl D’wayne Gardner is the Founder and Producing Artistic Director of Destiny Theatre Company, which was founded, in late 2005. As a child, Gardner grew up in the Avondale community of Chattanooga, and attended Brainerd High School. He graduated from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where he received a Bachelor of Arts in Communication.
Some of his credits include “In the Heat of the Night,” “Everybody Loves Raymond,”“Diagnosis Murder,” and “The Parent ‘Hood,” just to name a few. Some of his film credits include “Fled” starring Laurence Fishburne, “The Tomorrow Man” with Corbin Bersen and “The Fighting Temptations” starring Cuba Gooding Jr. and Beyonce Knowles and most recently seen in the hit television sitcom Tyler Perry’s House of Payne.
Notable theatre credits include “The Piano Lesson” and “A Raisin in the Sun”. Karl has also toured around the country in the Gospel Comedy “What A Man Wants…What AWoman Needs, the hit stage play Tyler Perry’s “Madea’s Class Reunion” and Tyler Perry’s “Why Did I Get Married” starring the sensational Kelley Price.
Gardner also serves on the newly formed Chattanooga Film, Music and Entertainment Commission.
Board of Directors
Thomas W. Jones II (Writer / Actor/ Director) has directed, written, and performed in more than 200 plays worldwide. In 1978, Tom founded Jomandi Productions, where, as Co-Artistic Director and Producing Director, Tom led Jomandi to become the third largest African-American theatre company in the United States. His work as writer, director, and actor has been acclaimed nationally and internationally. His work has received 42 Washington DC Helen Hayes Award nominations winning 12 awards, including Best Director for Samm Art Williams’ Home and his own Bessie's Blues. He has also received 3 New York Audelco Award nominations, the Dramalogue Award, the San Diego Critics Award, NAACP Phoenix Award, among others. In 2000, Tom and his co-founders left Jomandi to create the entertainment company VIA International Artists, Inc. and subsequently VIA Theatrical. His most recent works include Three Sistahs, Point of Revue, Two Queens One Castle, Cool Papa’s Party and he is currently working on an after-hours cabaret series based on Delores Bundy’s Brown Sugar Diaries.
Dr. Ternae T. Jordan, Sr., a second-generation minister, grew up in Chattanooga, Tennessee and received a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Business Education and a minor in Religious Studies from the University of Tennessee. In addition, he received a diploma from the Harvard School of Divinity, Leadership Institute. Dr. Jordan began his first pastorate at the Bethlehem Baptist Church in Chattanooga, followed by 15 years of service at the Greater Progressive Baptist Church in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He is currently the Pastor of Mt. Canaan Baptist Church, Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Booker T. Scruggs, II holds a master of arts degree in sociology from Atlanta University and serves as the director of the Upward Bound Program at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC). He also serves as instructor of sociology at UTC. Mr. Scruggs is the producer and host of the Point of View television show, which can be seen weekly on WDEF-TV, Channel 12. His leadership and passion for community activism has extended to many organizations over the years including Partnership for Families, Children, and Adults; READ of Chattanooga; Memorial Auditorium/Tivoli Theatre; the NAACP; and the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, and the Arts & Education Council.
This production made possible by the following community partners:
