Creative Team

Monica L. Patton

Book and Lyrics

Ms. Patton is the author of Love & Southern Discomfort (formerly known as “The Inheritance: Love, Drugs & Southern Discomfort”). She toured with The Book of Mormon Second National Tour since its inception in 2012 (she was the only cast member to be in the company from day one until it closed in 2020) 

“The United States of America is in the thralls of a cultural revolution. Why should Broadway be spared? LASD is showcasing a unique Black perspective. It is an engaging story of an old-money family, told through the prism of love lost, addiction, undiagnosed mental illness, and a harrowing family secret. Black, white or other - that's everyone's family.”

Bobby Daye

Music and Lyrics

Bobby Daye

Music and Lyrics

Mr. Daye wrote the music and lyrics for, and is a producer of, Love & Southern Discomfort. Bobby has a career that has crossed into stage, film, t.v. and radio. He most recently toured with Aladdin. His Broadway credits include Shrek the Musical, The Color Purple, The Lion King, Smokey Joe’s Cafe, Dreamgirls, The Wiz and The Book of Mormon. He is also a recipient of an Outstanding Individual Performance Award for his work in the 2010 NYMF production of The Great Unknown. As a songwriter, he penned the theme song to the ABC-TV soap Loving, which was performed by Johnny Mathis. He was a 9-time male vocalist winner on Ed McMahon’s Star Search and has appeared on television in Law and Order and ED (among others).

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Tamara Tunie

Director

TONY AWARD winner Tamara Tunie starred for 21 seasons as Medical Examiner Dr. Melinda Warner in Wolf Films/Universal Media Studio's top-rated series "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit." She starred as Marie Van Der Veen, the matriarch and the “moral fiber” of a Native American tribe, on Sundance TV’s THE RED ROAD. The role is a marked departure from the sophisticated and powerful woman she is known for portraying. Ms. Tunie, also, starred in AMC’s series DIETLAND and the BBC/Netflix political drama Black Earth Rising. Ms. Tunie’s first “role” as Broadway producer, was on the team responsible for the Tony Award-winning musical "Spring Awakening." She also produced August Wilson's Tony Award-nominated "Radio Golf", and “Magic vs Bird”. Off-Broadway, Ms. Tunie produced The Dutchman at The Cherry Lane Theater and the world premiere of FROG KISS at Virginia Stage Company in

Norfolk Virginia.  Ms. Tunie produced and directed the feature film "See You in September," starring Justin Kirk and Estella Warren. She also directed and co-wrote the world premiere of JAZZLAND at THE HARLEM SCHOOL OF THE ARTS, and is directing the new musical DOROTHY DANDRIDGE, about the life of the legendary Hollywood movie star.

She starred on Broadway with Denzel Washington in Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar," and also shared the Broadway stage with the legendary Lena Horne in the Broadway musical "Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music". She starred in David Merrick's revival of "Oh Kay!" with Brian Stokes Mitchell. Ms. Tunie portrayed Helen of Troy in the New York Shakespeare Festival's production of "Troilus and Cressida" in Central Park. She starred as “Maggie” in the FIRST all African American production of Tennessee Williams' "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" at Theatre Virginia in Richmond. After September 11th, she co-starred with many veterans of Broadway, including Audra Mc Donald and Lillias White, in the 20th-anniversary benefit concert of "Dreamgirls." Most recently, Ms. Tunie starred as Dorothy Brock in the re-imagined 42nd STREET at the Ordway Theater, and as Prospero in the Pittsburgh Public Theater’s production of “The Tempest”, making her the FIRST African American woman to play the part. Immediately following, she joined City Theater’s production of “The Roommate”. She also starred in Robert Shenkkan’s New York premiere of “Building the Wall” Off-Broadway.

She was honored with an OBIE AWARD for her performance in Danai Gurira’s “Familiar”, at Playwright’s Horizons, and the BERKSHIRE THEATRE AWARD for originating the role of “Brenda” in the critically acclaimed drama, “American Son”, at Barrington Stage Company. Ms. Tunie starred as Rose in "Fences" in "August Wilson's 20th Century Cycle" at the Kennedy Center, in Washington, D.C. She received rave reviews for her turn in the lead role of Madame de Merteuil in "Les Liaisons Dangereuse", and Cleopatra in “Antony and Cleopatra” at the Shakespeare Theater of New Jersey. She also starred in "All's Well That Ends Well" at the STNJ, playing THREE roles, while simultaneously producing the musical "Frog Kiss," part of the New York Musical Theater Festival. In 2005, Mayor Bloomberg awarded Ms. Tunie the "Made in New York Award" from the City of New York for her support and commitment to Film, Television, and Theater in Manhattan. Ms. Tunie is a Carnegie-Mellon University Alumna and was honored to recently be elected to its Board of Trustees.