EXCLUSIVE: We hear that the Last Shop on Walnut has started production in Cleveland, Ohio with Peter Lawson Jones (A Man Called Otto), 3x NAACP Award winner and Emmy nominee Kym Whitley (Happy Gilmore 2 and Donald Webber, Jr. (Severance) joining the cast of the Jason Richardson written, produced and directed feature (George and Alex). Jones is also a producer on the film.
Last Shop on Walnut centers on African American Marvin Statler (Jones) who has lived above the lamp repair he owns for nearly all of his adult life – not even setting foot in the outside world in over 15 years. Suddenly forced to deal with delinquent taxes, and the possibility of having to sell his shop, he is confronted with the ghosts of his past when a family member enters his life (but is he who is says he is?). With the help of an old flame, Darlene (Whitley), and potential buyers of his shop, Marvin faces his past demons and begins his ‘second chance’ at life. Webber, Jr. plays Michael, Marvin’s younger brother, who has worked with him for several years in their lamp shop.
Jones has appeared in over twenty films (A Man Called Otto, White Boy Rick, Alex Cross, The Assassin’s Code, Starve), and on network television with credits including NBC’s Chicago Fire as a guest star and ABC’s Detroit 1-8-7). The actor is repped by BMG Models & Talent.
Whitley is a Daytime Emmy-Nominated actress for turn as Big Candi on The Bay. In addition, she is a 3x NAACP Image Award-winner for her Two Funny Mamas podcast, alongside Sherri Shepherd. Whitley is a 2023 Signal Award winner for her Audible podcast, Kym based loosely on the multi-hyphenate’s life. Her latest roles include Netflix’s half-hour series Act Your Age and Happy Gilmore 2. She also starred in Next Friday, Young & Hungry and Curb Your Enthusism. She also executive produced her docuseries Raising Whitley on OWN. She wrote the book The Delusion of Cinderella. The actress is repped by Innovative Artists, Vault Entertainment and Fox Rothschild.
Webber, Jr. plays Patton on Apple TV series Severance. On Broadway, he starred in this year’s revival of David Mamet’s Glengarry Glen Ross as John Williamson opposite Bob Odenkirk. Other recent credits include the Tony Nominated revival of Our Town as ‘Simon Stimson’, Purlie Victorious, Hamilton, Motown: the Musical (OBC), and Holler If Ya Hear Me (OBC). He also starred in Netflix’s The Punisher, NBC’s The Wiz: Live!, and Killing Me Softly With His Song. Webber, Jr. is repped by CESD Talent Agency and 44 West Entertainment.
Richardson recently completed shooting the feature-length drama George and Alex, which he also wrote and directed and is currently in post-production. His psychological thriller Carry on My Words is in development with Sun and Moon Films based in LA.
